Icon aided run function display system

Claim 2

An icon aided display system, adaptable to an image forming equipment having a plurality of run functions, comprising: means for storing instruction message sentences each comprising one or more characters and associated with selection of a run function, and icons each associated with an optional run function associated with a selected run function; display means for displaying characters and icons; function selection means including means for selecting one of the plurality of run functions, and first means coupled to said storing means for reading said instruction message sentence associated with such selection; and display control means, coupled to said storing means and the function selection means, including second means for reading one or more said icons, each representing an optional run function associated with a selected run function, means for adding the icons read by the second reading means to the instruction message sentence read by the first reading, means for controlling said display means to display said message sentence and said icons simultaneously in the display means whenever such selection of a run function is made, and means for terminating the operation of said function selection means after such selection is made.

Claim 3

The icon aided display system according to claim 1, wherein said storing means includes means for separately storing therein icon image data associated with an image of said icon and icon image position data being associated with the position of said icon with respect to the position of said message sentence when displayed in the display means.

Claim 4

The icon aided display system according to claim 2, wherein said icon includes icon codes, and wherein said display control means includes means for replacing said icon codes with icon image data prior to the display of said instruction message.

Claim 5

The icon aided display system according to claim 1, further comprising: one or more optional devices attachable to said image forming equipment each for performing an image forming operation; means, coupled to said function selection means, for detecting whether or not the optional device associated with a selected run function is attached to said image forming equipment; means for storing a message representing whether or not said associated optional device is attached and menus representing one or more usable functions associated with the associated optional device; a plurality of settable operational switching means for controlling said icon aided display system; setting means, coupled to the detecting means, the message and menu storing means and the switching means, including means for reading out a stored message and menus associated with the associated optional device to provide display data, and means for setting said operational switching means in accordance with the result of the detection; message and menu display means, coupled to the setting means, for displaying the message and menus; and control means, coupled to the message and menu display means, for controlling the message and menu display means to display simultaneously the message and the menus associated with the associated optional device in accordance with the display data.

Claim 6

The icon aided display system according to claim 4, wherein said message and menu storing means includes a first memory for storing a message associated with said one or more optional devices attachable to the image forming equipment, and a second memory for storing a message associated with only the optional device which is detected to be attached to the equipment, and wherein said setting means includes means for erasing from said first memory the message associated with the optional device detected not to be attached to the equipment.

Claim 7

The icon aided display system according to claim 4, wherein the image forming equipment includes a photocopier.

Claim 8

The icon aided display system according to claim 4, wherein said messages displayed in said message and menu display means include an icon.

Claim 9

The icon aided display system according to claim 4, wherein said optional devices include an intermediate tray.

Claim 10

The icon aided display system according to claim 4, wherein said optional devices include an automatic original feeder for duplex copying.

Claim 11

The icon aided display system according to claim 4, wherein said stored message in said message and menu storing means includes a message associated with copying of a one-sided or duplex original onto a one-sided or duplex copy.

Claim 12

The icon aided display system according to claim 9, wherein said stored message in said message and menu storing means includes a message associated with the copying of a one-sided or duplex original onto a one-sided or duplex copy.

Claim 13

The icon aided display system according to claim 6, wherein the optional devices include an IC card devices.