Input device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

This enables contactless switching between contact input and contact input without consuming the display area for the contactless switching operation. [Solution] The input device (50) comprises a display unit 51 and an input operation unit (52) which is positioned so as to overlap at least a portion with the display unit 51 when viewed from the normal direction of the display unit 51, and which accepts contact input operations by touch or pressing. The input device (50) is switchable between non-contact input and contact input using the input operation units (52, 71). A non-contact switching operation detection unit (53b) for detecting non-contact switching operations, which are non-contact operations for switching, is attached to the main body of the input device (50) so as to be able to detect non-contact switching operations at a predetermined location (70) that does not overlap with the input operation unit (52) when viewed from the normal direction of the input operation unit (52).

Description

Technical Field

[0003]

[0001] The present invention relates to an input device and an image forming apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known an input device including a display unit and an input operation unit that is arranged so as to overlap at least a part of the display unit when viewed from the normal direction of the display unit and receives a contact input operation by contact or pressing, and is capable of switching between non-contact input and contact input using the input operation unit. For example, Patent Document 1 describes such an input device that performs non-contact input by detecting the position of an instruction unit such as a finger or a touch pen at a position separated from the surface of a display unit that displays information related to image formation by a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the display unit. It is also described in this device that a non-contact operation unit is used for the switching operation between contact input and non-contact input.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] <00​​​​​​To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an input device comprising a display unit and an input operation unit that is arranged such that at least a portion of it overlaps with the display unit when viewed from the normal direction of the display unit and accepts contact input operations by touch or pressing, and which is capable of switching between non-contact input and contact input using the input operation unit, characterized in that a non-contact switching operation detection unit for detecting a non-contact switching operation, which is a non-contact operation for the switching, is attached to the main body of the input device so as to be able to detect the non-contact switching operation at a predetermined location that does not overlap with the input operation unit when viewed from the normal direction of the input operation unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0005] According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid consuming the display area for contactless switching operations. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] A perspective view of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. [Figure 2] A perspective view of the control panel of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] A perspective view showing the detection surface of the non-contact operation sensor of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] Functional block diagram of the control panel of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 5] A flowchart illustrating the control of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 6] Example of the configuration of the control panel for the image forming apparatus. [Figure 7] Diagram illustrating other configuration examples. [Figure 8] Further diagrams illustrating other configuration examples. [Figure 9] Further diagrams illustrating other configuration examples. [Figure 10] Further diagrams illustrating other configuration examples. [Figure 11] Further diagrams illustrating other configuration examples. [Figure 12] Further diagrams illustrating other configuration examples. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] The following describes an embodiment in which the input device according to the present invention is used in the operation panel of an image forming apparatus. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 is a copier in which an image reading device 2 is positioned on top of the main body 3 of the image forming apparatus. The main body 3 of the image forming apparatus includes a recording paper storage section 5 that houses recording paper as a recording medium on which an image is formed, and an image forming section (image making section) as an image forming means.

[0008] Furthermore, an operation panel 50, which is an input device for the user to perform various input operations related to the image forming process and for which information related to the image forming process is displayed, is installed on the front of the image forming apparatus 1 (the front where the user performs normal operations). The operation panel 50 is rotatably supported on a support shaft 50a and its tilt angle can be changed.

[0009] The image forming unit includes, for example, an exposure unit as an exposure means, a plurality of photosensitive drums, a developing device that uses four colors of toner: cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), a transfer belt as an intermediate transfer body, a secondary transfer unit, a fixing unit, etc. Based on the scanned image of the original read by the image reading device 2 or print data transmitted from an external device such as a PC (personal computer), the image forming unit creates an image, for example, as follows: Based on the print data, the image forming unit exposes each color of photosensitive drum with the exposure unit to form an electrostatic latent image on each photosensitive drum, and then develops the image by supplying toner onto the latent image on each photosensitive drum with the developing unit for each color of the developing device. The image forming unit can also form a color image by first transferring the toner images on each color of photosensitive drum to the transfer belt, then transferring them to recording paper as a recording medium in the secondary transfer unit, and finally fixing the toner images on the recording paper by heating and pressurizing them in the fixing unit. The recording paper on which the image has been formed is discharged into the output tray 19 on the top surface of the image forming apparatus body 3.

[0010] In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for contactless operation of touch panels and buttons that are touched by many different users, in order to avoid contact with viruses and bacteria that cause infectious diseases. Similarly, in the case of floor-mounted image forming apparatus 1 shown in Figure 1, the operation panel 50 is also operated by many different users, and there are a certain number of users who psychologically do not want to touch it. Therefore, the operation panel 50 of this embodiment is equipped with a non-contact sensor, allowing the operation screen to be operated without touching it.

[0011] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the control panel 50. As shown in Figure 2, the operation panel 50 includes a display unit 51 such as an LCD or CRT, and a touch panel 52 as a contact operation detection unit. For example, as shown in Figure 6(b), the operation panel 50 is constructed by assembling a display unit 51 consisting of a touch panel 52, a front cover 60, a liquid crystal panel (liquid crystal panel unit), a PCB (substrate), a bracket 61, a rear cover 62, a hinge for mounting to an image forming apparatus, a rear cover 63, etc., in a stacked manner.

[0012] The touch panel 52 is a capacitive or pressure-sensitive contact sensor and is mounted on top of the display unit 51. For example, the touch panel 52 is fixed to the front cover 60 with double-sided tape or the like. The front cover 60, the display unit 51, and the PCB (circuit board) are supported by a bracket 64. The touch panel 52 detects the position of touch when the user's finger touches the touch-sensing surface.

[0013] The control panel 50 also includes a non-contact sensor 53 as a non-contact operation detection unit. The non-contact sensor 53 is configured to be detachable from the control panel 50 as a non-contact operation unit and is optionally mounted on the back of the control panel 50. The non-contact sensor 53 is connected to a connection terminal such as a USB terminal provided at the bottom of the control panel 50, enabling communication with the panel control unit 55 (see Figure 4) that controls the control panel 50 and power supply.

[0014] The non-contact sensor 53 has an optical unit composed of a light-emitting element that irradiates infrared rays and a light-receiving element that receives infrared rays arranged in an array. As shown in FIG. 3, a space region above the operation screen at a predetermined distance from the surface of the display unit 51, which is the operation screen 51a, serves as a detection surface 53a for detecting a non-contact operation of the user on the operation screen. This detection surface 53a is the infrared irradiation direction of the light-emitting element. When the user's finger enters this surface, the diffused reflected light of the infrared rays from the light-emitting element reflected by the finger is received by a plurality of light-receiving elements, and the position of the fingertip is detected based on the amount of infrared light received by each light-receiving element.

[0015] Conventional non-contact sensors have a two-axis scanning optical path, namely, the scanning optical path of infrared rays irradiated in the vertical direction of the display unit 51 and the scanning optical path of infrared rays irradiated in the horizontal direction of the display unit 51. Also, in conventional non-contact sensors, light-emitting elements are arranged in an array on one side of the display unit, and light-receiving elements are arranged in an array on the other side. The light from the light-emitting element is blocked by the fingertip that has entered the detection surface, and the position of the fingertip is detected based on the position of the light-receiving element that has stopped receiving light. Therefore, conventional non-contact sensors are composed of a frame that surrounds the display unit 51, and it may be difficult to operate at the edge of the operation screen, presenting an issue in terms of operability. There is also an issue that the appearance is impaired.

[0016] On the other hand, the non-contact sensor 53 in FIGS. 2 and 3 has a single-axis scanning optical path only for the scanning optical path of infrared rays irradiated from the back side of the operation panel 50 in the vertical direction (the front-back direction of the device, the Y direction in the figure) of the display unit 51. Also, it receives the infrared rays diffusely reflected from the user's finger that has entered the detection surface 53a to the back side of the operation panel 50 with a light-receiving element to detect the position of the fingertip. Therefore, the non-contact sensor 53 of this embodiment may be arranged only on the back side of the operation panel 50, and compared with the conventional non-contact sensor that surrounds the display unit 51, the operability at the edge of the operation screen can be improved. Also, the appearance is not impaired. In this embodiment, instead of the non-contact sensor 53 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the above-mentioned conventional non-contact sensor may be used.

[0017] Figure 4 is a functional block diagram of the operation panel 50. The additional non-contact sensors (72, 73) shown by virtual lines in Figure 4 are those provided in the operation panel 50 of Configuration Examples 6 and 7 described later. As shown in Figure 4, the operation panel 50 includes a panel control unit 55 composed of a computer device such as a microcomputer. The panel control unit 55 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 55a. It also includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 60c and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 60b as storage means connected to the CPU 55a via a bus line. By executing a control program, which is a computer program pre-embedded, the CPU 55a controls the display unit 51, and detects the user's operation based on the position information detected by the non-contact sensor 53 or the touch panel 52 and the operation screen displayed on the display unit 51. The ROM 55c pre-stores fixed data such as computer programs and control data. The RAM 55b functions as a work area and the like for storing various data in a rewritable manner.

[0018] As described above, when the user's finger touches the sensing surface of the touch panel 52 that senses contact, the touch panel 52 detects the touched position. The position information detected by the touch panel 52 is sent to the panel control unit 55. Then, the panel control unit 55 detects a contact operation on the operation screen displayed on the display unit 51 based on the position information detected by the touch panel 52.

[0019] As described above, the non-contact sensor 53 receives the diffused reflected light of the infrared rays of the light emitting element reflected from the user's finger that has entered the detection surface 53a by a plurality of light receiving elements, and detects the position of the fingertip based on the amount of infrared light received by each light receiving element. The position information detected by the non-contact sensor 53 is sent to the panel control unit 55. Then, the panel control unit 55 detects a non-contact operation on the operation screen displayed on the display unit 51 based on the position information detected by the non-contact sensor 53.

[0020] The panel control unit 55 identifies information regarding the image forming operation input by the user based on the user's operation on the detected operation screen, and transmits the identified information regarding the image forming operation to the main unit control unit 56 (control unit of the image forming apparatus).

[0021] In summary, the operation panel 50 of this embodiment is arranged such that the touch panel 52, which corresponds to the input operation unit that accepts contact input operations via contact, overlaps with the display unit 51 in at least a portion of the way when viewed from the normal direction of the display unit 51. Furthermore, the operation panel 50 of this embodiment allows switching between contactless input using the contactless sensor 53 and contact input using the touch panel 52 via a contactless operation (contactless switching operation). The contactless switching operation detection unit that detects this contactless switching operation can be configured using the contactless sensor 53 shown in Figure 4, or it can be configured using additional contactless sensors (72, 73) shown by dashed lines in Figure 4.

[0022] The switching operation between contact input and non-contact input described in Patent Document 1 is a two-step process, initiated through the main menu and completed through the settings screen. Specifically, the main screen, which contains icons for the primary functions of the image forming apparatus—"Scan," "Copy," and "FAX"—displays a "Touch Panel Selection" icon. Turning on the "Touch Panel Selection" icon displays the settings screen. Within this settings screen, icons are displayed for selecting whether to enable the contact-type touch panel or the non-contact operation unit, and the switching operation can be completed through this settings screen.

[0023] Similarly in this embodiment, the contactless switching operation may be configured in two or more stages, or it may be switched in a single stage. For example, if a contactless switching operation is detected at a predetermined location while in contact input mode, the system switches to contactless input; conversely, if a contactless switching operation is detected at a predetermined location while in contact input mode, the system switches back to contact input in a single stage.

[0024] Figure 5 is a flowchart of the control when the contactless switching operation is a single-step operation. This control is executed when it is detected that the contactless sensor 53 unit is electrically connected to the image forming apparatus 1, and terminates when it is detected that the electrical connection has been broken (N in S1). This control determines whether or not the electrical connection is maintained (S1), and if it is connected (Y in S1), it determines whether or not a contactless switching operation has been detected (S2), and if a contactless switching operation is detected, it switches between contact input and contactless input. The default setting when the contactless sensor 53 unit is first electrically connected to the image forming apparatus 1 may be set to either contact input or contactless input.

[0025] The operation panel 50 of this embodiment is characterized by the setting of the operation location for contactless switching operations detected by a contactless sensor, that is, the setting of the detection surface for contactless switching operations by the contactless sensor. In this embodiment, the detection surface for contactless switching operations by the contactless sensor is set so that contactless switching operations can be detected at a predetermined location that does not overlap with the input operation section when viewed from the normal direction of the operation screen 51a, which is the surface of the touch panel 52, an input operation section that accepts contact input. This predetermined location can be called the contactless switching operation detection location because it is the location where the contactless switching operation is detected by the contactless sensor.

[0026] The non-contact sensors (53, 72, 73) constituting the non-contact switching operation detection unit are attached to the main body of the operation panel 50 so that the area to be detected for non-contact switching operations is within the detection surface. If the operation panel 50 has physical hard keys on the main body of the operation panel 50 that generate electrical signals when pressed, in addition to the touch panel 52 (see hard key 57 in Figure 10), the area to be detected for non-contact switching operations (non-contact switching operation surface) is made so as not to overlap with the input operation unit, including the hard keys.

[0027] Figures 6 to 12 show examples of operation panel 50 configurations in which the settings for the contactless switching operation detection points are different from each other. In the configuration example (Configuration Example 1) of the operation panel 50 in Figure 6, the outer edge of the front cover 60, which serves as a fixing part to which the touch panel 52, a contact operation part that generates input information when touched, is fixed, becomes the outer edge of the main body of the operation panel 50 when viewed from the direction normal to the operation screen 51a. In other words, when viewed from the same normal direction, the front cover 60 is perceived as the fixing frame for the touch panel 52. Figure 6(a) is a front view of the operation panel 50, and Figure 6(b) is a cross-sectional view AA of Figure 6(a).

[0028] In this configuration example 1, the contactless switching operation detection point 70, indicated by the dashed line, is set to be located in the space outside the fixed frame of the main body of the operation panel 50. An extension 53b is provided on the contactless sensor 53 so that this contactless switching operation detection point 70 can be located within the detection surface 53a.

[0029] The items shown in the display unit 51 in Figure 6(a) are examples of information related to printing that can be displayed using the display unit's screen. These include icons (including the numeric keypad icon) to indicate input locations using the touch panel 52, and information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus.

[0030] In this embodiment, a non-contact sensor 53 for detecting fingers or objects is installed on the upper side of the operation panel 50, but it is not limited to this, and a structure that surrounds the operation panel 50 is also acceptable. In this configuration example, the contact / non-contact switching operation is performed in mid-air.

[0031] Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation panel 50 of another configuration example (Configuration Example 2). This Configuration Example 2 includes a contactless operation guide 71 with printing or LEDs indicating the contactless switching operation detection location 70, which is shown by a dotted line. For example, the contactless switching operation detection location 70, shown by a dotted line, is marked with a circular mark as shown by the dotted line or printed with text such as "Input Switching". By including the contactless operation guide 71, the location of the contactless switching operation detection location 70 is made easier to identify.

[0032] The non-contact operation guide 71 is separate from the main body of the operation panel 50. The non-contact operation guide 71 may be attached to and supported by the main body of the operation panel 50 (for example, the front cover 60), or it may be directly attached to and supported by the non-contact sensor 53 or the image forming apparatus 1, which is the device on which the operation panel 50 is attached.

[0033] Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation panel 50 in yet another configuration example (Configuration Example 3). In this Configuration Example 3, the front cover 60 and other fixed parts are made wider, and the contactless switching operation detection area 70 is set above the normal direction of the fixed part. The widened portion 60a of the fixed part may be equipped with an object that guides contactless operation, such as printing or LEDs indicating the contactless switching operation detection area 70. For example, the contactless switching operation detection area 70 shown by the dashed line is equipped with the aforementioned printing or LEDs.

[0034] Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram of the operation panel 50 in yet another configuration example (Configuration Example 4). As shown in Figure 9, a contactless switching operation detection point 70 may be set on the front side of the fixed part (front cover 60). Printing or LEDs as described above may also be applied to this point.

[0035] Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram of the operation panel 50 of yet another configuration example (Configuration Example 5). In this Configuration Example 5, the touch panel 52 and hard keys 57 (e.g., a numeric keypad) are provided as contact operation parts. Since the area around the hard keys 57 is also a fixed part, a contactless switching operation detection area 70 may be set around the hard keys 57. Printing or LEDs as described above may be applied to the contactless switching operation detection area 70 shown by the dashed line.

[0036] Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram of the operation panel 50 in yet another configuration example (Configuration Example 6). In this Configuration Example 6, an additional non-contact sensor 72, separate from the non-contact sensor 53 for detecting non-contact input, is provided to detect the non-contact switching operation detection point 70 within the detection surface 72a. For example, instead of a sensor that detects position coordinates like the non-contact sensor 53, an inexpensive sensor such as a photoelectric sensor that detects when light is blocked by a finger or object can be used as the additional non-contact sensor 72, thereby allowing the switching detection surface 72a and the non-contact switching operation detection point 70 to be set inexpensively. Note that this additional non-contact sensor 72 may be attached to the image forming apparatus body 3 near the operation panel 50, rather than to the operation panel 50.

[0037] Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram of the operation panel 50 in yet another configuration example (Configuration Example 7). In this Configuration Example 7, an additional non-contact sensor 73, separate from the non-contact sensor 53 for detecting non-contact input, is installed on the side of the operation panel 50. Specifically, the space in the normal direction of the side is installed so that it becomes a detection surface 73a including the non-contact switching operation detection point 70. In the configuration examples in Figures 6 to 8, 10 and 11, the width direction increases and the size of the operation panel 50 increases due to the extension of the non-contact sensor 53 for detecting non-contact input. In contrast, in this Configuration Example 7, by installing the additional non-contact sensor 73 on the side of the operation panel 50, the detection surface 73a and the non-contact switching operation detection point 70 can be set without increasing the size of the operation panel 50.

[0038] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the spirit of the invention as described in the claims, unless otherwise specifically limited in the above description. For example, in the embodiment described above, the non-contact sensors and other components of the non-contact switching operation detection unit were attached to the main body of the operation panel 50 by retrofitting them using a mounting structure after the operation panel body had been completed by assembling all its components. Alternatively, the non-contact sensors could be assembled to each other in the same way as the other elements of the operation panel during the manufacturing stage of the main body of the operation panel 50, and then attached to the operation panel upon completion.

[0039] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiments are examples of applying the present invention to an input device of an image forming apparatus, it is not limited to this and can be applied to input devices of various electronic devices. The effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are merely a list of the most preferred effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0040] The above description is merely an example, and the present invention provides specific effects for each of the following embodiments. In the description of the embodiments, the symbols in parentheses after the component names are examples of corresponding components and are not limited to these examples. (Aspect 1) The input device (50) comprises a display unit 51 and input operation units (52, 71) arranged such that at least a portion of them overlap with the display unit 51 when viewed from the normal direction of the display unit 51, and which accept contact input operations by touch or pressing, and is capable of switching between non-contact input and contact input using the input operation units (52, 71), characterized in that a non-contact switching operation detection unit (53b, 72, 73) for detecting a non-contact switching operation, which is a non-contact operation for switching, is attached to the main body of the input device (50) so as to be able to detect a non-contact switching operation at a predetermined location that does not overlap with the input operation units (52, 71) when viewed from the normal direction of the input operation units (52, 71). This avoids consuming the area of ​​the display unit 51 for contactless switching operations.

[0041] Patent Document 2 describes an image forming apparatus equipped with an input device that can switch between a contact mode, in which input is performed using a touch panel, and a non-contact mode, in which input is performed using a non-contact operation unit. Switching in this apparatus is performed by installing a reader, such as an RFID (radiofrequency identifier) ​​reader, in a location on the main body of the image forming apparatus separate from the input device, and reading the proximity of a storage medium such as an IC card with this reader. This requires the reader to be installed separately from the input device, and also requires the switching operation to be performed on a reader located away from the input device. Furthermore, if the non-contact switching operation detection unit of the present invention is configured with an optical detection sensor, the cost can be reduced compared to an RFID (radiofrequency identifier) ​​reader.

[0042] (Aspect 2) The input device (50) described in Embodiment 1 is characterized in that a non-contact switching operation detection unit (53b, 72, 73) is configured using a sensor (53) that is attached to the main body of the input device (50) and constitutes a non-contact input detection unit for detecting non-contact input operations. According to this, compared to the case where a non-contact input detection unit and a non-contact switching operation detection unit (53b, 72, 73) are provided separately and each is attached to the main body of the input device (50), a single sensor (53) that constitutes both the non-contact input detection unit and the non-contact switching operation detection unit (53b, 72, 73) can be attached to the main body of the input device (50), making the installation work easier.

[0043] In this embodiment 2, it can also be said that the non-contact switching operation detection unit (53b, 72, 73) is mounted such that a predetermined location is inside the non-contact input operation detection surface that detects non-contact input operations. The non-contact switching operation detection unit (53b, 72, 73) can be configured by extending and enlarging the sensor (53) that constitutes the non-contact input detection unit that detects non-contact input so that it can detect to a location that does not overlap with the input operation unit (52, 71) in the direction perpendicular to the detection surface, or by using a high-performance sensor (53) that can detect to a location that does not overlap with the input operation unit (52, 71) in the direction perpendicular to the detection surface as the sensor (53) that constitutes the non-contact input detection unit that detects non-contact input.

[0044] (Aspect 3) The input device (50) described in Embodiment 1 is characterized in that a non-contact switching operation detection unit (53b, 72, 73) is attached such that a predetermined location is located in the space perpendicular to the surface on the same side as the input operation unit (52, 71) of the main body of the input device (50). According to this, the surface on the same side as the input operation section (52, 71) of the input device (50) body can be used as the background for a predetermined location. In embodiment 1, the predetermined location can be set in the air where there are no objects nearby, but in embodiment 3, the predetermined location is limited to an area where there is an object, that is, the input device (50) body is in the background.

[0045] (Aspect 4) The input device (50) described in Embodiment 1 is characterized in that, in addition to the contactless input detection unit that detects contactless input operations, contactless switching operation detection units (53b, 72, 73) are attached. According to this, the non-contact input detection unit and the non-contact switching operation detection unit (53b, 72, 73) can be provided separately, and sensors with the necessary and sufficient performance required for each can be used, allowing for an inexpensive system to be constructed from both. Specifically, the sensors constituting the non-contact switching operation detection unit (53b, 72, 73) differ from the sensors constituting the non-contact input detection unit (53), and do not detect position coordinates, but rather inexpensive sensors such as photoelectric sensors that only detect the blocking of light can be used.

[0046] (Aspect 5) The input device (50) described in Embodiment 1 is characterized in that a guide mark for contactless switching operation is provided so as to overlap a predetermined location. According to this, guidance marks can be used as markers, making contactless switching operations easier.

[0047] (Aspect 6) The input device (50) described in Embodiment 1 is characterized in that an operation screen is displayed on the display unit 51 of the input operation unit (52, 71). According to this, the operation screen of the display unit 51 can be used as a guide for operation in contactless input.

[0048] (Aspect 7) An input device (50) equipped with an operation panel, wherein the operation panel includes a display unit 51 that displays information related to image formation, contact operation units (52, 71) on the operation panel that generate input information when touched or pressed on the surface, a fixing unit for attaching the contact operation units, a non-contact sensor (53) attached to the operation panel that detects the position of a finger without contact, a non-contact detection surface (53a) that detects the position of an object with the non-contact sensor (53), and a switching operation surface (70) that performs a contact / non-contact switching operation without contact, wherein the switching operation surface (70) is located outside the contact operation units (52, 71). This avoids consuming the area of ​​the display unit 51 for contactless switching operations.

[0049] (Claim 8) The input device (50) according to claim 1 is characterized in that the switching operation surface (70) is located inside the non-contact detection surface (53a). According to this, compared to the case where a non-contact input detection unit (53) and a non-contact switching operation detection unit (53b, 72, 73) are provided separately and each is attached to the main body of the input device (50), a single sensor (53) that constitutes both the non-contact input detection unit (53) and the non-contact switching operation detection unit (53b, 72, 73) can be attached to the main body of the input device (50), making the installation work easier.

[0050] (Claim 9) The input device (50) according to claim 1 is characterized in that the switching operation surface (70) is on the surface of the fixed part (60) or in the space in the normal direction. According to this, the surface on the same side as the input operation section (52, 71) of the input device (50) body can be used as the background for a predetermined location.

[0051] (Aspect 10) An image forming apparatus equipped with an input device (50) is characterized in that the input device (50) is the input device (50) described in any one of embodiments 1 to 9. This avoids consuming the area of ​​the display unit 51 for contactless switching operations. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0052] 1: Image forming apparatus 2: Image reading device 3: Image forming apparatus main unit 5: Recording paper storage section 19: Paper output tray 50: Control Panel 50a: Support shaft 51: Display section 51a: Operation screen 52: Touch panel 53: Non-contact sensor 53a: Detection surface 53b: Extension part 55: Panel Control Unit 55a: CPU 55b: RAM 55c :ROM 56: Main Unit Control 57: Hard Key 60: Front cover 60a :part 61: Bracket 62: Rear cover 63: Back cover 64: Bracket 70: Non-contact switching operation detected location 71: Non-contact operation inducer 72: Non-contact sensors 72a: Switching detection surface 73: Non-contact sensor [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0053] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-088270 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-139815

Claims

1. An input device comprising a display unit and an input operation unit, which is positioned such that at least a portion of it overlaps with the display unit when viewed from the normal direction of the display unit, and which accepts contact input operations by touch or pressing, and which is capable of switching between non-contact input and contact input using the input operation unit, A non-contact switching operation detection unit detects a non-contact switching operation, which is a non-contact operation for the aforementioned switching. An input device characterized by being mounted on the main body of the input device so as to be able to detect the non-contact switching operation at a predetermined location that does not overlap with the input operation unit when viewed from the normal direction of the input operation unit.

2. In the input device according to claim 1, An input device characterized in that the non-contact switching operation detection unit is configured using a sensor that constitutes a non-contact input detection unit for detecting the operation of the non-contact input, which is attached to the main body of the input device.

3. In the input device according to claim 1, An input device characterized in that the non-contact switching operation detection unit is mounted such that the predetermined location is located in the space normal to the surface on the same side of the input operation unit of the input device body.

4. In the input device according to claim 1, An input device characterized by having a non-contact switching operation detection unit attached separately from the non-contact input detection unit that detects the operation of the non-contact input.

5. An input device according to claim 1, characterized in that a guide mark for contactless switching operation is provided so as to overlap the predetermined location.

6. In the input device according to claim 1, An input device characterized by displaying an operation screen on the display unit of the input operation unit.

7. An input device equipped with an operation panel, The aforementioned control panel is A display unit that displays information related to image formation, A contact operation unit located on the aforementioned control panel generates input information when its surface is touched or pressed, A fixing part for attaching the contact operating part, A non-contact sensor attached to the aforementioned control panel detects the position of a finger without contact, A non-contact detection surface that detects the position of an object using the aforementioned non-contact sensor, It has a non-contact switching surface that allows for contact / non-contact switching operations without physical contact, An input device characterized in that the non-contact switching operation surface is located outside the contact operation section.

8. In the input device according to claim 7, An input device characterized in that the non-contact switching operation surface is located inside the non-contact detection surface.

9. In the input device according to claim 7, An input device characterized in that the non-contact switching operation surface is located on the surface of the fixed part or in space in the normal direction.

10. In an image forming apparatus equipped with an input device, An image forming apparatus characterized in that the input device is the input device described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images