US 11,693,606 B2
Image forming apparatus controlling input from a first input device or a second input device based on which is connected to the image forming apparatus
Takehito Utsunomiya, Ibaraki (JP); and Minoru Akazawa, Chiba (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jul. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/387,677.
Application 17/387,677 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/005012, filed on Feb. 4, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-018769 (JP), filed on Feb. 5, 2019; and application No. 2019-018772 (JP), filed on Feb. 5, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0357157 A1, Nov. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. G06F 3/02 (2006.01); G06F 3/12 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 3/1203 (2013.01) [G06F 3/1258 (2013.01); G06F 3/1284 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image reading device configured to read an image of an original;
an image forming portion configured to form an image on a recording medium on the basis of a reading result of said image reading device;
an operating panel including a display screen capable of displaying, as software keys, a software numerical key portion for inputting each of numerical information of 0 to 9 and a software execution key portion for providing an instruction of a start of reading the image of the original to said image reading device;
a connecting portion to which a first input device including a first numerical key portion where a plurality of numerical keys for inputting numerical information of 0 to 9, respectively, by being pushed down as hardware keys are disposed in a telephone type arrangement and including a hardware execution key portion for providing an instruction of a start of reading the image of the original to said image reading device by being pushed down as the hardware keys, or a second input device including a second numerical key portion where a plurality of numerical keys for inputting numerical information of 0 to 9, respectively, by being pushed down as hardware keys are disposed in an electronic calculator type arrangement and including an arithmetic operation key portion for inputting data on four arithmetic operations by being pushed down as the hardware keys, is connectable; and
a controller configured to control said image forming apparatus so that an input operation by said first numerical key portion or said execution key portion is permitted in a case that said first input device is connected to said connecting portion, and so that an input operation by said second numerical key portion is permitted and an input operation other than the input operation by said second numerical key portion is made invalid.