The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 04, 2008
Filed:
Mar. 24, 2003
Yoshiyuki Namizuka, Sagamihara, JP;
Yoshiyuki Namizuka, Sagamihara, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus for performing at least a copying function includes an engine board, an image reading unit, an image forming unit, a controller board detachably connected to the engine board to add at least one application function to the copying function of the image forming apparatus, an operation unit, and a parallel bus that connects the controller board to the engine board. When the controller board is connected to the engine board, the operation unit displays information of the copying function and the at least one application function, and when the controller board is detached from the engine board, the operation unit displays the information of the copying function. Each of display layouts of the operation unit for the copying function is substantially identical between when the controller board is connected to the engine board and when the controller board is detached from the engine board.