Wireless Operation Unit Memory Segmentation for Image Forming Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatus remote operation devices require large memory sizes for storing all display images, leading to increased manufacturing costs due to the need for extensive ROM capacity.
Innovation Solution
A wireless operation unit with a touch panel display that temporarily stores data for operation screen images and communicates wirelessly with the image forming apparatus, transmitting touch position data or commands based on icon interactions, reducing the need for extensive ROM storage by limiting stored images to essential data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all display images are stored in advance in the ROM of the remote operation portion, then the display functionality is complete and reliable, but the memory size of the ROM increases, leading to higher manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The display images are segmented into two categories: essential operation screen images stored in ROM and additional images transmitted from the image forming apparatus. This segmentation allows the ROM to contain only critical images, reducing memory size and manufacturing cost while maintaining complete display functionality through the combination of stored and transmitted images
Solution Approach 2:
Essential operation screen images are stored in advance in the ROM of the remote operation portion, allowing the device to function independently for basic operations. Additional images are transmitted when needed from the image forming apparatus, combining preliminary preparation with on-demand supplementation to reduce overall memory requirements
2Adaptability or versatility
If large ROM capacity is used in the remote operation portion, then all screen images can be stored locally, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The remote operation portion is designed to work with multiple image forming apparatus models by receiving and displaying images transmitted from different devices. Instead of storing all possible images for all models in local ROM, the device universally handles images transmitted from various apparatuses, reducing memory requirements while maintaining compatibility and versatility
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an image forming system including: an image forming apparatus; and an operation unit communicating wirelessly with the image forming apparatus. The operation unit includes a touch panel display, a first memory temporality storing a first screen image and a second screen image related to the image forming apparatus, a second memory in which the second screen image is stored in advance. When the first screen image transmitted from the image forming apparatus to the operation unit is displayed on the touch panel display, if a first icon on the first screen image is touched, the position of the first icon is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. When the second screen image stored in the second memory is displayed on the touch panel display, if a second icon on the second screen image is touched, a command indicating the second icon is transmitted to the image forming apparatus.