US20190082063A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20190082063A1
Application number: US16/190,452
Authority: US
Inventors: Kumiko Ogino; Takaya Nakatani
Original assignee: Sharp Corp
Current assignee: Sharp Corp
Priority date: 2010-10-20
Filing date: 2018-11-14
Publication date: 2019-03-14
Also published as: JP2012090111A; US20120099129A1; JP5762718B2; US20150085309A1; CN102457642B; CN105208242B; CN105208241A; CN105208242A; CN102457642A; US10165134B2

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a control unit equipped with a touch panel display and a control unit-side controller. The control unit includes multiple image display modes supporting functions of editing image data. The control unit side controller includes an image display mode selecting function which, when the user selects a desired function, selects an image display mode that is most suitable for the user's desired function, from the multiple image display modes, in accordance with the user' s control operation of selecting a function and displays a frame corresponding to the selected image display mode, on the touch panel display.

Description

This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (a) on Patent Application No. 2010-235676 filed in Japan on 20 Oct. 2010, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copier, printer, facsimile machine or the like, in particular, relating to an image forming apparatus having a function for allowing the user to check the status of images and edit images, by displaying images output based on the input image data in a preview representation.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

The recent copiers have been commoditized into products having various duplication processing functions as one way of presenting the advantages of digital copiers.

For instance, as a known example of a digital copier, there is an image forming apparatus that includes an input means having a function of receiving additional input of image data; and an output means for performing image output based on the image data input through the input means, and has a function of permitting the user to edit image data by displaying the images to be output from the output means in a preview representation. According to the image forming apparatus of this kind, it is possible to easily edit images to be output before execution of a job.

Under such circumstances, as the control panel in the image forming apparatus of this kind, a touch panel display has been often used in recent years. A touch panel display is formed of a liquid crystal panel (display panel) and a touch panel laminated on the liquid crystal panel.

Usually, on the touch panel display, a multiple number of items (software buttons) for selection of operational mode in the image forming apparatus are displayed. The user presses the position of the desired item among the items displayed on the touch panel display. The user feels as if the user presses the software button. The information on the position at which the user pressed is transferred from the touch panel to the computer that controls the image forming apparatus, whereby the operation to be made is determined in accordance with the pressed position, by the program running on the computer.

The touch panel display is able to provide both a display function and a control function. That is, the touch panel display has the advantage of a smaller area for installation, ability of giving various displays and providing various functions, compared to a configuration including a display and a controller separately.

Further, the recent touch panel displays have been realized with a function of recognizing the trace of movement of the fingers touching on the surface of the touch panel display. With this function, the user is able to command an appropriate operation that sensuously coincides with the movement. Controlling an electronic appliance by this kind of operation will be called “gesture control” in this specification. Examples of the gesture control are as follows.

When a preview of images captured by a scanning function is being displayed on the touch panel display, the following control operations are permitted.

(1) In the touch panel display, the position where the image as a target of control is tapped twice by the fingertip. This control is called “double tapping”. When an image is double tapped, the display of the image may be enlarged or reduced, or the operation may be switched into the mode for editing the image.
(2) Two fingertips are spread apart on the image as a target of control (in the condition that the fingertips are put on the image). This control is called “pinch out” or “pinch open”. When a pinching out or pinching open operation is made on the image, the image may be enlarged in accordance with the movement of the fingers.
(3) Two fingertips are brought together on the image as a target of control (in the condition that the fingertips are put on the image). This control is called “pinch in” or “pinch close”. When a pinching in or pinching close operation is made on the image, the image may be reduced in size in accordance with the movement of the fingers.

Other than the above, examples of gesture control include “tap” an operation of hitting the position of the image as a target of control with the fingertip, “drag”, an operation of sliding the image being displayed with the fingertip, “flick”, an operation of sweeping the image being displayed lightly with the fingertip, and “pinch”, an operation of pinching the image being displayed with two finger tips, and the like.

Here, tapping and double tapping are not the one that detects the trace of user' s action on the touch panel display, so that they cannot be said to be a gesture in the strict sense of the word. However, all the above operations on the image inclusive of tapping and double tapping will be called gesture control.

In this specification, the operations on the touch panel display other than the gesture control described above will be called “touch control”.

The touch control does not mean a direct operation on the image but indicates an operation for realizing a function as an alternative means of a hardware key. Typically, the touch control indicates an operation of detecting a user's request based on the displayed position of a software button (usually, a user interface part) displayed on the touch panel display and the operated position on the touch panel display by the user.

In a multi-functional machine having a touch panel display of this kind as a control panel, it is possible to designate the settings for various image finishing processes through the control panel. Examples of finishing processes include settings for various image processes such as margin sizes etc., stamping, stapling, hole-punching and the like.

However, in the conventional multi-functional machine, there occurred cases where a finishing process causes failure in the actual printing. For example, when printing is performed with hole-punching specified as a finishing process, the positions of the punch holes may overlap the output image, resulting in defective duplication. As a result, supplies (toner and recording paper) are wasted.

To deal with, a technology of an image forming apparatus in which preview display of images can be given on the basic screen in copy mode, has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

According to this image forming apparatus, the screen of the control display is divided into three regions. In the regions on both sides of the control display, software buttons to designate the conditions for image forming and the finishing conditions are laid out. In the center, preview images of documents are laid out.

There are multiple kinds of display modes for displaying preview images in this image forming apparatus.

The first display mode shows a predetermined number of images (e.g., five images) arranged horizontally. In this case, the image arranged in the center of the control display is displayed greater in size than the other images.

The second display mode is a method of displaying two images on the odd-numbered page and even-numbered page, among the captured multiple document images, in a spread. When there are a large number of pages of images displayed on the control display, multiple two-page spreads are stacked one over another like a booklet.

The third display mode is a method of displaying multiple document images arranged matrix-wise. When the document images cannot be accommodated within the screen, all the document images can be checked by scrolling the screen.

As above, according to the technology described inPatent Document 1, efficient use of preview display enables the user to confirm the finished state of documents and reduce erroneous settings for finishing processes, mistake in copying operation and other failures.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document 1:

Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-203439

However, the technology disclosed inPatent Document 1 entails the problem as follows.

That is, in a case where multiple pages are given in a preview representation, if a specific page of the multiple pages is wanted to be moved to another position, it is necessary to display a series of pages including the pages in question in the preview region. However, in the technology disclosed inPatent Document 1, if a specific page is tried to be moved to another position when one page display or two-page spread display is given, the positional relationship of the specified page is unclear, causing failure in control, difficulty in control and other problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been devised in view of the above conventional problems, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which, when image edition is performed, the positional relationship of an image to be the editing target to other images can be made clear so as to ease the image editing operation.

The first aspect of the present invention resides in an image forming apparatus comprising:

an input unit receiving input of image data;

a storing unit storing the image data input through the input unit and,

an image display control device, characterized in that the image display control device, includes:

a display image generator generating a display image based on the image data stored in the storing unit;

a display portion having a preview region for displaying the display image generated by the display image generator; and,

a display controller for giving the display image generated by the display image generator, in a preview representation on the display portion, wherein

the image display control device includes multiple image display modes supporting editing functions of the image data, and

the display controller has an image display mode selecting function which, when the user selects a desired function, selects an image display mode that is most suitable for the user's desired function, from the multiple image display modes, in accordance with the user's control operation of selecting a function.

The second aspect of the present invention resides in that when the image display mode displayed on the display portion is for one page image display or two page image display (so-called two-page spread representation) at the time the user selects the desired function, the image display mode selecting function changes the image display mode to a mode that displays multiple page images greater than two pages, in a preview representation, in accordance with the user's control operation of selecting a function.

The third aspect of the present invention resides in that the user's control operation of selecting a desired function is an operation of selecting and moving an image displayed in the preview representation on the display portion.

The fourth aspect of the present invention resides in that the user's control operation of selecting a desired function is an operation of selecting an image to be edited and sliding the selected image leftwards or rightwards on the display portion.

The fifth aspect of the present invention resides in that the display portion further has a function selecting region displaying enabled functions for editing the image data, and, the user' s control operation of selecting a desired function is an operation of selecting an editing function to be performed on the image to be edited, through the function selecting frame.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when, for example, the user tries to perform an editing operation such as moving a page and the like, an image display mode in which that the number of preview images being automatically displayed becomes greater is selected and displayed, whereby it is possible to clarify the positional relationship of the target image to be edited relative to other images and ease user's image editing control. As a result, it is possible to reduce mistake in copying operation thus to provide an image forming apparatus that is improved in operativity.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when an editing operation such as moving a page or the like is tried to be done in, for example, one page preview display mode (fit mode), the display screen is automatically switched from the one page preview display mode to multiple page display preview display mode (1D mode), whereby it is possible to easily perform the editing operation.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to automatically actuate the screen display mode that is suitable for an image moving operation and display the corresponding frame without switching the display screen into the control frame.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to automatically actuate the screen display mode that is suitable for an operation of moving the target image to be edited in the horizontal direction and display the corresponding frame without switching the display screen into the control frame.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the display screen can be positively switched in accordance with an editing function so as to give a display in the screen display mode that is suitable for the editing operation, the user can easily perform the editing operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view schematically showing the internal mechanisms of the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing a home screen displayed on a touch panel of the image forming apparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an illustrative diagram showing a state of partitioned display regions on the display screen in a touch panel display of the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 6 is an illustrative diagram showing a state of partitioned display regions in fit mode in a preview representation of the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 7 is an illustrative diagram showing a state of partitioned display regions in finish preview mode in a preview representation of the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 8 is an illustrative diagram showing a state of partitioned display regions in image edition mode in a preview representation of the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 9 is an illustrative diagram showing a state of partitioned display regions in document display mode in a preview representation of the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control unit configuration in the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a touch panel display configuration of the control unit;

FIG. 12A is an illustrative view showing one example of a display screen when the screen display mode is set in fit mode in the image forming apparatus of an embodiment; and,

FIG. 12B is an illustrative view showing one example of a display screen when the screen display mode has been switched into image edition mode (1D mode) in the image forming apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of one example mode of carrying out the present invention, showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2 is an illustrative view schematically showing the internal mechanisms of the image forming apparatus.FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus.

Animage forming apparatus100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 1, includes: adocument reader102 having a function of receiving additional input of image data; animage forming portion104 for forming an image on a recording medium based on the image data input throughdocument reader102; and a control unit (image display control device)120 including a display panel (display portion)132 for displaying preview images based on image data input and having a function of displaying display images ondisplay panel132 in a preview representation, based on the image data input fromdocument reader102.

Control unit

120 functioning as the image display control device has a function of setting up the image output conditions of images output fromimage forming portion104 and is configured so that the image output conditions of images to be output can be designated ondisplay panel132.

The multiple document images displayed ondisplay panel132 are those that display the form of document images captured by the document reader etc., ofimage forming apparatus100, in a preview representation and that display the output form of the images to be formed on the recording paper by the image forming portion, as preview images of the finish.

Image forming apparatus

100 is a kind of an image processing apparatus. The image display control device according to the present invention is also applicable to image processing apparatus and electronic appliances other than the image forming apparatus of this kind.

Further,image forming apparatus100 includes a plurality of operational modes, and is preferably equipped with a display device for displaying information so that the user can easily get the information the user wants even if the user does not remember the screen configuration when the operational mode is changed over and the display content on the display device is replaced.

Here,image forming apparatus100 includes a touch panel display (control screen) that can be controlled by both gesture control and touch control other than gesture control, but the image forming apparatus may an apparatus that includes a touch panel display controllable by touch control only. Further, the image forming apparatus maybe an apparatus that includes a display panel that cannot be controlled but can display only and keys for control

Thisimage forming apparatus100 forms images on recording paper based on electrophotography.

Image forming apparatus

100 includes, as its operation modes, copy mode, facsimile mode (FAX mode), document filing mode (a mode in which scanned images are stored in a storage inside the image forming apparatus) and mail mode (a mode in which scanned images are transmitted in the form of an attachment file to an e-mail). Thisimage forming apparatus100 may further have a network printer mode.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this as long as it can change the screen content in every operational mode.

To begin with,image forming apparatus100 will be described.

Image forming apparatus

100 includesdocument reader102,image forming portion104, apaper feed portion106, apaper output processor108 and acontrol unit120, as shown inFIG. 1.

Control unit

120 is formed of atouch panel display130 and adisplay control portion140.Touch panel display130 is comprised of adisplay panel132 of a liquid crystal panel or the like and a touch panel (touch control detecting means)134 that is laid overdisplay panel132 to detect the positions the user presses with fingers.Display control portion140 includes anindication lamp142, apower key144, an energy-save key146 and ahome key148 that resets the display content oftouch panel display130 to the home screen for operational mode selection.

In this way,image forming apparatus100 hastouch panel display130 as a main control device and also has adisplay control portion140 that includes the hardware keys and indication lamps. The keys (power key144, energy-save key146 and home key148) ondisplay control portion140 are given as hardware buttons, in contrast to software buttons formed bytouch panel display130.

Note thatimage forming apparatus100 should not be limited to that includingdisplay control portion140 of this kind, but may be provided withtouch panel display130 only. That is, it will work as long as the initial screen of the selected operational mode can be actuated when the user selects an operational mode on the home screen displayed ontouch panel display130. Next, the operational modes of thisimage forming apparatus100 will be described.

(Copy Mode)

The operation of the copy mode ofimage forming apparatus100 will be described.

In this copy mode, image reader (which will be referred to hereinbelow as “scanner”)102 andimage forming portion104 operate mainly.

Inimage forming apparatus100, a document placed on a document placement table is read as image data byscanner102 and the read image data is input to aCPU300 of a microcomputer etc. shown inFIG. 3, where the image data undergoes various kinds of image processing, and the processed image data is output to image formingportion104.

As shown inFIG. 2,image forming portion104 is a mechanism that prints images of documents given as image data onto recording mediums (recording paper in most cases), including aphotoreceptor drum222, acharging device224, a laser scan unit (which will be referred to hereinbelow as “LSU”)226, a developingdevice228, atransfer device230, acleaning unit232, a fixingunit234, an unillustrated charge eraser and other devices.

Also,image forming portion104 is provided with amain feed path236 and areverse feed path238. The recording paper fed frompaper feed portion106 is conveyed alongmain feed path236.Paper feed portion106 draws recording paper, one sheet at a time, from a stack of recording paper, held in apaper feed cassette240 or set on amanual feed tray242 and delivers the recoding paper tomain feed path236 ofimage forming portion104.

In the course of the recording paper being conveyed alongmain feed path236 ofimage forming portion104, the recording paper passes through and betweenphotoreceptor drum222 andtransfer device230 and then passes through fixingdevice234 to perform printing for the recording paper.

Whilephotoreceptor drum222 rotates in one direction, its surface is cleaned by cleaningdevice232 and the charge erasing device, then uniformly electrified by chargingdevice224.

LSU

226 modulates the laser beam based on the image data to be printed and repeatedly scans the laser beam over thephotoreceptor drum222 surface in the main scan direction, to form an electrostatic latent image on thephotoreceptor drum222 surface.

Developingunit228 supplies toner to thephotoreceptor drum222 surface and develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on thephotoreceptor drum222 surface.

Transfer device

230 transfers the toner image on thephotoreceptor drum222 surface to the recording paper which passes through the nip between thetransfer device230 andphotoreceptor drum222.

Fixingdevice234 includes aheat roller248 for heating recording paper and apressing roller250 for pressing recording paper. The recording paper is heated byheat roller248 and pressed by pressingroller250 so that the toner image transferred to the recording paper is fixed to the recording paper. A heater in the heat roller is heated by the power supplied to thisfixing unit234 so as to control and keepheat roller248 at a temperature suitable for fixing. When the apparatus enters the energy saving mode, for instance the power supplied to this heater is stopped or cut down.

Arranged at the junction betweenmain feed path236 andreverse feed path238 is abranch claw244. When printing is performed on one side of recording paper only,branch claw244 is positioned so as to lead the recording paper from fixingdevice234 toward apaper output tray246 orpaper output processor108.

When printing is performed on both sides of recording paper,branch claw244 is rotated in the predetermined direction so that the recording paper is once conveyed toward thepaper output tray246 side. Then, the paper is switched back and conveyed towardreverse feed path238. The recording paper then passes throughreverse feed path238 and is inverted upside down and fed tomain feed path236 again. The recording paper is once again printed on its rear side in the course ofmain feed path236 and lead topaper output tray246 orpaper output processor108.

The recording paper thus printed is lead topaper output tray246 orpaper output processor108 and discharged to eitherpaper output tray246 or each ofpaper output trays110 ofpaper output processor108.

Inpaper output processor108, a plurality of recording sheets are sorted and discharged to individualpaper output trays110, and/or each set of recording sheets is punched or stapled. For example, when multiple copies of printed documents are prepared, the printed recording sheets are sorted and discharged topaper output trays110 so that one copy of the printed documents is allotted to individualpaper output tray110, and the printed documents on eachpaper output tray110 are punched by apunching unit111 or stapled by astapling unit112 to prepare individual printed material.

(Facsimile Mode)

Next, the operation in facsimile mode will be described. In this facsimile mode, the transmitting operation is mainly effected by document reader (scanner)102 and aFAX communicator160, as shown inFIG. 3. The receiving operation is mainly effected byFAX communicator160 andimage forming portion104.

(Transmitting Operation)

The transmitting operation is performed by the steps of: selecting the facsimile mode, reading image data from a document placed on the document placement table by means ofdocument reader102, supplying the read image data toCPU300 made up of a microcomputer etc. shown inFIG. 3 where the image data is subjected to various kinds of image processes, and outputting the thus obtained image data to the FAX communicator (FAX communicator160 inFIG. 3).

As shown inFIG. 3,FAX communicator160 of the transmission sideimage forming apparatus100 connects the selected transmitter side line to the designated destination, converts the image data into communication data conforming to the facsimile communication standard and transmits the communication data to the receiver side facsimile machine (e.g.,image forming apparatus100 having a facsimile function).

(Communication Operation)

When connection of the line is established,FAX communicator160 ofimage forming apparatus100 on the receiver side detects a communication request signal fromFAX communicator160 ofimage forming apparatus100 on the transmitter side and sends a response signal. Then, for example,FAX communicators160 on both the transmitter and receiver sides exchange facsimile performance information of their own with each other and determine the communication rate and coding and code correction scheme of the image data within the available maximum capacity to set up a modem communication scheme. The data is transmitted using an image signal system in conformity with this communication scheme, fromFAX communicator160 ofimage forming apparatus100 on the transmitter side to FAXcommunicator160 ofimage forming apparatus100 on the receiver side. When data transmission is ended, the line is cut off.

(Receiving Operation)

TheFAX communicator160 ofimage forming apparatus100 on the receiver side converts the received data into image data and sends the data to image formingportion104. Here, the received data may be converted into image data byimage forming portion104.Image forming portion104 prints images of documents represented by the image data converted from the received data, onto recording paper, in the same manner as the above-described operation in copy mode.

Next, the control block configuration ofimage forming apparatus100 will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown inFIG. 3,image forming apparatus100 includes:control unit120 that allows the user to set copy mode and facsimile mode; aROM306 for storing programs etc.; ahard disk302 serving as a non-volatile storage area that can hold programs, data and the like even if the power is cut off; and a RAM (Random Access Memory)308 that offers a storing area when a program is executed.

Image forming apparatus

100 further includes: a bus310 connected to imagereader102,image forming portion104,FAX communicator160,control unit120,ROM306,hard disk302 andRAM308; andCPU300 that is connected to bus310 to realize general functions as an image forming apparatus.Hard disk302 records (stores) files of image data of documents scanned by theimage forming apparatus100.Hard disk302 also stores initial screen data for each operational mode. The files and data stored inhard disk302 can also be recorded inROM306.

Stored in ROM306 are programs, data and the like necessary for controlling the operation ofimage forming apparatus100. As the data stored inROM306 with the programs, the initial screen data for each operational mode maybe stored.CPU300 controlsimage forming apparatus100 in accordance with the programs and data stored inROM306 and performs control associated with each function ofimage forming apparatus100.

As shown inFIG. 3, a public line for exchange of image data is connected to FAXcommunicator160 of thisimage forming apparatus100 while a network line is connected to anetwork interface304. This network line may be connected to a computers etc. that use thisimage forming portion100 as a network printer or may be connected via the internet to a computer etc. that is identified by a designated URL (Uniform Resource Locator). When connected to the Internet in this way, theimage forming apparatus100 can obtain the necessary information via the Internet.

RAM

308 offers a function as a working memory for temporarily recording the result of the operation and processing byCPU300 and a function as a frame memory for recording image data.

Control ofimage reader102,image forming portion104,touch panel display130 anddisplay control portion140 formingcontrol unit120,ROM306,hard disk302 andRAM308 is performed byCPU300 executing predetermined programs. Here,control unit120 communicates withCPU300 by way of an input/output interface.

Control unit

120 is given as a board-like panel that is tilted so as to allow the user ease of view.Control unit120 includestouch panel display130 in the left area and display control portion140 (includingindication lamp142 and hardware buttons, namely,power key144, energy-save key146 and home key148) in the right area on the top thereof.Touch panel display130 anddisplay control portion140 are integrally provided incontrol unit120.

As described above, thistouch panel display130 is formed ofdisplay panel132 andtouch panel134 that is laid overdisplay panel132.

Displayed ondisplay panel132 intouch panel display130 are the home screen for selection of the operational mode in thisimage forming apparatus100, the current status of thisimage forming apparatus100, the status of destination selection, job processing status and the like. Displayed in the preview display region ofdisplay panel132 are selection buttons as software keys. When the displayed area of a selection button is pushed by a finger,touch panel134 detects the pushed position. Then, the position on whichtouch panel134 is pressed is compared with the positions of selection buttons so as to perform selection of an operational mode ofimage forming apparatus100, functional setting, operational instructions, and the like. In addition to this touch control (command input control based on the position of the user's pressing), thisimage forming apparatus100 also supports the above-mentioned gesture control (command input control based on the trace of a user's control operation).

Further,indication lamp142 ofdisplay control portion140 is made up of a LED (Light Emitting Diode) for instance and is controlled byCPU300 so as to turn on/off(/flash on and off). When the user presses downpower key144 that is provided separately in addition to the main power switch, thisimage forming apparatus100 comes out of standby mode (in which, for example, only fax reception is permitted with the main power turned on) to active mode so that the whole operational modes of thisimage forming apparatus100 can be used.Indication lamp142 comes on in link with this status. Further, when a predetermined period has elapsed without receiving any user input, or when the user presses energy-save key146, thisimage forming apparatus100 comes out of active mode into energy save mode so that only part of the operational modes ofimage forming apparatus100 are operational.Indication lamp142 flashes on and off in link with this status. Further, when the user presses energy-save key146 in this energy save mode, theimage forming apparatus100 comes out of energy save mode into active mode.Home key148 is a hardware key for retuning the display oftouch panel display130 into the initial condition (home screen). It is noted that the operations whenpower key144, energy-save key146 andhome key148 are pressed should not be limited to these.

The hardware keys on display control portion140 (power key144, energy-save key146 and home key148) may be embedded with a key lamp controlled byCPU300 so as to turn on/off(/flash). For example, this key lamp may be a round type key ring-like lighting or center lighting. This key lamp turns on at the timing that the hardware key is permitted to use as a control device (at the timing that operation is performed when the hardware key is used).

Image forming apparatus

100 has the aforementioned two operational modes (copy mode and facsimile mode). Software buttons for function settings in each operational mode are displayed ontouch panel display130, and also the preview as the on-screen form of forming images, keys for destination setting and the like are displayed as necessary.

When the operational mode is different from that which the user wants,touch panel display130 displays another screen. Even in such a case, in order for the user to easily find the information the user requests,touch panel display130 is divided into multiple regions (which also are given in a size variable manner) so as to display necessary information in each region.

In particular, in thisimage forming apparatus100, when one operational mode is selected on the home screen oftouch panel display130 provided as the main display control device, the initial screen of the operational mode is displayed.

In this initial screen, (1) the basic layout is formed of five areas, namely “system region”, “function selecting region”, “preview region”, “action panel region” and “task trigger region”, which are appropriately separated and arranged, so that the user is able to easily perform input of settings from top left to bottom right (because the user can move their gaze and fingertip in the same manner as in the conventional machine which is not provided with a large scale touch panel display130). Further, (2) the concept of the displays of the five regions is consistent in any of different operational modes, so that the user is able to operate without confusion when another operational mode is used. (3) The size of the “function selecting region” is changed depending on the display mode. In link with this, the size of the “preview region” is also changed. The function setup information and preview information can be exactly notified to the user. (4) The “preview region” is laid out in the center while the “function selecting region and “action panel region” as well as “task trigger region” are arranged on the opposite sides from each other. As a result, it is possible to select a function in the region (“function selecting region”) arranged on one side, check the processing status of the selected function in a preview representation in the region arranged in the center, and request the execution of the process through the region arranged on the other side (“action panel region” and “task trigger region”). That is, this arrangement enables the user to move eyes and the hand linearly, hence control smoothly.

Now, the home screen intouch panel display130 will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing the home screen displayed on the touch panel of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 4, ahome screen330 ofimage forming apparatus100 includes ahome system region340 corresponding to the aforementioned system region, anicon display region350, an icon display switchingtab button352 and acomment display region354.

Inhome system region340, anarea342 for displaying an icon showing the home screen,area344 for displaying the title of the screen being displayed,area346 for displaying the log-in username andarea348 for displaying a log-out button (software button) are laid out. Arranged at the right end ofhome system region340 is an area displaying the current time.

Icon display region

350 displays an icon representing an operational mode with the title of the operational mode or its abbreviation. In the present embodiment, anicon372 for selecting copy mode,icon362 for selecting facsimile mode,icon370 for selecting document filing mode,icon360 for selecting e-mail mode and the like are displayed inicon display region350. Icons for selecting other than these processing are also displayed inicon display region350. Examples of these icons include an icon for actuating system setup, icon for actuating language setup, icon for displaying job status and the like.

In the present embodiment, icons are arranged in a matrix with3 rows and7 columns inicon display region350. The icons arranged in the center oficon display region350 are displayed to be greater than the icons arrange in the periphery.

As the user flicks displayregion350 leftwards, the icons (icon array) displayed on the screen move as if they flow in the direction of anarrow332. As the user flicks displayregion350 rightwards, the icons displayed on the screen move as if they flow in the direction of anarrow334.

In the present embodiment, the amount of movement of the icon on the screen by a flicking operation is determined by the distance of movement of the fingertip and its speed at the flicking operation. If the moving speed of the fingertip is equal, the greater the distance of movement the greater the amount of movement of the icon. If the distance of movement of the finger tip is equal, the greater the speed of movement the greater the amount of movement of the icon. The preferable initial speed of movement on the screen is approximately equal to the moving speed of the fingertip.

It is assumed that the icons in thisicon display region350 move as if they were arranged on the peripheral side of a virtual cylinder. That is, as the screen is repeatedly moved rightwards, the same screen repeatedly appears in the same manner as the cylinder is turned.

Comment display region

354 displays maintenance information and the like, which should be notified to all the users of thisimage forming apparatus100.

Next, the basic layout configuration of the display screen in touch panel display130 (FIG. 1) ofimage forming apparatus100 will be described taking an example of the basic layout at the time of copy mode operation.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative diagram showing a state of partitioned display regions on the display screen in a touch panel display of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment.

(Layout of Copy Basic Screen)

The basic screen in copy mode (which will be referred to hereinbelow as “copy basic screen”) intouch panel display130 ofimage forming apparatus100 is the frame as shown inFIG. 5, which is initially displayed when copy mode is selected.

One of the characteristics of the present embodiment is that preview can be basically seen in all kinds of screens including the copy basic screen. A similar image preview can be selected in the mode of facsimile transmission, image transmission by e-mail, image filing or the like. In any of these operational modes, the basic screen configuration as to preview representation is equivalent. Accordingly, the following description will be given on the copy basic screen only.

To begin with, the basic layout oftouch panel display130 ofimage forming apparatus100 will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown inFIG. 5, the basic layout oftouch panel display130 is configured in the laterally long touch panel display130 (for example, 1024 pixels wide×600 pixels high) such that asystem region400 is arranged at the topmost part, a preview region (preview display region)480 in the center of the screen, a function settings/confirmation region410 (which will be written hereinbelow as function selecting region410) on the left side ofpreview region480, anaction panel region482 on the upper right part ofpreview region480, and a task trigger region (control key displayed region)484 on the lower right ofpreview region480.

It is noted that the number of regions intouch panel display130 should not be limited to five. Also, the horizontal arrangement should not be limited to this so that the horizontal arrangement may be reversed right side left, for example, depending on the user's dominant hand. Further, the position ofsystem region400 may be disposed at the lowermost part. Alternatively, the system region may be undisplayed depending on the status or settings.

System region

400 displays the current status of thisimage forming apparatus100, e.g., the title of the operational mode in control and the status and conditions ofimage forming apparatus100. For example, displayed insystem region400 are the name of operational mode, the cut-in key, the log-in user name, the job status in progress, the usage status of built-in memory, time and the like.

Infunction selecting region410, settings in each function, display switching, function selecting menu (icons, buttons, etc.) operated by user to confirm settings are variably displayed in a selected display style, i.e., in icon mode, regular mode or express mode. In icon mode, only icons for function setting are displayed infunction selecting region410 so as to maximize the size ofpreview region480.

In express mode, the display offunction selecting region410 is enlarged so as to allow the user to set the function all at once though the size ofpreview region480 is minimized.

In regular mode,preview region480 is sized between that in the icon mode and that in the express mode while infunction selecting region410 the text of function titles are displayed together with functional setting icons.

Preview region

480 displays the image of the output pages of the (finished) document. The image is displayed using dummy data or scanned data, and the displayed image inpreview region480 is revised every time the user changes the finish. There are two modes of displaying the finish in this preview region480: the display of the final preview with a dummy image in virtual mode before scanning and the display of the final preview with actual images in scan-in mode after scanning. The virtual mode further has two types, before setting documents and after setting documents.

At the bottom ofpreview region480 there is a group of previewselect buttons450 for changing the display style ofpreview region480. The group of previewselect buttons450 includes a rotatebutton458 for rotating the preview by a predetermined angle, azoom bar460 for enlarging and reducing the preview images, a documentdisplay mode button452 for directing change to the after mentioned document display mode, afinish preview button454 for directing change to s finish preview frame and a fit-to-screen button457 for directing change to fit-to-screen mode (which will be referred to hereinbelow as “fit mode”).

As rotatebutton458 is touched, a dialog for designating the rotating angle of the preview is displayed. As a desired angle is designated, the preview image displayed in the preview region is rotated by that angle. It is also possible to rotate the preview by making a gesture control on the preview image. For example, as the two fingers are put on the preview image and then the fingertips are rotated, the preview image rotates in the direction of rotation of the fingers by the angle that is determined by amount of movement of the fingers.

When the (+)button462 ofzoom bar460 is touched, or whenbar466 is gesture-controlled (by the “drag or slide”) toward the (+)button462, the preview is enlarged. Alternatively, when the image of the finished document image displayed in the preview region is gesture-controlled (on the document image by the “pinch out/pinch open” with fingertips), the preview is also enlarged.

When the (−)button464 ofzoom bar460 is touched, or whenbar466 is gesture-controlled (by “drag or slide”) toward the (−)button464, the preview is reduced in size. Alternatively, when the image of the finished document image displayed in the preview region is gesture-controlled (on the document image by the “pinch in/pinch close” gesture with fingertips), the preview is also reduced in size.

When there are many pages of document images to be displayed inpreview region480, touchable displayed page select buttons(page number input buttons, page up and down buttons, single page display button and multiple page display button, etc.) may be displayed. In this case, it is also possible to turn over or return the page of the document to be previewed by a touching and sliding (flicking operation) of the document image. Further, when the document image to be displayed inpreview region480 is large, scroll bars that can be touched or gesture-controlled may be displayed.

Action panel region

482 displays information such as hint, advice and suggestion for operation and control. Display in thisaction panel region482 is given such that when a particular function is selected by a certain user, the functions associated with the subject function may be displayed, another function as to the subject function may be displayed in a purpose-oriented manner, or the function that was selected in the past in combination with the subject function by the same user or a user of the group to which this user belongs may be displayed as a “recommended function”.

Displayed on the left side ofaction panel region482 is an actionpanel folding button486, which is operated by the user whenaction panel region482 should be displayed in a contracted representation.

As actionpanel folding button486 is pressed,action panel region482 is contracted and a button is displayed at the right edge of the screen, as described later. As actionpanel folding button486 is pressed once again, theaction panel region482 which has been displayed in a contracted representation is displayed in enlargement. That is,action panel region482 can be reduced or enlarged by user pressing the button. Along with this operation,preview region480 is enlarged or reduced. By this screen control, the user can easily confirm preview images and check operation hint, based on the user's intention.

Task trigger region

484 displays triggering items (software buttons) for starting a particular operation ofimage forming apparatus100. The display of the item is given when all the settings in the selected operational mode have been completed so thatimage forming apparatus100 is enabled to actually start the operation. For example, intask trigger region484, the scan start button (“SCAN IN” button, inFIG. 6 and afterwards), monochrome copy start button (MONO START), color copy start button (COLOR START), or clear all button (CA) is displayed.

The scan start button is the button that triggers reading of documents once and performs a preview process in copy and FAX transmission modes.

The monochrome copy start button is the button that triggers reading of documents and directly performs image forming of monochrome images on recording paper.

The color copy start button is the button that directly starts image forming of color images of document. The clear-all button is a button to clear all the input information.

The layout of these five regions is not changed even if the operational mode is switched from one to another (in the initial screen of any operational mode). Further, each region may change in size, expanding or contracting in the horizontal (longitudinal) direction of the screen oftouch panel display130 as in the case where the display of function selecting region410 (and preview region480) is switched between icon mode, regular mode and express mode.

The layout of the five regions is designed in light of the user interfaces in conventional machines, by directing attention to user' s path of gaze and control. This arrangement leads the user to perform settings by moving their gaze from top left to bottom right and moving their input action (fingers of the dominant hand) from top left to bottom right ontouch panel display130.

In this arrangement, for switching the operational mode from one to another in normal control, the user presses down home key148 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and selects another operational mode on the home screen. In this way, it is possible to change operational mode by way of the home screen.

(Display Layout in Each Image Display Mode)

Next, image display mode corresponding to each operational mode inimage forming apparatus100 will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative diagram showing a state of partitioned display regions in fit mode in a preview representation of the image forming apparatus;FIG. 7 is an illustrative diagram showing a state of partitioned display regions in finish preview mode in a preview representation of the image forming apparatus;FIG. 8 is an illustrative diagram showing a state of partitioned display regions in image edition mode in a preview representation of the image forming apparatus; andFIG. 9 is an illustrative diagram showing a state of partitioned display regions in document display mode in a preview representation of the image forming apparatus.

Inimage forming apparatus100, control unit120 (FIG. 1) has multiple image display modes, specifically, (1) fit mode, (2) finish preview mode, (3) image edition mode and (4) document display mode, to support the function of editing image data.

Now, the screen configuration of each image display mode using preview will be described.

Here, in any image display mode, the positions of the layout ofpreview region480,function selecting region410,action panel region482 andtask trigger region484, displayed on touch panel display130 (FIG. 1) are basically the same, though the width (the dimension in the longitudinal direction of touch panel display130) varies depending on the frame.

(1) Fit Mode

In fit mode, a fit-to-screen frame500 is displayed intouch panel display130, as shown inFIG. 6. Fit-to-screen frame500 is used to display a captured image when a scan-in operation is completed, for example.

Arranged in the center of fit-to-screen frame500 ispreview region480. In this case, apreview image502 of one page of document is displayed in the largest possible size within thepreview region480.

Arranged on the left side ofpreview region480 isfunction selecting region410.

Infunction selecting region410, a group offunction icons512 and a group oftexts514 each explaining the function of individual function icon are displayed.

Arranged in the upper part on the right side ofpreview region480 isaction panel region482.Task trigger region484 is laid out under the action panel region.

When the right end offunction selecting region410 is flicked leftwards,function selecting region410 retracts to the left side of the screen, so that only the group offunction icons512 is displayed. In other words, the group oftexts514 is eliminated. Also in this state, the user is able to recognize each function since the group offunction icons512 for function selection is displayed. Resultantly, the user can operate without confusion when selecting a function.

Then, as the right end offunction selecting region410 is flicked rightwards,function selecting region410 pulled out rightwards. At this time, the background offunction selecting region410 becomes translucent so that the user can view the image inpreview region480. That is, the user can confirm the whole preview image when selecting a function. As a result, it is possible for the user to easily select an appropriate function.

When actionpanel folding button486 is pressed,action panel region482 is contracted rightwards and an unfolding button522 (seeFIG. 8) is displayed. As unfoldingbutton522 is pressed,action panel region482 is expanded leftwards and displayed. This control is the same as in the display frame in other image display modes.

(2) Finish Preview Mode

In finish preview mode, afinish preview frame510 is displayed intouch panel display130, as shown inFIG. 7. Arranged in the center offinish preview frame510 ispreview region480. In this case, preview images of multiple pages of documents are displayed inpreview region480.

On the left side offinish preview frame510, function selecting region410 (FIG. 6) is displayed in a contracted representation.

That is, only the group offunction icons512 without group oftexts514 is displayed infunction selecting region410. Arranged in the upper part on the right side ofpreview region480 isaction panel region482.Task trigger region484 is laid out under the action panel region.

Preview region

480 is displayed with the greater width by virtue of reduction of the width offunction selecting region410. Accordingly, when many images are arranged insidepreview region480 as in a finish preview representation, the whole configuration can be easily known. The Image arranged in the center ofpreview region480 is displayed so large that the content can be fully confirmed.

In finish preview mode, only the group offunction icons512 is displayed without the group oftexts514. However, when the right edge of the group offunction icons512 is flicked rightwards,function selecting region410 is unfolded rightwards from the group offunction icons512. After the unfolding, the group oftexts514 is displayed on the right side of the group offunction icons512, presenting a similar screen to that of fit-to-screen frame500. In this case,function selecting region410 is translucent. Therefore, the images inpreview region480 underfunction selecting region410 can be seen through.

As a predetermined time has elapsed without any function icon or text operated,function selecting region410 is retracted once again to return to the display of the group offunction icons512 alone. Also when execution of the function selected by the user is completed,function selecting region410 is retracted to return to the display of the group offunction icons512 alone.

(3) Image Edition Mode (1D Mode)

In image edition mode, an imageedition mode frame520 is displayed intouch panel display130, as shown inFIG. 8. Arranged in the center of imageedition mode frame520 ispreview region480. In this case, preview images of multiple pages of documents are arranged side by side and displayed inpreview region480. In imageedition mode frame520, it is possible to insert a blank page, delete a partial area of an image and perform other processes, in addition to mere display of images.

In imageedition mode frame520, differing fromfinish preview frame510, the action panel region482 (FIG. 7) displayed infinish preview frame510 is folded into the right side (in other wards, retracted into the right side) with unfoldingbutton522 displayed instead.

As unfoldingbutton522 is pressed,action panel region482 is expanded and displayed. Also in this case,action panel region482 is displayed translucently so thatpreview region480 under the action panel region can be recognized.

As a predetermined time has elapsed without any control given toaction panel region482,action panel region482 is folded once again and replaced by unfoldingbutton522.

When task triggerregion484 is displayed, the buttons insidetask trigger region484 can be operated. As a predetermined time has elapsed without any control given to task triggerregion484,task trigger region484 is contracted and displayed.

In image edition mode,task trigger region484 is also contracted and displayed in the right side of imageedition mode frame520. In this case, only part of buttons intask trigger region484 can be seen. Since in image edition mode, priority is given to edition of page images, it does not matter if task triggerregion484 is displayed in a contracted manner.

Accordingly, in image edition mode,function selecting region410,action panel region482 andtask trigger region484 are displayed with their width contracted, so that most part of the display area oftouch panel display130 may be used forpreview region480. Hence, it is possible to easily perform edition of images and confirmation of images after edition.

Further, in image edition mode, in place ofaction panel region482, unfoldingbutton522 andtask trigger region484 are displayed in a contracted manner on the upper and lower right of the screen, respectively. This enables the user to recognize the positions ofaction panel region482 andtask trigger region484 during editing images, so that the user can do a job of editing comfortably.

(4) Document Display Mode

In document display mode, adocument display mode530 is displayed intouch panel display130, as shown inFIG. 9. Arranged in the center of documentdisplay mode frame530 ispreview region480. In this case, multiple captured page images are arranged matrix-wise inpreview region480.

On the left side of documentdisplay mode frame530, function selecting region410 (FIG. 6) is displayed in a contracted representation.

Infunction selecting region410, only the group offunction icons512 without group oftexts514 is displayed.Action panel region482 andtask trigger region484 are normally displayed in the same manner as in fit-to-screen frame500 (FIG. 6).

The area ofpreview region480 becomes greater than that in fit-to-screen frame500, and a greater number of pages can be displayed. In the present embodiment, multiple images are arrayed in conformity with the width ofpreview region480. When there are many images so that part of them cannot be displayed, ascroll bar532 is displayed along the right edge ofpreview region480. By operatingscroll bar532, it is possible to move the images displayed inpreview region480 up and down. It is also possible to move the images up or down by flicking the screen upwards or downwards.

Next, the configuration ofcontrol unit120 inimage forming apparatus100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control unit configuration in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment.FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a touch panel display configuration of the control unit.

As shown inFIG. 10,control unit120 according to the present embodiment includes, in addition todisplay panel132 andtouch panel134, an operatedposition detector135, ascreen display portion136, adisplay image generator137 and control unit-side controller (display controller)131 for controlling processing and operation incontrol unit120.

Image forming apparatus

100 includesdocument reader102 for receiving input of image data, animage processor103, astorage105 for storing image data input throughdocument reader102 and animage output unit107 such as a printer, transmitter or the like for outputting images, all being operated and controlled by amain controller101.

Document reader

102 has an additional reading function which enables additional reading (additional input) of additional documents after completion of reading of desired documents (image data).

Operatedposition detector135 detects the operated position ontouch panel134.

Screen display portion

136 displays an image formed bydisplay image generator137 ondisplay panel132 and displays the frame corresponding to each of the multiple image display modes.

Display image generator

137 prepares a predetermined image based on image data input to the main body ofimage forming apparatus100, following instructions from control unit-side controller131 and also has a function of forming images in their finished state in accordance with the settings for the finishing process.

Control unit-side controller131 is connected tomain controller101 of the main body ofimage forming apparatus100 and functions as a controller intouch panel display130.

Now, control unit-side controller131 will be described in detail.

As shown inFIG. 11, control unit-side controller131 has a preview display function of giving display images based on the documents scanned bydocument reader102 ontouch panel display130 in a preview representation and a scroll display function of multiple pages of display images given in a preview representation in a movable manner.

Further, control unit-side controller131 has an image displaymode selecting controller1310.

Image displaymode selecting controller1310 has a function which, when the user selects a desired function, selects an image display mode suited to the function the user wants from the multiple image display modes, in accordance with the user's operation of selecting a function, and displays the display frame corresponding to the image display mode, ontouch panel display130.

Image displaymode selecting controller1310 also has a function which, if one page image representation or two page image representation (so-called spread representation) has been given ontouch panel display130 when the user selects a desired function, changes the display to an image display mode for displaying images of more than two pages in a preview representation, in accordance with the user's operation of selecting a function.

In the present embodiment, the user's operations of selecting a desired function should include the operation of selecting or touching an image given in a preview representation ontouch panel display130 with the finger and moving it, or a flicking operation by touching the image with the finger and sweeping it lightly.

Further, the user's operations of selecting a desired function should include the operation of selecting or touching an image to be edited and sliding the image either leftwards or rightwards ontouch panel display130.

Next, the cases where the display frame inimage forming apparatus100 changes by user's operation ontouch panel display130 when the user selects a desired function, will be described taking an example with reference to the drawings.

(Example)

This example shows a case where, upon edition of moving an image to be edited inimage forming apparatus100, the display screen being in fit mode changes its mode in accordance with the user's operation ontouch panel display130.

FIG. 12A is an illustrative view showing one example of a display screen when the screen display mode is in fit mode in the image forming apparatus of the example.FIG. 12B is an illustrative view showing one example of a display screen when the screen display mode has been switched into image edition mode (1D mode) in the image forming apparatus.

In the example, inimage forming apparatus100, fit-to-screen frame500 in fit mode is displayed ontouch panel display130, as shown inFIG. 12A.

Inpreview region480 of fit-to-screen frame500, an image P1 to be edited (which will be referred to hereinbelow as “target image”) is displayed in a preview representation.

Target image P1 is a display image that is formed based on image data of one page among the image data of multiple pages input inimage forming apparatus100.

When target image P1 is moved (or inserted), the target image P1 displayed on fit-to-screen frame500 is flicked (by touching and sliding) either leftwards or rightwards. As a result, control unit-side controller131 (FIGS. 10 and 11) recognizes that target image P1 should be moved in the horizontal direction on the interactive screen. Then, image display mode selecting controller1310 (FIG. 11) selects the image edition mode which is the most suitable to move the image and then displays imageedition mode frame520 corresponding to image edition mode, as shown inFIG. 12B.

In imageedition mode frame520, multiple images (Pn1, Pn2, Pn3 . . . ) associated with target image P1 are displayed so as allow the user to recognize the arrangement of the input image data.

To select the place to which target image P1 is moved (or inserted), the user flicks imageedition mode frame520 either leftwards or rightwards so as to scroll the preview image of multiple images (Pn1, Pn2, Pn3 . . . ) in either left or right direction and find the target position.

When the target position (located between image Pn2 and image Pn3 in the present embodiment) is selected on imageedition mode frame520, for example double-tapping at the target position with the finger selects and determines the target position. As a result, target image P1 is laid out and displayed between image Pn2 and image Pn3 on imageedition mode frame520, as shown inFIG. 12B.

According to the example, when target image P1 displayed on fit-to-screen frame500 is moved (inserted), mere touching and sliding of target image P1 without performing any control of switching the display screen, enables automatic selection of the most suitable image edition mode for image movement, hence it is possible to display imageedition mode frame520 corresponding to the image edition mode. As a result, the multiple images (Pn1, Pn2, Pn3 . . . ) associated with target image P1 can be displayed, whereby it is possible for the user to easily move or insert target image P1 to the target position.

Though, in the above example, the display screen is changed into imageedition mode frame520 in which multiple images are arrayed in the horizontal direction, by touching and sliding target image P1 in the horizontal direction, the display screen may be changed into imageedition mode frame520 in which multiple images are arranged in the vertical direction, by, for example, touching and sliding target image P1 in the vertical direction.

Further, in the example, the function the user wants, or the moving function, is actuated by touching and sliding target image P1 in the horizontal direction. However, a function selecting pane is displayed inaction panel region482 so that a desired function item key in the function selecting pane may be selected, as shown inFIG. 12A.

In the function selecting pane inFIG. 12, function item keys such as “Delete Page”, “Move Page”, “Rotate Page”, “Divide Chapters”, “Insert Blank Page” and “Transmit Simultaneously” are arranged, and the moving function can be actuated by touching the “Move Page” key482a.

Further, in the example, when the user touches and slides target image P1, the display screen ontouch panel display130 is switched from fit-to-screen frame500 to imageedition mode frame520. However, switching of the display screen is not limited to this.

As a variational example, when, for example, target image P1 belongs to a display image for duplex printing in “2-in-1” layout for arranging two document image on one page of printout, the display screen is adapted to switch to finishpreview frame510, as shown inFIG. 7.

In this way, image displaymode selecting controller1310 can select the image display mode that is most suitable to support the style (one-sided printing, duplex printing, etc.) of edited images and can display its frame.

As configured above, according to the above embodiment, example and variational example, inimage forming apparatus100 includingcontrol unit120 having a function of displaying images to be output based on input image data in a preview representation, control unit-side controller131 for controlling the processing and operation ofcontrol unit120 is equipped with image displaymode selecting controller1310, whereby when the user performs image edition, the most suitable image display mode that supports the function and style of edited images the user wants can be selected from multiple image display modes, in accordance with the user's function selecting operation (e.g., an action of moving an image to be edited by touching and sliding), so as to give the associated display of the selected mode ontouch panel display130. As a result, it is possible to clarify the positional relationship of the target image to be edited relative to other images as well as to ease image editing operations, hence it is possible to realize an image forming apparatus that is improved in operativity.

The above embodiment and examples were described taking cases in which controlunit120 according to the present invention is applied to image formingapparatus100 shown inFIG. 1. However, as long as it is an image forming apparatus that includes a control unit (image display control device) including multiple image display modes for editing functions of image data and having a function of providing preview display of images to be output, the invention can be applied to any other image forming apparatus and the like, not limited to the image forming apparatus and copier having the configuration described above.

Having described heretofore, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and example, various changes can be made within the scope of the appended claims. That is, it is apparent that various kinds of variations and modified examples will occur to those skilled in the art within the scope of the appended claims. That is, any embodied mode obtained by combination of technical means modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be included in the technical art of the present invention.