# US 2019/0356796 A1 · Document reading device, image forming apparatus, and guidance notification method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0356796 A1 - Document ID: US20190356796A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/409,702 - Filed: 2019-05-10 - Published: 2019-11-21 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-18 - Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: HIROHITO MORIOKA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190356796A1 ## CPC - H04N 1/00477: {Indicating status, e.g. of a job (for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N2201/3219)} - H04N 1/00411: {the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen} - H04N 1/00488: {providing an audible output to the user} - H04N 1/00811: {according to user specified instructions, e.g. user selection of reading mode} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A document reading device that is capable of selectively designating a document reading process includes a sound output unit that gives notification of information needed for a document reading process that has been selected and a notification control unit that controls output from the sound output unit. When a specific document reading process has been selected, the notification control unit exercises control so that in a case where a device state of the document reading device is not the specific device state, notification information that prompts for the specific device state is outputted by the sound output unit after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the specific document reading process was selected and so that in a case where the device state of the document reading device is the specific device state, notification information whose content prompts for the specific device state is not outputted by the sound output unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A document reading device that is capable of selectively designating a document reading process, the document reading device comprising: a notification unit that gives notification of information needed for a document reading process that has been selected; and a notification control unit that controls output from the notification unit, wherein when a specific document reading process that functions under a specific device state has been selected, the notification control unit exercises control so that in a case where a device state of the document reading device is not the specific device state, notification information that prompts for the specific device state is outputted by the notification unit after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the specific document reading process was selected and so that in a case where the device state of the document reading device is the specific device state, notification information whose content prompts for the specific device state is not outputted by the notification unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The document reading device according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the specific document reading process has been selected and the specific device state exists, the notification control unit causes the notification unit to output the notification information immediately in a case where the specific device state has ceased to exist. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The document reading device according to claim 1, wherein the notification information is display information that is displayed on a display panel of the document reading device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The document reading device according to claim 1, further comprising, as the notification unit, a sound output unit that gives sound notification of information needed for a document reading process, and the notification information is sound information that is outputted by the sound output unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The document reading device according to claim 1, wherein notification of the notification information is made by varying modes of notification from step to step. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The document reading device according to claim 3, wherein the notification information includes first notification information by which notification of elapse of a predetermined period is given after the predetermined period of time has elapsed since the specific document reading process was selected, and second notification information that, after the notification given by the first notification information, prompts for the specific device state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The document reading device according to claim 1, further comprising: a platen on which a document is placed; and a platen cover or an automatic document feeder openably and closably installed over the platen, wherein the specific device state is a state where the platen cover or the automatic document feeder is in an open state or a closed state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The document reading device according to claim 1, wherein output from the notification unit is destined for a device or a service externally connected to the document reading device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus, including a document reading device that is capable of selectively designating a document reading device, which is capable of forming an image, the image forming apparatus comprising, as the document reading device, the document reading device according to claim 1. ### Claim 10 A method for giving notification of guidance about a document reading device that is capable of selectively designating a document reading process, the method comprising: giving notification of information needed for a document reading process that has been selected; controlling the notification of the information; and when a specific document reading process that functions under a specific device state has been selected, exercising control so that in a case where a device state of the document reading device is not the specific device state, notification of notification information that prompts for the specific device state is given after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the specific document reading process was selected and so that in a case where the device state of the document reading device is the specific device state, notification of notification information whose content prompts for the specific device state is not given.