electronic machines

Abstract

To obtain an electronic device in which the meaning of abbreviated text displayed in a designated display area is easily understood by the user. [Solution] In the electronic device 1, the display control unit 21 displays an operation screen on the display device 11a. The display text setting unit 22 sets abbreviated text corresponding to the default text 42 for a predetermined display area 41 on the operation screen. The display text setting unit 22 then sets abbreviated text specified by the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device.

Background Art

[0002] When a certain display control device displays a certain screen, it displays a screen corresponding to the set character size according to the setting of the character size (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When a predetermined display area (soft key or icon) on an operation screen displays predetermined text (such as a key name) as in the above-described display control device, when the size of the display area is variable in response to a change in the display form of the operation screen, when the display area becomes small, fixed abbreviated text may be displayed.

[0005] When abbreviated text is displayed as described above, there is a possibility that the user cannot understand the meaning of the text from the abbreviated text.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to obtain an electronic device in which the meaning of abbreviated text displayed in a predetermined display area is easily understood by the user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The electronic device according to the present invention comprises a display control unit that displays an operation screen on a display device, and a display text setting unit that sets abbreviated text corresponding to a default text for a predetermined display area on the operation screen. The display text setting unit sets the abbreviated text specified by the user. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, an electronic device is obtained in which the meaning of abbreviated text displayed in a predetermined display area is easily understood by the user.

[0009] The above or other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become even more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation screen (1 / 2). [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation screen (2 / 2). [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of specific text. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the figures.

[0012] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device 1 shown in Figure 1 is an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction printer. The electronic device 1 shown in Figure 1 includes an operation panel 11, a communication device 12, an internal device 13, a storage device 14, a controller 15, and the like.

[0013] The operation panel 11 is an internal device located on the surface of the housing of the electronic device 1, and includes a display device 11a that displays an operation screen to the user and an input device 11b that detects user operations. The display device 11a is a liquid crystal display or the like. The input device 11b is a hard key, a touch panel that works with the display device 11a to provide soft keys, or the like.

[0014] The communication device 12 is equipped with a network interface and peripheral device interfaces such as USB, and performs data communication with external devices.

[0015] The internal device 13 is a device for realizing the functions of the electronic device 1. If the electronic device 1 is an image forming apparatus, the internal device 13 may be a scanner that optically reads an image from a document, a printer that prints the image onto a print sheet, a facsimile machine, etc.

[0016] The storage device 14 is a non-volatile storage device such as flash memory, which stores data and programs. The storage device 14 stores configuration data 14a, which includes text data of default text and abbreviated text, as described later.

[0017] The controller 15 is equipped with a computer containing a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and operates as various processing units. The controller 15 loads programs stored in the ROM and storage device 14 into the RAM and executes them with the CPU, operating as various processing units via software. In this case, the controller 15 operates as the display control unit 21 and the display text setting unit 22.

[0018] The display control unit 21 displays an operation screen on the display device 11a.

[0019] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are diagrams for explaining the operation screen. In this embodiment, when a predetermined user operation (here, a long press (continuous touch for a predetermined time)) on the display area 41 in the operation screen is detected by the input device 11b, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the display control unit 21 displays the default text 42 ("Remote Diagnostics Setting") in association with the display area 41. Specifically, the display control unit 21 displays the abbreviated text "Remote Diagnostics" corresponding to the default text 42 in the display area 41. When a predetermined user operation on the display area is detected by the input device 11b, while displaying the abbreviated text, additionally, the default text 42 is displayed in association with the display area 41. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the default text 42 is displayed in a balloon-shaped display area. Here, the display area is a soft key, an icon, or the like. Also, the abbreviated text corresponding to the default text is a text shorter (with fewer characters) than the default text.

[0020] In addition, when the size of the display area on the operation screen is changed according to a user operation, the display control unit 21 may display the default text or the abbreviated text in the display area according to the size of the changed display area.

[0021] The display text setting unit 22 sets an abbreviated text corresponding to the default text for a predetermined display area on the above-described operation screen. In particular, the display text setting unit 22 sets the abbreviated text specified by the user.

[0022] In this embodiment, when the default text 42 is displayed as shown in, for example, FIG. 2, the display text setting unit 22: (a) when a predetermined user operation on the displayed default text 42 (here, the movement of the touch position from the display area 41 to the default text 42) is detected by the input device 11b, as shown in, for example, FIG. 3, a list 43 of candidates 51 to 53 of the abbreviated text (soft keys of the candidate text) is displayed in association with the default text 42; and (b) sets the candidate selected by the user from the list 43 as the abbreviated text. Thereby, the user can intuitively set the abbreviated text. As shown in, for example, FIG. 4, the list 43 is displayed in a balloon-shaped display area.

[0023] Note that the list 43 for each display area 41 (or the default text 42) is included in the preset data 14a in advance, and the display text setting unit 22 displays the list 43 by referring to the preset data 14a.

[0024] Also, in this embodiment, the list 43 includes a soft key 54 for user editing. When an operation (pressing) on the soft key 54 is detected by the input device 11b, the display text setting unit 22 displays an input field (not shown) in which the user can input a free-form text on the display device 11a, and sets the text input in the input field as the abbreviated text.

[0025] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the display text setting unit 22 changes the abbreviated text corresponding to the default text for the above-described display area: (a) in the setting data 14a of the specific text displayed on the operation screen, it searches for and detects the text portion that matches the abbreviated text before the change; and (b) sets the abbreviated text after the change for the detected text portion. Note that the specific text includes the default text of each display area and the like. Then, when the display control unit 21 is to display the specific text, it displays the abbreviated text after the change instead of the text portion.

[0026] Figure 4 shows an example of specific text. For example, if the abbreviated text is changed from "Remote Diagnostics" to "Remote Diag.", then, as shown in Figure 4, "Remote Diag." will be set for the "Remote Diagnostics" portion of the specific text, and when that specific text is displayed, "Remote Diag." will be displayed instead of "Remote Diagnostics". Similarly, for portions similar to "Remote Diagnostics" (for example, portions that match by more than a certain percentage of characters), "Remote Diag." will be set, and "Remote Diag." will be displayed instead of those portions.

[0027] Next, the operation of the electronic device 1 described above will be explained.

[0028] The display control unit 21 displays an operation screen (such as a settings screen for various functions) on the display device 11a. At that time, the display control unit 21 refers to the setting data 14a to identify the text (such as abbreviated text) set in each display area of ​​the operation screen and displays the corresponding text in each display area.

[0029] Then, when a predetermined user operation (in this case, a short touch) is detected on the display area, the display control unit 21 executes the corresponding process (such as displaying a settings dialog or transitioning to another screen).

[0030] On the other hand, when a predetermined user operation on the display area (in this case, a long press for a predetermined time) is detected, the display control unit 21 displays the default text 42 associated with the display area 41, as shown in Figure 2, for example.

[0031] This allows users to see the default text corresponding to the abbreviated text displayed in the display area.

[0032] Furthermore, when a predetermined user operation (in this case, moving from the touch position display area 41 to the default text 42) is detected by the input device 11b on the displayed default text 42, the display text setting unit 22 displays a list 43 of abbreviated text candidates 51 to 53 in association with the default text 42, as shown in Figure 3, for example, and sets the candidate selected by the user from the list 43 as the abbreviated text. Also, when an operation (press) on the soft key 54 is detected by the input device 11b, the display text setting unit 22 displays an input field on the display device 11a and sets the text entered in that input field as the abbreviated text. The set abbreviated text is registered in the setting data 14a.

[0033] Furthermore, when an abbreviated text is set, the display text setting unit 22 sets the modified abbreviated text for the text portion that matches the modified abbreviated text in the specific text, in accordance with the change in the abbreviated text. When the specific text should be displayed, the display control unit 21 displays the modified abbreviated text in place of that text portion.

[0034] As described above, according to the above embodiment, the display control unit 21 displays an operation screen on the display device 11a. The display text setting unit 22 sets abbreviated text corresponding to the default text 42 for a predetermined display area 41 on the operation screen. The display text setting unit 22 then sets abbreviated text specified by the user.

[0035] As a result, the abbreviated text selected and set by the user is displayed in the display area 41, making it easier for the user to understand the meaning of the abbreviated text displayed in the designated display area.

[0036] Furthermore, various changes and modifications to the embodiments described above will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the subject matter and without diminishing the intended advantages. In other words, such changes and modifications are intended to be included in the claims.

[0037] For example, in the above embodiment, the display control unit 21 displays the operation screen on the display device 11a built into the electronic device 1, but the operation screen may also be displayed on a display device connected to the electronic device 1 by wire or wireless connection.

[0038] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, if a free-form text entered by the user is set as an abbreviated text, that text may then be added as a candidate to the list 43 described above. [Industrial applicability]

[0039] The present invention is applicable, for example, to electronic devices equipped with an operating screen. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 1 Electronic equipment 11a Display device 11b Input device 21 Display Control Unit 22 Display Text Setting Section

Claims

1. A display control unit that displays an operation screen on a display device, The operation screen includes a display text setting unit for setting abbreviated text corresponding to default text in a predetermined display area, The display text setting unit sets the abbreviated text specified by the user. Electronic devices characterized by the following:

2. The device further includes an input device that detects user operations, When the display control unit detects a predetermined user operation on the display area on the operation screen by the input device, it displays the default text associated with the display area. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, characterized in that (a) when a predetermined user operation on the displayed default text is detected by the input device, it displays a list of candidates for the abbreviated text in association with the default text, and (b) sets the candidate selected by the user from the list as the abbreviated text.

4. When the display text setting unit changes the abbreviated text corresponding to the default text for the display area, it (a) searches for and detects a text portion in the setting data of a specific text displayed on the operation screen that matches the abbreviated text before the change, and (b) sets the changed abbreviated text for the detected text portion. The display control unit, when it is necessary to display the specific text, displays the modified abbreviated text instead of the text portion. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the size of the display area on the operation screen is changed, the display control unit selects whether to display the default text or the abbreviated text in the display area according to the changed size of the display area.

Images