JP7462962B2 - In-Vehicle Electronics - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to in-vehicle electronic devices, such as radar detectors and navigation devices, that have a display means, such as a liquid crystal display device, and provide specific information to the driver of the vehicle.

Conventionally, there have been in-vehicle electronic devices equipped with a liquid crystal display device that displays various information and a voice synthesizer that outputs various information as voice. For example, a radar detector, which is an in-vehicle electronic device, is configured to display an alarm indicating the approach of the speed measuring device using pictures, photographs, text, etc. on the liquid crystal display device and output the alarm using voice using a voice synthesizer when it detects microwaves emitted from a speed measuring device or when the installation location information of the speed measuring device is stored in advance and the current position acquired by a GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like approaches the stored installation location (when a predetermined proximity relationship is reached) (Patent Document 1).

The main function of a navigation device is to provide route guidance to a destination based on the vehicle's position information obtained by GPS or the like. The navigation device has built-in map data including detailed road information, and displays a detailed map in color on a liquid crystal display device while providing audio route guidance. Such navigation devices include portable types called PNDs (Personal Navigation Devices) (Patent Document 2). A typical PND is detachable from a stand on the dashboard, and the PND can be removed from the stand and carried around. Furthermore, there are also PNDs that are specifically designed for motorcycles and have waterproof and earthquake-resistant housings and reflective LCDs that are easy to see even in direct sunlight.

In addition, recent in-vehicle electronic devices include radar detectors with navigation functions and navigation devices with warning functions, both of which display detailed maps with letters, symbols, numbers, etc. indicating the names of roads and surrounding facilities, as well as icons showing the location information of objects that are the subject of warnings (Points of Interest = POIs).

JP 2009-9546 A JP 2010-86215 A JP 2008-292702 A

However, with conventional in-vehicle electronic devices, a wide variety of information such as letters, symbols, numbers, and icons indicating the names of roads and surrounding facilities are displayed in color on a detailed map displayed in multiple colors. This information is not displayed conspicuously, making it difficult for users to grasp the information on the map they need at a glance.

To solve these problems, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-292702 (Patent Document 3) proposes a map generating device that provides a normal map that is displayed in color and a highlighted map that is displayed in grayscale, and displays parking lot marks in color on the highlighted map to make them stand out.

However, in recent navigation devices, in addition to the conventional facility icons indicating schools, kindergartens, nursery schools, post offices, fire stations, police stations, factories, shrines, temples, parking lots, etc., icons for gas stations, restaurants, hamburger shops, convenience stores, banks, etc. are displayed in color by company. As a result, in urban areas and along national highways, a large number of colorful facility icons and company icons are displayed on the map, and there is a problem that simply displaying the map in grayscale, as in the map generation device of Patent Document 3, does not make the colored parking lot marks stand out. Note that the above-mentioned company icons are reproductions of the company logo designs, and therefore cannot be changed to a grayscale different from the color of the logo determined by each company.

Furthermore, in-vehicle electronic devices with an alarm function must display a POI icon to alert the user when the vehicle approaches an object that requires an alarm. However, when many colorful icons are displayed on a color map, it is difficult to tell at a glance which icon is a POI icon, which creates the problem of being unable to quickly and reliably alert the user in an emergency.

In particular, with navigation devices or radar detectors for motorcycles, users cannot take their eyes off the road while driving, so they can only see the display on the screen for a moment, and there is a strong demand for users to be able to grasp the information they need at a glance. Despite this, when conventional in-vehicle electronic devices, which are not much different in design from those for automobiles, are installed on motorcycles, there is a problem in that users cannot easily grasp only the information they need from the display on the screen while driving.

That is, electronic devices for motorcycles are mounted around the handlebars or on the fuel tank of the motorcycle. The handlebars and fuel tanks of typical motorcycles are made up of many metal parts, and electronic devices for motorcycles with LCD displays covered in plastic housings do not match the appearance or texture of these metal parts. For this reason, even if a user tries to look at the display on the screen for a moment, the user's eyes are drawn to the plastic housing and LCD display, which are different from the metal parts, making it difficult to pinpoint and access the necessary information from the display on the screen. As a result, while driving, the user has to review the display on the screen several times before finally understanding the necessary information. In particular, the maps, letters, symbols, numbers, icons, etc. displayed on the conventional screens have an appearance and texture far removed from the actual metal parts, so there was a problem that they stood out more than the surrounding metal parts and attracted the user's attention, whether displayed in color or grayscale.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide an in-vehicle electronic device that allows the user to easily grasp necessary information from the display on the screen, and that, particularly when mounted on a motorcycle, can make necessary information stand out in the user's field of vision.

To achieve the above object, the in-vehicle electronic device of the present invention is (1) an in-vehicle electronic device equipped with a display means capable of displaying a number of colors on a screen, and a control means for controlling the display of predetermined information on the screen, the control means being configured to display at least a portion of the information in color, and to display the remaining portion in a monotone display of a color different from the color display. (2) Preferably, the control means is configured to display at least a portion of the information included in the monotone display in color.

According to the above configuration, for example, among the information displayed on the screen, only the information to which the user is to be directed can be displayed in color, and the rest can be displayed in monotone, making it possible to make the information the user needs stand out.

Here, the "display means" in the present invention broadly includes display devices equipped with displays capable of displaying information, such as LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays), organic ELDs (Organic Electroluminescent Displays) or CRTs (Cathode Ray Tubes). The term "screen" refers to the displayable area of the display of the display means. Furthermore, the display must be capable of displaying "a large number of colors" on the screen. For example, if it is capable of displaying approximately 60,000 to 260,000 colors, it will be possible to form a colorful display and to express the brightness gradation (changes in color shade) of a monotone display. However, there is no limit to the number of colors that can be displayed on a display, and it is desirable to use a display that can display a larger number of colors.

In addition, in the present invention, "color display" refers to a display that is expressed using at least one chromatic color that is different from a monotone display. On the other hand, "monotone display" refers to a display that is expressed using shades or brightness of a single color, and includes not only grayscales that are expressed only using brightness differences of achromatic colors such as white, gray, and black, but also displays that are expressed only using brightness differences of a single chromatic color.

Furthermore, the above (2) "configuration in which at least a part of the information contained in the monotone display is displayed in color" includes both cases in which the area of the monotone display is larger than the area of the color display, and conversely, cases in which the area of the color display is larger than the area of the monotone display. In either case, however, a configuration in which the color display is surrounded by a monotone display is preferable. This is because such a configuration makes the boundary between the color display and the monotone display clear, improving the visibility of the color display. More preferably, the area of the monotone display is larger than the area of the color display, and the entire color display is surrounded by the monotone display. In such a configuration, the entire color display in the monotone display can be made to stand out clearly, and the visibility of the color display is further improved. For example, in a case in which a button, which is an operating unit, is displayed in grayscale and a part of the button is displayed in color when the button is operated, it is preferable to display a part surrounded by the monotone display (for example, characters, figures, symbols, etc. displayed on the button) in color, rather than displaying the entire button in color.

(3) Preferably, the control means is configured to be capable of switching between a first display mode in which all of the information on the screen is displayed in color and a second display mode in which at least a portion of the information is displayed in color and the remaining portion is displayed in monotone.

According to the above configuration, for example, normally, all information on the screen is displayed in color as before, and when a specific event occurs or based on an instruction from the user, information other than the necessary information is switched to a monotone display, so that only the necessary information stands out in color.

For example, if the in-vehicle electronic device is a radar detector, all information including the map is normally displayed in color, and when the vehicle approaches an object to be warned about, the map is switched to a monotone display and a colored POI icon appears on the map. Also, if the in-vehicle electronic device is a navigation device, when the vehicle approaches a left or right turn point, the entire map is switched to a monotone display except for the area surrounding the left or right turn point, and only the area surrounding the left or right turn point is displayed in color. In these examples, it is advisable to always display the vehicle icon on the map in color to make it stand out.

(4) Preferably, the control means is configured to omit a predetermined portion of the information when switching from the first display mode to the second display mode, and display the information in monotone.

Detailed maps installed in recent radar detectors and navigation devices display text characters indicating the names of major facilities, roads, railways, etc., as well as facility icons indicating schools, kindergartens, nursery schools, post offices, fire stations, police stations, factories, shrines, temples, parking lots, etc., and business icons such as gas stations, restaurants, burger shops, convenience stores, banks, etc. However, users use radar detectors and navigation devices with specific purposes, and it cannot be said that all of the wide variety of information displayed on detailed maps is necessary information for the user's purposes. Conversely, displaying information that is not necessary for the user prevents the user from viewing the necessary information.

Therefore, according to the above configuration, when switching from color display to monotone display, information that is not necessary for the user can be omitted, and the visibility of necessary information can be significantly improved. "Omission of information" here includes not displaying some or all of the information to be omitted. In particular, not displaying all of the information to be omitted improves the visibility of necessary information that is not to be omitted.

For example, if the in-vehicle electronic device is a radar detector, when the vehicle approaches an object for which an alarm is issued, the map display will be switched to a monotone display, and text characters, facility icons, and company icons unrelated to the vehicle's route will be omitted from the screen to simplify the information displayed on the map, and colored POI icons will appear on the map. Then, when the alarm is lifted, for example by the vehicle passing the object for which the alarm is issued, the map will return to its original state.

In addition, if the in-vehicle electronic device is a navigation device, when the route to the destination is determined, the map is switched to a monotone display, and text characters, facility icons, and company icons that are unrelated to the vehicle's route are omitted from the screen. In this case, it is preferable to display the roads along the vehicle's route and text characters, facility icons, and company icons that indicate information about the areas surrounding the roads in question in color. After that, when the vehicle arrives at the destination and the navigation device finishes providing guidance, the map is restored to its original state.

The process of switching from color display to monotone display and the process of omitting unnecessary information from the color display may be performed simultaneously, or may be performed one after the other. Preferably, the timing should be set so that the user can recognize that the unnecessary information has been deleted at the same time as the switch to monotone display.

(5) Preferably, the control means displays a plurality of pieces of information as objects on the screen, and, during the display, displays one or more of the objects in color and the remaining pieces of information in monotone.

According to the above configuration, among the wide variety of objects displayed on the screen, only the objects that indicate the information necessary for the user can be displayed in color to make them stand out. The "objects" referred to here include, for example, any imaginary object displayed on the screen, such as a map, text characters, icons, an operation unit (described below), or a window frame that divides the display area, and among these objects, only the objects that indicate the information necessary for the user are displayed in color, while objects that indicate other information are displayed in monotone.

(6) Preferably, the control means is configured to display, in color, a plurality of predetermined objects for the same type of information, or a plurality of predetermined objects for different types of related information.

According to the above configuration, when there is a plurality of pieces of information that is necessary for the user or related to information that the user needs, it is possible to display all objects that indicate this information in color to make them stand out. For example, if the in-vehicle electronic device is a radar detector, when the vehicle approaches a plurality of alarm objects, POI icons of the same or different types are displayed in color on a monotone map. Also, if the in-vehicle electronic device is a navigation device, only a specific type of facility icon (e.g., a post office) among facility icons along the road along which the vehicle will travel is displayed in color on a monotone map. Furthermore, since it is not possible to display corporate icons that reproduce logo designs in monotone, in such a case, corporate icons that are necessary for the user (e.g., a convenience store) can be displayed in color, and unnecessary corporate icons can be omitted.

As described above, this in-vehicle electronic device allows only the information necessary for the user to be displayed in color and made prominent, so that even if the in-vehicle electronic device contains a wide variety of information, the user will be able to easily visually identify the information they need. As a result, even if radar detectors or maps on navigation devices are filled with more detailed information in the future, it will be possible to visually pick out only the information that is necessary by displaying it in color, in monotone, or by omitting display, making it possible to further improve the performance of in-vehicle electronic devices.

Here, we will briefly explain "information of the same type" and "different types of related information" in the present invention. First, whether multiple pieces of information are "same type" or "different types" can be determined according to accepted social standards. The same goes for whether multiple pieces of information are "related" or not. According to the above example, only the post office icon among the facility icons may be determined as the "same type," and the schools, kindergartens, nursery schools, post offices, fire stations, police stations, factories, shrines, temples, parking lots, etc. included in the facility icons may be determined as the "same type" or "different types that are related." Then, the data can be associated with each other by using a means such as adding a common identifier to each piece of data for displaying these icons.

(7) Preferably, the color display is a 3D object and the monotone display is a 2D object, and the color display, which is a 3D object, is arranged on the monotone display, which is a 2D object.

With the above configuration, objects showing necessary information for the user and objects showing unnecessary information can be displayed in color or monochrome, as well as in 3D or 2D, making it easier for the user to grasp the necessary information from the information displayed on the screen.

For example, facility icons, company icons, POI icons, etc. required for the user's purpose may be made into colored 3D objects and placed on a map, which is a monotone 2D object. In this case, the icons required by the user appear three-dimensional on the flat map, and the colors can attract the user's attention, enabling quick visual recognition.

Furthermore, the means for distinguishing between necessary information are not limited to differences between color and monochrome display, and between 3D and 2D. For example, the above-mentioned colored 3D object can be moved over a still image, monochrome 2D object, to distinguish between "moving" and "still," or the above-mentioned colored 3D object can be made to float over a monochrome 2D object to create a difference in height. By making these distinctions, it is possible to prioritize the many pieces of information displayed on the screen, and to directly convey only the necessary information to the user.

(8) Preferably, the control means divides the screen into a plurality of display areas, displays different information in each of the display areas, and displays the information in at least one of the display areas in monotone.

According to the above configuration, even if the screen is divided into multiple display areas and different information is displayed in each display area, the information necessary for the user can be made to stand out. In this case, a distinction may be made between color display and monotone display in one display area, or a distinction may be made between color display and monotone display in each of the multiple display areas. As an example of the former, when a first display area that displays a detailed map large on the entire screen and a second display area that displays an enlarged map when the vehicle approaches an object of warning or a left or right turn point are provided, one of the maps displayed in the first or second display area is displayed in monotone. As an example of the latter, both maps displayed in the first or second display area are displayed in monotone, and the vehicle icon, roads along the vehicle's path, POI icons, facility icons that serve as markers for left or right turn points, and company icons on each map are displayed in color.

(9) Preferably, the control means displays an operation unit capable of accepting input from a user on the screen, and when displaying, at least a part of the operation unit is displayed in color, and the other part is displayed in monotone in a color different from the color display. For example, (10) the control means displays the operation unit in monotone before accepting input from a user, and displays at least a part of the operation unit in color after accepting input from a user, or (11) the control means can display an operation unit capable of accepting input from a user on the screen, and when displaying, displays the operation unit in color before accepting input from a user, and displays at least a part of the operation unit in monotone after accepting input from a user.

Up to this point, the present invention has been exemplified as being applicable to maps displayed on a screen, as well as characters, symbols, figures, facility icons, and company icons on the maps, but is not limited to these, and can also be applied to an operation unit displayed on a screen. The "operation unit" here refers to a display on the screen that receives input from the user and causes the in-vehicle electronic device to execute various functions or to set various functions, and broadly includes 2D or 3D objects such as icons and buttons (including input means similar to these operation units that are expressed differently, such as switches, keys, and bars), which represent the contents of files or the functions of programs, using characters, figures, and symbols.

With the above configuration, almost the entire operation section is displayed in monotone, and the parts to which the user should pay attention, such as the characters, figures, and symbols contained in the operation section, are highlighted in color, making it possible to easily grasp information such as functions displayed on the operation section. This improves the operability of the in-vehicle electronic device, enabling the user to operate it quickly and accurately.

Furthermore, the operation unit to which the present invention is applied may display the part to which the user wishes to focus in color before the user inputs, and switch this color display to a monotone display after the user inputs (i.e., the entire operation unit becomes a monotone display after the user inputs). Conversely, the entire operation unit may be displayed in monotone before the user inputs, and switch the part to which the user wishes to focus in color after the inputs. Furthermore, the part to which the user wishes to focus in the operation unit may be displayed in color at all times, regardless of whether the user inputs or not.

(12) Preferably, the operation unit is a 2D or 3D object that resembles an icon or button for causing the control means to execute one of a number of preprogrammed functions, or (13) the operation unit is a 2D or 3D object that resembles a keyboard that includes a number of keys for inputting letters, numbers, or symbols.

With the above configuration, almost all of the operation parts, such as icons, buttons, and keys, are displayed in monotone, and the parts to which the user should pay attention, such as pictograms, text characters, numbers, symbols, figures, and other information indicating the functions contained in these operation parts, are displayed in color to make them stand out, making it easier for the user to understand the meaning and content and to select operation parts, thereby enabling quick and accurate operation.

The present invention having the above configuration can be widely applied to operation parts such as i) multiple menu buttons displayed on the menu screen of the in-vehicle electronic device, ii) volume adjustment buttons, brightness adjustment buttons, and various setting buttons displayed on the option screen, iii) buttons such as "Yes," "No," and "OK" displayed in the confirmation window, iv) map scale switching buttons, screen display switching buttons, and menu bars displayed on the map screen, and v) various keys of the keyboard displayed on the input screen, and can make parts to which the user is to be drawn, such as information contained in the operation parts, stand out by displaying them in color.

(14) Preferably, the control means can display a map on the screen, and can display at least the elements of the map that are included in the land area in the monotone display. For example, (15) can include at least a ground color indicating the land area, high-standard roads, and low-standard roads as the land area elements of the map, and can set the brightness of the high-standard roads high and the brightness of the low-standard roads low based on the brightness of the ground color. (16) More preferably, the control means can switch the map between the color display and the monotone display, and can omit part of the information that was included in the map in the color display when switching from the color display to the monotone display, and can display the map in the monotone display.

The above configuration is a specific example of the application of the present invention to a map for a radar detector or navigation device, and by displaying at least the elements included in the land of the map in monotone, color-displayed information that is to be noticed by the user can be made to stand out on the map. The "elements included in the land of the map" here broadly includes various elements displayed on the land of the map, such as the background color indicating the land, high-standard roads and low-standard roads, as well as traffic lights, traffic signs, national highway signs, facility icons, landmarks, and POI icons. The present invention makes those elements that the user should be aware of stand out by displaying them in color. However, since company icons cannot be displayed in monotone even if they are elements included in the land of the map, unnecessary company icons are omitted when the map is switched from color display to monotone display. In addition, by simplifying the map by omitting unnecessary information from the monotone display among the elements included in the land of the map, not limited to company icons, the color display on the map can be made more noticeable.

Here, the "necessary information" and "unnecessary information" on the map may be determined based on the functions of the in-vehicle electronic device. For example, whether or not the information is necessary to perform a function requested by the user may be used as a criterion to determine whether or not the information is to be omitted when switching to monotone display. The "necessary information" identified based on such criteria is made to stand out in color, or is displayed in monotone, depending on the necessity for performing the function, and remains on the map. Meanwhile, the "unnecessary information" identified based on the above criteria is omitted when switching to monotone display. As a result, only the "necessary information" according to the user's purpose is displayed on the screen, and among that information, the information that is particularly necessary for performing the function is displayed in color.

For example, a radar detector has an alarm function that displays a POI icon that indicates the location information of a speed measuring device and alerts the user. To perform this alarm function, a map, a road, an icon of the vehicle, and one or more POI icons that indicate a detected speed measuring device are necessary, and these correspond to "necessary information." Other information that may be included in the "necessary information" includes facility icons and company icons that serve as landmarks on the road along the vehicle's path. Then, when the user turns on the alarm function and the vehicle approaches a speed measuring device, for example, the vehicle icon and POI icon are displayed in color, while the map, road, facility icons and company icons that serve as landmarks are displayed in monotone, and all other "unnecessary information," such as text characters, and unnecessary facility icons and company icons outside the path, are all omitted from the map.

Here, the more "unnecessary information" is omitted from the map, the easier it is to see the "necessary information." For example, even if two or more speed measuring devices are detected, only the POI icons on the vehicle's route, preferably the closest POI icons, may be displayed in color, and the other POI icons may be omitted from the monotone map. Even if a lot of information is omitted from the map, the omitted "unnecessary information" is displayed on the map again after the alarm is released, so there is no effect on the normal display of the radar detector. Thus, according to the present invention, when a user requests the execution of a specific function provided in the in-vehicle electronic device, only the information necessary to execute the function is displayed on the screen, and only the essential information is displayed in color to make it stand out. As a result, when the function is executed, the user can grasp the necessary information on the screen at a glance.

Similarly, for example, a navigation device has a route guidance function that guides the vehicle to a destination. To perform this route guidance function, a map, roads showing the route to the destination, the vehicle icon, and facility icons and company icons that serve as landmarks near left and right turn points are required, and these correspond to "necessary information." Then, when the user sets a destination and starts route guidance, for example, only the roads showing the route to the destination, the vehicle icon, and facility icons and company icons that serve as landmarks near left and right turn points are displayed in color, and the entire map including the surrounding roads is displayed in monotone. At this time, all text characters, facility icons, company icons, etc. that are unrelated to route guidance are omitted from the map. As a result, when the route guidance function is executed, the user can grasp at a glance the route to the destination displayed on the screen.

(17) Preferably, the control means can execute an alarm function that displays an alarm icon indicating the location of a predetermined alarm object on the map when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and is configured to display the map in color when the alarm function is not being executed, and to display the map in monotone when the alarm function is being executed.

According to the above configuration, if the in-vehicle electronic device has an alarm function, when the vehicle approaches an object to be warned about, an alarm icon is displayed in color on a monotone map, drawing the user's attention to the alarm icon on the map. This allows the user who sees the alarm icon to easily understand the type and location of the object to be warned about, and the distance the vehicle will reach, providing a fast and reliable warning in an emergency.

The "alarm icon" referred to here includes the POI icon mentioned above, and also broadly includes other icons that indicate the location information of a specific object (or target area) that needs to be notified to the user. The object of the notification can be set arbitrarily, and when the conditions for starting the notification are met, the alarm icon is displayed on the screen.

Also, it is a good idea to group alarm icons according to the type or importance of the object, and to express the type or importance with a common color or shape. For example, the objects can be grouped into alarms, warnings, and notifications according to the degree of urgency of the object, with icons of objects requiring an alarm being "red," icons of objects requiring a warning being "yellow," and icons of objects requiring only a notification being "blue" or "green."

In more detail, objects requiring an alarm can include, for example, speed measuring devices such as loop coils, LH systems, H systems, and radar-type speed cameras. Objects requiring an alarm can also include, for example, speed trap areas, mobile speed camera areas, tailgate enforcement areas, stop enforcement areas, intersection enforcement areas, other enforcement areas, seat belt checkpoints, drunk driving checkpoints, cell phone checkpoints, other checkpoints, intersection monitoring points, and red light ignoring prevention systems. Objects requiring notifications can also include, for example, highway traffic police, N systems, traffic monitoring systems, police stations, accident-prone areas, service areas, parking areas, highway oases, long/continuous highway tunnels, highway radio receiving areas, roadside stations, view point parking, parking lots, and public toilets.

(18) Preferably, the monotone display is configured to depict light reflections and shadows by using contrast between the colors of the monotone display, and to display the monotone display as a 2D or 3D object having an appearance that mimics a metal surface.

With the above configuration, the information displayed on the screen can be differentiated not only by the difference between color and monotone, but also by the presence or absence of a visually recognizable texture on the metal surface.

In other words, the color display in the monotone display catches the user's eye due to the difference in color, but both have in common that they are abstract displays (in extreme cases, both are "pictures"), and there is a certain limit to how easily the two can be distinguished visually. Therefore, in the present invention, which has the above configuration, we take a step beyond simple monotone displays and create objects with metal surfaces drawn with the contrast between light and dark, creating a difference in "texture" that can be distinguished at a glance from the abstract color display. With the recent improvement of CG technology and the high resolution of displays, it is possible to create anything from abstract, picture-like expressions (non-photorealistic) to photo-realistic expressions (photorealistic), and even a relatively small display device installed in an in-vehicle electronic device can display a metal surface that is as realistic as the real thing.

(19) Preferably, a hairline pattern is drawn on the metal surface of the 2D or 3D object by using the contrast between the colors of the monotone display.

According to the above configuration, by adding a hairline pattern to the metal surface of a 2D or 3D object displayed in monotone, it is possible to render the texture of the metal surface more realistically, and the difference in "texture" from a color display becomes even more pronounced. Here, "hairline" generally refers to a method of finishing a metal surface, and refers to a process of making fine linear scratches on the metal surface by polishing. The "hairline pattern" in the present invention is not particularly limited, but includes, for example, linear scratches in the vertical, horizontal, and diagonal directions, as well as linear scratches that look like a circle spreading out from the center.

In order to render the metal surface of a 2D or 3D object more realistically, it is possible to express not only hairline patterns, but also other metalworking such as punched holes, uneven patterns, slits, engravings, screws, and other metal processing, as well as alterations to the metal surface such as cloudiness, rust, cracks, and fissures. Also, the metal surface of a 2D or 3D object may be given a mirror finish without adding a hairline pattern.

(20) Preferably, a display for conveying the information is drawn on a metal surface of the 2D or 3D object by using the contrast of the color of the monotone display.

According to the above configuration, by including predetermined information displayed in monotone on the metal surface of the 2D or 3D object, the information can be made less noticeable. Preferably, the information is rendered to imitate general metal processing, so that the texture of the metal surface of the 2D or 3D object can be expressed more realistically. For example, the information can be rendered unevenly on the metal surface of the 2D or 3D object to imitate etching or engraving, or the information can be rendered flat to imitate the surface treatment of an oxide film, making the appearance of the 2D or 3D object look more metallic.

(21) Preferably, the color of the monotone display has saturation, and this color represents the coloring of the metal surface of the 2D or 3D object due to a surface treatment of the metal.

According to the above configuration, the metal surface of a 2D or 3D object can be displayed in a single monotone color with saturation without compromising the texture of the metal. Here, "coloring due to metal surface treatment" includes, for example, coloring treatment using an oxide film on the metal surface or a clear finish dyeing treatment. By coloring to imitate these surface treatments, the light reflection and shadows, hairline patterns, etc. that are used to express the texture of the metal are not lost, and the appearance of the 2D or 3D object can be made to look like a colored metal surface.

(22) Preferably, the 2D or 3D object displayed in monotone is configured as an object with an appearance that resembles a metal plate.

According to the above configuration, a 2D or 3D object with an appearance that mimics a metal surface can be given contours and thickness to make it look like an actual metal part, making the difference in "texture" from a color display even more noticeable. The "appearance that mimics a metal plate" mentioned here is not limited to a flat metal plate, but also includes metal plates that have been processed into a three-dimensional shape.

(23) Preferably, the monotone metal plate has a display for conveying the information drawn on it in an expression that imitates metal unevenness or punching.

As described above, the above configuration allows the appearance of a 2D or 3D object to look more like metal by drawing information on a monotone metal plate that mimics the unevenness and cutouts formed by metal processing such as etching, engraving, and punching.

For example, the map displayed on the screen can be a flat metal plate, and information on the roads, traffic lights, traffic signs, national highway signs, facility icons, landmarks, etc. contained in the map can be drawn to imitate the unevenness and cutouts formed by metal processing such as etching, engraving, punching, etc. In addition, operation parts such as icons, buttons, and keys displayed on the screen can be made into flat or three-dimensionally processed metal plates, and information such as letters, figures, and symbols can be drawn on these operation parts to imitate the unevenness and cutouts formed by metal processing such as etching, engraving, punching, etc.

(24) Preferably, the control means is configured to switch the display for conveying the information contained in the monotone display to the color display. (25) More preferably, the control means is configured to draw a display for conveying the information on the monotone metal plate in an expression that imitates a metal punching process, and to switch the display that imitates the punching process to the color display in an expression that appears to be illuminated from behind the metal plate.

According to the above configuration, almost the entire map and operation section are displayed in monotone, and only the information contained therein that the user is interested in is highlighted in color, making it easy to grasp the necessary information from the display on the screen. In particular, by switching to a color display of information that mimics the cutting process, as if the back of a monotone metal plate were illuminated, it is possible to create a difference in the "physical attributes" of metal and light between these displays, making it possible to make the color display stand out more in the monotone display.

Here, the configurations of the present invention described in (18) to (25) above are particularly effective for on-board electronic devices for motorcycles. First, by providing differences in "color," "texture," and "physical attributes" between the monotone display that imitates a metal surface and the color display, the color-displayed information can be made to stand out, and the user can easily grasp the information he or she needs while driving the motorcycle. Second, the monotone display that imitates a metal surface matches the appearance and texture of the metal parts around the handlebars and fuel tank of the motorcycle, making the monotone display less noticeable in the user's field of vision. That is, in the present invention, the appearance of the monotone display is made to be a metal surface, so that it mimics the actual metal parts. As a result, the color display on the screen particularly attracts the user's attention, and the required information can be instantly conveyed.

Furthermore, when the in-vehicle electronic device implementing the display modes (18) to (25) above is equipped with a housing having the configuration described in (26) to (30) below, not only the display on the screen but the entire in-vehicle electronic device will enhance the sense of unity with the metal parts of the motorcycle, and it will be possible to improve the visibility of the color display, which has a significantly different appearance and texture from metal.

(26) Preferably, at least the periphery of the screen of the housing constituting the in-vehicle electronic device is made of metal or a non-metallic material with an appearance that mimics a metal surface, and the monotone display is a 2D or 3D object with an appearance that mimics a metal surface.

With the above configuration, not only can the screen be displayed in monotone, but the appearance and texture of the housing that constitutes this in-vehicle electronic device can be matched with the handlebars of a motorcycle and the metal parts around the fuel tank, making the housing less noticeable in the user's field of vision. This makes information displayed in color on the screen stand out even more, allowing the user to pinpoint and access the information they need.

(27) Preferably, the monotone display has an appearance that imitates the metal surface of the housing. Also, (28) more preferably, the in-vehicle electronic device is for a motorcycle, and at least the periphery of the screen of the housing has an appearance that imitates the surface of any metal part that constitutes the motorcycle.

While electronic devices for automobiles are mounted on the dashboard inside the vehicle, electronic devices for motorcycles are generally mounted on the outside of the vehicle body, around the handlebars. In a vehicle interior that is mainly made of synthetic resin materials, the housing of an electronic device for an automobile is not particularly eye-catching to the user, even if it is made of synthetic resin. However, the exterior of a motorcycle is made of metal parts, and electronic devices for an automobile covered with a housing made of synthetic resin do not match the appearance or texture of these metal parts, and attract the eye of the user who is trying to look at the screen.

Therefore, according to the above configuration, the monotone display on the screen, the housing adjacent to the screen, and the metal parts that make up the motorcycle all have a common metal surface, making the information displayed in color on the screen stand out more prominently. The term "two-wheeled vehicle" as used here includes, for example, bicycles and motorcycles, and the in-vehicle electronic device is particularly suitable for motorcycles that are made up of many metal parts. In other words, when the in-vehicle electronic device is mounted on a motorcycle, it is possible to improve the visibility of the color display, which has a significantly different appearance and texture from metal, during installation of the in-vehicle electronic device, including the screen and housing. As a result, even motorcycle users who cannot take their eyes off the road while driving can grasp the necessary information at a glance by simply glancing at the display on the screen for a moment.

(29) Preferably, at least the area of the housing that is visible when the screen is viewed from a vertical direction is made of metal or a non-metallic material that has an appearance that resembles a metal surface.

With the above configuration, the exterior of the housing of the vehicle-mounted electronic device can be made to have a metal surface within the range of visibility of the user driving the motorcycle, preventing the user's eyes from being drawn to the housing when attempting to look at the screen.

(30) Preferably, the surfaces of the housing, other than the metal or non-metallic parts that have an appearance that resembles a metal surface, are black.

The parts of the housing of this vehicle-mounted electronic device that are outside the range visible to the user operating the motorcycle do not need to be made of metal or non-metallic material that resembles a metal surface; it is sufficient if they are black in color to give the appearance of a shadow.

(31) Preferably, the in-vehicle electronic device is a navigation device for an automobile or motorcycle.

As described above, when the present invention is applied to a navigation device, it is possible to easily find the necessary information from a detailed map that contains a large amount of information. In particular, when the present navigation device is mounted on a motorcycle, it is possible to improve the visibility of the color display, which has a significantly different appearance and texture from metal, in the navigation device including the screen and housing. As a result, it is possible to make the necessary information stand out in the user's field of vision, and the necessary information can be instantly found even while driving the motorcycle.

As described above, the present invention allows the user to easily grasp necessary information from the display on the screen, and in particular, when installed on a motorcycle, it makes it possible to make necessary information stand out in the user's field of vision.

1A and 1B are perspective views showing the appearance of an in-vehicle electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the in-vehicle electronic device. FIG. FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing a state in which the in-vehicle electronic device is mounted on a motorcycle. 2A and 2B are front views showing the menu screen displayed in monotone. FIG. 13 is a front view showing a monotone display option screen. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a keyboard screen displayed in monotone; FIG. 2 is a front view showing a color map screen. FIG. 13 is a front view showing a map screen displayed in monotone. FIG. 13 is a front view showing a modified example of the map screen displayed in monotone. FIG. 11 is a front view showing another modification of the map screen displayed in monotone. FIG. 2 shows details of land elements in the map. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing details of the icon (general) on the map. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of icons (facilities, companies) on the map. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing details of the icon (alert) on the map. FIG. 13 is a front view showing an example of a menu screen displayed in monotone; FIG. 13 is a front view showing an example of a menu screen displayed in monotone; FIG. 13 is a front view showing an example of an option screen in monotone display. FIG. 13 is a front view showing an example of a keyboard screen displayed in monotone; FIG. 13 is a front view showing an example of a map screen (route guidance) displayed in monotone; FIG. 13 is a front view showing an example of a map screen (route guidance) displayed in monotone; FIG. 13 is a front view showing an embodiment of a map screen (route guidance) and highway display in monotone; FIG. 13 is a front view showing an embodiment of a map screen (route guidance) and highway display in monotone; FIG. 11 is a front view showing an embodiment of a monotone map screen (route guidance) and a full map radar display (alarm display). FIG. 13 is a front view showing an embodiment of a confirmation window for monotone display.

Hereinafter, an in-vehicle electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 14. In this embodiment, a navigation device for a motorcycle equipped with an alarm function will be exemplified as an in-vehicle electronic device.

<Overall configuration of the navigation device>
1(a) and (b) show the external appearance of a navigation device 10 according to this embodiment. The navigation device 10 is provided with various mechanisms shown in Fig. 2 inside and outside a thin, rectangular parallelepiped housing 11. The navigation device 10 is configured to be firmly fixed around the handlebars or on the fuel tank of a motorcycle via a cradle or mount adapter (not shown) (see Fig. 3).

In FIG. 1(a), the front of the housing 11 is provided with a thin display unit (display means) 12, such as an LCD or an organic ELD, and a transparent touch panel 13 that detects the coordinates of a touched position is provided on the display unit 12. Here, the navigation device 10 of this embodiment has a waterproof and earthquake-resistant structure, and a waterproof rubber sheet (not shown) is inserted at the joint between the housing 11 and the display unit 12 to prevent water droplets from entering the housing 11 through the joint.

In FIG. 1(b), waterproof covers 14, 15 and a power switch 16 are provided on the side of the housing 11. A memory card reader 17 such as an SD card shown in FIG. 2 is built in directly below the waterproof cover 14, and the waterproof cover 14 protects the memory card reader 17 from water droplets and dust. Meanwhile, a headphone jack 19 and a USB jack 20 shown in FIG. 2 are built in directly below the waterproof cover 15, and the waterproof cover 15 protects the headphone jack 19 and the USB jack 20 from water droplets and dust. A waterproof rubber sheet (not shown) is also provided at the joint between the housing 11 and the power switch 16 to prevent water droplets from entering the housing 11 from the joint.

As shown in FIG. 2, a memory card 18 on which map data and the like are recorded is inserted into the memory card reader 17. The navigation device 10 can use the map data stored in the memory card 18 to provide route guidance. The navigation device 10 can also be connected to a PC via the USB terminal 20 to perform software application updates and the like. In addition to the route guidance function, the navigation device 10 also has an alarm function for detecting vehicle speed measuring devices and the like, and can update information on objects to be warned about stored in the memory card 18 (location information including longitude and latitude, type information, etc.).

If there is update information for the data stored in the memory card 18, the control unit (control means) 26 stores (downloads) the update information in the database 27 and updates the data in the database 27. The database 27 can be realized by a non-volatile memory (e.g., an EEPROM) inside the microcomputer of the control unit 26 or attached externally to the microcomputer.

Returning to FIG. 1(b), a battery cover 21 is fitted to the right side of the rear of the housing 11, and a battery (not shown) is stored directly below this battery cover 21. A waterproof rubber sheet (not shown) is also provided at the joint between the housing 11 and the battery cover 21 to prevent water droplets from entering the housing 11 through this joint. The battery for this navigation device 10 may be, for example, a rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion battery.

The housing 11 also includes a speaker 22, a GPS receiver 23, a microwave receiver 24, and a radio receiver 25. The speaker 22 outputs sounds such as various operation sounds, sound effects, voice guidance, reroute sounds, speeding sounds, GPS positioning sounds, and non-positioning sounds. The navigation device 10 also has a music player function, and can output music data stored in the memory card 18 from the speaker 22. When headphones (not shown) are connected to the headphone terminal 19, the above sounds are output from the headphones.

In FIG. 2, the control unit 26 has as its main component a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs control processing according to a program, and executes predetermined processing based on information input from the various input devices (touch panel 13, GPS receiver 23, microwave receiver 24, wireless receiver 25, etc.) mentioned above, and outputs predetermined messages and warnings using output devices (display unit 12, speaker 22, etc.).

The various functions of the navigation device 10 are stored as programs in the EEPROM of the control unit 26, and are realized by the CPU executing these programs. The various functions of the navigation device 10 are described in detail below.

<<Route guidance function>>
The database 27 stores road network information for route guidance. The control unit 26 can use this road network information to search for a route from one location to another. The database 27 also stores a telephone number database that stores telephone numbers in association with location information and names of homes, companies, facilities, etc., and an address database that stores addresses in association with location information of those addresses. The control unit 26 reads out road network information for the area around the current location from the database 27 and causes the display unit 12 to display a map for the area around the current location.

The control unit 26 can then execute a route guidance function. First, the control unit 26 causes the display unit 12 to display a destination setting menu (see FIG. 16). This destination setting menu includes a phone number search button, an address search button, a facility name search button, and the like, which prompt the user to select a destination setting method, and the user selects the destination setting method via the touch panel 13.

For example, when the phone number search button is pressed, the control unit 26 displays a phone number input screen and acquires location information corresponding to the input phone number from the database 27. When the address search button is pressed, a selection input screen for an address is displayed and acquires location information corresponding to the input address from the database 27. The control unit 26 sets the acquired location information as the location information of the destination, and calculates a recommended route from the current position to the destination based on the road network information stored in the database 27. A known method such as the Dijkstra algorithm can be used to calculate this recommended route. The control unit 26 displays the calculated recommended route together with a map of the surrounding area. For example, the route from the current position to the destination is displayed in a predetermined color (for example, "green") as the recommended route.

<<Radar scope display function>>
Position information of objects to be warned, such as speed measuring devices, etc., together with their types are stored in the database 27. The radar scope display function is a function for searching for objects to be warned within a predetermined range (for example, within about 1 km) from the current position detected by the GPS receiver 23 based on the position information stored in the database 27, and displaying the relative positional relationship between the vehicle and the objects to be warned on the display unit 12.

When the radarscope display function is being executed, the control unit 26 causes the display unit 12 to display a map, and also causes an arrow-shaped vehicle icon indicating the vehicle's position on the map. Furthermore, if an event occurs while the radarscope display function is being executed (if a predetermined condition for issuing an alarm is satisfied), a POI icon having letters such as "L", "RD", "P", "N", etc. is displayed on the map to indicate the type and position of the object to be alarmed. If an event occurs while the radarscope display function is being executed, the control unit 26 performs control processing to execute one of the following functions: a GPS alarm function, a radar wave alarm function, or a radio alarm function.

<<GPS Alert Function>>
The control unit 26 displays an alarm on the display unit 12 when the current position detected by the GPS receiver 23 and the position of the object of alarm stored in the database 27 come within a predetermined distance. As a display mode of the alarm, for example, a POI icon showing the position information of the object of alarm is displayed on a map (see FIG. 19), or an alarm screen is displayed superimposed on the currently displayed map screen (see FIG. 23). At this time, the control unit 26 performs processing to output from the speaker 22 a voice indicating the type and distance of the object of alarm, such as "LH system 500 m ahead."

Examples of objects that the GPS alarm function may warn about include speed measuring devices (loop coils, LH systems, H systems, radar-type speed cameras, etc.), speed trap areas, mobile speed camera areas, tracking enforcement areas, stop enforcement areas, intersection enforcement areas, other enforcement areas, seat belt checkpoints, drunk driving checkpoints, mobile phone checkpoints, other checkpoints, intersection monitoring points, signal ignoring prevention systems, highway traffic police, N systems, traffic monitoring systems, police stations, accident-prone areas, service areas, parking areas, highway oases, long/continuous highway tunnels, highway radio receiving areas, roadside stations, view point parking, parking lots, public toilets, etc.

<<Radar wave warning function>>
The radar wave warning function is a warning function that displays a warning on the display unit 12 and outputs a warning sound from the speaker 17 when the microwave receiver 24 detects radio waves equivalent to microwaves of a predetermined frequency band emitted by a speed measuring device. For example, when microwaves of a predetermined frequency band emitted by a speed measuring device are detected by the microwave receiver 24, a schematic diagram or photo of a radar stored in the database 27 is displayed as a warning on the display unit 14, and audio data stored in the database 27 is read out and a voice saying "This is radar. Watch your speed" is output from the speaker 22.

<<Wireless alarm function>>
The radio warning function is a function that issues a warning when a radio wave emitted by an emergency vehicle or the like is received by the radio receiver 24 so as not to interfere with the driving of the vehicle or the like. In the radio warning function, the frequencies of police radio, car location radio, digital radio, special small radio, police station radio, police telephone, police activity radio, tow truck radio, helicopter radio, fire helicopter radio, fire radio, emergency radio, highway radio, security radio, etc. are scanned, and when a radio signal is received at the scanned frequency, a schematic diagram indicating that a radio signal corresponding to the frequency stored in the database 27 for each radio type is received is displayed on the display unit 12 as a warning screen, and audio data stored in the database 27 for each radio type is read out, and an alarm sound indicating the type of radio signal is output from the speaker 22. For example, when a police radio signal is received, a sound such as "This is a police radio signal. Watch your speed" is output.

As described above, the radarscope display function, GPS warning function, radar wave warning function, and radio warning function are set with multiple different types of warning objects, and a priority is set according to the type of warning object for each object. The priority of each warning object is visualized, for example, by color-coding the warning icon into groups of "red," "yellow," "blue," or "green" in descending order of priority (see Figure 14).

<Case>
Next, the housing 11 of the navigation device 10 will be described in detail. In Figures 1(a) and (b), the navigation device 10 uses a housing 11 that is almost entirely made of metal. As shown in Figure 3, the navigation device 10 is mounted around a handlebar 31 of a motorcycle 30, and in this embodiment, the metal surface of the housing 11 has an appearance and texture that matches the metal parts around the handlebar 31.

In addition, in this embodiment, the parts marked with the reference numerals 23, 24, and 25 on the back of the housing 11 shown in FIG. 1(b) are made of a non-metallic material such as plastic, which allows the transmission of radio waves to be received by the GPS receiver 23, the microwave receiver 24, and the wireless receiver 25. Note that the housing 11 can also be made entirely of metal if radio waves can be received by each of the receivers 23 to 25. For example, the housing 11 can be made entirely of metal if a slit or small hole for receiving radio waves is provided on the back of the housing 11, or the antennas of each of the receivers 23 to 25 are arranged outside the housing 11 and connected by a connector or the like.

The handlebars 31 of the motorcycle 30 are densely packed with metal parts such as a handlebar clamp 32, a top bridge 33, a speedometer 34, a tachometer 35, a front fork 36, and a fuel tank 37, and by making the housing 11 out of metal, the navigation device 10 is made to look like the metal parts around the handlebars 31, making it visually inconspicuous. This prevents the user's eyes from being drawn to the housing 11 when they try to look at the display of the navigation device 10 while driving.

It is desirable that the metal surface of the housing 11 has the same or similar appearance and texture as any of the metal parts around the handlebar 31. For example, if the cases of the handlebar 31, speedometer 34, and tachometer 35 are plated, the surface of the housing 11 can be plated to give it the same appearance and texture as these metal parts. Also, for example, if the handlebar clamp 32 and top bridge 33 are made of unpainted aluminum, the housing 11 can also be made of unpainted aluminum to give it the same appearance and texture as these metal parts. On the other hand, if the navigation device 10 is mounted on a fuel tank 37, it is advisable to paint the housing 11 the same color as the fuel tank 37.

In this embodiment, the housing 11 is made entirely of metal, but at least the area visible to the user while driving may be made of metal, and the remaining parts may be made of non-metallic materials, such as plastic with sufficient strength or carbon fiber. Specifically, the housing 11 may be divided into two parts, the front side and the back side, with the front half covering the periphery of the display unit 12 being made of metal and the back half being made of non-metallic materials. Preferably, the non-metallic back half is made of black (more preferably a matte black) with low light reflection, so that it is less likely to attract the user's attention while driving and is easy to match with surrounding metal parts.

Also, all or part of the housing 11 may be made of a non-metallic material, provided that the material can be processed to have an appearance that mimics a metal surface. For example, the housing 11 may be made of a general-purpose plastic such as ABS or polypropylene, or a general-purpose engineering plastic such as polyacetal or polycarbonate, and these plastics may be plated.

<Display Mode of Display Unit>
As described above, in this embodiment, the housing 11 of the navigation device 10 is made to look like the metal parts around the steering wheel 31, making it less likely to attract the user's attention while driving, but this configuration alone does not achieve the object of the present invention, which is to allow the user to instantly grasp necessary information. To achieve this object, in this embodiment, unimportant information displayed on the display unit 12 is made to look like the metal parts 32 to 37 around the steering wheel 31 to make it less noticeable, thereby significantly increasing the visibility of necessary information. Below, the characteristic display aspects of the display unit 12 in this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 14.

<<Menu screen>>
4A and 4B are front views of the menu screen displayed on the display unit 12 when the navigation device 10 is powered on. In FIG. 4A, the menu screen of this embodiment is composed of a background 41, a navigation button 42, a music button 43, a picture button 44, and an option button 45 (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as "displays 14 to 45"). All of these displays 41 to 45 are monotone displays expressed in grayscale, and the metal surface is depicted only with the light and dark differences of achromatic colors such as white, gray, and black. This monotone display refers to a display expressed in shades or light and dark of a single color, and may be not only a grayscale but also a display expressed only with the light and dark differences of a single chromatic color such as red or blue.

In this embodiment, each of the displays 41 to 45 is an object with an appearance that mimics a metal plate, and the contrast between light and dark in the monotone display creates a display that mimics the texture of a metal surface and actual metal processing. Preferably, the background 41 is a 2D object, and the navigation button 42, music button 43, picture button 44, and option button 45 are 3D objects, which makes the three-dimensional buttons 42 to 45 stand out against the flat background 41 and improves the operability of the menu screen.

<<<<Drawing on metal surfaces>>>
First, as a common expression among these displays 41 to 45, the reflection of light and shadow are drawn by the light and dark contrast of the color of the monotone display to imitate the gloss of a metal surface. For example, in the background 41 in FIG. 4(a), the area shown as "light" is the reflection of light, and the area shown as "dark" is the shadow. In addition, in this embodiment, a hairline pattern 40 is drawn on the entire surface of each display 41 to 45 to dull the gloss of the metal surface. In this way, the metal surface can be expressed by drawing at least a glossy feel, and further, by adding a drawing of the surface treatment carried out in actual metal processing, it is possible to make the metal surface look more like a metal surface.

In addition, in Figs. 4(a) and (b), the hairline pattern 40 is exaggerated and illustrated diagrammatically for the sake of convenience, but in an actual display, a hairline pattern equivalent to that of an actual metal part can be drawn (see Figs. 15 and 16). In this way, the metal surface of each of the marks 41 to 45 can be drawn at least with light reflection and shadow, and by adding metal processing elements such as the hairline pattern 40, it is possible to make the surface look more like a metal surface. As a result, the metal parts 32 to 37 around the handlebar 31 of the motorcycle 30 shown in Fig. 3, the housing 11 of the navigation device 10, and each of the marks 41 to 45 of the display unit 12 can have a common appearance and texture, making it possible to make the background and the buttons themselves less noticeable.

The metal surfaces of the displays 41-45 of the display unit 12 are preferably drawn to have an appearance and texture similar to that of the metal surfaces of the housing 11 and the metal parts 31-37 of the motorcycle 30, and more preferably are drawn with such high image quality, high definition, and precision that they are indistinguishable from the actual metal surfaces. However, even if the drawing is such that it looks like a metal surface at least when the user glances at it while driving, it still has the effect of mimicry that makes it difficult for the user to notice it.

<<<<Drawing Information>>>
Each display 41-45 includes characters 41a-45a and figures 42b-44b for conveying information such as functions. In this embodiment, the characters 41a-45a and figures 42b-44b are displayed by a drawing method different from the conventional one. That is, the characters 41a-45a and figures 42b-44b are all drawn to imitate general metal processing by using the light and dark contrast of the color in monotone display. In the conventional text and line drawings, the drawing method is different from that of the metal surface, and the characters and figures represented by such a drawing method can be clearly distinguished from the drawing of the metal surface even in monotone display, and the displayed characters and figures stand out. Therefore, in this embodiment, the characters and figures are drawn on the metal surface to imitate general metal processing, so that the characters and figures do not stand out on the metal surface.

In this embodiment, letters 41a to 45a are drawn on each of the displays 41 to 45, which are modeled after metal plates, to imitate the cutting process of metal. The cut-out spaces (letter portions) of the letters 41a to 45a are dark in color, and the edges of the metal plate visible around the spaces are light in color for the width of the plate thickness. The reason the letters 41a to 45a are cut out is so that the letters 41a to 45a that should be highlighted can be displayed in color as if they were illuminated from behind the metal plate (see symbols 42a and 42c in Figure 4(b)).

The navigation button 42, music button 43, and picture button 44 are respectively decorated with etched figures 42b, 43b, and 44b of a magnifying glass, musical note, and camera. The etching-like drawings can be used to recreate the degree of corrosion on a metal surface, allowing the appearance of different figures to be displayed differently.

For example, Figure 4(a) shows an embodiment in which the metal surface is only slightly corroded, and the figures 42b, 43b and 44b of "magnifying glass", "musical note" and "camera" appear as if they have been lightly discolored on the metal surface (in reality, they look like the figures in Figure 15 or Figure 16). When the metal surface is only slightly corroded, it is advisable to make the etched figures 42b to 44b and the unetched metal surface have the same luster, hairlines, etc., so that the figures 42b to 44b can be seen through.

Furthermore, the higher the degree of corrosion on the metal surface, the more deeply the corroded areas will be depicted as recessed, and the appearance and properties of the corroded areas will differ from those of the metal surface. For example, as in the button showing the "map code" in Figure 16, the corroded areas are recessed below the metal surface, and the surface will be depicted as having a dull, rough surface. If the degree of corrosion is increased even further, the corroded areas will be depicted in the same manner as punched-out work such as characters 41a to 45a.

In this way, the lower the degree of corrosion of the metal surface, the less noticeable the figures drawn on the metal surface will be, and conversely, the higher the degree of corrosion of the metal surface, the more noticeable the figures drawn on the metal surface will be. Therefore, for example, if figures are drawn in a manner that shows a high degree of corrosion on the metal surface for frequently used buttons, and figures are drawn in a manner that shows a low degree of corrosion on the metal surface for less frequently used buttons, the user will be able to easily select buttons according to their needs.

<<Switching from monochrome display to color display>>
In the menu screen shown in FIG. 4A, the characters 41a to 45a of any of the navigation button 42, music button 43, picture button 44, and option button 45 are switched to color display according to the user's needs. This color display refers to a display expressed using at least one chromatic color different from the monotone display. For example, if the monotone display is a grayscale consisting of achromatic colors of white, gray, and black, as in this embodiment, all chromatic colors correspond to color display. Also, if the monotone display is a display expressed by a single chromatic color in shades or tones, other chromatic colors with different hues correspond to color display. Below, a specific example of switching from monotone display to color display will be described with reference to the menu screens shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

First, when the power switch 15 (see FIG. 1(b)) or a menu button (not shown) provided on the housing 11 of the navigation device 10 is pressed, the menu screen shown in FIG. 4(a) is displayed, which is made up of only monotone displays. As described above, the characters 41a to 45a included in each display 41 to 45 on the menu screen are drawn with a cut-out dark space and a bright edge that borders this space before operation is performed on the touch panel 13. In this menu screen, the background 41, navigation button 42, music button 43, picture button 44, and option button 45 are all expressed in achromatic shades or light and dark, so that the stimulation that these displays 41 to 45 give to human color vision is the same and there is no difference in visibility. Therefore, the user's eye is not attracted to any of the displays 41, 42, 43, 44, or 45 on the menu screen.

Next, when the user touches, for example, the navigation button 42 on the menu screen via the touch panel 13, the letters 42a on the navigation button 42 change to a color display as shown in FIG. 4(b) (see the dotted line marked with the symbol 42c in the figure). In this embodiment, the letters 42a of "NAVI" cut out of the metal plate of the navigation button 42 are displayed in color as if illuminated from behind with chromatic light.

Specifically, the letters 42a of "NAVI" are rendered to appear to be emitting light in a chromatic color, and the area within the dotted line marked with the symbol 42c is displayed in color. For example, the letters 42a of "NAVI" located at the center of the light emission may be rendered dark, and the light leaking out from the periphery of the letters 42a may be rendered light, all in the same chromatic color. Alternatively, only the letters 42a of "NAVI" may be rendered to appear to be self-illuminating in a chromatic color. The letters 42a of "NAVI" may be painted solid in a chromatic color to create a different texture from the navigation button 42, which has a realistic reproduction of a metal surface.

<<<<Action and Effects>>>
In this way, by switching the characters 42a of the navigation button 42 to a color display, the stimulation given to the human color vision of the characters 42a among the displays 41 to 45 on the menu screen is strengthened, and the eye of the user looking at the menu screen can be attracted to the color display characters 42a. This enables the user to know at a glance that the operation of the navigation button 42 has been performed effectively and the route guidance function of the navigation device is being executed.

In particular, in the navigation device 10 of this embodiment, the displays 41 to 45 on the menu screen are drawn on a metal surface that has an appearance and texture similar to that of the metal surface of the housing 11. Therefore, when a user glances at the display unit 12 while driving, the user's eyes are not drawn to unnecessary displays on the housing 11 or the menu screen, and the user can access the necessary characters 42a on the display unit 12 with pinpoint accuracy.

<<Options screen>>
Next, an option screen shown in Fig. 5 will be described as an example of another display mode of the display unit 12. When the user touches the option button 45 in the menu screen shown in Fig. 4(a), the word "OPTION" 45a emits light in color, as in Fig. 4(b), and the display unit 12 switches to the option screen in Fig. 5.

In FIG. 5, the option screen of this embodiment is composed of a background 51, three level operation sections 52, 52, 52, and a changeover switch 53. Unlike the menu screens of FIGS. 4(a) and (b) described above, the option screen of this embodiment includes color display in the monotone display from the initial state.

<<<Background>>>
The background 51 is rendered with light reflections and shadows based on the contrast between the brightness and darkness of the monotone colors to mimic the luster of a metal surface. In this embodiment, a grid pattern 50 is rendered on the surface of the background 51 to make it look more like a metal surface. The background 51 displays the title of this options screen and items that can be set by the user as desired, using colored characters 51a-51e. The colored characters 51a-51e have a stronger stimulus to human color vision than the monotone metal surface, and can attract the eye of the user looking at the options screen to the characters 51a-51e.

The color-displayed characters 51a to 51e each have the same stimulation for human color vision, so there is no difference in visibility. For this reason, a user viewing the options screen will have to search for the item they wish to change among these characters 51a to 51e, but since users usually do not change settings while driving, this does not cause any particular problems.

<<<Level control section>>>
The level operation unit 52 is configured with a - button 52A and a + button 52C (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as "± buttons 52A, 52C") arranged on the left and right ends of an indicator 52B. The ± buttons 52A, 52C imitate small metal plate buttons with a mirror finish by using the contrast between light and dark in a monotone display. The ± buttons 52A, 52C are displayed with a "-" symbol 52a and a "+" symbol 52c in a monotone display by drawing that imitates a punching or etching process. The indicator 52B imitates a thin cylindrical metal rod, and its metal surface is mirror-finished like the ± buttons 52A, 52C by using the contrast between light and dark in a monotone display.

In this embodiment, the brightness of the level control unit 52 is high and the brightness of the background 51 is low, giving the metal surfaces of the two a different appearance and texture. This allows the smooth, shining, mirror-finished level control unit 52 to stand out against the dark, heavy background 51 of the grid pattern. As above, the level control unit 52 may be either a 2D or 3D object, but preferably, the background 51 is a 2D object and the level control unit 52 is a 3D object, making the three-dimensional level control unit 52 stand out against the flat background 51 and improving the operability of changing settings.

The operation of the level operation unit 52 will now be described. When the user touches the ± button 52A or 52C via the touch panel 13, the monotone "-" symbol 52a or "+" symbol 52c is switched to a color display. For example, the "-" symbol 52a or "+" symbol 52c of the ± button 52A or 52C is displayed in color as if illuminated from behind with a chromatic light. As shown by reference numeral 52d in Figure 5, the "-" symbol 52a is drawn as if it is emitting light in a chromatic color, and the area within the dotted line is displayed in color.

Furthermore, when the user touches the ± button 52A or 52C, the light emission 52b of the indicator 52B increases or decreases according to the number of times or duration of the touch. This line-shaped light emission 52b is displayed in a chromatic color, and is made to stand out in contrast to the monotone display of the indicator 52B, the ± buttons 52A and 52C, and the background 51. The length of the light emission 52b visually indicates the levels of "volume," "brightness (daytime)," and "brightness (nighttime)" (see symbols 51ab to 51d in the figure), and by displaying it in color during the monotone display, the change in length is easy to see.

Here, the light emission 52b may be at least a chromatic color different from the monotone display, but in this embodiment, the color scheme is devised to make the colored light emission 52b more noticeable. For example, the light emission 52b may be colored differently between the center and the periphery to create a difference in brightness. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the center of the light emission 52b is a bright color, and the periphery is a color that is less bright than the center. Preferably, the center of the light emission 52b is white, which is the brightest color, and the periphery is a chromatic color with high saturation, so that the brightness of the center of the light emission 52b appears high, and visibility during monotone display can be further improved.

<<<<Changeover switch >>>>
The changeover switch 53 is for setting the display mode of the "full map radar display" (see reference numeral 51e in the figure). Here, the "full map radar display" refers to an alarm screen displayed on a map screen for a route guidance function, which displays an alarm icon on the map when the vehicle approaches an object to be warned, thereby notifying the user of the location and type of the object to be warned (see the right half of the screen in FIG. 23). The display modes of such a "full map radar display" include, for example, a "constant display mode" and a "display mode when an alarm is issued", and the "display mode when an alarm is issued" further includes a "normal" mode in which all items on the full map radar display are displayed, and a "minimized" mode in which only the type of object to be warned is displayed.

The changeover switch 53 of this embodiment uses the contrast between light and dark in a monotone display to imitate a horizontally long metal plate button. This changeover switch 53 displays colored text 53a in a chromatic color that is different from the color of the monotone display. Each time the changeover switch 53 is touched, this text 53a switches between, for example, "always display," "display when alarm occurs (normal)," or "display when alarm occurs (minimized)," and displays the setting for "full map radar display" (see reference symbol 51e in the figure). By displaying colored text 53a on the changeover switch 53, which is made of a monotone display, the text 53a can be made to stand out, further improving its visibility.

<<Keyboard screen>>
Next, as another display mode of the display unit 12, a keyboard screen shown in Fig. 6 will be described as an example. When the user touches the navigation button 42 in the menu screen shown in Fig. 4(a), the "NAVI" character 42a is switched to a color display and the route guidance function is executed. The keyboard screen shown in Fig. 6 is used for inputting a destination and keyword search in the route guidance function.

In the figure, the keyboard screen of this embodiment is composed of a keyboard body 61 and multiple key buttons 62, 62, 62... which are displayed in monotone to resemble a metal surface, and a liquid crystal display unit 63 which is also displayed in monotone to resemble a black and white liquid crystal panel. The keyboard body 61 has a stepped recess 61a formed by pressing a metal plate, and a rectangular punched-out window 61b. The key buttons 62, 62, 62... for character input are arranged in the recess 61a, and the liquid crystal display unit 63 is arranged in the punched-out window 61b. In this embodiment, the keyboard body 61 has a metal surface with a low brightness color, and each key button 62 has a metal surface with a high brightness color, making each key button 62 stand out on the keyboard body 61.

Each key button 62 has monotone characters, symbols or figures 62a, 62a, 62a... displayed by drawing that imitates a cut-out or etching process. When the user touches each key button 62 via the touch panel 13, the monotone characters, symbols or figures 62a are switched to color display.

Here, the keyboard screen of this embodiment employs two different color display modes. In the first mode, as in the above-mentioned embodiment, the character 62a of the key button 62 touched by the user is displayed in color as if it were illuminated from behind with chromatic light. For example, as shown by reference numeral 62b in FIG. 6, the character "na" 62a is drawn as if it were emitting light in a chromatic color, and the area within the dotted line on the key button 62 is displayed in color. On the other hand, in the second mode, the entire key button 62 is drawn as if it were a transparent body, and the entire key button 62 touched by the user is displayed in color as if it were emitting light by transmitting chromatic light. For example, as shown by reference numeral 62c in FIG. 6, the entire key button 62 including the character "determine" is drawn as if it were emitting light in a chromatic color, and the area within the dotted line on the background 61 is displayed in color.

<<Map screen>>
Next, map screens shown in Figures 7 to 9 will be described as examples of other display modes of the display unit 12. When a destination is specified using the keyboard screen shown in Figure 6 described above and a route to the destination is determined, route guidance is started using the color map screen shown in Figure 7.

<<<<Map screen displayed in color>>> The map screen shown in FIG. 7 includes the land elements that make up map 70 and the various icons on map 70, as in the past, and these are displayed in a variety of chromatic colors. Details of the land elements of map 70 and the various icons on map 70 are as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13. Note that, for ease of explanation, the map screen shown in FIG. 7 is a simplification of the map screen of an actual navigation device, and the land elements in FIG. 11 and the various icons in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are merely examples of some of those that are actually used.

7 and 11, the land elements constituting the map 70 include land 71A, highway 71B, low-standard road 71C, and destination route 71D. In the color display shown in FIG. 7, for example, land 71A is displayed in a color such as "light yellow/light pink/light blue/light green" for each predetermined area. For example, high-standard road 71B is displayed in "blue" and low-standard road 71C is displayed in "light blue" or "light brown". Destination route 71D indicates the route to the destination, and is displayed in "green" normally and in "red" when the route is congested (see "Colors in Color Display" in FIG. 11). In addition, in the color display shown in FIG. 7, the land 71A, highway 71B, low-standard road 71C, and destination route 71D are all displayed as flat 2D objects as in the past (see "Display Type" in FIG. 11).

7 and 12, typical icons displayed on the map 70 include, for example, the vehicle icon 72, the traffic light icon 73A, the destination icon (see FIG. 12), the highway icon 73B, the national highway icon 73C, and the prefectural road icon 73D. In the color display shown in FIG. 7, for example, the vehicle icon 72 is displayed in "red", the traffic light icon 73A is displayed in "green + yellow + red", and the destination icon 73B is displayed in "white + black". The highway icon 73B, the national highway icon 73C, and the prefectural road icon 73D are all displayed in "blue + white" following the actual signs (see "Colors in color display" in FIG. 12). In addition, in the color display shown in FIG. 7, the vehicle icon 72, the traffic light icon 73A, the destination icon (see FIG. 12), the highway icon 73B, the national highway icon 73C, and the prefectural road icon 73D are all displayed as flat 2D objects, as in the past (see "Display type" in FIG. 12).

7 and 13, the facility icons displayed on the map 70 include, for example, a school icon 74A, a hospital icon 74B, a shrine icon 74C, and a building icon 74D. In addition, company icons 25, 25, 25, etc., such as gas stations, restaurants, hamburger shops, convenience stores, and banks, are also displayed on the map 70. In the color display shown in FIG. 7, for example, the school icon 74A is displayed in "green + white", the hospital icon 74B is displayed in "white + black", the shrine icon 74C is also displayed in "white + black", and the building icon 74D is displayed in "gray". In addition, each company icon 25 is displayed in the color of the logo determined by each company (see "Color in color display" in FIG. 13). In the color display shown in FIG. 7, these facility icons 74A to 74D and each company icon 25 are all displayed as flat 2D objects, as in the past (see "Display type" in FIG. 13).

7 and 14, the alarm icons displayed on the map 70 include, for example, POI icons such as a loop coil icon 76A, an LH system icon 76B, a new H system icon (see FIG. 14), a radar speed camera icon 76C, a checkpoint area icon (see FIG. 14), a control area icon (see FIG. 14), an N system icon (see FIG. 14), and an accident-prone area icon 77. Note that these POI icons are merely examples, and the alarm icons displayed on the map 70 broadly include icons that indicate the location information of a specified object (or target area) that needs to be notified to the user.

In this embodiment, the above-mentioned POI icons are grouped into warning, alert, and notification icons according to the level of urgency of the object of the alert, and the icons are color-coded for each group. In the color display shown in FIG. 7, for example, the loop coil icon 76A, the LH system icon 76B, the new H system icon, and the radar-type speed camera icon 76C all belong to the warning group and are displayed in "red + white". The checkpoint area icon and the control area icon all belong to the warning group and are displayed in "yellow + white". The N system icon and the accident-prone area icon 77 all belong to the notification group and are displayed in "blue + white" (see "Colors in color display" in FIG. 14). In this embodiment, in the color display shown in FIG. 7, the above-mentioned POI icons are all displayed as flat 2D objects, as in the conventional case (see "Display type" in FIG. 14).

<<<<Monochrome map screen>>>
When the vehicle approaches within a predetermined distance of the object to be warned on the color map screen shown in Fig. 7, the screen of the display unit 12 switches to a monotone map screen shown in Fig. 8. In this embodiment, unnecessary information is omitted, and only information necessary to fulfill the warning function is displayed on the screen, with information that is particularly necessary to fulfill the warning function being highlighted in color, and the rest being displayed in monotone. Note that "information necessary to fulfill the warning function" in this embodiment refers to information necessary to inform the user of matters related to the object to be warned. Such a monotone map screen will be described below with reference to Fig. 8.

<<<<<Display omitted >>>>>
First, when switching from the color map screen shown in Fig. 7 to the monotone map screen shown in Fig. 8, information unnecessary for performing the warning function is omitted. In this embodiment, text characters on the map 70 shown in Fig. 7, facility icons 74A to 74D that are unrelated to the vehicle's route (destination route 81D), and company icons 75 are omitted from the screen, simplifying the information displayed on the map 80 shown in Fig. 8.

The "Display Omission" columns in Figs. 11 to 14 show examples of whether display omission is possible when switching to the map screen with monotone display shown in Fig. 8. For example, for the land elements of the map shown in Fig. 11, "land" and "destination route" are not omitted (see symbols 81A and 81D in Fig. 8). During the execution of the route guidance function, the destination route 81D indicates the current route of the vehicle and is necessary to notify the user of objects on the route that are subject to warning. In addition, the land 81A is the background of the road that is the vehicle's route, and although it is not important as information, it is necessary to configure the map screen. On the other hand, the display of "high-standard roads" and "low-standard roads" may be omitted unless they are the vehicle's route. In addition, as shown in Fig. 8, the road 81C that intersects with the vehicle's route and the road 81C that is close to the vehicle's route may be useful for understanding the vehicle's position, so it is not necessary to omit the display.

For example, the display of general icons on the map shown in FIG. 12 may be omitted, except for the vehicle icon 81D indicating the position of the vehicle. However, icons that are useful for understanding the position of the vehicle or an object of alarm may not be omitted (see reference symbol 83A in FIG. 8). Also, while the route guidance function is being executed, the display of the destination icon may not be omitted.

For example, the facility icons and company icons on the map shown in FIG. 13 are unnecessary information for performing the warning function, so they may be omitted from display altogether. However, as in this embodiment, the facility icons and company icons along the destination route 81D, which is the path of the vehicle, are useful for understanding the position of the vehicle or the object of the warning, so they do not need to be omitted from display (see reference numeral 75 in FIG. 8).

For example, the warning icons on the map shown in FIG. 14 may be omitted from display if they are not located on the path of the vehicle or near the vehicle. However, as in this embodiment, all warning icons that can be displayed at the scale of the current map 80 may be displayed (see symbols 86A to 86C and 87 in FIG. 8).

<<<<<Map display modes>>>>>
In FIG. 8, the map screen displayed in monochrome according to this embodiment is composed of land 81A, low-standard roads 81C necessary to fulfill the warning function, a destination route 81D (high-standard roads 81B), a vehicle icon 82, a traffic light icon 83A, a company icon 75, and all warning icons 86A to 86C and 87 that can be displayed at the scale of the current map 80.

Of these displays, land 81A, low-standard road 81C, and traffic light icon 83A are displayed as monotone, expressed in the shade or lightness of a single color, while the rest of the icons, destination route 81D, vehicle icon 82, company icon 75, and warning icons 86A-86C, 87, are displayed in chromatic colors different from the monotone display.

First, the components of the monotone display in FIG. 8 will be described. In this embodiment, land 81A and low-standard road 81C, which are land elements of map 80, are 2D objects with an appearance that mimics a metal surface. Land 81A is drawn to mimic the color, gloss, and surface treatment of the metal surface (e.g., unpainted aluminum) of the housing 11 shown in FIG. 3, making it difficult for a user to distinguish between housing 11 and land 81A when they glance at the screen. In addition, low-standard road 81C is drawn to mimic etching on the metal surface of land 81A, making it difficult to create a sense of incongruity on land 81A that mimics a metal surface.

When general icons such as "traffic lights," "destinations," "expressways," "national highways," and "prefectural roads" shown in FIG. 12 are not omitted, they are displayed in grayscale on the map 80 in FIG. 8 so as not to stand out. The same applies when facility icons such as "schools," "hospitals," "shrines," and "buildings" shown in FIG. 13 are not omitted. When these icons are displayed in grayscale, they are drawn in a manner that imitates uneven metal processing or punching processing by etching or the like, so that they do not look out of place on the land 81A (see "Colors when displayed in monotone" in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13).

Next, the components of the color display in FIG. 8 will be described. In this embodiment, the destination route 81D is displayed in the same manner as the light emission 52b of the indicator 52B shown in FIG. 5. That is, the destination route 81D imitates a line of light emission extending along the vehicle's path, with the center being a bright color (e.g., "white") and the periphery being a color less bright than the center (e.g., "blue," "green," "red," or "purple"). The destination route 81D imitating this light emission is a planar 2D object, and is displayed in color as if the high-standard road 81B, which is drawn to imitate a cutout on the metal surface of the land 81A, is illuminated from behind with chromatic light.

The vehicle icon 82 is changed from the 2D object shown in FIG. 7 to the 3D object shown in FIG. 8 (see "Display Type" in FIG. 12). The 3D object vehicle icon 82 is drawn as a solid red arrow shape, with a height difference from the metal surface of the land 81A, and is drawn as if floating above the illuminated destination route 81D.

Similarly to the vehicle icon 82 described above, each of the warning icons 86A-86C, 87 is changed from the 2D object shown in FIG. 7 to the 3D object shown in FIG. 8 (see "Display Type" in FIG. 12). Each of the warning icons 86A-86C, 87 of the 3D object is drawn as a spherical solid, and is drawn to have a height difference with the metal surface of the land 81A, and to appear to be floating above the land 81A, the high-standard road 81B, the low-standard road 81C, or the destination route 81D. In terms of the height difference on the screen, the land 81A is displayed at the lowest position, each of the warning icons 86A-86C, 87 is displayed in the middle, and the vehicle icon 82 is displayed at the highest position. Therefore, the vehicle icon 82 is able to pass over each of the warning icons 86A-86C, 87 displayed on the destination route 81D. In addition, each warning icon 86A-86C, 87 is rotated in one direction on the map 80 as shown by the arrow in Figure 8, making it easy to distinguish them from the vehicle icon 82 and company icon 75 at a glance.

In this embodiment, company icons 75 along the destination route 81D are displayed without omission. If company icons 75 are not omitted, they are displayed in color in the logo color determined by each company, as in FIG. 7.

<<<<Example of changing the map screen to monochrome display>>>
Fig. 9 shows a modified example of the map screen in monotone display of Fig. 8. The map screen shown in Fig. 9 has a configuration in which less necessary information is further omitted from the map screen in monotone display of Fig. 8 described above in order to notify the driver of the nearest object to be warned on the path of the vehicle.

When the vehicle approaches within a predetermined distance of the object to be warned on the color map screen shown in FIG. 7, the screen of the display unit 12 is switched to a monotone map screen shown in FIG. 9. On the map screen shown in FIG. 9, only the destination route 81D, the vehicle icon 82, and the nearest warning icon 86A are displayed in color on a monotone map 80 that resembles a metal surface, and all other icons shown in FIG. 7 are omitted.

The map 80 and destination route 81D are displayed as 2D objects, and only the vehicle icon 82 and nearest warning icon 86A, which are of particular need, are displayed as 3D objects on these 2D objects. Furthermore, the 3D object warning icon 86A is rotated on the map 80 in the direction of the arrow in the figure, strongly attracting the user's eye on the map 80, which is displayed in monotone to mimic a metal surface.

The map screen of this embodiment is configured to display in color only the minimum information 81D, 82, and 86A necessary to notify the driver of the nearest object on the vehicle's path, on the monotone map 80. This allows a user who is driving a motorcycle to pinpoint the necessary information 81D, 82, and 86A on the screen and grasp at a glance the positional relationship between the vehicle and the nearest object to be warned.

<<<<Other changes to the monochrome map screen>>>
8 and 9, the map 80 is displayed in monotone when the navigation device 10 issues an alert, but the display mode of the present invention is not limited to the alert. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the navigation device 10 may switch the map from color display to monotone display when guiding the vehicle to the destination.

When the route guidance function is being performed, the navigation device 10 displays a detailed map in color, including all land elements, general icons, facility icons, and company icons, until the vehicle approaches a left or right turn point (see FIG. 7). After that, when the vehicle approaches a left or right turn point within a predetermined distance, the detailed map in color is switched to a monotone map 90 shown in FIG. 10.

The map 90 in FIG. 10, like the embodiments in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, is configured such that a high-standard road 91B and a low-standard road 91C are displayed in a drawing that resembles etching on land 91A that resembles a metal surface, and all of these components are displayed as 2D objects in monotone. A destination route 91D, a vehicle icon 92, and a flag icon 93 are displayed in color on this monotone map 90. The destination route 91D is a 2D object that resembles a line of light extending along the path of the vehicle, and the car icon 92 and flag icon 93 are 3D objects.

In this embodiment, for example, a flag icon 93 such as "red" or "yellow" is displayed at the right turn point of the vehicle, and this flag icon 93 is made to flash to make it stand out. Also, in this embodiment, to make the right turn point of the vehicle easier to understand, less necessary land elements, general icons, facility icons, and company icons are all omitted, as in the embodiment of FIG. 9.

As described above, the map screen of this embodiment is configured to display in color on a monotone map 90 only the minimum information necessary to inform the user of the right turn point of the vehicle, such as the destination route 91D that is the vehicle's course, the vehicle icon 92 indicating the vehicle's position, and the flag icon 93 indicating the vehicle's right turn point. This allows the right turn point on the map 90 to be grasped at a glance, and also clarifies the actual positional relationship between the traveling vehicle and the right turn point.

<Other changes>
The in-vehicle electronic device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the in-vehicle electronic device to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the navigation device for motorcycles having the configurations shown in Figures 1 to 3, but can be applied to navigation devices for bicycles or automobiles, as well as in-vehicle electronic devices of various configurations, such as radar detectors.

In addition, the on-screen displays shown in Figures 4 to 14 are all merely examples, and the design of the displays to realize the various functions of the in-vehicle electronic device can be freely modified as long as they include the monotone display aspect that is a characteristic of this invention.

<Example of Monotone Display>
15 to 24 show examples (actual CG screens) of monotone display in the on-vehicle electronic device of the present invention.

Figures 15 and 16 both show menu screens displayed in monotone, with the background and menu icons depicted in a style that resembles a hairline-patterned metal surface. When the "Search" icon on the top menu screen shown in Figure 15 is touched, the word "Search" changes to a colored display (lights up), and the destination setting menu screen in Figure 16 is displayed.

Figure 17 shows the options screen in a monotone display, with buttons, key switches, and other operating parts having a hairline-patterned metal surface, making them easier to visually distinguish by contrasting the texture with the smooth, glossy background. When the "Settings" icon on the top menu screen shown in Figure 15 is touched, the word "Settings" switches to a colored display (lights up), and the options screen in Figure 17 is displayed.

Figure 18 shows a keyboard screen displayed in monochrome, with buttons, key switches, and other operating parts having a hairline-patterned metal surface, contrasting in texture with the matte background to make the operating parts easier to visually distinguish. When any of the "Free Word," "Address," or "Facility" icons on the destination setting menu screen shown in Figure 16 is touched, the characters change to a color display (lights up) and the keyboard screen in Figure 18 is displayed.

Figure 19 shows a map screen in monotone display, where all information such as land, roads, general icons, facility icons, and company icons are displayed in detail on the map. Of these, the vehicle icon, company icon, and warning icon are displayed in color, and all the rest are displayed in monotone. Also, on the map, the "Current time display", "Orientation display/GPS reception display", "Map scale", and "Vehicle speed" windows, which imitate metal plates, are displayed overlapping each other. In this embodiment, the "Current time display", "GPS reception display", "Map scale", and "Vehicle speed" windows are drawn with translucency, so that the map display below them can be seen through. The route display window including "Koshu Kaido" and the warning display window (minimized display) including "LH system 314m" are also drawn with translucency. Note that this warning display window is displayed in the display mode when the "Full map radar display" setting in the option screen shown in Figure 17 is set to "Warning display (minimized)", and the type and distance of the object to be warned are displayed in a long and thin rectangular window. In this embodiment, the warning window is displayed in red to alert the user.

Figure 20 shows a map screen displayed in monochrome, which differs from the map screen in Figure 19 described above in that the operation buttons "Current location," "Nearby facilities," "Register location," and "Go here" are overlapped and displayed on the map. On the screen, only the operation buttons are depicted as 3D objects that resemble a hairline metal surface, making them visually easier to distinguish from the other 2D object displays.

Figures 21 and 22 both show a map screen and highway display in monotone, with the left half of the screen being the map screen and the other half being the highway display. In Figure 21, the map screen displays the windows "Current Time Display", "Orientation Display/GPS Reception Display", "Map Scale", "Vehicle Speed", "Distance to Destination", "Estimated Arrival Time", and "Intersection Information" overlapping on a map of the area around the highway on which the vehicle is traveling. In this map screen, the vehicle icon, the "red arrow" indicating north in the "Orientation Display/GPS Reception Display", the text "Out of Service", the two straight arrows included in the "Intersection Information", and the background of "Shinkyobashi" included in the "Intersection Information" are displayed in color, and all other displays are displayed in monotone.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 21, on the background of the highway display, the following are superimposed: a route display consisting of roads, an illuminated destination route, and the vehicle icon, up and down scroll buttons, a "current vehicle position" display button with the same arrow mark as the vehicle icon, a "back" operation button, three guidance icons showing the facilities on the highway such as interchanges and parking areas and their distances, a "road name" window containing the characters "Tokyo Expressway KK Line," and a "next facility information" window containing the characters "Shinkyobashi 260m."

When the "Current Vehicle Position" display button is touched on the highway display shown in FIG. 21, the arrow mark will light up for a few seconds, after which the "Current Vehicle Position" display button and the up and down scroll buttons will slide off the screen, and the "Current Vehicle Position" display shown in FIG. 22 will appear. The "Current Vehicle Position" display shown in FIG. 22 is made up of a combination of a light-emitting indicator bar and a vehicle icon.

In the highway display shown in FIG. 21, the vehicle icon and three guidance icons in the route display are displayed in color, and all other displays are displayed in monotone. In the "current vehicle position" display shown in FIG. 22, the illuminated part of the indicator bar and the vehicle icon are displayed in color. The three guidance icons are drawn to resemble a metal plate with a hairline pattern, and are colored to imitate the coloring process of an oxide film.

Figure 23 shows a map screen and full map radar display in monotone, with the left half of the screen being the map screen and the left half being the full map radar display. Note that the full map radar display in this embodiment is the display mode when the "Full map radar display" setting in the options screen shown in Figure 17 is set to "Display when warning (normal)" or "Display at all times", and consists of a status bar at the top of the screen, a full map radar scope in the center of the screen, and a display of the type and distance of the object to be warned about at the bottom of the screen.

In this embodiment, the map on the left half of the screen is displayed in grayscale monotone, and the full map radar scope on the right half of the screen is displayed in red monotone. Of the information on the map and full map radar scope, only the vehicle icon, warning icons, and destination route are displayed in color; all other information is displayed in monotone.

Figure 24 shows a monochrome confirmation window displayed on a normal color map screen. This confirmation window consists of a 2D object background that resembles a matte metal plate, and two operation buttons that are 3D objects that resemble a hairline-patterned metal surface. Message text is displayed on the background that resembles a metal plate using a drawing that resembles an etching process, and the words "Yes" and "No" are displayed on each operation button using a drawing that resembles an etching process. When any of the operation buttons are touched, the text "Yes" or "No" lights up in color.

10. Navigation device (electronic device for automobiles)
11 Housing 12 Display unit (display means)
13 Touch panel 14, 15 Waterproof cover 16 Power switch 17 Memory card reader 18 Memory card 19 Headphone terminal 20 USB terminal 21 Battery cover 22 Speaker 23 GPS receiver 24 Microwave receiver 25 Radio receiver 26 Control unit (control means)
Description of the symbols 27 Database 30 Motorcycle 31 Handlebar 32 Handlebar clamp 33 Top bridge 34 Speedometer 35 Tachometer 36 Front fork 37 Fuel tank 40 Hairline 41 Background 42 Navigation button 43 Music button 44 Picture button 45 Option button 41a to 45a Characters 42b to 44b Figures 42c Illumination 50 Lattice pattern 51 Background 51a to 51e Characters 52 Level operation section 52A + button 52B Indicator 52C - button 52a, 52c Symbols 52b, 52d Illumination 53 Changeover switch 53a Characters 61 Keyboard body 61a Recess 61b Punched-out window 62 Key button 62a Characters 62b, 62c Illumination 63 Liquid crystal display section 70 Color display map 80, 90 Monotone map 71A, 81A, 91A Land 71B, 81B, 91B Highway 71C, 81C, 91C Lowway 71D, 81D, 91D Destination route 72, 82, 92 Vehicle icon 73A, 83A Traffic light icon 73B Expressway icon 73C National highway icon 73D Prefectural highway icon 74A School icon 74B Hospital icon 74C Shrine icon 74D Building icon 75 Company icon 76A, 86A Loop coil icon 76B, 86B LH system icon 76C, 86C Radar speed camera icon 77, 87 Accident-prone area icon 93 Flag icon

Claims (7)

A system having a function of displaying an image on a display unit disposed in a vehicle,
The function of displaying the information is
The image, including the background and buttons, is displayed in monotone.
The buttons include a button for displaying characters,
When a user operates a button displaying the text, a portion of the button including the text is displayed in a chromatic color, and the other area of the button is displayed in monotone. A system having a function of displaying an image on a display unit disposed in a vehicle,
The function of displaying the information is
The image, including the background and buttons, is displayed in monotone.
When the button is operated by a user, a system that displays an area that includes the entire button and is larger than the button using a chromatic color. The function of displaying the information is
The system according to claim 2 , wherein the button included in the image is displayed in monotone as if it were a transparent object. The system of claim 1 , wherein the region is a circular region. A system having a function of displaying an image on a display unit disposed in a vehicle,
The function of displaying the information is
switching between a first display mode in which all information on the image displayed on the display unit is displayed in color and a second display mode in which at least a part of the information on the image displayed on the display unit is displayed in color and a part of the information on the image other than the part displayed in color is displayed in monotone ;
The function of displaying the information is
A map is displayed based on map data including a first road and a second road,
In the first display mode, the first road and the second road are displayed in color on the map;
In the second display mode, the system displays the first road on the map and does not display the second road. The function of displaying the information is
The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a function of displaying an image including a background and a button in monotone and making the button brighter than the background. A program for causing a computer to realize the functions of the system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.