Image Forming Apparatus Display Control for Setting Transparency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face complexity in configuring settings due to increasing functions, where preset programs and linkage configurations can lead to hidden modifications that are difficult for users to confirm on control panels, especially when certain settings are deactivated.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a display and circuitry that controls the display to show setting items in a specific format, allowing users to accept and modify settings for preregistered combinations, while notifying users of changes to non-displayed settings, ensuring transparency and preventing unintentional modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If preset program function is used to configure multiple setting items at once, then configuration time is reduced, but user awareness of individual setting modifications is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback by displaying a summary screen that shows all setting items including those configured through preset programs. The display presents setting items in a structured format where users can see which settings are displayed and which are hidden, providing awareness of all configurations made through en block operations.
Solution Approach 2:
A summary screen acts as an intermediary between the preset program configuration function and the user. This intermediate display layer translates the bulk configuration operation into individual visible setting items, allowing users to review and understand what each preset program has configured without manually going through each setting.
2Ease of operation
If linkage configuration function is used to automatically modify settings, then operational simplicity is improved, but user confirmation of modifications becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
When linkage configuration automatically modifies a setting item, the system provides feedback by displaying that modified item on the summary screen. The display shows the setting value and indicates it has been modified through linkage, allowing users to confirm what changes have been made automatically by the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The summary screen serves as an intermediary that captures and displays all automatic modifications made by the linkage configuration function. This intermediate layer translates automatic backend modifications into visible information for users, maintaining operational simplicity while providing modification awareness.
3Device complexity
If certain setting items are deactivated and not displayed, then display complexity is reduced, but modification awareness is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The summary screen acts as an intermediary that displays all setting items including those that are deactivated or not shown on the main operation screen. By presenting a comprehensive view of all settings in a structured format, it provides awareness of modifications to hidden settings without adding complexity to the main operational display.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a display and circuitry that controls the display to display multiple display components corresponding to multiple setting items, accepts a setting value for a first setting item through corresponding one of the multiple display components, based on a determination indicating a first setting item is one of a preregistered combination of setting items to be configured en bloc, modifies setting values for respective ones of the preregistered combination of setting items based on the accepted setting value for the first setting item, determines whether any one of the multiple display components corresponding to the modified setting values for the preregistered combination of setting items is configured as non-displayed, and based on a determination indicating any one of the multiple display components corresponding to the modified setting values is configured as non-displayed, outputs a notification indicating the setting value for the non-displayed setting item is modified.