Operation console, image processing apparatus and display method for displaying ten keys or preview image with higher priority

1. An operation console provided on an image processing apparatus including an image input device for inputting image data, and an output device for outputting the image data input by said image input device, comprising:

a display device having a display area for displaying a first virtual key; and

a first input receiving device receiving an input operation to said first virtual key; wherein

said first virtual key includes ten keys for inputting a set value related to an output by said output device;

said display device initially displays the ten keys before said image input device inputs the image data, and

said operation console further comprising:

a first request key display device displaying, when the image data is input by said image input device, an icon representing a reduced-size image of the ten keys for requesting display of said ten keys on said display area, in place of said ten keys;

a first display control device configured to cause said display device, when the image data is input by said image input device, to display a preview image based on said image data on said display area;

an instruction receiving device receiving an instruction requesting display of said ten keys in place of said icon representing the reduced-size image of the ten keys; and

a second display control device, responsive to said instruction receiving device receiving said instruction, for causing said display device to display said ten keys superposed in front of said preview image with at least a part of said preview image displayed viewable.

2. The operation console according to claim 1 , wherein

said display device further includes a setting value display area for displaying a set value related to the output by said output device; and

said first request key display device displays said icon representing the reduced-size image of the ten keys close to said setting value display area.

3. The operation console according to claim 1 , wherein said ten keys are transparent images.

4. The operation console according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a second input receiving device receiving an input operation on said preview image; and

a second request key display device, responsive to said second input receiving device receiving said input operation, for causing said icon representing the reduced-size image of the ten keys to be displayed on said display area in place of said ten keys.

5. The operation console according to claim 3 , wherein said first request key display device causes said display device to display said icon representing the reduced-size image of the ten keys for requesting display of said ten keys in place of said ten keys when a predetermined, prescribed time passes without any input operation on said ten keys.

6. The operation console according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a second input receiving device receiving an input operation on said preview image; and

a second request key display device, responsive to said second input receiving device receiving said input operation, for causing said icon representing the reduced-size image of the ten keys to be displayed in place of said ten keys.

7. The operation console according to claim 1 , wherein said first request key display device causes said display device to display said icon representing the reduced-size image of the ten keys for requesting display of said ten keys in place of said ten keys when a predetermined, prescribed time passes without any input operation on said ten keys.

8. The operation console according to claim 1 , wherein a start key for requesting output by said output device is always displayed as a second virtual key on said display area.

9. The operation console according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a start instruction receiving device receiving an input operation to said start key; and

a returning device, responsive to said start instruction receiving device receiving said input operation, for returning display state of said display device to a state before the input data is input by said input device.

10. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

an operation console according to claim 1 ;

said image input device; and

said output device; wherein

said output device outputs image data input by said image input device in accordance with a setting by said operation console.

11. A method of display in an operation console provided on an image processing apparatus including an image input device for inputting image data and an output device for outputting the image data input by said image input device, said operation console including a display device having a display area for displaying a first virtual key and an input receiving device receiving an input operation to said first virtual key;

said method comprising the steps of:

initially displaying, as said first virtual key, ten keys for inputting a set value related to an output by said output device, on said display area before said image input device inputs the image data;

displaying, when the image data is input by said image input device, an icon representing a reduced-size image of the ten keys for requesting display of said ten keys on said display area, in place of said ten keys;

receiving an instruction requesting display of said ten keys in place of said icon representing the reduced-size image of the ten keys; and

responsive to receiving said instruction, displaying said ten keys superposed in front of said preview image with at least a part of said preview image displayed viewable.