electronic machinery

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 input device 11b detects user operations. The display control unit 21 then (a) displays a shortened form of a default text corresponding to the display area in the display area of ​​the operation screen, and (b) when a predetermined user operation on the display area is detected by the input device 11b, it enlarges the display area and displays the default text in the enlarged display area.

Description

Technical Field

[0007] ,

[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 a predetermined text (such as a key name) as in the above 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 smaller, a fixed abbreviated form of text may be displayed.

[0005] When such abbreviated form of text is displayed, there is a possibility that the user may not be able to understand the meaning of the text from the abbreviated form of 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 the abbreviated form of 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 device, an input device for detecting user operations, and a display control unit for displaying an operation screen on the display device. The display control unit (a) displays a shortened form of a default text corresponding to the display area in the display area of ​​the operation screen, and (b) when a predetermined user operation on the display area is detected by the input device, it enlarges the display area and displays the default text in the enlarged display area. [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 / 3). [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation screen (2 / 3). [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation screen (3 / 3). [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an example of an enlarged view of the display area 41 shown in Figure 2. [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 includes a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and operates as various processing units. Then, the controller 15 loads the programs stored in the ROM and the storage device 14 into the RAM and executes them with the CPU, and operates as various processing units by software. Here, the controller 15 operates as a display control unit 21 and a display text setting unit 22.

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

[0019] FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 are diagrams for explaining the operation screen. In this embodiment, the display control unit 21 displays, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, an operation screen including one or more display areas 41 on the display device 11a, and in the display area 41 within the operation screen, a shortened text 41a of the default text corresponding to the display area 41 is displayed. Here, the display area is a soft key, an icon, or the like. Also, the shortened text corresponding to the default text is a text shorter (with fewer characters) than the default text.

[0020] Further, when a predetermined user operation on the display area 41 is detected by the input device 11b, the display control unit 21 enlarges the display area 41, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, and in the enlarged display area 41, the corresponding default text 42 is displayed.

[0021] This predetermined user operation is the movement of the touch position toward the outside of the display area 41, and the display control unit 21 enlarges the display area 41 in the direction of the movement of the touch position, and when the size of the enlarged display area 41 exceeds a predetermined value, the default text 42 is displayed in the enlarged display area 41. Specifically, when the sizes of the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction of the enlarged display area 41 each exceed the respective predetermined values, the default text 42 is displayed in the enlarged display area 41.

[0022] The display control unit 21 may display the default text 42 in place of the abbreviated text 41a currently displayed in the enlarged display area 41, or it may display the default text 42 together with the abbreviated text 41a. In Figure 3, the default text 42 "Remote Diagnostics Setting" is displayed instead of the abbreviated text 41a "Remote Diagnostics".

[0023] Furthermore, the display text setting unit 22 sets abbreviated text corresponding to the default text for a predetermined display area on the operation screen described above. The display text setting unit 22 sets abbreviated text specified by the user.

[0024] Specifically, the display text setting unit 22, for example as shown in Figure 4, (a) displays a list 43 of abbreviated text candidates 51 to 53 in an enlarged display area 41, and (b) sets the candidate selected by the user from list 43 as the abbreviated text corresponding to the default text 42. Here, candidates 51 to 53 are soft keys and are selected when pressed.

[0025] More specifically, after the default text 42 is displayed, as shown in Figure 3, the display control unit 21 further expands the display area 41, as shown in Figure 4, when a predetermined user operation on the display area 41 is detected by the input device 11b. Then, when the size of the further expanded display area 41 exceeds a predetermined value, the display text setting unit 22 displays the above-mentioned list 43. Specifically, when the size of the further expanded display area 41 in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction exceeds their respective predetermined values, the list 43 is displayed in the further expanded display area 41.

[0026] In this embodiment, the list 43 includes a user-editable soft key 54. 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 (not shown) on the display device 11a where the user can enter free text, and sets the text entered in that input field as the abbreviated text.

[0027] The currently set abbreviated text 41a, default text 42, and list 43 for each display area 41 are included in the setting data 14a beforehand. The display control unit 21 identifies the abbreviated text 41a and default text 42 by referring to the setting data 14a, and the display text setting unit 22 identifies the list 43 by referring to the setting data 14a.

[0028] Figure 5 shows an example of the display area 41 being enlarged as shown in Figure 2. The direction of enlargement of the display area 41 is not limited to the examples shown in Figures 3 and 4; for example, as shown in Figure 5, if the touch position moves in another direction, the display area 41 will similarly be enlarged in that direction.

[0029] Next, the operation of the electronic device 1 described above will be explained.

[0030] 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 abbreviated text 41a set in each display area 41 within the operation screen, and displays the abbreviated text 41a in each display area 41, for example, as shown in Figure 2.

[0031] 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).

[0032] On the other hand, when a predetermined user operation on the display area (in this case, a series of touches and movement of the touch position) is detected, the display control unit 21 enlarges the display area 41 and displays the default text 42, as shown in Figure 3, for example. This allows the user to see the default text 42 corresponding to the abbreviated text 41a in the display area 41.

[0033] Furthermore, after the default text 42 is displayed, if a predetermined user operation (in this case, a further movement of the touch position) is detected by the input device 11b, the display control unit 21 further expands the display area 41, as shown in Figure 4, for example, and the display text setting unit 22 displays a list 43 of abbreviated text candidates 51 to 53, and sets the candidate selected by the user from the list 43 as the abbreviated text. Also, if an operation (press) on a soft key 54 in the list 43 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 and added to the list 43.

[0034] As described above, according to the above embodiment, the display control unit 21 displays an operation screen on the display device 11a. The input device 11b detects user operations. The display control unit 21 then (a) displays a shortened form of the default text corresponding to the display area in the display area of ​​the operation screen, and (b) when a predetermined user operation on the display area is detected by the input device 11b, it enlarges the display area and displays the default text in the enlarged display area.

[0035] This allows the user to arbitrarily enlarge the display area 41 to make the default text visible, 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, 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]

[0038] The present invention is applicable, for example, to electronic devices equipped with an operating screen. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] 1 Electronic equipment 11a Display device 11b Input device 21 Display Control Unit 22 Display Text Setting Section

Claims

1. Display device and An input device that detects user operation, The display device is equipped with a display control unit that displays an operation screen, The display control unit (a) displays a shortened form of the default text corresponding to the display area in the display area of ​​the operation screen, and (b) when a predetermined user operation on the display area is detected by the input device, it enlarges the display area and displays the default text in the enlarged display area. Electronic devices characterized by the following:

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the display control unit displays the default text in place of the abbreviated text in the enlarged display area.

3. The aforementioned predetermined user operation is the movement of the touch position toward the outside of the display area. The display control unit expands the display area in the direction of movement of the touch position, and when the size of the expanded display area exceeds a predetermined value, it displays the predetermined text in the expanded display area. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

4. For a predetermined display area on the operation screen, the abbreviated text corresponding to the default text It further includes a display text setting section for setting the text. The display text setting unit (a) displays a list of candidate abbreviated texts in the enlarged display area, and (b) sets the candidate selected by the user from the list as the abbreviated text corresponding to the default text. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

5. After the default text is displayed, if a predetermined user operation on the display area is detected by the input device, the display control unit further expands the display area. The display text setting unit, when the size of the enlarged display area exceeds a predetermined value, displays a list of candidate abbreviated texts. The electronic device according to claim 4, characterized by the above.

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