Dynamic Soft Keyboard Hiding for MFP Input Convenience
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses like MFPs, the use of soft keyboards can be inconvenient due to their overlay on operation screens, requiring users to perform cumbersome operations to switch between soft and hard keyboards.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a setting screen displaying portion, an input screen displaying portion, and both hard and soft key accepting portions, allowing users to designate input values and terminate the display of the input screen when using hard keys, facilitating seamless operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a soft keyboard is displayed on the display surface, then the number of physical hard keys is reduced and the apparatus size is decreased, but a part of the operation screen is hidden under the soft keyboard and user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching between soft keyboard display and hard keyboard enablement based on user operation. When a hard key is pressed, the soft keyboard is automatically hidden and hard keys are enabled. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the interface state to user needs, maintaining compact size while preserving operational convenience when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects hard key presses and responds by hiding the soft keyboard and enabling hard key functionality without requiring manual intervention. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for users to manually switch between input modes, resolving the convenience issue while maintaining the space-saving soft keyboard design.
2Volume of moving object
If a soft keyboard is displayed on the display surface, then the apparatus size is reduced, but troublesome operations are required to cause the soft keyboard to be no longer displayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically responds to hard key presses by hiding the soft keyboard and enabling hard key input without requiring users to perform manual switching operations. This self-service approach eliminates complex user operations while maintaining the compact apparatus design achieved through the soft keyboard.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors hard key press events and provides automatic feedback by adjusting the display state - hiding the soft keyboard when hard keys are pressed. This feedback mechanism simplifies user interaction by automatically adapting the interface to the current input mode, eliminating the need for manual keyboard switching operations.
3Ease of operation
If the input screen is displayed overlaid on the setting screen, then input key images are accessible, but the setting screen area is partially hidden and viewing completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the input screen display based on input method detection. When hard key input is detected, the input screen is automatically hidden to restore full setting screen visibility. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the display state to the active input mode, maintaining input accessibility when needed while preserving screen visibility when hard keys are used.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a setting screen displaying portion to display a setting screen having a setting value setting area, an input screen displaying portion, responsive to designation of a position within a prescribed area determined by the setting area in the setting screen while the setting screen is being displayed, to display an input screen including input key images to be overlaid on the setting screen, a first setting value accepting portion to accept a value corresponding to the input key image designated by the user in the input screen, an operation accepting portion including hard keys, a second setting value accepting portion to accept a value corresponding to the hard key designated by the user, and a display terminating portion, responsive to acceptance of an operation of enabling the operation accepting portion while the input screen is being displayed, to terminate the display of the input screen.