JP2016162309A - Information processing apparatus, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing apparatus with an optical touch panel, configured to achieve energy saving without reducing the convenience of a user.SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus 100 includes an optical touch panel arranged in an operation section 200 and having light-emitting elements 302, 303 and light-receiving elements 304, 305. When entering power-saving state, a CPU in the image processing apparatus 100 performs control to supply power only to a light-emitting element located in a specific position in the optical touch panel, and to stop power to be supplied to the other light-emitting elements.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program.

  There has been proposed an optical touch panel that is used over a display screen of a liquid crystal display device. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique that enables coordinate input in such an optical touch panel without causing deterioration in image quality of a display screen.

  In general, an operation unit of an information processing apparatus such as a copier or a multifunction machine is arranged with a touch unit superimposed on a display screen of a liquid crystal device or the like, and receives an input from a user. At present, devices using a resistive film type or capacitive type touch unit are the mainstream, but with the increase in the screen size of the display unit, the use of an optical touch unit with higher performance and lower cost is being studied.

JP 2004-295644 A

  The optical touch panel performs position detection by combining an infrared LED and a phototransistor. Further, the information processing apparatus needs to shift to a power saving state from the viewpoint of energy saving. The return from the power saving state to the normal state is performed by a user's touch operation. Therefore, if the power is supplied to all the infrared LEDs of the optical touch panel in order to detect the user's touch operation when shifting to the power saving state, the power consumption increases. Also, if power supply to all infrared LEDs is stopped to reduce power consumption, the user's touch operation cannot be recognized and the power saving state cannot be restored.

  The present invention is an apparatus including an optical touch panel, and an object thereof is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of realizing power saving without reducing user convenience.

  An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided in an operation unit, and includes an optical touch panel having a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and a specific location on the optical touch panel when the apparatus shifts to a power saving state. Control means for supplying power only to the light emitting elements.

  According to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to realize power saving without impairing user convenience.

It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the information processing apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of an operation part. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of an operation part. It is a flowchart explaining the control processing of an operation part. It is a figure explaining the power supply to a light emitting element. It is a figure explaining the power supply to a light emitting element. It is a flowchart explaining the control processing of an operation part. It is a figure explaining the power supply to a light emitting element.

Example 1
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
In FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus 100 will be described as an example of the information processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus 100 includes a controller board 101 to an operation unit 200. Functions of printing, scanning, copying, FAX, etc. are realized by linking each processing unit.

  The controller board 101 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 102 to a FAX I / F 113. A CPU 102 is a controller that controls the entire image processing apparatus 100, and is connected to each processing unit via a system bus 114. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 103 is a boot ROM, and stores a boot program of the image processing apparatus 100. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 104 is a system work memory for the CPU 102 to operate, and stores calculation data and various programs of the CPU 102. The RAM 104 is also used as an image memory for holding image data that has been subjected to various image processing by the image processing unit 106 during printing or the like.

  The storage device 105 is a non-volatile secondary storage device for storing large programs and data. Large programs and data stored in the storage device 105 are expanded in the RAM 104 and used.

  The CPU 102 is configured to be able to communicate with each other via each external I / F. The CPU 102 performs data communication with the printer engine 115 via the engine I / F 107. The CPU 102 performs data communication with the scanner 116 via the scanner I / F 108.

  A network I / F 109 is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) via a LAN I / F connector, and performs network communication with a PC (Personal Computer). The network I / F 109 performs data communication with the operation unit 200 via the system bus 114. The wireless LAN I / F 110 performs wireless LAN communication via the wireless LAN antenna 118. The USB-H I / F 111 is connected to a device such as a USB memory via a USB connector and performs USB communication. The USB-D I / F 112 is locally connected to a PC via a USB connector and performs USB communication. The FAX I / F 113 is connected to a public line network via a modular jack, and performs FAX transmission / reception with a FAX apparatus.

  The printer engine 115 prints print data on paper. The scanner 116 reads a document. The operation unit 200 displays various setting operations and alarms. A document detection sensor 117 for detecting a document is connected to the scanner. The document detection sensor 117 is provided in each of a pressure plate unit (document table scanner unit) and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) unit. A document detection sensor 117 provided on the pressure plate unit detects that a document has been placed and notifies the scanner 116 when the document is placed on the platen glass. A document detection sensor 117 provided in the ADF unit detects that a document has been placed and notifies the scanner 116 when a document is placed on the feeder.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the operation unit.
The operation unit 200 includes a control board 201, a display unit 209, an optical touch panel 210, and hard keys 211. The image processing unit 203 generates image data to be displayed on the display unit 209 and transmits the image data to the display unit 209 via the display unit I / F 206. The touch panel control unit 204 acquires coordinate data from the optical touch panel 210 and communicates with the controller board 101 via the controller I / F 205. The controller I / F 205 is connected to the controller board 101 and is connected to each unit via the system bus 208. The optical touch panel 210 is disposed on the display unit 209 so as to overlap. When the user selects an icon displayed on the display unit 209, the optical touch panel 210 receives an input.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the operation unit.
A plurality of light emitting elements 302 and 303 such as infrared LEDs and light receiving elements 304 and 305 such as phototransistors are arranged on the outer frame of the optical touch panel so as to face each other. The touch detection area is an area where the display unit 209 and specific keys 307 to 310 are arranged. Specific keys include, for example, a power saving key, a home button, a copy start key, and a stop key. When invisible light such as infrared rays from the light emitting element 302 to the light receiving element 301 is blocked by a finger or the like, the control board 201 detects the coordinates. The display unit 209 outputs image data sent from the control board 201.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the control process of the operation unit.
This flowchart is executed by the CPU 102 controlling the touch panel control unit 204 based on a program stored in any of the ROM 103, the storage device 105, and the RAM 104 shown in FIG.

  In step S401, the CPU 102 determines whether the image processing apparatus 100 can shift to the power saving state. If the image processing apparatus 100 cannot shift to the power saving state, the process returns to S401. If the image processing apparatus 100 can shift to the power saving state, the process proceeds to S402. In S <b> 402, the CPU 102 continues to supply power only to the light emitting elements at specific locations, and stops supplying power to other light emitting elements. That is, the CPU 102 functions as a control unit that supplies power only to a light emitting element at a specific location in the optical touch panel 210 when the apparatus shifts to a power saving state.

  5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining power supply to the light emitting element in the first embodiment. When the image processing apparatus 100 shifts to the power saving state, the CPU 102, for example, applies only to the light emitting elements E at specific locations corresponding to the horizontal infrared light 501 and the vertical infrared light 502 shown in FIG. 5. Supply power. In this example, the CPU 102 reduces the number of light emitting elements that supply power, and supplies power only to the light receiving elements corresponding to the keys 307 provided in the operation unit.

  The CPU 102 may supply power only to the light emitting elements E corresponding to the horizontal infrared light 601 and the vertical infrared light 602 shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 102 supplies power only to the light emitting elements at a specific location by thinning out the light emitting elements to be supplied with power evenly.

  Returning to the description of FIG. In S403, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the light receiving elements (304, 305) corresponding to the light emitting element E that continues to supply power in S402 receive infrared light. The fact that the light receiving element does not receive infrared light indicates that the user has performed a touch operation. Therefore, when the light receiving element is not receiving infrared light, the process proceeds to S404, and the CPU 102 shifts the image processing apparatus 100 to the normal state. That is, when the image processing apparatus 100 is in the power saving state, the CPU 102 determines whether the light receiving element receives light from the light emitting element, and when the light receiving element does not receive light from the light emitting element. The image processing apparatus 100 is shifted from the power saving state to the normal state. Thereafter, in S405, the CPU 102 supplies power to all the light emitting elements (302, 303). According to the image processing apparatus 100 described above, power is supplied only to a light receiving element at a specific location when shifting to the power saving state, and the normal state can be restored from the power saving state by a user's touch operation.

(Example 2)
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the control process of the operation unit according to the second embodiment.
This flowchart is executed by the CPU 102 controlling the touch panel control unit 204 based on a program stored in any of the ROM 103, the storage device 105, and the RAM 104 shown in FIG.

  S701, S706, and S707 are the same as S401, S404, and S405 of FIG. In step S <b> 702, the CPU 102 continues to supply power only to a specific light emitting element and stops supplying power to other light emitting elements.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating power supply to the light emitting element in the second embodiment.
When the image processing apparatus 100 shifts to the power saving state, the CPU 102 supplies power to only the light emitting elements E corresponding to the horizontal infrared light 801 and the vertical infrared light 802 shown in FIG. Supply.

  Returning to the description of FIG. In step S <b> 703, the CPU 102 determines whether the light receiving elements (304 and 305) corresponding to the light emitting element E that continues to supply power in step S <b> 702 receive infrared light. If the light receiving element corresponding to the light emitting element E that continues to supply power is not receiving infrared light, the process proceeds to S706. If the light receiving element corresponding to the light emitting element E that continues to supply power is receiving infrared light, the process proceeds to S704.

  In S704, the CPU 102 supplies power only to a light emitting element different from the light emitting element supplied with power in S702, and stops supplying power to the other light emitting elements. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8B, the CPU 102 supplies power only to the light emitting elements E corresponding to the infrared light 901 in the horizontal direction and the infrared light 902 in the vertical direction. That is, the CPU 102 changes a specific location where power is supplied. Subsequently, in S705, power is supplied in S704, and it is determined whether the light receiving element corresponding to the light emitting element E to which power is supplied in S704 receives infrared light. Supplying power in S704 When the light receiving element corresponding to the light emitting element E supplied with power in S704 receives infrared light, the process returns to S702. Supplying power in S704 When the light receiving element corresponding to the light emitting element E to which power is supplied in S704 does not receive infrared light, the process proceeds to S706.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image processing apparatus 200 Operation part

Claims (10)

An optical touch panel provided in the operation unit and having a light emitting element and a light receiving element;
An information processing apparatus comprising: control means for supplying power only to a light emitting element at a specific location in the optical touch panel when the apparatus shifts to a power saving state. The control means determines whether the light receiving element receives light from the light emitting element when the information processing apparatus is in a power saving state, and the light receiving element receives light from the light emitting element. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if there is not, the information processing apparatus is shifted from the power saving state to a normal state. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the light emitting elements and the light receiving elements are arranged on an outer frame of the optical touch panel so as to face each other. The information according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control means supplies power only to the light emitting elements at the specific location by reducing the number of light emitting elements that supply power. Processing equipment. 5. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein the control unit supplies power only to a light receiving element corresponding to a key provided in the operation unit among the light receiving elements. apparatus. 6. The information according to claim 1, wherein the control unit supplies power only to the light emitting elements at the specific location by thinning out the light emitting elements to be supplied with power uniformly. Processing equipment. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the specific part that supplies the power. When the information processing apparatus is in a power saving state, the control unit may change the specific location for supplying the power to the other location when the light emitting device at the specific location receives light from the light emitting device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information processing apparatus is changed to a location. A control method of an information processing apparatus provided with an optical touch panel provided in an operation unit and having a light emitting element and a light receiving element,
A control method, comprising: a control step of supplying power only to a light emitting element at a specific location on the optical touch panel when the apparatus shifts to a power saving state. A program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 9.

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