Display control apparatus for image forming apparatus
View Patent ↗There is disclosed an image forming apparatus that has two operation panels—a standard operation panel and an optional operation panel. The image forming apparatus has a standard mode and a professional mode which provide different displays on the operation panels. In addition, custom displays may be stored and recalled by the users.
1. A display control apparatus for image forming apparatus comprising:
a first operation panel with which operators can select multiple functions of an image forming apparatus;
a second operation panel that is configured so that it can be loaded and unloaded freely to/from the image forming apparatus and with which operators can select the multiple functions;
a detection means to detect whether the second operation panel is loaded or not when the image forming apparatus is turned on; and
a controlling means that controls display of items so that predefined display items are displayed on the first operation panel when the detection means determines that the second operation panel is not loaded, and
adds to the predefined display items at least a mode button that can switch the display of items on the second operation panel when the detection means determines that the second operation panel is loaded.
2. The display control apparatus for image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controlling means further controls the display of items so that if a user selects the mode button, then the display of items on the second operation panel is switched to a different interface.
3. The display control apparatus for image forming apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the different interface comprises an advanced interface.
4. The display control apparatus for image forming apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the advanced interface includes an option for the user to select a custom interface.
5. The display control apparatus for image forming apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the controlling means further controls the display of items so that if the user selects the option for the custom interface, then the custom interface is provided to the the second operation panel.
6. The display control apparatus for image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the first operation panel has a first standard interface for display when the second operation panel is present,
the first operation panel has a second standard interface for display when the second operation panel is not present, and
the first standard interface and the second standard interface are substantially identical except for the mode button.
7. A method of providing user interface displays in an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus having a first, standard display device and a second, optional display device, the method comprising:
testing if the second, optional display device is available;
if the second, optional display device is available, then providing a first standard user interface to the first display device and an operation guidance interface to the second display device;
if the second, optional display is not available, then providing a second standard interface to the first display device;
wherein the first standard interface includes an option for the user to select a different interface and the second standard interface lacks an option for the user to select a different interface.
8. The method of providing user interface displays in an image forming apparatus of claim 7 , wherein if a user selects the option for the different interface, then providing the different interface to the first display device and the second display device.
9. The method of providing user interface displays in an image forming apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the different interface comprises an advanced interface.
10. The method of providing user interface displays in an image forming apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the advanced interface includes an option for the user to select a custom interface.
11. The method of providing user interface displays in an image forming apparatus of claim 10 further comprising, if the user selects the option for the custom interface, then providing the custom interface to the first display device and the second display device.
12. The method of providing user interface displays in an image forming apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first standard interface and the second standard interface are substantially identical except for the option for the user to select a different interface.