Konica Minolta, Inc.

Hisataka Funakawa

Tomoo Yamanaka

Akira Ohhata

A purpose of the present invention is to obtain a good tactile sensation of a vibration response even if a state or an operation situation of an operation panel changes, when the operation panel installed in a stationary machine, such as an image forming device, is vibrated as an operation response. The present invention is applied to an operation input device that notifies a user by causing a vibrating element to vibrate an operation panel attached to a device main body when an operation of the operation panel by the user is detected. Here, in order to drive the vibrating element, at least one of a plurality of vibration directions is selected to drive the vibrating element when an operation input from the operation panel is detected.

Operation input device and image forming device

An operation input device includes: an operation panel unit which receives an operation input by a user touching a displayed operation key; a vibrating element installed at a specified position of the operation panel unit to vibrate the unit at least in one direction; and a vibration control section which causes the element to vibrate according to an operation input receiving condition on the panel unit. On the panel unit, operation keys are arranged more densely in a first region near the installed vibrating element than in a second region remote from the vibrating element, or keys which are more frequently used are arranged in the first region than in the second region. Alternatively, an operation key for user interfacing to set display of keys is arranged in the first region.

Operation input device and image forming apparatus

An input device includes: an operation panel that receives an operation input; a vibration element that is mounted to the operation panel and that vibrates the operation panel in at least one vibration direction; a vibration absorber that connects the operation panel to an apparatus main body and that absorbs a vibration of the operation panel; and a CPU that causes the vibration element to vibrate based on the operation input, wherein the vibration element is mounted on a gravity center axis of the operation panel in the vibration direction.

Input device and image forming apparatus

A processing apparatus to which an option is mountable, the processing apparatus including: a power supply unit; a device that (i) is controlled by the option mounted to the processing apparatus or controls the option and that (ii) performs a process corresponding to an inspection of whether or not the device operates normally; and a switching unit that switches on and off supply of electric power from the power supply unit to the device. Here, while the switching unit is receiving an instruction to initiate the process, the switching unit switches on the supply of electric power from the power supply unit to the device, while the switching unit is not receiving the instruction, the switching unit switches off the supply of electric power from the power supply unit to the device, and the device performs the process upon receiving electric power supplied from the power supply unit by the switching unit.

Processing apparatus performing control of power supply during an inspection process of a device provided to the processing apparatus

An image forming apparatus, includes: an image former that forms an image on a recording medium; an ejector to which a recording medium is ejected; a notifier that visually notifies a predetermined operation state of the image forming apparatus using a light source; and a hardware processor that controls image forming operation of the image former, ejecting operation of the ejector, and notifying operation of the notifier, wherein the hardware processor executes, using the notifier that serves multiple functions, a first notification function of notifying that the image forming operation is in progress at a time when the image forming operation is executed, and a second notification function of notifying that the image formation is complete and the recording medium having been subject to the image formation is ejected.

Image forming apparatus with status notifier

An image processing apparatus includes a touch panel capable of displaying a plurality of software keys, an input control unit that receives input of information provided to the touch panel in response to a user's touch operation on the software keys, a short-range wireless sensor, and an object sensor. The short-range wireless sensor is arranged near the touch panel to sense radio waves for short-range wireless communication with a mobile terminal. The input control unit is configured to change an arrangement of the software keys on a display of the software keys on the touch panel such that the software keys are not arranged in a region of the touch panel near the short-range wireless sensor when the presence of the object near the short-range wireless sensor is sensed by the object sensor.

Image processing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and storage medium

An image processing apparatus includes: a first device; a second device; and an operation display part, wherein the operation display part includes: an operation panel; and a hardware processor that controls operations of the operation panel, the hardware processor is: capable of sending operation input information on the operation panel to the first device via a first interface; sending the operation input information on the operation panel to the second device via a second interface; and receiving a switch request of switching a device, the first interface and the second interface are of mutually different types, and when receiving the switch request, the hardware processor: changes a source device from which display contents of the operation panel are sent, and changes a destination device to which the operation input information on the operation panel is sent, and sends the operation input information to a post-changing destination device.

Image processing apparatus with shared operation panel and program for controlling the shared operation panel

An operation display apparatus for shared use between a first and a second apparatus each being capable of operating independently, the operation display apparatus including a display, a manipulation device, and a processor, wherein the processor performs: allowing the display to selectively show either of display data received from the first apparatus through a first display interface and display data received from the second apparatus through a second display interface; transmitting operation information of an operation on the manipulation device to the first apparatus through a first input-output interface and to the second apparatus through a second input-output interface; detecting through the first or second display interface whether at least either one of the first and second apparatus enters power saving mode; and prohibiting the transmission of operation information to the first or second apparatus when at least either one of the first and second apparatus enters power saving mode.

Operation display apparatus, information apparatus, and recording medium

An image processing apparatus includes a first communication portion configured to wirelessly communicate with a terminal and a second communication portion configured to carry out near field communication with a terminal. A communication distance between the second communication portion and the terminal is shorter than a communication distance between the first communication portion and the terminal. The image processing apparatus further includes an adjustment portion configured to adjust a communication-established distance over which the first communication portion establishes communication with the terminal so as to match with a specific position at which the second communication portion establishes communication with the terminal.

Image processing apparatus, method and non-transitory computer readable-medium for adjusting wireless communication distance equal to near field communication distance

The touch panel inputting device which is installed on a flat operation surface for receiving an operation performed by a operation body, detects a contact location of the operation body on the operation surface, based on light blocking of a flat scanning light path plane. The touch panel inputting device comprises: a first scanning light paths forming unit for forming first scanning light paths which are linear; and a second scanning light paths forming unit for forming second scanning light paths which are linear and intersect with the first scanning light paths. The first and the second scanning light paths form the scanning light path plane, and the scanning light path plane slopes with respect to the operation surface.

Touch panel inputting device

A composite apparatus includes: a first apparatus and a second apparatus that operate independently; and a console display that is shared by the first and second apparatus. The first and second apparatus each includes: a display memory that stores display data; and a drawing processor that instructs the console display to display the display data. The composite apparatus further includes: a selector that selectively connects the drawing processor of the first or second apparatus to the console display; and a switch processor that receives a connection request from the first or second apparatus. The connection request includes requests to connect the drawing processor of the first or second apparatus to the console display and to instruct the selector to connect the drawing processor of either the first or second apparatus to the console display.

Composite apparatus

A portable terminal device includes: a receiving unit that receives an action instruction in a predetermined action mode given by a user for one image processing device among a plurality of image processing devices; a radio wave strength detection unit that receives a radio wave for measuring the strength of the radio wave to detect the strength of radio wave of each of the image processing devices; a radio wave strength difference calculation unit that calculates differences in the strengths of radio waves between the image processing device with the maximum strength of radio wave and the other image processing devices; an identification unit that identifies, as the image processing device to which the action instruction received is given, the image processing device having the maximum strength of radio wave; and an instruction unit that gives the action instruction in the action mode to the image processing device.

Portable terminal device for selecting one of a plurality of output image processing devices by comparing radio wave strengths

An image processing apparatus includes an operation panel, a near field communication portion, and a hardware processor. The operation panel is attached to a main body of the image processing apparatus such that a position relative to the main body is variable. The near field communication portion is arranged in the operation panel and carries out near field communication with a terminal by receiving radio waves transmitted from the terminal. The hardware processor is configured to change a communication distance in near field communication with the terminal through the near field communication portion in accordance with a position of the operation panel.

Image processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium

An image processing apparatus capable of communicating with a terminal includes: a first communication unit configured to communicate wirelessly with the terminal; and a second communication unit configured to perform near field communication with the terminal over a shorter communication distance than that of the first communication unit, wherein the second communication unit is configured to be movable together with an operation panel of the image processing apparatus and establish communication with the terminal in a specific area on the operation panel, and the first communication unit is placed with respect to the operation panel such that the specific area includes a communication establishment distance within which the first communication unit establishes communication with the terminal irrespective of the movement of the operation panel.

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Okazaki, Japan

Hisataka Funakawa