Touch Panel Job List Scrolling and Dynamic Key Hiding
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Solution Overview
Problem
In digital copiers, the display area occupied by touch keys limits the number of print jobs that can be shown on the LCD display, reducing user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a touch panel that allows the select all key to be selectively displayed or hidden, increasing the display area for print jobs by incorporating additional keys in the occupied space, and enabling scrolling of the list to show more jobs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If touch keys are displayed on the LCD display, then user interaction functionality is improved, but the display area for print jobs is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The touch keys are implemented as dynamically displayable and hidden elements on the touch panel. The controller can selectively display or hide the touch keys based on operational needs, allowing the display area to be flexible rather than statically occupied by always-visible keys. This resolves the contradiction by making the key area dynamic - visible when interaction is needed, hidden when maximum job display is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces scrolling capability along a particular direction to access additional touch keys that are not immediately visible. This transforms the limited two-dimensional display space into an effectively expanded interface by adding the dimension of scrolling navigation, allowing all necessary touch keys to be available without permanently occupying fixed screen real estate.
2Ease of operation
If the number of displayed print jobs is increased, then user convenience is improved, but the display area required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements scrolling capability that allows the list of print jobs to extend beyond the immediate visible area. Users can navigate through additional jobs by scrolling in a particular direction, effectively increasing the capacity to display and access multiple jobs without requiring all jobs to be simultaneously visible on the fixed display panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system dynamically adjusts between showing more job listings and showing interaction controls (touch keys). When jobs need to be displayed, the system can hide less frequently used touch keys and show them when needed, allowing the same display area to serve both purposes at different times.
3Adaptability or versatility
If touch keys occupy display space, then functional controls are available, but the list of print jobs cannot be expanded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the touch key functionality from a permanent fixed position and makes it selectively displayable. The controller can remove touch keys from the display when they are not needed for interaction, freeing up the display area entirely for showing additional print jobs. The keys can be temporarily extracted and displayed only when user interaction is required.
Solution Approach 2:
By implementing scrolling capability, the patent allows the functional controls to be accessed in an expanded space that doesn't permanently reduce the job list area. The touch keys can be positioned and accessed through scrolling navigation, separating their functional availability from their visual occupation of the primary job display area.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a communication interface, a memory, a touch panel, a printer, and a controller. The printer prints an image on a recording medium. The controller is configured to: receive a print job through the communication interface and store the print job in the memory; control the touch panel to display a list including one or more job touch keys and a function touch key, the one or more job touch keys being for individually selecting one or more print jobs stored in the memory, the function touch key being for selecting all of the one or more job touch keys included in the list, the list being scrollable along a particular direction; and in response to receiving a scroll operation of the list, controlling the touch panel to cause the list to scroll along the particular direction.