# US 2020/0396348 A1 · Apparatus

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- Number: US 2020/0396348 A1
- Document ID: US20200396348A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/858,794
- Filed: 2020-04-27
- Published: 2020-12-17
- Earliest claimed: 2019-06-11
- Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc.
- Applicants: Konica Minolta, Inc.
- Inventors: Takeo KATSUDA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200396348A1

## CPC

- H04N 1/00403: {Voice input means, e.g. voice commands}
- H04N 1/00488: {providing an audible output to the user}
- H04N 1/00891: {Switching on or off, e.g. for saving power when not in use (H04N1/00896 takes precedence)}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An apparatus includes: an operation panel that displays an operation screen and accepts an operation from a user; a hardware processor that accepts an operation from a user by voice, turns off the operation panel in a case where an interval between operations received by the operation panel exceeds a first set time, and resets a setting content stored in the storage in a case where an interval between operations received by the operation panel or the hardware processor exceeds a second set time; a storage that stores a setting content corresponding to an operation received by the operation panel or the hardware processor; and a changer that changes a set time of a timer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
an operation panel that displays an operation screen and accepts an operation from a user;
a hardware processor that accepts an operation from a user by voice, turns off the operation panel in a case where an interval between operations received by the operation panel exceeds a first set time, and resets a setting content stored in the storage in a case where an interval between operations received by the operation panel or the hardware processor exceeds a second set time;
a storage that stores a setting content corresponding to an operation received by the operation panel or the hardware processor; and
a changer that changes a set time of a timer, wherein
the changer sets the second set time longer than the first set time during acceptance of a setting by voice operation, and sets the second set time to a same or shorter time than the first set time during acceptance of a setting by operation on the operation panel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
during acceptance of a setting by voice operation, the changer makes the second set time longer than during acceptance of a setting by operation on the operation panel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
during acceptance of a setting by voice operation, the changer makes the first set time shorter than during acceptance of a setting by operation on the operation panel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a notifier that notifies that a setting is being accepted by voice operation, during acceptance of a setting by voice operation and after the operation panel is turned off.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
in a case where a cloud server performs voice analysis/recognition processing related to voice operation, the second set time set in the hardware processor during acceptance of a setting by voice operation is made longer than a case where the apparatus itself performs the voice analysis/recognition processing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the hardware processor shifts a predetermined module to a power saving mode, and
the changer does not change a set time of the third timer depending on whether or not a setting is being accepted by voice operation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
when receiving a voice operation, the changer changes a set time of a timer so that the second set time is longer than the first set time, and when receiving operation on the operation panel, the changer changes a set time of a timer so that the second set time is the same or shorter than the first set time.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the apparatus is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium.