JP2009188486A - Display device and display method - Google Patents

Abstract

In a screen such as a small liquid crystal display, it is necessary to display an image or the like in as wide a range as possible in a limited display area, so that a part of display content is hidden by an operation guide.
When a photograph is first displayed on a display screen D1, operation information of an operation title D20, operation key guides D31, D32, D33, D34, an operation function guide D40, and number information D51, D52 is displayed. After the user performs key input with reference to the operation information, the operation title D20 and the operation function guide D40 are deleted on the display screen D1. When the elapsed time after the user ends the key input reaches the set time, the operation function guide D40 is displayed again on the display screen D1.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device and a display method.

  Conventionally, when displaying on a small liquid crystal display or the like, various techniques related to the display method of the operation guide have been presented in order to improve the user interface by effectively utilizing the limited display area of the screen of the liquid crystal display or the like. ing. For example, in the image processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 below, an operation guide that is frequently used is preferentially displayed on a screen to improve user operability and convenience.

JP 2007-49368 A

  In the case of the above-described image processing apparatus such as Patent Document 1, a user who is unfamiliar with the operation displays an appropriate operation guide on the screen, so that the operation can be easily understood and the operability can be improved. However, part of the display content such as an image is hidden by the displayed operation guide. In particular, on a screen of a small liquid crystal display or the like, it is necessary to display an image or the like in a limited display area in the widest possible range.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

[Application Example 1]
A display device that displays a plurality of operation information related to an operation, an operation unit that receives an operation from a user, and a time measuring unit that measures an elapsed time after receiving the operation every time an operation from the user is received; A control unit that controls display of the operation information, and the control unit is configured to hide one of the operation information when the operation information is received and an operation from the user is accepted. The display device is configured to control so that the operation information is displayed when the elapsed time during the measurement reaches a predetermined time when the operation information is not displayed.

  According to the display device described above, the control unit puts the operation information in the display state in a non-display state when receiving an operation from the user. Thereby, the operation information is displayed before the user performs an operation, and the user can perform the operation after referring to the operation information. Then, after the user performs an operation, the operation information that has been displayed so far disappears, so that it is possible to avoid the display content such as an image viewed by the user from being hidden by the operation information. In addition, when the operation information is in the non-display state, the control unit sets the operation information in the non-display state to the display state when an elapsed time after receiving the operation from the user reaches a predetermined time. Thus, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the user finished the operation, the user can continue the operation by referring to the operation information again. As a result, the operability of the user can be improved, and an image or the like can be displayed in the widest possible range in the limited display area of the screen.

[Application Example 2]
The plurality of operation information includes an operation key guide for guiding operation keys to be input by the user, and an operation function guide for guiding functions associated with input of the operation keys, and the control unit includes the operation function When the guide receives an operation from the user in the display state, the operation function guide is set to the non-display state, and when the operation function guide is in the non-display state and the elapsed time during the measurement reaches a predetermined time, The display device according to claim 1, wherein the operation function guide is controlled to be in a display state.

  According to the display device described above, the control unit puts the operation function guide in the display state into a non-display state when receiving an operation from the user. Thus, the operation function guide is displayed before the user performs an operation, and the user can perform the operation after referring to the operation function guide. Then, after the user performs the operation, the operation function guide that has been displayed so far disappears, so that it is possible to avoid the display content such as the image that the user sees from being hidden by the operation function guide. In addition, when the operation function guide is in the non-display state, the control unit sets the operation function guide that is in the non-display state to the display state when the elapsed time since the reception of the operation from the user reaches a predetermined time. Thus, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the user finished the operation, the user can continue the operation with reference to the operation function guide again.

[Application Example 3]
It further has a set time storage unit for storing a set time defined for controlling one display of the operation information, and the control unit is an elapsed time during the measurement when the one operation information is not displayed. The display device is configured to control so that one of the operation information is displayed when the set time corresponding to one of the operation information is reached.

  According to the display device described above, the control unit displays the operation information in the display state when the elapsed time since the operation from the user is received reaches the stored set time. Thereby, the operation information can be displayed based on the set time set by the user or the set time set as the initial value.

[Application Example 4]
The control unit performs control so that one of the operation information is always displayed when the set time corresponding to one of the operation information is not set or when the set time indicates a constant display. The display device as described above.

  According to the above-described display device, it is possible to cope with operation information that should be in a constantly displayed state by not setting the setting time of the operation information or by setting the content to indicate that it is always displayed.

[Application Example 5]
When the set time corresponding to one of the operation information indicates non-display at all times, the control unit receives one operation information from the user when the operation information is received in the display state. The display device is controlled so as to be always in a non-display state.

  According to the display device described above, it is possible to cope with operation information that should be kept in a non-display state after receiving an operation from the user by setting the setting time of the operation information to a setting content indicating non-display at all times. .

[Application Example 6]
A display method for displaying a plurality of operation information related to an operation, an operation procedure for receiving an operation from a user, and a time measuring procedure for measuring an elapsed time since the operation is received every time an operation from the user is received; A control procedure for controlling the display of the operation information, wherein the control procedure is a state in which one of the operation information is not displayed when an operation from the user is accepted in the display state. And a control method for controlling the operation information to be displayed when the elapsed time during measurement reaches a predetermined time when the operation information is not displayed.

  According to the display method described above, the operation information in the display state is set to the non-display state when an operation from the user is received by the control procedure. Thereby, the operation information is displayed before the user performs an operation, and the user can perform the operation after referring to the operation information. Then, after the user performs an operation, the operation information that has been displayed so far disappears, so that it is possible to avoid the display content such as an image viewed by the user from being hidden by the operation information. Further, according to the control procedure, when the operation information is in the non-display state, the operation information in the non-display state is set to the display state when the elapsed time after the operation from the user is received reaches a predetermined time. Thus, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the user finished the operation, the user can continue the operation by referring to the operation information again. As a result, the operability of the user can be improved, and an image or the like can be displayed in the widest possible range in the limited display area of the screen.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, an example of a printing apparatus in which the display device according to the first embodiment is incorporated will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Schematic configuration of printing device>
First, a schematic configuration of the printing apparatus will be described.
FIG. 1 is an external view of the printing apparatus 100. The printing apparatus 100 is a so-called multifunction machine type printing apparatus, and includes a scanner 110 for optically reading an image, a memory card slot 120 for inserting a memory card MC on which image data is recorded, and a digital camera. A USB interface 130 to be connected is provided. The printing apparatus 100 can print an image captured by the scanner 110, an image read from the memory card MC, an image read from the digital camera via the USB interface 130, and the like on the printing paper P. It is also possible to print an image or the like input from a personal computer (not shown) connected by a printer cable or the like.

  The printing apparatus 100 includes an operation panel 140 as an operation unit for performing various operations related to printing. A liquid crystal display 150 is provided at the center of the operation panel 140. The liquid crystal display 150 displays an image read from a memory card MC, a digital still camera, or a menu screen when using various functions of the printing apparatus 100. The liquid crystal display 150 displays operation information such as an operation key guide for guiding operation keys to be input by the user and an operation function guide for guiding functions associated with the input of the operation keys.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printing apparatus 100. As shown in the figure, the printing apparatus 100 includes an operation panel 140, a liquid crystal display 150, a scanner 110, a memory card slot 120, a USB interface (I / F) 130, a control unit 210, a time measuring unit 220, and a print engine. 230. In the present embodiment, the operation panel 140, the liquid crystal display 150, the control unit 210, and the time measuring unit 220 constitute a display device. Here, the configuration of the operation panel 140 and the liquid crystal display 150 is not limited, and a touch panel that can be operated by touching the display screen may be adopted for the liquid crystal display 150.

  The control unit 210 includes a CPU 211, a RAM 212, a ROM 213, and an EEPROM 214. The RAM 212 is a volatile memory, and temporarily stores image data to be displayed, print data to be printed, a program to be executed, and the like. The ROM 213 stores a control program for generally controlling the operation of the printing apparatus 100. The CPU 211 performs display control on the liquid crystal display 150, image print control, and the like by developing and executing this control program in the RAM 212. The EEPROM 214 is a nonvolatile memory, and stores set time information 215 received from the user via the operation panel 140 as a set time storage unit. In the present embodiment, the set time information 215 registers a set time that defines the time until the operation function guide is automatically displayed from the non-display state on the screen of the liquid crystal display 150. The set time information 215 is not limited to the setting by the user, and may be set in advance as an initial value of the display device.

  The time measuring unit 220 starts measuring time each time a key input from the user is received via the operation panel 140. That is, the elapsed time from the last key input received from the user is measured. In the present embodiment, the control unit 210 controls to display the operation function guide when the elapsed time during measurement reaches the set time of the set time information 215 described above in a state where the operation function guide is not displayed. .

  Although not shown, the print engine 230 includes an ink cartridge carriage, a carriage motor that drives the carriage in the main scanning direction, a paper feed motor that conveys the printing paper P in the sub-scanning direction, and the like. Is printed on the printing paper P.

<Operation in printing apparatus>
Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The flowchart shown in the drawing shows an operation when an operation from a user is received via the operation panel 140 after an image such as a photograph is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 150. In practice, it is possible to proceed to a printing operation after a photo is selected, but the description of the printing operation is omitted here.

  First, in step S110, the control unit 210 displays operation information for guiding user operations together with the first photograph to be displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 150. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display screen D1 when the first photograph is displayed. In the figure, the display screen D1 of the liquid crystal display 150 has a display photograph D11, an operation title D20 indicating an operation to be executed, operation key guides D31, D32, D33, D34 for guiding operation keys to be input by the user, and operation keys. An operation function guide D40 that guides functions associated with the input and number information D51 and D52 are displayed.

Next, in step S120, the control unit 210 determines whether or not a key input from the user has been received via the operation panel 140. If key input is accepted, the process proceeds to the next step S130.
On the other hand, when key input is not received, it waits until it receives key input from a user.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part of the operation panel 140. As shown in the figure, the operation panel 140 has a left button LB for selecting the previous display photo, a right button RB for selecting the next display photo on the display screen D1 shown in FIG. A print number increase button IB for increasing the number of prints of a display photograph selected as a print target, a print number reduction button DB for decreasing the print number, and the like are provided.
Here, each of the operation key guides D31 and D32 on the display screen D1 shown in FIG. 4 indicates a left direction button LB and a right direction button RB. Further, each of the operation key guides D33 and D34 shows a print number reduction button DB and a print number increase button IB. In step S120, it is determined whether or not these left button LB, right button RB, print number increase button IB, and print number decrease button DB have been received from the user. The user can select a display photograph to be printed and set the number of prints by inputting these buttons.

  Next, in step S130, the control unit 210 deletes the operation title D20 displayed on the display screen D1.

  Next, in step S140, when the operation function guide D40 is displayed on the display screen D1, the control unit 210 deletes the displayed operation function guide D40.

  Next, in step S150, the control unit 210 performs switching of the displayed photograph displayed on the display screen D1 or setting for increasing / decreasing the number of prints according to the key input from the user received in step S120. At this time, the displayed number information D51 or the number information D52 is also increased or decreased.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display screen D1 when switching to the next display photograph. Moreover, FIG. 7 is a figure which shows the example of the display screen D1 after switching to the next display photograph. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, when the right button RB is input from the user and the screen is switched to the next display photograph D12, the operation title D20 and the operation function guide D40 are deleted on the display screen D1. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, after switching to the next display photograph D12, only operation key guides D31, D32, D33, D34 and number information D51, D52 are displayed as operation information.

Next, in step S160, the control unit 210 determines whether or not a key input from the user has been received via the operation panel 140. If the key input is accepted, the process returns to step S140. If the operation function guide D40 is displayed, it is deleted, and a process corresponding to the key input is performed.
On the other hand, if no key input is accepted, the process proceeds to step S170.

Next, in step S <b> 170, the control unit 210 determines whether or not the elapsed time after receiving a key input from the user via the operation panel 140 has reached the set time of the set time information 215 stored in the EEPROM 214. Determine whether. When the elapsed time reaches the set time, the process proceeds to step S180, and the control unit 210 redisplays the operation function guide D40 deleted in step S140 on the display screen D1. Then, the process returns to step S160 and waits until a key input from the user is received.
On the other hand, if the elapsed time has not reached the set time, the process returns to step S160 to receive a key input from the user or wait until the elapsed time reaches the set time.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display screen D1 when the operation function guide D40 is redisplayed. This figure is the display screen D1 after the elapsed time from the user's last key input reaches the set time. That is, while the user performs key input via the operation panel 140, the operation function guide D40 is not displayed on the display screen D1, but the operation function is displayed when a certain time has elapsed after the user's key input is completed. The guide D40 is displayed on the display screen D1.

  In the embodiment described above, when the photograph is first displayed on the display screen D1 of the liquid crystal display 150, the operation title D20, the operation key guides D31, D32, D33, D34, the operation function guide D40, and the operation of the number information D51, D52 are operated. Information is displayed. By referring to the operation information on the screen, the user can grasp the operation contents to be executed, the operation keys to be used, the function of each operation key, and the like.

  Further, after the user performs key input with reference to the operation information, the operation title D20 and the operation function guide D40 on the display screen D1 are deleted. By erasing these pieces of operation information, as shown in the example of the display screen D1 in FIG. 7, the user can view a part of the display photograph D12 without being hidden by the operation title D20 and the operation function guide D40. . The operation title D20 and the operation function guide D40 are low-priority operation information for a user who knows the operation function and actually performs key input, and thus has a low influence on the operability of the user. it is conceivable that.

Further, the operation function guide D40 is displayed again on the display screen D1 when the elapsed time after the user ends the key input reaches the set time. For example, when the user who is performing the key input temporarily stops the key input operation and continues the key input again, the operation function guide D40 is displayed again on the display screen D1. Thereby, the user can grasp the operation function of each operation key to be used again and perform key input.
As a result, the operability of the user can be improved and the display photograph can be displayed in the widest possible range in the limited display area of the display screen D1. Then, for example, it is possible to cope with a problem that a part of display content is hidden by a guide display for improving operability on a screen such as a small liquid crystal display.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, an example of a printing apparatus in which the display device according to the second embodiment is incorporated will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The schematic configuration of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as the schematic configuration of the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, and the appearance of the printing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 and the function of the printing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. A block diagram showing the configuration can be applied. In the present embodiment, the set time for each operation information displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 150 is registered in the set time information 215 stored in the EEPROM 214 in the block diagram shown in FIG. The setting time here includes settings that specify the time from when the corresponding operation information is automatically displayed until it is automatically displayed, settings that always display the corresponding operation information, and corresponding operation information. There is a setting to always hide the display, but a specific example will be described later.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The flowchart shown in the figure is similar to the flowchart in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, when an image such as a photograph is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 150 and an operation from the user is received via the operation panel 140. Shows the operation.

First, in steps S210 and S220, the control unit 210 provides operation information for guiding user operations together with the first photograph to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 150, as in steps S110 and S120 of the flowchart shown in FIG. It is displayed (display screen D1 shown in FIG. 4), and it is determined whether or not a key input from the user has been received via the operation panel 140. If a key input is accepted, the process proceeds to the next step S230.
On the other hand, when key input is not received, it waits until it receives key input from a user.

  Next, in step S230, the control unit 210 refers to the set time of the set time information 215 stored in the EEPROM 214. Then, the operation information indicating the “constant display” for the set time is displayed as it is, and the other operation information is deleted from the display screen D1 (display screen D1 shown in FIG. 7).

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the set time information 215 in which the set time for each operation information is registered. In the figure, “0” is set for the set times of “operation key guide” and “number information”, and in this embodiment, “0” indicates “always displayed”. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 5, in step S230, the operation key guides D31, D32, D33, D34 and the number information D51, D52 displayed on the display screen D1 are displayed as they are, and the operation title D20 and the operation function guide D40 are displayed. Is erased. In the present embodiment, “0” of the set time indicates “always display”. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, “always display” may be indicated by an identification symbol or the set time is set. Operation information that is not performed may be handled as “always displayed”.

Next, in steps S240 and S250, the control unit 210 is displayed on the display screen D1 in accordance with the key input from the user received in step S220, similarly to steps S150 and S160 in the flowchart shown in FIG. The display photograph D11 is switched or the number of printed sheets is increased / decreased, and it is determined whether or not a key input from the user is received via the operation panel 140. If key input is accepted, the process returns to step S230. If operation information that does not indicate “always displayed” is displayed, it is deleted, and processing corresponding to the key input is performed.
On the other hand, if no key input is accepted, the process proceeds to step S260.

Next, in step S260, the control unit 210 performs an operation in which the elapsed time after receiving a key input from the user via the operation panel 140 reaches the set time of the set time information 215 stored in the EEPROM 214. It is determined whether there is information. When there is operation information whose elapsed time has reached the set time, that is, when the elapsed time has reached any set time of the operation information, the process proceeds to step S270, and the control unit 210 sets the elapsed time to the set time. The reached operation information is displayed again on the display screen D1 (display screen D1 shown in FIG. 8). Then, the process returns to step S250 and waits until a key input from the user is received or until the elapsed time reaches any set time of other operation information.
On the other hand, when there is no operation information whose elapsed time has reached the set time, that is, when the elapsed time has not reached any set time of the operation information, the process returns to step S250 to receive a key input from the user, Alternatively, it waits until the elapsed time reaches any set time of the operation information.

In the example of the set time information 215 shown in FIG. 10, “99999” is set as the set time of the “operation title”, and in this embodiment, “99999” indicates “always hidden”. . Therefore, if the operation title D20 on the display screen D1 is first displayed in step S210 and deleted in step S230, it is not displayed again. In this embodiment, “99999” of the set time indicates “always non-display”. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, “always non-display” may be indicated by an identification symbol or the like. Operation information for which is not set may be treated as “always hidden”.
Further, “5” is set as the set time of the “operation function guide”, and this “5” indicates that the operation function guide D40 is displayed again after 5 seconds have elapsed.

  In the embodiment described above, the set time for each operation information is registered in the set time information 215 stored in the EEPROM 214. The setting time here includes settings that specify the time from when the corresponding operation information is automatically displayed until it is automatically displayed, settings that always display the corresponding operation information, and corresponding operation information. Some settings are always hidden. With these settings, the display and non-display of each operation information on the display screen D1 of the liquid crystal display 150 can be freely controlled according to the type, function, display size and color, priority, etc. of each operation information. it can. As a result, for example, on a screen of a small liquid crystal display or the like, it is possible to deal with a problem more finely and flexibly with respect to a problem that a part of display content is hidden by a guide display for improving operability.

FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a display screen when displaying the first photograph. The figure which expanded a part of operation panel. The figure which shows the example of a display screen when switching to the next display photograph. The figure which shows the example of the display screen after switching to the next display photograph. The figure which shows the example of a display screen when the operation function guide is redisplayed. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation in the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment. The figure which shows the example of the setting time information in which the setting time for each operation information is registered.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Printing apparatus, 110 ... Scanner, 120 ... Memory card slot, 130 ... USB interface, 140 ... Operation panel, 150 ... Liquid crystal display, 210 ... Control part, 211 ... CPU, 212 ... RAM, 213 ... ROM, 214 ... EEPROM 215 ... set time information, 220 ... timer, 254 ... EEPROM, 280 ... print engine, D1 ... display screen, D11, D12 ... display photo, D20 ... operation title, D31, D32, D33, D34 ... operation key guide, D40: Operation function guide, D51, D52: Number information.

Claims (6)

A display device that displays a plurality of operation information related to an operation,
An operation unit for receiving an operation from the user;
Each time an operation from the user is received, a time measuring unit that measures an elapsed time since the operation was received,
A control unit for controlling the display of the operation information,
When the control unit receives an operation from the user while the operation information is in the display state, the control unit sets the operation information to a non-display state, and the operation information is in the non-display state during the measurement. A display device that controls to display one piece of the operation information when the time reaches a predetermined time. The plurality of operation information includes an operation key guide for guiding operation keys to be input by the user, and an operation function guide for guiding functions associated with input of the operation keys,
The control unit sets the operation function guide in a non-display state when the operation function guide receives an operation from the user in the display state, and the elapsed time during the measurement is predetermined when the operation function guide is in the non-display state. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the operation function guide is controlled so as to be in a display state when the time is reached. A set time storage unit for storing a set time defined for controlling one display of the operation information;
The control unit causes the operation information to be displayed when the elapsed time during the measurement reaches the set time corresponding to the operation information when the operation information is not displayed. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is controlled.   The control unit performs control so that one of the operation information is always displayed when the set time corresponding to one of the operation information is not set or when the set time indicates a constant display. The display device according to claim 3, wherein   When the set time corresponding to one of the operation information indicates non-display at all times, the control unit outputs one of the operation information when the operation information is accepted in the display state. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the display device is controlled so as to be always in a non-display state. A display method for displaying a plurality of operation information related to an operation,
An operation procedure for accepting an operation from the user;
Each time an operation from the user is received, a time measuring procedure for measuring an elapsed time since the operation was received,
A control procedure for controlling the display of the operation information,
In the control procedure, when an operation from the user is accepted while the operation information is in a display state, the operation information is set in a non-display state, and the operation information is in the non-display state during the measurement. A display method characterized by controlling so that one piece of the operation information is displayed when time reaches a predetermined time.