JP2002372432A - Display device of navigation equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display various kinds of information image planes together, magnify and display a selected information image plane out of them, and magnify and select a desirable information image plane at once. SOLUTION: Firstly nine information image planes 71-79 in figure 4 are displayed (step SB2). When any one of them is selected, the selected information image plane 71 is magnified and displayed (step SB11). Other information image planes 72-79 are contracted and displayed (step SB12). When any one out of the contracted information image plates is further selected, the selected information image plate is magnified and displayed (step SB11).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device for a navigation device, a display method for the navigation device, and a medium storing a computer program for display processing of the navigation device, and more particularly to displaying various information screens together. The present invention relates to an information screen selected and displayed on an enlarged scale.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional navigation apparatus, information such as a map is displayed on a display means, and is switched to another information in response to a predetermined display switching operation.

[0003]

However, in such a case, information desired to be viewed cannot be selected immediately, and a desired screen is displayed by repeating a display screen switching operation once or a plurality of times. Was. For this reason, the screen switching operation must be repeated many times until the desired screen is displayed. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to immediately select a screen to be viewed and not to perform screen switching many times.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, various information screens are displayed together on one screen of a display means, and when any one of the plurality of information screens is selected. In addition, the selected information screen is enlarged and displayed, and the other information screens are further reduced and displayed. As a result, the screen to be viewed can be immediately enlarged and selected, and the screen switching does not need to be performed many times.
Also, the remaining information screens that have not been selected (enlarged) are displayed in a reduced size, so that the selection (enlargement) can be immediately switched to another information screen.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (1) Overall Circuit FIG. 1 shows an overall circuit of a navigation device. The navigation device provides guidance on the traveling of a moving object or a vehicle, and the vehicle is a land vehicle or a vehicle traveling on a road.

The central processing unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 controls the operation of the entire navigation device. The central processing unit 1 includes a CPU
(Central processing unit) 2, flash memory 3, ROM (R
read-only memory) 4, RAM (Ran
dom Access Memory) 5, a sensor input interface 7, a communication interface 8, an image processor 9, an image memory 10, an audio processor 11, and a clock 14. The CPU 2 to the clock 14 are mutually connected by a CPU local bus 15, and exchange of various information data is performed between the devices under the control of the CPU 2.

The flash memory 3 is composed of a memory (EEPROM) capable of electrically erasing and writing. The flash memory 3 (internal storage medium / means) includes an information storage unit 3 such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk.
7 (external storage medium / means) is transcribed and stored (installed / transferred). In addition, the flash memory 3
Stores a program transmitted from an external device such as a road information reporting station or a main information processing device via the data transmission / reception device 27.

That is, the flash memory 3 has a CD-
A program stored in a ROM or an external information center or the like is transferred and stored. Therefore, if a program stored in the flash memory 3 is changed, processing by a new routine becomes possible. This program 3
8b is a program corresponding to each flowchart described later, and is various processing executed by the CPU 2. For example, there are information display control and voice guidance control.

[0009] In some cases, another operating system, system program (OS),
Other programs are stored, and the above programs are executed together with the OS and other programs. This program, when installed and executed in the present apparatus (computer body), causes the computer to execute the processing and functions described in the claims together with another program or independently.

[0010] In some cases, part or all of this program is stored and executed in one or more other devices other than the present device, and processing between the present device and the other device is performed via communication means. Data / data already processed /
The program is sent and received, and as a whole this device and another device,
The present invention is implemented. These communication means are a data transmission / reception device 27 and the like, which will be described later, and the another device is installed in a base station such as a center such as ATIS or VICS. For example, a current position process, a destination setting process, a route search process, a guidance / display process or other processes, which will be described later, are executed in the base station, and the searched current position, a set destination, and a searched guide route are performed. The guidance / display information along the route is transferred to the navigation device.

The above-mentioned installation (transfer / copy) is automatically executed when a new information storage unit 37 is set in the present navigation device or when the power of the present navigation device is turned on. Alternatively, it is installed by a manual operation by the user. The information storage unit 37 stores disk management information 38a including a label, a file identifier, and the like, and the updated version of the program in the information storage unit 37 is determined based on the disk management information 38a. The information storage unit 37 can be replaced with another information storage unit 37. Therefore, whether or not the new information storage unit 37 has been set is determined based on the information content of the disk management information 38a.

For example, since a program and management information relating to the program are stored in the flash memory 3, when a new information storage unit 37 is set, the management information of the flash memory 3 and the disk management information 38
a is compared. When it is determined that the information storage unit 37 including the new program has been set, the program 38b of the information storage unit 37
Installed in As a result, the latest programs and data are always stored in the flash memory 3. As a result, the latest navigation device is realized by replacing the information storage unit 37.

The information stored in the flash memory 3 includes various parameters used in the navigation operation. The ROM 4 stores display symbol data, display graphic data, and various general-purpose data. The display graphic data is data such as graphics necessary for route guidance and map display displayed on the display 33. The various general-purpose data is data such as voice for navigation such as voice waveform data in which synthetic voice for guidance voice or real voice is recorded.

The display symbol data is displayed on the display 33.
Is display data such as an icon displayed on the screen. The display symbols are a plurality of maps / graphics / diagrams which are sometimes divided and displayed on a display. This display symbol is
It corresponds to a plurality of key switches to be described later, and when clicked or input operation, information is input and various processes (processes) are performed. This processing is data input, output, transfer, display, storage, erasure, writing, reading, selection, and switching.

The above processing includes inputting characters, scrolling, shifting or moving the display screen, and selecting a menu of processing contents, and setting and selecting a departure place, a current position, a destination or a drop-off place for navigation. Setting, selecting, changing, determining or switching part or all of a guidance route or a search route, or setting geographical display information, map information or road information,
Selection, change, decision or switch.

The display symbol data, display graphic data and various general-purpose data include a starting point for navigation, a current position, a destination, a stopover point, a guide route, a search route, a guide sign, an intersection enlarged view, and a building. , Facilities, distance,
Time required, geographic display, geographic name, heading, heading,
There are also data such as directions, house maps, road maps, bird's-eye maps, fields, scales, and congestion information. The data 38c, the program 38b, the current position detecting device 20, the clock 14 and the like are used to create these data, and further, this display information is created and displayed on the display 33 through the image processor 9.

Of these various types of display information, 9
The two pieces of display information are displayed together on one screen of the display 33. When any one of the nine information screens is selected by the remote controller 50, the selected information screen is displayed in an enlarged manner, and the other information screens are displayed in a reduced size.

The RAM 5 stores data input from the outside, various parameters used for calculation, calculation results, a navigation program, and the like.
That is, the RAM 5 is used as a cache memory, a working memory, and the like. The clock 14 includes a counter and a battery backup RAM or an EEPROM. The clock 14 outputs current time or time information. The remote controller interface 15 receives an infrared signal from a remote controller 50 described later, and captures this signal as various information / data.

The sensor input interface 7 has an A / D
It is composed of a conversion circuit or a buffer circuit. Each sensor of the current position detecting device 20 is connected to the sensor input interface 7. Current position detection device 2
From each of the sensors 0, sensor data of an analog signal or a digital signal is input to the sensor input interface 7. The sensors of the current position detecting device 20 include an absolute direction sensor 21, a relative direction sensor 22, a distance sensor 23, a vehicle speed sensor 24, and the like.

The absolute azimuth sensor 21 is, for example, a geomagnetic sensor and detects absolute azimuth, that is, data in the north-south direction. The relative direction sensor 22 is, for example, a steering angle sensor using a gyro device, and detects a steering angle of a wheel. The relative angle of the traveling direction of the own vehicle with respect to the absolute azimuth is
Output from the relative direction sensor 22.

The distance sensor 23 is composed of, for example, a counter linked to a mileage meter and outputs mileage data of the own vehicle. The speed sensor 24 is constituted by a counter or the like connected to a speed meter, and outputs traveling speed data of the own vehicle.

The GPS (Gl)
An oval Positioning System signal (microwaves from a plurality of orbiting satellites) is received, and geographical position data such as the latitude and longitude of the moving object is detected. In addition, VIC
A beacon wave transmitted by a road information station such as S (road traffic information communication system) is received. Then, from the beacon receiving device 26, information (VICS data) on neighboring roads, GPS correction data, etc.
Output to the O data bus 28.

An I / O data bus 28 is connected to the communication interface 8 of the central processing unit 1. This I /
The O data bus 28 includes the GPS of the current position detecting device 20.
The receiving device 25, the beacon receiving device 26, the data transmitting / receiving device 27, and the like are connected. Further, the I / O data bus 28 includes a touch switch 3 of the input / output device 30.
4, a printer 35 and a data transmission / reception unit 39 for reading data from the information storage unit 37 are connected. That is,
The communication interface 8 allows each accessory device and CPU
Various data is exchanged with the local bus 15.

The data transmitting / receiving device 27 includes a mobile telephone transmitting / receiving device, an Internet transmitting / receiving device, an FM multiplex radio receiver, a cellular phone, a telephone line device, a radio receiver,
Television receivers, transceivers, pagers, modems or other radios are used. The data transmission / reception device 27 transmits and receives information to and from a base station, for example, an ATIS (traffic information service) and a VICS center.

The input / output device 30 includes a display 33, a touch switch 34, a printer 35, and the speaker 13. The display 33 displays route guidance information during the navigation operation. Touch switch 3
4 is attached on the screen of the display 33, and a plurality of transparent touch switches are arranged in a planar matrix. The transparent touch switch 34 is configured by, for example, a contact switch configured by a transparent electrode, a piezoelectric switch, or the like.

From the touch switch 34, information necessary for setting a destination, such as a departure point, a destination, and a passing point, is selected and input to the navigation device. The printer 35 prints various information such as maps and facility guides output via the communication interface 8. Each information is notified to the user by voice from the speaker 13. Note that the printer 35 may not be provided.

The display 33 is a CRT, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or the like, has a wide screen in some cases, and is constituted by two or more separable liquid crystal displays in parallel. Then, independent information is displayed on each liquid crystal display, or continuous map information over a plurality of liquid crystal displays is displayed.

An image memory 10 such as a DRAM (Dynamic RAM) or a dual-port DRAM is connected to the image processor 9 connected to the display 33. Then, the image processor 9 controls writing of image data to the image memory 10. Further, under the control of the image processor 9, the image memory 10
Is read out from the device, and an image is displayed on the display 33.

The image processor 9 converts map data and character data into display image data in accordance with a drawing command from the CPU 2, and writes the converted image data into the image memory 10. At this time, an image around the screen, which is displayed on the display 33 for scrolling the screen, is also formed.
The data is written to the image memory 10 at the same time.

The audio processor 11 is connected to the speaker 13. The audio processor 11 is connected to the CPU 2 and the ROM 4 via the CPU local bus 15. Then, the voice waveform data for the guidance voice read from the ROM 4 is input to the voice processor 11 by the CPU 2. The audio waveform data is converted into an analog signal by the audio processor 11 and output from the speaker 13.

An information storage unit 37 is connected to the I / O data bus 28 via a data transmission / reception unit 39.
The information storage unit 37 has disk management information 38a and a program 38b for controlling each navigation operation.
And data 38c such as map information. The disc management information 38a stores information on data and programs stored in the information storage unit 37.

Data necessary for the navigation operation such as road map data is recorded in the data 38c in a nonvolatile manner. The information storage unit 37 is connected to a data transmission / reception unit 39 that performs data read control with the I / O data bus 28.

Further, as the information storage unit 37 of the present invention,
In addition to optical memories such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs, the following devices are sometimes used. For example, it is a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory such as an IC memory or an IC memory card, or a magnetic memory such as a magneto-optical disk, a hard disk or a floppy (registered trademark) disk.

The data 38c of the information storage unit 37 includes map data, intersection data,
It includes node data, road data, photograph data, destination point data, guide point data, detailed destination data, destination reading data, house shape data, and other data. Also,
By the program 38b stored in the information storage unit 37,
The navigation operation is performed using the road map data of the data 38c. The other data 38c includes display guidance data, voice guidance data, simplified guidance route image data, and the like.

Further, as the data of the data 38c, link data corresponding to the link number transmitted from the base station or the road information station and indicating the correspondence relationship with the road number of each road stored in the data 38c is also included. included.

The data 38c of the information storage unit 37 stores map data of different scales or map data of one scale. That is, data 38
Either a map of the same area and different scales are recorded in c, or only map data of one scale is recorded in the data 38c. When map data of one scale is recorded, the scale is determined so that detailed information can be displayed when the map is enlarged and displayed on the display 33.

It should be noted that only one map data is the data 38
When a small-scale map, that is, a map with a wide geographical area (wide-area map) is displayed on the display 33 in the case where the information is recorded in the data c, information is thinned out from the map data recorded in the data 38c and displayed. You. This data 38c
In the thinned display of the map data, not only the geographical distance of each road and the like is reduced, but also the thinned display symbol information of facilities and the like. That is, the display about the large facility or the main facility is mainly performed, and the small facility below the predetermined value is not displayed.

(2) Remote Controller 50 FIG. 2 shows the remote controller 50. The remote controller 50 executes various settings for the navigation device shown in FIG. A rectangular recess 51 is formed at the center of the surface of the remote controller 50, and three rows ×
Four stages = 12 key switches (input means, switching means) 52 are provided. By depressing the key switch 52, the display symbol 60 is activated to input information, and the various processes are executed.

On the surface of the key switch 52, an elliptical protrusion identification portion 56 is provided. The key switch 52 selected by touching the identification unit 56 with the tip of a finger or the selected position of the key switch 52 is tactilely identified without visual recognition. The key switch 52 and the identification section 56 indicate the position or area of the means for inputting information.

An infrared coupler 53 is provided on the inner side surface of the concave portion 51.
It is detected whether a finger, a pen or other input medium has been placed thereon. Three infrared couplers 53 are provided on the upper side and the lower side of the recess 51, and four on each of the right side and the left side of the recess 51. Each of the infrared couplers 53 is a pair. Is a light emitting type and the other is a light receiving type.

The light emission of each of these infrared couplers 53 is sequentially switched by matrix control, and based on the non-light reception of the emitted infrared coupler 53 and the infrared coupler 53 to be received, the place where the finger or the like is put is determined and Is detected. The key switch 52 corresponding to the place where the finger is put has not reached the input operation (operation, operation, switching operation, switching operation), but the key switch 52 is in a selected state.

Thus, it is detected that at least one of the plurality of key switches 52 is selected in a state where the key switches 52 do not reach the input operation. Based on the detection result, the selected key switch 52
The display state of the display symbol 60 on the display 33 corresponding to is changed as described later.

An infrared light emitting section 54 is provided on the upper end surface of the remote controller 50. The selected content of the infrared coupler 53, that is, whether or not any one is selected, and which is selected, and the input content of the key switch 52, that is, Information on whether any has been entered and which has been entered is transmitted using infrared.
Remote control interface 15 of the above navigation device
The information is input and various processes are executed.

Another switch 55 is provided on the remote controller 50. The power of the navigation device is turned on by operating the power switch among the other switches 55, and the scale of the display map on the display 33 is switched by the detail switch / enlargement switch of the other switches 55. Each of these key switches 5
2, switch 55, infrared coupler 53, infrared light emitting section 5
The drive, detection, and control of 4 are executed by a CPU (not shown) in remote controller 50 and other control circuits (not shown).

The remote controller 50 is separated from the display 33, and information / data is transmitted to and received from the display 33 by infrared rays. However, in some cases, the remote controller 50 and the display 33 are connected to each other by wireless or wired transmission and reception of information / data.

Since the infrared coupler 53 is always activated before the operation of the key switch 52, the selected key switch 52 can enter the input operation in the selected state. The input operation of the key switch 52 is possible after the key switch 52 is selected. That is, unless the key switch 52 is selected, the input operation of the key switch 52 is impossible.

Since the interval or width between the infrared couplers 53 is larger than the thickness of an adult finger or the thickness of an input medium, one key switch 52 is always selected by one selection. However, the interval or width between the infrared couplers 53 is reduced, and in some cases, a plurality of key switches 52 are simultaneously selected by one selection.

In some cases, the number of key switches 52 is less than 12, for example, one. Even with one key switch 52, the display symbol 60 is selected and information is input as in the case of the twelve key switches. This one key switch 52 is provided at the center below the bottom surface in the concave portion 51,
This one key switch is depressed no matter where on the bottom surface of the one.

In this case, the selection of the display symbol 60 is detected by the 14 infrared couplers 53. In other words, in the state where the input operation is not reached, which position (which identification unit 56) of the one key switch 52 is selected is detected by the fourteen infrared couplers 53, and is selected based on the detection result. The display state of the display symbol 60 corresponding to the position of the key switch 52 (identification unit 56) is changed. In the following description, a plurality of key switches 52 will be described, but there is actually one key switch.

(3) Display Processing FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the display processing. This display process is executed by the CPU 2 in the navigation device based on the operation of the remote controller 50. This display process is started when the display 33 of the navigation device is pulled out, set up, when the ignition key of the vehicle is turned on / off, when the power is turned on or a predetermined switch operation is performed. This power-on is also performed by operating the power switch 55 of the remote controller 50.

First, an initialization process is executed (step SB1). In this process, the navigation program is read from the information storage unit 37. The read navigation program is copied (installed) in the flash memory 3. Thereafter, the program of the flash memory 3 is executed. Furthermore, CPU
2, the work memory of the RAM 5, the image memory 10
Etc., the general-purpose data storage area in each RAM is cleared (step SB1).

Further, the screen of the display 33 is turned on, and the multi-information screen of FIG. 4 is displayed (step SB).
2). Various information screens are displayed on the multi-information screen. In this multi-information screen, the first (upper left), the second
(Upper middle), 3rd (upper right), 4th (middle left), 5th
(Middle middle), sixth (middle right), seventh (lower left), eighth
(Lower middle), ninth (lower right) nine information screens 71, 7
2, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 are displayed together.

The image data of such an information screen includes the data 38c, the program 38b, the current position detecting device 2
It is created by the CPU 2 based on 0 or data from the clock 14, written into the image processor 9 and displayed on the display 33.

The displayed information screen is 3 columns × 3 rows = 9
And the above 3 rows × 3 rows = 9 key switches 5
2 is supported. If a finger is inserted into the concave portion 51 of the remote controller 50 and any key switch 52 is selected (step SB3), the selected key switch 52 is detected (step SB4), and the selected key switch is detected. A noticeable color frame such as pink is added to any of the information screens 71 to 79 corresponding to the switch 52, and the display state changes (step SB5).

This change in the display state may be caused by inverting the display colors of the corresponding information screens 71 to 79 to complementary colors, adding a frame around the information screens 71 to 79, or increasing the brightness or luminance. I do. In this case, depending on the case, on the contrary, all display states of the information screens 71 to 79 corresponding to all the key switches 52 other than the selected key switch 52 are changed. The image data for changing the display state is created by the CPU 2 based on the data 38c and the program 38b, and the image processor 9
And is displayed on the display 33.

Thus, the selected key switch 52
Are changed, the information screens 71 to 79 of the display 33 can be displayed without having to look at the key switch 52 one by one.
By simply looking at the change in the display state, the key switch 52 that is currently selected can be easily discriminated visually, and the key switch 52 to be operated can be easily confirmed. Key switch 5
The selection of 2 is detected by the infrared coupler 53, and the detection data is sent from the infrared light emitting section 54 to the CPU 2 via the remote control interface 15, and the display processing is executed.

Further, the selected key switch 52
Is pressed further (step SB8), the pressed key switch 52 is detected (steps SB9, SB1).
0), as shown in FIG. 5, one of the information screens 71 to 79 corresponding to the key switch 52 is greatly enlarged (step SB11), and the other information screens 71 to 79 are reduced (step SB12). In this way, the information screen to be viewed can be immediately enlarged and selected, and the information screen need not be switched many times. Also, the remaining information screens 72 to 79 that have not been selected (enlarged) are displayed in a reduced size, so that the selection (enlargement) can be immediately performed even when the selection (enlargement) is switched to another information screen 72 to 79.

Each pixel of the selected image on the information screens 71 to 79 is enlarged twice or 2.5 times vertically and horizontally.
Interpolation processing of each pixel is performed. On the other hand, other information screens 71 to 71
Each pixel of the 79 images is thinned out and reduced to 1/2 or 1/4 times... Such enlarged / reduced image data is stored in the data 38c, the program 3
8b, is created by the CPU 2, written into the image processor 9, and displayed on the display 33.

When a key switch 52 different from the pressed key switch 52 is further pressed (steps SB3, SB8 to SB10), the same processing as described above is executed, and the selected other information screens 71 to 71 are executed. 79 is also greatly enlarged as shown in FIG.
79 is reduced (steps SB11 to SB12). In this way, even when one information screen is enlarged and displayed, it is possible to immediately select another information screen to be viewed,
Information screen switching may not be performed many times. Also, the remaining information screens 72 to 79 that have not been selected (enlarged) are displayed in a reduced size, so that the selection (enlargement) can be immediately performed even when the selection (enlargement) is switched to another information screen 72 to 79.

When this one information screen is enlarged and displayed, and another reduced information screen is selected (steps SB3, SB8 to SB10), the processing of step SB2 is performed depending on the case. 4 are displayed.

When the key switch 52 corresponding to the enlarged information screens 71 to 79 as shown in FIG. 5 is further pressed (steps SB3, SB8 to SB10), the enlarged information screens 71 to 79 are displayed. The entire screen of the display 33 is displayed (step SB13). In this manner, the magnification of the information screens 71 to 79 which are selected and displayed in an enlarged manner can be changed stepwise or can be selected. In some cases, this enlargement ratio is displayed in multiple numerical values.
The magnification is selected by a predetermined operation.

Further, when the switch to the multi-information screen of FIG. 4 is instructed by operating the switch 55 or the touch switch 34 of the remote controller 50 (steps SB3 and SB3).
B8, SB15), and the multi-information screen of FIG. 4 is displayed (step SB2).

Further, when the switch of the multi-information screen shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is instructed by operating the switch 55 or the touch switch 34 of the remote controller 50 (steps SB3, SB8, SB16), information of another content is obtained. Similarly, a multi-information screen is displayed (step SB1).
7). If there is no switch operation, the other processing is executed (step SB18).

In some cases, the above step SB11
The enlargement / reduction display of SB12, the full screen display of step SB13, and the multi-information screen display of step SB2 are automatically executed by other predetermined instructions and various selections other than the operation of the key switch 52. For example, when it is detected that the current position deviates from the guidance route, when it is detected that the current position is less than a predetermined distance (time) to the destination,
For example, when it is detected that the distance to the intersection is less than a predetermined distance.

(4) Display State of Information Screens 71 to 79 FIGS. 4 and 5 show display states of the information screens 71 to 79. Each of the information screens 71 to 79 in FIGS. 4 and 5 shows a map around the current position of the moving object. The symbol (information) indicating the current position has a triangular mark to indicate the traveling direction of the current position of the moving object. The first information screen 71 is further divided into two, and various guidance signs (information) are displayed. On the left screen, there is a Togo service area (geographic display) ahead, and a distance to the destination of 25 km.
And the estimated required time of 15 minutes are displayed. On the right screen, the geographical display and road information such as the Togo service area, the Ichinomiya Junction, the Nagoya Interchange, and the Tomei Road are sequentially displayed from the current position.

On the second information screen 72, the road information of the national highway No. 1, the traffic congestion part 4Km, and the estimated required time 25 to the destination are displayed.
A minute guide sign (information) is displayed. The second information screen 72 displays a guidance route (search route) when traveling to the destination on National Highway No. 1, and the first information screen 71 displays a guidance route (traveling to the destination on the Tomei Expressway). Search route) is displayed.

On the third information screen 73, the current position, the guide route, and the road map are displayed as a bird's-eye view map. At the position of the destination on the upper left of the third information screen 73, various information (geographic name) related to the destination is displayed. 4th
On the information screen 74, a north-up map of north is displayed. On the fifth information screen 75, a head-up map in which the traveling direction of the moving body is higher is displayed. The sixth information screen 76 is further divided into two, and an enlarged map (or schematic map) with a small scale is displayed on the left screen, and a reduced map (or detailed map) with a large scale is displayed on the right screen. Is displayed.

The eighth information screen 78 includes the fifth screen 75
A smaller scale map is displayed. At the lower right of the fifth screen 75 and the eighth information screen 78, a scale symbol (scale information) is displayed. The fourth information screen 74 and the fifth screen 7
At the upper left of the fifth and eighth information screens 78, information on the azimuth or direction is displayed. The seventh information screen 77 displays road information, information on the nearest place, various kinds of guidance signs (information), and a geographical display or a geographical name of the road along the traveling road. On the ninth information screen 79, the outline of a building or facility along the running road is displayed, and a bird's-eye view house map is displayed.

FIG. 5 shows a state where the first information screen 71 is selected and displayed in an enlarged manner. If the other information screens 72 to 79 are also selected, they are similarly enlarged and displayed. In the case of FIG. 5, the first information screen 71 displayed in an enlarged manner and the other information screens 72 to 79 to be reduced are enlarged and reduced while maintaining a mutual positional relationship between them.

However, the first information screen 71 displayed in an enlarged manner and the other information screens 72 to 79 to be reduced are enlarged and reduced by changing their mutual positional relationship depending on the case. For example, another information screen 72 to be reduced
79 are displayed in a line at the lower edge of the display 33, or are displayed in a line at the right edge of the display 33. The display information of the other reduced information screens 72 to 79 whose mutual positional relationship has changed is created by the CPU 2, written into the image processor 9, and displayed on the display 33.
Will be displayed.

Each of the information screens 71 to 79 has the same type of information on the current position, but may have different types of information in some cases. For example, a menu for navigation is displayed on a part of the information screens 71 to 79, and menus for various processes are displayed. This processing is data input, output, transfer, display, storage, erasure, writing, reading, selection, and switching.

The processing includes inputting characters, scrolling, shifting or moving the display screen, and selecting a menu of processing contents. Setting of a departure place, a current position, a destination or a drop-off place for navigation, Select, change,
Determination, switching, setting, selection, change, determination, or switching of part or all of a guidance route or a search route; or setting, selection, change, determination, or switching of geographic display information, map information, or road information.

In the information screens 71 to 79, the departure place is also displayed in some cases. The above information screens 71 to 71
79 includes an enlarged view of the intersection, as the case may be. The maps displayed on a part or all of the above information screens 71 to 79 may be connected maps depending on the case. For example, first, fourth, and seventh information screens 71, 74,
77 is a connected bird's-eye map, and the second, fifth, and eighth information screens 72, 75, and 78 are connected detailed maps, house maps, small-scale maps, or north-up maps. , The third, the sixth, and the ninth information screens 73, 76, and 79 display a connected schematic map, a large-scale map, or a head-up map, respectively.

The information displayed on each of the information screens 71 to 79 is various geographic information, map information, road information or guidance information. This information is displayed as figures, characters, symbols, shapes, patterns, and colors. Such display information is stored in the CPU
2 is written to the image processor 9 and displayed on the display 33.

Each of the nine information screens 7 displayed together
1 to 79 have the same size. However, the sizes are different from each other in consideration of the divided screens of the first information screen 71 and the sixth information screen 76. Information screens 71 to 71
A part of 79 is displayed by using two screens in some cases. The selected and enlarged information screens 71 to 79 may be twice as large as the original information screen in some cases.
4 times, 6 times, and 8 times. In this case, the respective magnitudes have a relationship of a power of “2” or a multiple of “2”.

The information screen of another content displayed in step SB17 is, for example, a list of drop-off places or destinations by field, or a diagram showing the positions of these drop-off places or destinations on a map. For example, the first information screen 7
A map showing the location of each gas station is displayed in 1,
A map indicating the position of each restaurant is displayed on the second information screen 72, a map indicating the position of each fast food restaurant is displayed on the third information screen 73, and a map indicating the position of each convenience store is displayed on the fourth information screen 74. Are displayed, and a map showing the position of each supermarket is displayed on the fifth information screen 75, and so on. In the corners of the information screens 71 to 79, there are "gas station" and "restaurant" indicating the fields.
Field signs such as "fast food", "convenience store", and "supermarket" are displayed.

The information screens 71 to 79 shown in FIG. 4 or FIG.
On other information screens 72 to 79 to be reduced, sample information that is fixed and does not change in some cases is displayed. For example, on the third information screen 73, a general bird's-eye map or a "sample (sample)" such as the character "bird's eye" is displayed, and the bird's-eye map at the current position is not displayed. In other words, in the simple display, a fixed sample that shows what information is displayed on each of the information screens 71 to 79 is displayed.

Of course, when the third information screen 73 is enlarged and displayed as shown in FIG. 5, a bird's-eye view map at the current position is displayed. In other words, information that changes in response to actual driving when enlarged is displayed. The same applies to the other information screens 71, 72, 74 to 79. The same applies to the other information screens 71, 72, 74 to 79.

(5) Addition / deletion of display information at the time of enlargement / reduction (interpolation / thinning) FIG. 6 shows the contents of addition / deletion (interpolation / thinning) of display information at the time of enlargement / reduction. In the above-described change between the multi-information screen, the enlarged screen, and the reduced screen in FIGS. 4 and 5, some specific display information in the information screens 71 to 79 is added, deleted, or changed. Or not.

For example, as for the traffic jam information, information such as traffic jam on the route, construction regulations, closed roads, and the status of a detour road is displayed on the enlarged screen. Of the information displayed on the enlarged screen,
Only the character part, the icon shape, and the number part are extracted and displayed.

Further, the recommended search, the search prioritizing a toll road, the search prioritizing a general road, the search prioritizing a short distance to a destination or a stopover, and the search for a detour are shown in an enlarged screen. In the case of, all routes, roads used, distance to the destination or stopover, estimated time of arrival to the destination or stopover, tolls such as highways,
Information such as route information and traffic congestion topics are displayed. Of the information displayed on the enlarged screen,
In the case of the reduced screen, only the name of the search type, the shape of the icon, the character portion, and the serial number portion are extracted and displayed.

Further, a search for using the nearest station,
For the search to use the station where the limited express stops, the search to use around the traffic dense zone, the search to use the station where the station front parking lot is convenient, the search to use the specified station, On the enlarged screen, all routes, routes used, railroads used, distance to destination or stopover, estimated arrival time at destination or stopover, fare for destination or stopover, railway stop Maru Station,
Number of arrivals and departures, arrival and departure times, station parking lots, station facilities, congestion degree,
Information such as communication required, communication required, vacant seat of reserved seat of the train, communication required, communication required, delay, emergency, event, etc. are displayed. Of the information displayed on the enlarged screen,
In the case of the reduced screen, only the name of the search type, the shape of the icon, the character portion, and the serial number portion are extracted and displayed.

The addition / deletion (interpolation / thinning-out) of the display information at the time of such enlargement / reduction is executed by the CPU 2 based on the data 38c and the program 38b, written into the image processor 9 and displayed on the display 33. Is done.

The "display at the time of reduction" of FIG. 6 is executed for the reduced information screens 71 to 79 of FIG. 5, and the "display at the time of enlargement" is executed for the enlarged information screens 71 to 79 of FIG. Is done. However, this “display at the time of reduction” or “display at the time of enlargement” is performed in the multi-information screens 71 to 79
Is also feasible. Such addition / deletion of display information (interpolation / decimation) allows more information to be displayed on the enlarged screen, and prevents the display information from becoming complicated and complicated on the reduced screen.

The information screens 72 to 72 thus reduced
Numeral 79 is a simplified display of the original information screen of FIG. 4, and each information screen of FIG. 4 is an enlarged information screen 71 of FIG.
Is simply displayed. In this simplified display, only the main information in the information screens 71 to 79 is extracted as described above by adding / deleting, interpolating / decimating, and enlarging / reducing the display information, and the remaining information is deleted. Further, as described above, information that simply displays the display contents of the information screens 72 to 79 is displayed. The information screen 71 selected as described above is enlarged to display detailed information, and the other information screens are reduced to display only main information.

(6) Various Processes FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of other processes for navigation in the above step SB18. In this process, a current position process (step SA1), a destination setting process (step SA2), a route search process (step SA1)
3), route selection processing (step SA4), guidance / display processing (step SA5), and other processing (step S5)
A6) is executed. Note that the destination setting process (step SA2), the route search process (step SA3), and the route selection process (step SA4) are not repeated when the destination does not change or the moving object leaves the route. Not run.

In the current position processing (step SA1), the geographical coordinates (latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the moving object on which the navigation device is loaded are detected. In this detection, the GPS receiver 25 obtains the coordinate position of the moving object on the earth surface. The obtained coordinate position of the moving body is stored in the RAM 5 as the current position data MP. The current position data MP is corrected by information input from the beacon receiving device 26 or the data receiving device 27. Various maps based on the detected current position are displayed as shown in FIGS.

In the current position processing (step SA1), absolute azimuth data ZD, relative azimuth data Dθ,
The travel distance data ML is obtained from the absolute azimuth sensor 21, the relative azimuth sensor 22, and the distance sensor 23, and arithmetic processing for specifying the position of the moving body is performed. The position of the moving object obtained by this arithmetic processing is compared with the map data stored in the data 38c of the information storage unit 37, and the current position on the map screen is accurately corrected. By this correction processing, the current position of the moving object can be obtained even when a GPS signal cannot be received in a tunnel or the like.

In the destination setting process (step SA2),
The geographical coordinates of the destination desired by the user are set as the registered destination data TP. For example, the coordinates of the destination are specified by the user using a road map or a house map displayed on the display 33. Or, from the itemized list of destinations displayed on the display 33,
The destination is specified by the user. When the user performs a destination designation operation, information data such as geographic coordinates of the destination is stored in the RAM 5 as registered destination data TP.

In the route search process (step SA3), a plurality of routes are searched from the guidance start point data SP (including the departure place, the same applies hereinafter) to the final guide point data ED (including the drop-in place, the same applies hereinafter). You. The route search is performed in the order of the values of the priority tables PTD1, PTD2, and PTD3. That is, if the magnitude of the value is priority table PTD2> priority table PTD1> priority table PTD3, the second search condition, the first search condition
The path is searched in the order of the search condition and the third search condition.
The guidance start point data SP includes the current position data MP
Is set, or node data on the guidance target road close to the current position data MP is set.

In the route selection process (step SA4), a process of selecting one route from the plurality of routes searched in the route search process of step SA3 is performed according to a change in the position of the moving object. That is, when the moving object starts moving in a state where a plurality of routes have been searched in the route searching process of step SA3, a process of automatically determining which of the plurality of routes the moving object is moving is performed. Done. Then, when it is determined that the moving object is traveling on only one search route, the route selection processing (step SA4) ends.

In the guidance / display processing (step SA5),
The guidance route obtained by the route selection process (step SA4) or the route re-search process is displayed on the display 33 with the current position of the moving object as the center. The guidance route displayed on the display 33 is displayed on the display map so as to be identifiable. For example, on the map displayed on the display 33, the guide route is displayed in a different color, for example. Further, according to this guidance route, road guidance information is output from the speaker 13 so that the mobile body can travel favorably. Accordingly, various types of guidance information are displayed on the display 33 as needed. The image data for displaying the guidance route is
The road map data around the current position of the data 38c in the information storage unit 37 or the house map data around the current position is used.

The switching between the road map data and the house map data is performed under the following conditions. For example, a guide point (destination, drop-in place, intersection, etc.) from the current position
Distance, the speed of the moving object, the size of the displayable area, or the user's switch operation. In addition, guidance points (destinations, stopovers, intersections, etc.)
In the vicinity, an enlarged map near the guide point is displayed on the display 33. It should be noted that a simplified guidance route image is displayed on the display 33 in place of the road map. In the simplified guide route image, for example, display of geographical information is omitted, and only necessary minimum information such as a guide route, a direction of a destination or a stopover place, and a current position is displayed.

In other processing (step SA6), the nearest facility processing may be executed. The nearest facility process is a process of searching for and specifying a stopover place (facility, etc.) other than the registered destination data TP. The data relating to the drop-in place is determined using a map displayed on the display 33 or item information. The nearest facility processing is performed in the same manner as the destination setting processing in step SA3.

In the other processing (step SA6), for example, it is determined whether or not the traveling position of the moving object is along the calculated guide route. That is, when it is detected that the moving object has deviated from the guide route, the state flag for starting each process is set so that the route is searched again. Also, it is determined whether or not a destination change command has been input by a user's switch operation.

The current position processing as described above (step SA)
1) Destination setting process (step SA2), route search process (step SA3), route selection process (step SA)
4) In the guidance / display process (step SA5) and other processes (step SA6), the above-described display switching process between the multi-information screen and the enlarged / reduced information screen shown in FIGS.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the selection of the information screens 71 to 79 to be enlarged is performed by the touch switch 34 or one joystick depending on the case, or is automatically selected based on a predetermined situation detection.

For example, when it is detected that the distance to the intersection is less than a predetermined distance, the information screen of the intersection is automatically enlarged and displayed, or the information screen displaying the traffic information when entering a congested road is enlarged and displayed. If a moving object enters any one of a plurality of recommended routes (guide route, search route), the information screen for displaying the route is enlarged or moved. If the speed is less than the predetermined value, an information screen of a detailed road map, a house map or a small scale map is enlarged and displayed. If the moving speed of the moving object exceeds a predetermined value, an information screen of a rough road map or a large scale map is displayed. Is enlarged and the information screen of the return route is enlarged and displayed when the moving body deviates from the guidance route (search route).

The concave portion 51, the key switch 52, and the infrared coupler 53 of the remote controller 50 may be provided to be connected to the side of the display 33 of the navigation device or may be provided integrally with the display 33 depending on the case. In this case, the key switch 52 is replaced by the touch switch 34, the display 33 is provided in a concave portion, and an infrared coupler 53 is provided around the display 33 in the concave portion.

In some cases, a key switch 52 is provided on the back surface of the display 33 or the plate, and if the display 33 or the plate is pushed and tilted, information is similarly input. In this case, the infrared coupler 53 is replaced by a touch switch formed on the surface of the display 33 or the plate, and the key switch 52 is replaced by a key switch provided on the back of the display 33 or the plate. In this case, the display symbol 60 can be selected by tracing the touch switch formed on the surface of the display 33 or the plate with a finger. If there is only one key switch on the back, the display 33 or the plate can be pressed without tilting.

The display symbols include, in some cases, the scroll direction, the route, the nearest, the Japanese syllabary, the TEL, the personal name, etc., as well as the return, menu, destination, genre, current position display, power on / off, display map reduction ( Details),
Any information such as display map enlargement (wide area), TV screen, re-sound, etc. is input. In addition, hiragana, katakana, kanji, alphabet, Japanese,
English, German, French, Italian, and other symbols may be used.

The number of the infrared couplers 53 is 4 × 3, and one key switch 52 or one identification unit 56 is provided.
, The infrared couplers 53 correspond one by one.
In some cases, two or more sets (two or more sets) of infrared couplers 53 correspond to one key switch 52 or one identification unit 56. Accordingly, the number of infrared couplers 53 is 4 × n (n = 1, 2, 3,...) × 3 × n (n = 1,
2, 3, ...).

Thus, a plurality of sets of infrared couplers 5 corresponding to one key switch 52 or one discriminating section 56 are provided.
3 is detected, the one key switch 52 or the one identification unit 56 is selected, and the size of the corresponding information screens 71 to 79 is changed. In this case, even if a selection is made across a plurality of key switches 52 or identification units 56, the key switch 52 or identification unit 56 having a large number of detected infrared couplers 53 can be selected.

In some cases, when the selection of the key switch 52 or the identification unit 56 is switched, the positional relationship between the previous selected position and the current selected position is detected, and based on the detection result, the information screens 71 to 79 are displayed. The size is switched. For example, if the current selection position is right below, diagonally lower right, diagonally lower left, and right next to the previous selection position, FIG.
If the current selected position is right above, diagonally upper right, diagonally upper left, or left side of the previous selected position, the display state is switched to the display state of FIG.

In this case, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, in step SB10, the previous selected position and the current selected position are detected, and the relationship between these two detected positions is compared.
Of course, the positional relationship to be compared may be a group directly below, right side, left side, right above and a group of diagonally upper right, diagonally lower right, diagonally upper left, diagonally lower left, or may be divided into any group Good, and these divided groups may be more than two. Even with such switching of the display symbol 60, one key switch 52 or one identification unit 56
In contrast, two or more infrared couplers 53 (multiple or more)
You may respond.

The information storage unit 37 storing the programs described in the present invention and information such as maps and display symbols is used by a general computer in some cases. That is, the program stored in the information storage unit 37 is a program that can be executed by a general computer. And
If this information storage unit 37 is connected to a portable computer device together with a device whose current position can be detected by the GPS receiving device 25, navigation processing can be performed with this computer device.

The present invention can also be applied as a navigation device for vehicles other than automobiles, boats such as motorcycles, bicycles, boats, personal watercraft, and aircraft such as helicopters and gliders. Furthermore, the present invention is applied to a portable navigation device for walking humans, and can be used in cycling, travel, mountain climbing, hiking, fishing, and the like.

In some cases, the selection of the information screens 71 to 79 and the enlargement of the selected information screens 71 to 79 are performed by the movement of the user's eyes or viewpoint of the present apparatus. In this case, the position of the pupil or the line of sight of the user is detected by the line-of-sight detection device provided with the CCD camera, and it is determined which information screen of the multi-screen of FIG. 4 or 5 is being viewed by the user. As a result, which of the information screens 71 to 79 has been selected is detected.

On the basis of this detection result, the selected information screens 71 to 79 are displayed in a distinguished manner from the others. Display 3
When the user confirms this distinctive display on 3 and closes his / her eyes, this is detected by the visual axis detection device equipped with the CCD camera. Based on this detection result, the selected information screen is enlarged and the other information screens are reduced. The selection of the information screen to be enlarged and the instruction of the enlargement may be performed by any method.

[0110] All inventions described in the claims set forth above are communication media / communication method / communication device of a computer program for display processing of a navigation device, and a computer for display processing of a navigation device. It also holds as a program itself. FIG.
A part or all of the flowchart of FIG.
Alternatively, it may be performed manually.

The embodiments of the present invention are as follows. [A] In a navigation device that provides information on traveling of a moving object, a means for displaying various information screens together on one screen of a display means, and any one of a plurality of information screens displayed together is selected. Means for displaying the selected information screen in an enlarged scale and displaying another information screen in a reduced scale when the selection is made.

[B] In a navigation apparatus for providing information on the traveling of a moving object, various information screens are displayed together on one screen of a display means, and one of the plurality of information screens displayed together is displayed. When selected,
A display method for a navigation device, wherein the selected information screen is enlarged and displayed, and another information screen is reduced and displayed.

[C] In a navigation device that provides information on the traveling of a moving object, a process of displaying various information screens together on one screen of a display means, and any one of the plurality of information screens displayed together. A medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a process of displaying the selected information screen in an enlarged manner and displaying another information screen in a reduced size when the user selects the information screen. A medium storing a computer program for display processing that can be read by a computer.

[D] After the selected information screen is enlarged and displayed, and the other information screens are displayed in a reduced size, the original information on which the respective information screens are displayed together by a predetermined operation is displayed. The magnification of the selected and enlarged display of the information screen is stepwise changed or selectable, and the selected and enlarged display of the information screen is further selected, instructed or operated. The display device for a navigation device according to claim A, wherein the display device is displayed on the entire screen of the display means.

[E] Each of the information screens is the same type of information or different types of information, and the displayed information is various geographic information, map information, road information, or guidance information. The display device of the navigation device according to D.

[F] Each of the above information screens is a simplified display of each of the above information. In this simplified display, only the main information in the information screen is extracted and the remaining information is deleted or the information is deleted. Information that simply shows what is displayed on the screen is displayed, or in this simplified display, a fixed, unchanging sample that shows what information is displayed on each information screen is displayed. Claims A, wherein the information that changes in response to is displayed, the selected information screen is enlarged to display detailed information, and the other information screens are reduced to display only main information. The display device of the navigation device according to D or E.

[G] A plurality of selecting means for selecting any one of the plurality of information screens, and at least one of the selecting means is selected in a state where the plurality of selecting means does not reach the input operation. Is detected, the display state of the display screen corresponding to the selected selection means is changed based on the detection result, and the information screen selected by the input operation is further enlarged and displayed.
Alternatively, one of the plurality of information screens is selected by one selecting means, the moving body is a land vehicle or a vehicle running on a road, and the navigation device guides the traveling of the moving body. A display device for a navigation device according to claim A, D, E or F.

[H] The information screens displayed together are the same size or different sizes, and the sizes are in a power of “2” or a multiple of “2”. The information screen to be displayed in an enlarged manner and the other information screen to be reduced are enlarged or reduced while maintaining their mutual positional relationship, or the information screen to be displayed in an enlarged manner and another information screen to be reduced are displayed. The display device for a navigation device according to claim A, D, E, F or G, wherein the information screen is enlarged and reduced by changing a mutual positional relationship between the information screens.

[J] When the information screen is enlarged or reduced, display information in the information screen is partially added or deleted, and the displayed information includes figures, characters, symbols,
Information on the shape, pattern, and color. The information displayed above is, more specifically, a starting point for navigation,
Your current location, destination, drop-in locations, directions, search routes,
Information signs, intersection enlarged view, buildings, facilities, distance, required time, geographical indication, geographical name, traveling direction, direction, direction,
The display device for a navigation device according to any one of claims A, D, E, F, G and H, wherein the display device is a house map, a road map, a bird's eye map, a field, a scale, and traffic information.

[0120]

As described in detail above, in the present invention, various information screens are displayed together on one screen of the display means,
When any one of the plurality of information screens is selected, the selected information screen is enlarged and displayed, and the other information screens are further reduced and displayed. Therefore, it is possible to instantly enlarge and select a screen to be viewed, and it is possible to eliminate the need to perform screen switching many times. In addition, the remaining information screens that have not been selected (enlarged) are also displayed in a reduced size, so that the selection (enlargement) can be immediately switched to another information screen.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an entire circuit of a navigation device.

FIG. 2 shows a remote controller 50.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a display process.

FIG. 4 is a multi-information screen 71 to 7 of a display 33.
9 is shown.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which one multi-information screen 71 is enlarged in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows the amount of information displayed when the information screens 71 to 79 are enlarged / reduced.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of another process for navigation in step SB18.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Central processing unit, 2 ... CPU, 3 ... Flash memory, 4 ... ROM, 5 ... RAM, 7 ... Sensor input interface, 8 ... Communication interface, 9 ... Image processor, 10 ... Image memory, 11 ... Sound processor , 13 ...
Speaker, 14 clock, 15 remote control interface, 20 current position detecting device, 21 absolute direction sensor,
22 relative azimuth sensor, 23 distance sensor, 24 speed sensor, 25 GPS receiver, 26 beacon receiver, 27 data transmitter / receiver, 30 input / output device, 33
... Display, 34 ... Touch panel, 37 ... Information storage section, 38a ... Disk management information, 39 ... Data transmission / reception section, 50 ... Remote control, 51 ... Recess, 52 ... Key switch, 53 ... Infrared coupler, 54 ... Infrared light emitting section, 55 …
Other switches, 56 ... Identifier, 71-79 ... Information screen.

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yumi Shibata 10th Takane, Fujii-machi, Anjo-shi, Aichi F-term (reference) in Aisin AW Co., Ltd. 2C032 HB02 HC14 HC15 HC24 HC31 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB13 AC02 AC04 AC06 AC08 AC14 AC18 AD07 5B050 AA10 BA17 CA07 EA12 FA02 FA09 FA12 5E501 AA23 BA03 BA06 CA02 FB04 FB43 5H180 AA01 BB02 BB04 BB05 BB12 BB13 BB15 EE10 EE18 FF04 FF05 FF12 FF13 FF22 FF25 FF27 FF33

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A navigation device for providing information on traveling of a moving body, a means for displaying various information screens together on one screen of a display means, and any one of the plurality of information screens displayed together. Means for displaying the selected information screen in an enlarged manner when the selected information screen is selected, and for reducing and displaying the other information screens.