Operation console receiving user operation and electronic device and image forming apparatus provided with the operation console

Abstract

An operation unit is an operation console receiving a user operation, and it includes a display panel. The display panel displays a regular UI including a plurality of setting keys for setting functions, or a simplified UI including setting keys for setting some of the functions settable by the regular UI, under the control of a control unit. The control unit switches the UI screen displayed on the display panel from one to the other of the regular UI and the simplified UI, in response to a user operation. The control unit further determines whether or not a function has been set before the switching of UI screen, and depending on a result of determination, switches the UI screen while maintaining the setting of the function.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An operation console provided on an apparatus as an object of control, comprising:
 a display that displays information related to a process executed by the apparatus as the object of control;   an input receiver that receives an input of an operation instruction related to information to be displayed on the display;   a controller that controls the display to display a first operation screen which includes a plurality of items settable by an input of an operation instruction received by the input receiver or a second operation screen which includes a portion of the plurality of items; and   a switcher that switches the operation screen from one of the first operation screen and the second operation screen to another of the first operation screen and the second operation screen by controlling the controller in response to reception of the input of an operation instruction by the input receiver, wherein   the controller controls the display such that a start key that is displayed in the second operation screen and receives an execution start of the process of the apparatus as the object of control becomes different from a start key that is displayed in the first operation screen and receives an execution start of the process of the apparatus as the object of control.   
     
     
         2 . The operation console according to  claim 1 , wherein the first operation screen and the second operation screen each include a set key that receives an input of an operation item to a settable item; and
 the controller displays the set key to be smaller than a set key included in the second operation screen in response to switch of the operation screen displayed on the display to the first operation screen from the second operation screen.   
     
     
         3 . The operation console according to  claim 1 , further comprising a determiner that determines whether there is an item having been set prior to switch of displaying by the switcher; and
 a holder that holds a set state of the item having been set in the operation screen after switched according to a determination result of the determiner.   
     
     
         4 . The operation console according to  claim 3 , wherein the determiner comprises a setting determiner that determines whether an item not included in the second operation screen among the plurality of items is set in the first operation screen, and
 the controller comprises a screen display controller that controls the display such that the second operation screen is displayed in a manner indicating that an item not included in the second operation screen is set according to a determination result of the setting determiner when switching from the first operation screen to the second operation screen.   
     
     
         5 . The operation console according to  claim 1 , wherein the first operation screen and the second operation screen each includes an operation item that is operated by a user in switching displaying the operation screen, and
 the switcher comprises a screen displaying switcher that switches the operation screen being displayed on the display from one of the first operation screen and the second operation screen to another of the first operation screen and the second operation screen by controlling the controller in response to an operation of the operation item by the user.   
     
     
         6 . The operation console provided on an apparatus as an object of control, comprising:
 a display that displays information related to a process executed by the apparatus as an object of control;   an input receiver that receives an input of an operation instruction related to information to be displayed on the display;   a controller that controls the display to display a first operation screen which includes a plurality of items settable by an input of an operation instruction received by the input receiver or a second operation screen which includes a portion of the plurality of items; and   a switcher that switches the operation screen from one of the first operation screen and the second operation screen to another of the first operation screen and the second operation screen by controlling the controller in response to reception of the input of an operation instruction by the input receiver, wherein   the controller displays s character string indicating an execution start overlapped on a start key that is displayed on the second operation screen and receives the execution start of a process of the apparatus as the object of control, and deletes the character string indicating an execution start in response to switching of the operation screen to the first operation screen from the second operation screen by the switcher.   
     
     
         7 . The operation console according to  claim 6 , wherein the first operation screen and the second operation screen each include a set key that receives an input of an operation item to a settable item; and
 the controller displays the set key to be smaller than a set key included in the second operation screen in response to switch of the operation screen displayed on the display to the first operation screen from the second operation screen.   
     
     
         8 . The operation console according to  claim 6 , further comprising a determiner that determines whether there is an item having been set prior to switch of displaying by the switcher; and
 a holder that holds a set state of the item having been set in the operation screen after switched according to a determination result of the determiner.   
     
     
         9 . The operation console according to  claim 8 , wherein the determiner comprises a setting determiner that determines whether an item not included in the second operation screen among the plurality of items is set in the first operation screen, and
 the controller comprises a screen display controller that controls the display such that the second operation screen is displayed in a manner indicating that an item not included in the second operation screen is set according to a determination result of the setting determiner when switching from the first operation screen to the second operation screen.   
     
     
         10 . The operation console according to  claim 8 , further comprising canceler that cancels setting of an item not included in the second operation screen among the plurality of items in a state of displaying the second operation screen. 
     
     
         11 . The operation console according to  claim 6 , wherein the first operation screen and the second operation screen each includes an operation item that is operated by a user in switching displaying the operation screen, and
 the switcher comprises a screen displaying switcher that switches the operation screen being displayed on the display from one of the first operation screen and the second operation screen to another of the first operation screen and the second operation screen by controlling the controller in response to an operation of the operation item by the user.   
     
     
         12 . The operation console according to  claim 8 , wherein the determiner comprises a setting determiner that determines whether a common item that is common to the first operation screen and the second operation screen has been set prior to switching of displaying by the switcher, and
 the holder comprises a common setting holder that holds a setting state of the common item having been set an the operation screen after switching of the displaying by the switcher in response to a determination result of the setting determiner.   
     
     
         13 . An electronic device, comprising:
 the operation console according to the  claim 1 ; and   a process executer that executes, in response to an instruction from the operation console, a process indicated by the instruction.   
     
     
         14 . An electronic device, comprising:
 the operation console according to the  claim 6 ; and   a process executer that executes, in response to an instruction from the operation console, a process indicated by the instruction.   
     
     
         15 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 the operation console according to the  claim 1 ; and   an image former that forms an image on a recording medium in response to an instruction from the operation console.   
     
     
         16 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 the operation console according to the  claim 6 ; and   an image former that forms an image on a recording medium in response to an instruction from the operation console.