Image forming apparatus, control method, and program

Abstract

To make an appropriate proposal according to a noise occurring in a touch sensor.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises a touch panel that has a capacitive touch sensor, and a controller. The controller has a detection unit that detects a touch input to the touch panel performed by a user, a determination unit that determines the noise level of the touch sensor on the basis of a result of detection of the touch input made by the detection unit, and a notification unit that notifies a predetermined notification destination of the details of notification according to a result of determination of the noise level made by the determination unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that measures the time from detecting a coordinate to detecting the next coordinate, in order to prevent delays in detecting coordinates indicating a touch position due to the influence of noise, and based on the measured time, notifies the user to connect an earth wire. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, with the technology of Patent Document 1, there are cases where the user cannot connect the ground wire and the noise cannot be eliminated, and even if the user does connect the ground wire, the noise cannot be eliminated.

[0004] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to make an appropriate suggestion in response to noise when noise occurs in a touch sensor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment includes a touch panel having a capacitive touch sensor and a control device. The control device has a detection unit that detects touch input by a user on the touch panel, a determination unit that determines the noise level of the touch sensor based on the detection result of the touch input by the detection unit, and a notification unit that notifies a specified notification destination of notification content according to the noise level determination result by the determination unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment, when noise occurs in a touch sensor, it is possible to make an appropriate suggestion according to the noise. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an operation unit included in the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a touch detection operation by an operation unit included in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment; [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed by a control device included in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment; [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that prompts the user to make a touch input. [Figure 6] Figure showing an example of noise level judgment result display (first example) [Figure 7] Figure showing an example of noise level judgment result display (second example) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] (An example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment.

[0010] The image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus such as an MFP or inkjet printer that has image forming functions such as a printing function, a scanning function, a copying function, and a facsimile function.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an operation unit 110, a communication interface 120, and a control device .

[0012] The operation unit 110 includes a touch panel 111. The touch panel 111 has a configuration in which a capacitance-type touch sensor 111A and a display 111B are stacked one on top of the other. The touch panel 111 displays various information (for example, current setting values, selection screens, etc.) using the display 111B, and can accept various inputs (for example, function selection, function settings, etc.) by touch input from the user using the touch sensor 111A. Note that, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, etc. may be used as the display 111B.

[0013] The communication interface 120 is an interface for performing data communication with an external device (for example, a PC, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a server, etc.) via a communication network (for example, the Internet, a LAN, etc.).

[0014] The control device 130 controls the entire image forming apparatus 100. The control device 130 has a "noise check mode" for checking noise from the touch sensor 111A. The control device 130 has a switching unit 131, a detection unit 132, a determination unit 133, a notification unit 134, and a storage unit 135 in relation to the "noise check mode."

[0015] The switching unit 131 switches the operation mode of the control device 130 from the “normal mode” to the “noise check mode.” For example, when the user performs a predetermined operation on the operation unit 110 to switch the operation mode to the “noise check mode,” the switching unit 131 switches the operation mode of the control device 130 from the “normal mode” to the “noise check mode.”

[0016] In the "noise check mode," the detection unit 132 detects a touch input by the user to the touch panel 111. For example, when the operation mode of the control device 130 is switched to the "noise check mode," the detection unit 132 prompts the user to make a touch input to the touch panel 111 by displaying a screen on the display 111B that prompts the user to make a touch input. Then, when the user makes a touch input to the touch panel 111, the detection unit 132 detects the touch input. Detecting a touch input means detecting the capacitance of detection electrodes (a Y-axis detection electrode 111Y and an X-axis detection electrode 111X, which will be described later) that are provided at the touch input position on the touch sensor 111A.

[0017] In addition, in the "normal mode," the detection unit 132 can detect a touch input by the user to the touch panel 111 when the user is performing a normal operation (function selection operation, function setting operation, etc.) on the operation unit 110.

[0018] In the "noise check mode" or the "normal mode," the determination unit 133 determines the noise level of the touch sensor 111A based on the detection result of the touch input by the detection unit 132. For example, the determination unit 133 may determine the noise level for each of a plurality of detection electrodes (Y-axis detection electrode 111Y and X-axis detection electrode 111X, which will be described later) that the touch sensor 111A has.

[0019] In the "noise check mode," the notification unit 134 notifies a predetermined notification destination (e.g., a user, a service representative, an operator, etc.) by displaying notification content according to the noise level determination result by the determination unit 133 on the display 111B provided on the touch panel 111.

[0020] For example, the notification unit 134 may notify the noise level detected by the determination unit 133 as notification content according to the noise level determination result.Furthermore, for example, when the detected noise level is higher than a predetermined threshold, the notification unit 134 may notify a message to that effect as notification content according to the noise level determination result.Furthermore, for example, when the detected noise level is higher than a predetermined threshold, the notification unit 134 may notify a message indicating how to deal with the problem as notification content according to the noise level determination result.

[0021] The storage unit 135 stores the noise level determination result by the determination unit 133. For example, in the "normal mode," if the detection unit 132 detects a touch input by the user and the determination unit 133 determines the noise level, the storage unit 135 stores the noise level determination result by the determination unit 133.

[0022] For example, an IC (Integrated Circuit) is used as the control device 130. The control device 130 is configured to include a processor, a memory, etc. The control device 130 can realize each of the above functions by the processor executing a program stored in the memory.

[0023] (Configuration of Operation Unit 110 and Touch Detection Operation) Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the operation unit 110 included in the image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a touch detection operation by the operation unit 110 included in the image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment.

[0024] 2, the operation unit 110 has a configuration (touch panel 111) in which a capacitive touch sensor 111A is provided on the screen of a display 111B. The touch sensor 111A has a configuration in which a plurality of Y-axis detection electrodes 111Y arranged side by side in the left-right direction and a plurality of X-axis detection electrodes 111X arranged side by side in the up-down direction are arranged in a matrix. Furthermore, a ground electrode is provided at each of both ends of the touch sensor 111A in the left-right direction.

[0025] 3, in the operation unit 110, when a user's finger performs a touch input at an arbitrary touch position P on the screen of the display 111B, the capacitance values ​​of one X-axis detection electrode 111X and one Y-axis detection electrode 111Y that intersect at the touch position P become equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. This allows the detection unit 132 of the control device 130 to detect the coordinates of the touch position P on the screen of the display 111B.

[0026] (An example of a processing sequence by the control device 130) FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of processing by the control device 130 included in the image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment.

[0027] First, the switching unit 131 switches the operation mode from the "normal mode" to the "noise check mode" in response to a request from the user (step S201).

[0028] Next, the detection unit 132 detects a touch input by the user on the touch panel 111 (step S202). At this time, the detection unit 132 prompts the user to make a touch input on the touch panel 111 by displaying on the display 111B a screen that prompts the user to make a touch input.

[0029] Next, the determination unit 133 determines the noise level of the touch sensor 111A based on the touch input detection result in step S202 (step S203). At this time, the determination unit 133 may determine the noise level for each of the multiple detection electrodes (Y-axis detection electrode 111Y and X-axis detection electrode 111X) included in the touch sensor 111A.

[0030] Next, the storage unit 135 stores the determination result of the noise level of the touch sensor 111A in step S203 (step S204). In this way, by storing the determination result of the noise level of the touch sensor 111A in the storage unit 135, a service person or the like can read out the determination result of the noise level of the touch sensor 111A from the storage unit 135 at any timing.

[0031] Next, the notification unit 134 notifies the user by displaying notification content according to the determination result of the noise level of the touch sensor 111A in step S203 on the display 111B provided in the touch panel 111 (step S205). Thereafter, the control device 130 ends the series of processes shown in FIG.

[0032] 4, the detection unit 132 detects a touch input when the mode is switched to the "noise check mode," but the present invention is not limited to this, and the detection unit 132 may be configured to constantly detect a touch input during the "normal mode" (i.e., when the user is performing a normal operation on the touch panel 111). This allows the control device 130 to automatically obtain the noise level of the touch sensor 111A without the user having to request execution of a noise check.

[0033] In this case, if the noise level of touch sensor 111A determined by determination unit 133 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, notification unit 134 may notify the user by displaying notification content according to the noise level determination result by determination unit 133 on display 111B provided on touch panel 111.

[0034] In this case, the notification unit 134 may notify the service staff of the determination result of the noise level of the touch sensor 111A stored in the memory unit 135 by displaying it on the display 111B provided on the touch panel 111 at a predetermined timing (for example, at the timing when the service staff performs a predetermined operation on the operation unit 110).

[0035] In this case, the notification unit 134 may transmit the notification content according to the noise level determination result by the determination unit 133 to an external device (for example, a server, a terminal device, etc.) via the communication interface 120 and the communication network. This may allow a service person, an operator, etc. to immediately understand the noise level determination result by the determination unit 133.

[0036] (An example of a screen prompting the user to input by touch) Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that prompts the user to perform a touch input. The screen shown in Fig. 5 is displayed on display 111B, for example, when control device 130 switches to "noise check mode" in response to a user request.

[0037] The screen shown in FIG. 5 displays a message urging the user to make a touch input: "Detecting noise level. Please touch."

[0038] (Example of noise level judgment result display (first example)) Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a display example (first example) of the noise level determination result. The determination result shown in Fig. 6 is one display example of the noise level determination result by determination unit 133, and is notified to the user by being displayed on display 111B, for example, when the noise level determined by determination unit 133 is higher than a predetermined threshold.

[0039] On the screen shown in FIG. 6, a message "Noise level is high" is displayed as a message indicating that the noise level is higher than a predetermined threshold.

[0040] Furthermore, the screen shown in Figure 6 displays a message indicating how to deal with the problem: "We recommend that you review your earthing and power supply environment."

[0041] Furthermore, on the screen shown in FIG. 6, a message indicating how to deal with the problem is displayed, saying, "Please contact our service department."

[0042] (Example of noise level judgment result display (Example 2)) Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a display example (second example) of the noise level determination result. The determination result shown in Fig. 7 is another display example of the noise level determination result by determination unit 133, and is notified to the service staff by being displayed on display 111B when the service staff performs a predetermined operation on operation unit 110, for example.

[0043] The screen shown in FIG. 7 shows the noise level determined by the determining unit 133 for each of the plurality of detection electrodes (Y-axis detection electrode 111Y and X-axis detection electrode 111X) that the touch sensor 111A has.

[0044] Here, on the screen shown in FIG. 7, the noise levels of all detection electrodes of touch sensor 111A may be displayed (i.e., noise levels below a predetermined threshold may be displayed), or only the noise levels of detection electrodes whose noise levels are equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold may be displayed.

[0045] Furthermore, on the screen shown in FIG. 7, the identification information of each detection electrode is displayed together with the noise level, allowing the service person to easily identify detection electrodes with high noise levels.

[0046] As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 according to one embodiment includes a touch panel 111 having a capacitive touch sensor 111A, and a control device 130. The control device 130 includes a detection unit 132 that detects touch input by a user on the touch panel 111, a determination unit 133 that determines the noise level of the touch sensor 111A based on the detection result of the touch input by the detection unit 132, and a notification unit 134 that notifies a predetermined notification destination of notification content according to the noise level determination result by the determination unit 133.

[0047] As a result, the image forming apparatus 100 of one embodiment notifies a predetermined notification destination of notification content according to the determination result of the noise level of the touch sensor 111A, so that even if the noise generated in the touch sensor 111A cannot be automatically eliminated by software, the person who receives the notification can take appropriate action (for example, a user receives the notification and performs maintenance on the image forming apparatus 100 themselves (e.g., installing an earth, electrical work, etc.), a service representative receives the notification and performs maintenance on the image forming apparatus 100 themselves, a user receives the notification and has the service representative perform maintenance on the image forming apparatus 100, an operator receives the notification and has the service representative perform maintenance on the image forming apparatus 100, etc.), thereby making it possible to appropriately eliminate the noise.

[0048] The best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described above using examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples in any way, and various modifications and substitutions can be made within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 100 Image forming device 110 Operation section 111 Touch Panel 111A Touch Sensor 111B Display 111X X-axis detection electrode 111Y Y-axis detection electrode 120 Communication Interface 130 Control device 131 Switching section 132 Detection unit 133 Judgment section 134 Notification Department 135 Storage section [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0050] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-191540

Claims

1. a touch panel having a capacitive touch sensor; Control device and Equipped with The control device a detection unit that detects a touch input to the touch panel by a user; a determination unit that determines a noise level of the touch sensor based on a detection result of the touch input by the detection unit; a notification unit that notifies a predetermined notification destination of notification content according to a result of the noise level determination by the determination unit; An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. The detection unit Detecting a touch input to the touch panel in response to a request from the user; The notification unit The user is notified by displaying a notification content corresponding to the noise level determination result by the determination unit on a display provided in the touch panel.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

3. The detection unit Detecting a touch input to the touch panel while the user is performing a normal operation on the touch panel; The notification unit If the noise level is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, a notification corresponding to the noise level determination result by the determination unit is displayed on a display provided in the touch panel, thereby notifying the user.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

4. The detection unit Detecting a touch input to the touch panel while the user is performing a normal operation on the touch panel; The notification unit The notification content according to the noise level determination result by the determination unit is displayed on a display provided on the touch panel, thereby notifying the service person.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

5. The detection unit Detecting a touch input to the touch panel while the user is performing a normal operation on the touch panel; The notification unit A notification corresponding to the result of the noise level determination by the determination unit is transmitted to an external device via a communication network.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

6. The determination unit determining a noise level for each of a plurality of detection electrodes included in the touch sensor; The notification unit The noise level determined by the determination unit is notified for each of a plurality of detection electrodes included in the touch sensor.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

7. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus equipped with a touch panel having a capacitive touch sensor, comprising: a detecting step of detecting a touch input to the touch panel by a user; a determination unit that determines a noise level of the touch sensor based on a detection result of the touch input in the detection step; a notification unit that notifies a predetermined notification destination of notification content according to a result of the noise level determination by the determination unit; A control method comprising:

8. A program for an image forming apparatus equipped with a touch panel having a capacitive touch sensor, Computer, a detection unit that detects a touch input to the touch panel by a user; a determination unit that determines a noise level of the touch sensor based on a detection result of the touch input by the detection unit; and a notification unit that notifies a predetermined notification destination of notification content according to a result of the noise level determination by the determination unit A program that functions as a

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