JP6763101B2 - Navigation equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention mainly relates to the display of menu buttons of navigation equipment.

Conventionally, an underwater detection device that detects underwater by transmitting ultrasonic waves into water and analyzing the echo signal that is the reflection thereof has been known. The underwater detection device creates and displays a detection image which is an image in which the signal levels of the echo signals according to the depth are arranged in chronological order (arranged in the order in which the echo signals are acquired).

In the sounding device of Patent Document 1, a plurality of switches are arranged on the right side of the display. By operating this switch, the menu screen can be displayed. This menu screen is largely located in the center of the detection image. Further, in the fish finder of Patent Document 2, a menu screen is displayed below the detection image.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-92576 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-124492

However, in Patent Document 1, since the menu screen is displayed large in the center of the detection image, there is a problem that it is difficult to confirm the detection image while the menu screen is displayed. In Patent Document 2, the detection image is not hidden by the menu screen, but there is a problem that the detection image becomes small because the menu screen occupies a part of the screen area.

A main object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device having a configuration in which a large display area is secured.

Means and effects to solve problems

The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above, and next, the means for solving this problem and its effect will be described.

From the viewpoint of the present invention, a navigation device having the following configuration is provided. That is, the navigation equipment includes a menu display control unit that displays menu buttons side by side on the display unit. The menu display control unit newly displays the lower menu button when the menu button is selected and the lower menu exists in the menu button. When the menu display control unit receives an instruction to display a shortcut button in which the function of the button selected from the menu button or the lower menu button is registered, the menu button is hidden and hidden. A plurality of the shortcut buttons are displayed at the same position as the menu button and arranged in the same direction. When the shortcut button is selected and the shortcut button has a lower menu, the menu display control unit newly displays the lower menu shortcut button.

This allows the lower menu buttons to appear only when needed.

In the navigation equipment, it is preferable that the menu display control unit displays the lower menu button next to the menu button in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the menu button.

As a result, the lower menu button is displayed near the selected menu button, so that the lower menu button can be selected smoothly. Further, by arranging the lower menu buttons in the direction perpendicular to the menu buttons, it is possible to prevent the menu buttons and the lower menu buttons from overlapping.

In the navigation equipment, it is preferable that the menu display control unit displays the menu button semi-transparently so that the background can be seen through the menu button, at least while accepting the selection of the lower menu button.

The navigation equipment preferably has the following configuration. That is, when the menu display control unit receives an instruction to display the shortcut button, the menu button is hidden and the menu button registered as the shortcut button is displayed. When the shortcut button is selected and the shortcut button has a lower menu, the menu display control unit newly displays the lower menu button.

In the navigation device, when displaying the shortcut button, the menu display control unit preferably adds a display indicating that the shortcut button is a shortcut in addition to the menu button or the lower menu button having the same function. ..

As a result, only the menu button or the shortcut is displayed on the screen, so by adding the "display indicating that it is a shortcut", the user can instantly grasp which is displayed. ..

The navigation equipment preferably has the following configuration. That is, the menu display control unit displays switching buttons arranged so as to be adjacent to the menu button in the arrangement direction of the menu button. When the switching button is selected, the menu display control unit switches between displaying the menu button and displaying the shortcut button.

As a result, it is possible to reduce the amount of movement of the pointer or the movement of the user's line of sight when displaying the shortcut button.

The navigation equipment preferably has the following configuration. That is, the menu display control unit moves the pointer based on the operation performed on the operation unit. By dragging and dropping the menu button or the lower menu button with the pointer, the menu button or the lower menu button is registered as the shortcut button.

This makes it possible to register shortcuts with a simple and intuitive operation.

In the navigation equipment, it is preferable that the menu display control unit displays the menu button with a rectangular icon.

This makes it possible to display the menu button in a small space.

In the navigation equipment, it is preferable that the display unit displays an image created by the radar device.

In the navigation equipment, it is preferable that the display unit displays an image created by the navigation system.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the fish finder which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of the screen displayed on the display part. The figure which shows the screen which displays the 1st lower menu button. The figure which shows the screen which displays the 2nd lower menu button. The figure which shows the screen which displays the shortcut button. The figure which shows the work (before dragging) to register a shortcut. The figure which shows the work (after dragging) to register a shortcut. The figure which shows the screen after the work of registering a shortcut. The figure which shows the arrangement of the menu button when the flow in the time axis direction is different. The figure which shows the screen when two detection images are displayed on the screen.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a fish finder (underwater detector) 10.

The fish finder 10 transmits ultrasonic waves into the water and receives an echo signal which is a reflected wave of the ultrasonic waves. The fish finder 10 creates and displays a detection image showing the depth of the fish school, the seabed, etc. based on this echo signal. The details of the fish finder 10 will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fishfinder 10 includes a control unit 11, a transmission circuit 12, a transmission / reception switch 13, a transmitter / receiver 14, a reception circuit 15, an A / D converter 16, and an echo signal. A holding memory 17, a display unit 18, and an operation unit 19 are provided.

The transmission instruction unit 31 included in the control unit 11 creates a signal instructing the timing of generating an ultrasonic wave, the amplitude of the ultrasonic wave, and the like, and outputs the signal to the transmission circuit 12.

The transmission circuit 12 includes a trap circuit and the like, creates a pulse signal based on the signal received from the transmission instruction unit 31, and outputs the pulse signal to the transmitter / receiver 14 via the transmission / reception switch 13.

The transmitter / receiver 14 is an oscillator attached to the bottom of a ship or the like, and transmits ultrasonic waves toward water (for example, directly below) based on a signal received from the transmission circuit 12. Further, the transmitter / receiver 14 receives the reflected wave reflected by the fish or the seabed by the ultrasonic wave as an echo signal. The transmitter / receiver 14 outputs the received echo signal to the receiver circuit 15 via the transmitter / receiver switch 13.

The transmission / reception switch 13 outputs the signal output by the transmission circuit 12 to the transmission / reception device 14, and outputs the echo signal acquired by the transmission / reception device 14 to the reception circuit 15.

The receiving circuit 15 amplifies the input echo signal and outputs it to the A / D converter 16. The A / D converter 16 converts the input echo signal from an analog signal to a digital signal and outputs it to the control unit 11.

The echo signal processing unit 32 included in the control unit 11 processes the echo signal input from the A / D converter 16. Specifically, the echo signal processing unit 32 grasps the depth based on the time from the transmission of the ultrasonic wave to the reception, and detects the signal level of the echo signal according to the depth. The echo signal processing unit 32 is realized by executing a program by an FPGA, a CPU, or the like (not shown).

The echo signal holding memory 17 is a volatile or non-volatile memory capable of storing data. In the echo signal holding memory 17, the “signal level of the echo signal according to the depth” detected by the echo signal processing unit 32 is stored in association with the timing at which the echo signal is transmitted or received. The echo signal holding memory 17 may store data before being processed by the echo signal processing unit 32.

The detection image display control unit 33 included in the control unit 11 creates a detection image based on the "signal level of the echo signal according to the depth" detected by the echo signal processing unit 32. The detected image created by the detected image display control unit 33 is displayed on the display unit 18 composed of a liquid crystal display or the like. The detected image is an image in which the signal levels of the echo signals according to the depth are arranged in chronological order (arranged in the order in which the echo signals are acquired). As shown in FIG. 2, in the detected image, the vertical axis is the depth direction and the horizontal axis is the time axis direction. The echo signal received by the fish finder 10 is displayed in a tint or shade according to the signal level. Further, the echo signal obtained by one transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves is indicated by a predetermined width (width in the time axis direction) on the detection image. Each time the detection image display control unit 33 newly transmits ultrasonic waves and receives an echo signal, the detection image is moved to the past side in the time axis direction, and the new detection image is moved to the current side end in the time axis direction. Display by adding to the part (the end that displays the latest information).

Further, the menu display control unit 34 included in the control unit 11 controls to display a menu button for performing various settings, and various information (current setting value, information detected from an echo signal, information input from an external device). And so on, and control to move the pointer or cursor displayed on the screen. The images generated by the detection image display control unit 33 and the menu display control unit 34 are displayed on the display unit 18. The detection video display control unit 33 and the menu display control unit 34 are realized by executing a program by an FPGA, a CPU, or the like (not shown).

The operation unit 19 is a mouse or a trackball, and is a device capable of moving a pointer displayed on the screen. The operation unit 19 may be another pointing device (such as a keyboard with a touch pad). Further, the operation unit 19 is not limited to physical keys, and may be a touch panel.

Next, the screen of the fish finder 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. In the present specification, the "button" of the "menu button" is "a kind of graphical user interface for selecting with a pointer or the like on the screen". Further, the "edge" is a concept that includes not only the edge but also the periphery thereof (for example, about one icon).

As shown in FIG. 2, the fish school echo 41 and the seabed echo 43 as detection images are displayed on the screen of the display unit 18. The fish school echo 41 is an echo signal of a reflected wave reflected by a school of ultrasonic waves. The seafloor echo 43 is an echo signal of a reflected wave reflected by ultrasonic waves on the seafloor.

Further, on the screen of the display unit 18, as shown in FIG. 2, the water depth display unit 61, the water depth scale 62, and the signal level scale 63 as display objects are displayed so as to be superimposed on the detection image. The current water depth is displayed on the water depth display unit 61. The current water depth is detected based on the most recently received echo signal or the like. The water depth scale 62 is composed of a plurality of scales and indicates the depth of the echo signal. When the depth range of the detected image of the water depth scale 62 is changed, the scale interval and the numerical value are changed accordingly. The signal level scale 63 is a display showing the correspondence between the intensity of the signal level and the shade or color of the echo.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a main menu button (menu button) 51 is displayed on the screen of the display unit 18. The main menu button 51 is composed of a rectangular frame and an icon. The main menu button 51 is a button for changing the setting of the fish finder 10 and instructing the execution of various functions. The main menu button 51 is arranged in the depth direction from the upper end (the end on the shallow side in the depth direction) at the left end of the detection image (the end on the past side in the time axis direction, the end for displaying old information). It is displayed (in other words, it is displayed side by side from the top to the bottom along the past end of the detection image). When the menu display control unit 34 detects that the user has moved the pointer 91 and left-clicked the main menu button 51, the main menu button 51 is selected (meaning that the selection is confirmed, the following. Same).

When the main menu button 51 is selected and the lower menu does not exist, the menu display control unit 34 executes the process associated with the selected main menu button 51. On the other hand, when the main menu button 51 is selected and a lower menu exists, the first lower menu button 52 is newly displayed as shown in FIG. Since the first lower menu button 52 is not displayed before the main menu button 51 is selected, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the visibility of the detected image. Further, in the present embodiment, the main menu buttons 51 are displayed side by side only in the depth direction, and are not displayed side by side in the time axis direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the visibility of the detected image. Since the detected image continues to change with the passage of time, it is very effective to prevent a decrease in the visibility of the detected image.

Like the main menu button 51, the first lower menu button 52 is composed of a rectangular frame and an icon. The first lower menu button 52 is next to the upper main menu button 51, and is displayed side by side in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the main menu buttons 51 (specifically, in the time axis direction). When the menu display control unit 34 detects that the user has moved the pointer 91 and left-clicked the first lower menu button 52, it determines that the first lower menu button 52 has been selected.

Here, in the present embodiment, when displaying the menu buttons having a hierarchical structure, the menu buttons higher than the menu buttons waiting for selection (while accepting selection) are displayed semi-transparently so that the detection image can be seen. Will be done. In the example shown in FIG. 3, since the first lower menu button 52 is waiting for selection, the upper main menu button 51 is displayed semi-transparently, and the fish school echo 41 is displayed through the main menu button 51. ing. Although the above-mentioned Patent Document 4 does not disclose making the top-level and lower-level menu buttons translucent, in the present embodiment, even the top-level and lower-level menu buttons are translucent. By clicking the detection image with the pointer 91, the selection standby is canceled and the state returns to the state shown in FIG.

When the first lower menu button 52 is selected and the lower menu does not exist, the menu display control unit 34 executes the process associated with the selected first lower menu button 52. On the other hand, the menu display control unit 34 newly displays the second lower menu button 53 as shown in FIG. 4 when the first lower menu button 52 is selected and the lower menu exists. ..

The second lower menu button 53, like the main menu button 51 and the like, is composed of a rectangular frame and an icon. The second lower menu button 53 is next to the upper first lower menu button 52 and is displayed side by side in the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the first lower menu button 52 (specifically, the deep side in the depth direction). Will be done. When the user moves the pointer 91 and detects that the second lower menu button 53 has left-clicked, the menu display control unit 34 determines that the second lower menu button 53 has been selected.

As described above, the menu buttons above the menu buttons waiting for selection are displayed semi-transparently so that the detection image can be seen. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the main menu button 51 and the first lower menu button 52 are displayed semi-transparently.

When a menu lower than the second lower menu button 53 exists, the menu display control unit 34 similarly displays the third lower menu button side by side in the time axis direction.

Further, on one side of the main menu buttons 51 in the arrangement direction (shallow side in the depth direction), a switching button 55 is displayed so as to be adjacent to the main menu button 51. When the menu display control unit 34 detects that the user has moved the pointer 91 and left-clicked the switching button 55, the main menu button 51 is hidden and the list of shortcut buttons 57 is displayed as shown in FIG. indicate. By hiding the main menu button 51 in this way, the number of buttons displayed can be suppressed, so that the deterioration of the visibility of the detected image can be suppressed. Further, since the switching button 55 is arranged near the main menu button 51, the amount of movement of the operation unit 19 and the movement of the user's line of sight can be suppressed. When the menu display control unit 34 detects that the user left-clicks the switching button 55 while displaying the list of the shortcut buttons 57, the menu display control unit 34 hides the shortcut button 57 and displays the main menu button 51. In addition to or in addition to the operation of left-clicking the switching button 55, the same processing may be performed when the switching button 55 is right-clicked on the screen (for example, on the detection image or on the menu button).

To give a specific example of the menu configuration, the main menu button 51 includes a detection video setting, a screen setting, a graph display, a sound setting, a moving image setting, and the like. The lower levels of the detected image setting include gain adjustment and noise removal. Lower levels of screen settings include display division (FIG. 10 described later), brightness adjustment, and water depth display unit 61 settings. Further subordinate to the brightness adjustment, there are a daytime mode and a nighttime mode. The lower part of the graph display includes the distribution of the length of the fish existing in a predetermined area, the display of the water temperature graph, and the like.

The shortcut button 57 is displayed side by side at the same position as the main menu button 51 and in the same direction. The shortcut button 57 is a menu button extracted by the user from the main menu button 51, the first lower menu button 52, and the second lower menu button 53. As a result, by registering frequently used menu buttons (particularly lower menu buttons) as shortcuts, it is possible to quickly select the menu button so that it does not overlap with the detected image. While the shortcut button 57 is being displayed, the display mode of the switching button 55 changes (specifically, the vertical orientation of the triangular mark is reversed). Further, when the shortcut button 57 is displayed, in addition to the icons such as the main menu button 51 having the same function, a display indicating that the shortcut is a shortcut (in the example shown in FIG. 5, the upper left triangular mark) is added. As a result, the user can instantly grasp which of the main menu button 51 and the shortcut button 57 is displayed. Further, when the shortcut button 57 is selected and the shortcut button 57 has a lower menu, the menu display control unit 34 newly displays the lower menu button.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, an alarm icon 59 is displayed on the screen of the display unit 18. The alarm icon 59 is for notifying the user by blinking or the like when ultrasonic waves cannot be transmitted or received, the network is not connected, or the operation unit 19 does not operate.

Next, a method of registering the shortcut button 57 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the main menu button 51 is selected to display the first lower menu button 52. From this state, by dragging the first lower menu button 52 (moving the pointer 91 while pressing the left button of the operation unit 19), as shown in FIG. 7, the list of shortcut buttons 57 and the free area 57a of the shortcut button are displayed. Is displayed.

The user can register the first lower menu button 52 as a shortcut by moving the first lower menu button 52 to the shortcut button free area 57a (see FIG. 8). When the main menu button 51 and the second lower menu button 53 are registered as shortcuts, they can be registered by the same operation. The method of registering the shortcut is arbitrary, and it may be possible to register by a different method.

Next, with reference to FIG. 9, a case where the orientation in the time axis direction is opposite (that is, the past side is the right side of the screen) will be described.

In this case, the main menu buttons 51 are displayed side by side in the depth direction at the right end portion (the end portion on the past side in the time axis direction) of the detection image. Since the user preferentially confirms new information in the detected image, the deterioration of the visibility of the detected image can be minimized by arranging the menu buttons from the end on the oldest side. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the main menu button 51 is selected and the time axis direction of the detected image is changed, the display position of the main menu button 51 is changed. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the water depth scale 62 is displayed at the left end (the end on the current side in the time axis direction) as the display position of the main menu button 51 is changed.

Next, a case where two detected images are displayed on the display unit 18 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 10, a detection image detected by using high-frequency ultrasonic waves and a detection image detected by using low-frequency ultrasonic waves are displayed side by side (in the time axis direction). These two detected images have the same orientation in the time axis direction and the depth direction. However, the two detection images may have different orientations in the time axis direction and the depth direction. For example, in the two detection images, the center side in the left-right direction may be set to the current side in the time axis direction, and the end side in the left-right direction may be set to the past side in the time axis direction.

When displaying two detected images, the main menu button 51 is displayed on the past side in the time axis direction of any of the detected images. In the present embodiment, the main menu button 51 is displayed on the detection image on the left side, but the main menu button 51 may be displayed on the detection image on the right side. Further, the main menu button 51 may be displayed on each of the two detection images.

As described above, the fishfinder 10 of the present embodiment includes an echo signal processing unit 32, a detection image display control unit 33, and a menu display control unit 34. The echo signal processing unit 32 acquires an echo signal which is a reflected wave of ultrasonic waves transmitted into water, and detects a signal level of the echo signal according to the depth. Based on the detection result of the echo signal processing unit 32, the detection image display control unit 33 displays the detection image, which is an image in which the signal levels of the echo signals according to the depth are arranged in chronological order, on the display unit 18. The menu display control unit 34 has a main menu button 51 in at least one of the depth direction and the time axis direction from the end (the end on the past side) that displays the oldest information of the detection image on the detection image. Are displayed side by side on the display.

As a result, the user prioritizes the new information over the old information of the detected image, so by arranging the menu buttons from the end displaying the oldest information, the deterioration of the visibility of the detected image can be minimized. Can be done. Further, by displaying the menu button on the detection image, the detection image can be displayed in a large size by effectively utilizing the screen size of the display unit.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the above configuration can be changed as follows, for example.

The method of setting the time axis direction and the depth direction described in the above embodiment is an example, and can be changed as appropriate. For example, the time axis direction may be the top and bottom of the screen, and the depth direction may be the left and right of the screen. In this case, the main menu buttons 51 are arranged side by side from the vertical end. Further, the number of detected images displayed on the screen may be three or more.

In the above embodiment, the main menu buttons 51 are arranged side by side in the depth direction at the end on the past side in the time axis direction. Instead of this, the main menu buttons 51 may be arranged side by side in the time axis direction so that at least one is located at the end on the past side in the time axis direction. Further, they may be arranged side by side in both the depth direction and the time axis direction. The main menu button 51 is rectangular (specifically, substantially square), but may have another shape such as a circle. Further, the main menu button 51 is not limited to the icon, and may be a frame-shaped display object on which the name of the menu is described.

In the above embodiment, the switching button 55 is displayed above the main menu button 51 (shallower in the depth direction), but may be displayed at another location. For example, it may be below the main menu button 51 or to the right. Further, although the shortcut button 57 is displayed with the main menu button 51 hidden, the main menu button 51 and the shortcut button 57 may be displayed at the same time.

In the above embodiment, since an example in which a mouse is used as the operation unit 19 has been described, an example in which the movement of the pointer 91 and the left click are used as the selection method of the main menu button 51 and the like has been described. However, another device mentioned above may be used. When used, a selection method according to the device is used.

In the above embodiment, the edge of the screen and the edge of the detected image coincide with each other in the left-right direction (time axis direction), but they do not necessarily have to coincide. For example, when the detected image and another image are displayed side by side, the edge of the screen and the edge of the detected image do not match.

In the above embodiment, the display unit 18 mainly displays only the detection image of the fish finder 10, but may be configured to further display an image created by another navigation device (radar device, navigation device, etc.). Further, although the operation unit 19 is mainly for performing operations related to the fish finder 10, it may be for further performing operations related to other navigation equipment.

In the present embodiment, an example of applying the present invention to a fish finder 10 that mainly detects a school of fish has been shown, but the target of detection is not limited to the school of fish, for example, a sunken ship, fishery resources, the shape of the seabed, and the like. Is also good.

10 Fishfinder (underwater detector)
11 Control unit 14 Transmitter / receiver 18 Display unit 19 Operation unit 31 Transmission instruction unit 32 Echo signal processing unit 33 Detection video display control unit 34 Menu display control unit 51 Main menu button (menu button)
52 1st lower menu button (lower menu button)
53 Second lower menu button 55 Switch button 57 Shortcut button

Claims (9)

Equipped with a menu display control unit that displays menu buttons side by side on the display unit
When the menu button is selected and the menu button has a lower menu, the menu display control unit newly displays the lower menu button.
When the menu display control unit receives an instruction to display a shortcut button in which the function of the button selected from the menu button or the lower menu button is registered, the menu button is hidden and hidden. Display a plurality of the shortcut buttons at the same position as the menu button and arranging them in the same direction.
The menu display control unit is a navigation device characterized in that when the shortcut button is selected and a lower menu exists in the shortcut button, the lower menu shortcut button is newly displayed. The navigation device according to claim 1.
The menu display control unit is a navigation device characterized in that the lower menu buttons are displayed next to the menu buttons in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the menu buttons. The navigation equipment according to claim 1 or 2.
The navigation device is characterized in that the menu display control unit displays the menu button semi-transparently so that the background can be seen through the menu button, at least while accepting the selection of the lower menu button. The navigation equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
When displaying the shortcut button, the menu display control unit is a navigation device that adds a display indicating that it is a shortcut in addition to the menu button or the lower menu button having the same function. The navigation equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The menu display control unit displays a switching button arranged so as to be adjacent to the menu button in the arrangement direction of the menu button.
The menu display control unit is a navigation device characterized in that when the switching button is selected, the menu button is displayed or the shortcut button is displayed. The navigation equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
The menu display control unit moves the pointer based on the operation performed on the operation unit.
A navigation device characterized in that the menu button or the lower menu button is registered as the shortcut button by dragging and dropping the menu button or the lower menu button with the pointer. The navigation equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
The menu display control unit is a navigation device characterized by displaying the menu button with a rectangular icon. The navigation equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
The display unit is a navigation device characterized by displaying an image created by a radar device. The navigation equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
The display unit is a navigation device characterized by displaying an image created by a navigation device.

Images