Image Forming Apparatus Touch and Touchless Input Mode Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touchless input methods for image forming apparatuses lack the reliability and operational feeling provided by traditional touch operations, especially when inputs are made at a distance from the display screen, which can be inadequate for operators requiring a secure operational experience.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus is designed with both touch and touchless input modes, utilizing a touch panel for direct input and a touchless operation unit that detects input positions at a predetermined distance from the display, allowing the system to switch between modes based on user interaction, enabling reliable operational feedback without physical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a touchless operation is used to avoid pathogen transmission, then hygiene is improved, but the operational feeling and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between touch and touchless input modes based on detected user interaction characteristics. The controller analyzes whether the input device is being used with contact or without contact and transitions between modes accordingly, allowing the operational feeling to adapt to the user's needs while maintaining hygiene benefits when touchless mode is active
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by switching between touch-based and touchless-based input modes. This parameter change allows the same hardware to function in different ways, providing both hygienic touchless operation and reliable tactile feedback when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between hygiene and operational reliability
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a touchless operation at a predetermined distance is used, then hygiene is improved, but the operational feeling and input accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism (the controller with mode switching capability) that mediates between the touchless input device and the display/output components. This intermediary analyzes the input characteristics and switches modes to ensure accurate input processing, whether through touch or touchless methods, thus maintaining input accuracy while enabling hygienic operation
3Adaptability or versatility
If both touch and touchless input portions are provided, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The input device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a touch input portion and a touchless input portion depending on the operational mode. This universal design allows a single hardware system to perform multiple input functions without requiring completely separate physical devices, thus improving versatility while limiting the increase in overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic mode switching to provide both touch and touchless capabilities through the same input device. The controller detects the input method and transitions between modes, allowing the device to adapt its functionality rather than maintaining fixed separate input mechanisms, thereby achieving versatility with controlled complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion that forms an image on a recording medium, a display portion that displays information regarding image forming with the image forming portion, a memory storing instructions, and a controller, which executes the instructions, that detects a position of an instruction portion in contact with a surface of the display portion and generate first input information indicating the detected position of the instruction portion, and detects a position of the instruction portion at a location a predetermined distance away from the surface in a direction orthogonal to the surface and generate second input information indicating the detected position, and transitions the image forming apparatus into a first input mode for generating the first input information without generating the second input information and transition the image into a second input mode for generating the second input information without generating the first input information.