Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: a short-range wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a mobile terminal that is in proximity; an operating portion that receives operational instructions from a user; and an operation panel having a communication area of the short-range wireless communication unit and an operation area of the operating portion on the same surface. The operation panel is constructed such that the communication area of the short-range wireless communication unit is arranged around a corner portion on the near side of the operation area where the operating portion of the operation panel is arranged, as viewed from the user side who operates the operation panel.

Abstract: An image reading device has a movable platen glass that is rotatably supported, that is substantially a prism having a plurality of read faces, and that is constructed so that rotation of the platen glass can switchably place one of the read faces in the read position. Therefore, even if the platen glass becomes stained, the image reading device makes it possible to start or continue reading document images without requiring labor and time for cleaning the platen glass.

Abstract: A reading/writing process control unit for instructing a reading/writing process and an erasing process control unit for instructing an erasing process are provided separately and each is connected with two HDDs via a switch. While the reading/writing process control unit is connected with one HDD and executing a reading/writing process, a switch is controlled to connect the erasing process control unit with another HDD to erase data of the HDD connected with the erasing process control unit. Since it is enabled to execute a data reading/writing process and a data erasing process for a storage device in parallel for different HDDs, lowering of the access rate as a whole can be prevented.

Abstract: As for read-out image data of a manuscript, image regions not requiring color output are specified as specified regions 1 and 2. Then, it is determined whether the color information of the pixels of the read-out image data outside the specified regions 1 and 2 is achromatic. When it is determined as achromatic, the read-out manuscript is determined as a monochrome manuscript, so that processed image data in which chromatic pixels of the read-out image data in the specified regions 1 and 2 are converted into achromatic pixels is outputted as achromatic (monochrome) data. On the other hand, when it is determined as not achromatic, the read-out manuscript is determined as a color manuscript, so that the read-out image data is outputted intact as chromatic (color) data.

Abstract: A reading/writing process control unit for instructing a reading/writing process and an erasing process control unit for instructing an erasing process are provided separately and each is connected with two HDDs via a switch. While the reading/writing process control unit is connected with one HDD and executing a reading/writing process, a switch is controlled to connect the erasing process control unit with another HDD to erase data of the HDD connected with the erasing process control unit. Since it is enabled to execute a data reading/writing process and a data erasing process for a storage device in parallel for different HDDs, lowering of the access rate as a whole can be prevented.

Abstract: When a standby state is released, the attitude detector detects its own attitude, and a display style of key identification images assigned to the respective input keys and an image to be displayed on the display unit is determined based on the detection result. Then, set values fitting the display style are read from a display table and a key arrangement table, and switching of control is performed. Next, when switching of control is determined to be completed, the key identification images and output image are displayed in the set display style, and the display direction is optimized. Thus, the display style of the key identification images that are indicators for identifying input keys and the output image displayed on the display unit is automatically optimized according to the attitude.

Abstract: An image reading device has a movable platen glass that is rotatably supported, that is substantially a prism having a plurality of read faces, and that is constructed so that rotation of the platen glass can switchably place one of the read faces in the read position. Therefore, even if the platen glass becomes stained, the image reading device makes it possible to start or continue reading document images without requiring labor and time for cleaning the platen glass.