JP2003204583A - Remote controller for navigation - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote controller for navigation with excellent operability that a user can operate without caring about wrong operation while surely identifying function operation buttons without the need for gazing at the remote controller. <P>SOLUTION: The remote controller 1 for navigation on the front side of which various function buttons are placed is characterized in that the function buttons 2, 3, 5 with high frequency of use are placed around an enter key 4. Since the function buttons 2, 3, 5 with high frequency of use are placed at positions within a reach of the fingers by their natural operations so as to obtain excellent operability, and a user grasps the different key positions depending on the frequency of use to prevent wrong key depression and to enhance the user-friendliness. The height of the function buttons with higher frequency of use is increased to enhance the key identification and to prevent wrong key depression and to enhance the user-friendliness. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device (remote control) for remotely operating a vehicle-mounted navigation system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A remote control device (remote control device, hereinafter referred to as a remote control) used for remote control of televisions and audio equipment is provided with various function operation buttons for operating various functions of these equipments. It is set up. Then, normally, various function operation buttons are pressed while visually recognizing. In addition, a rib or the like which is not necessary to be visually recognized for a visually handicapped person or is formed on a main function button serving as a reference for arrangement is used. Attempts have also been made to change the shape of each function button so that it is easy to visually recognize or operate. FIG. 7 shows a typical example thereof, which is disclosed in JP-A-5-328463.

This conventional example is a remote controller used for remote operation of a television receiver. The remote controller 101 is a numeric button 10 for setting channels and the like (numeral selection mode).
3, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 11
5, 117, 119 and 121, among these number buttons, buttons 105, 109, 111 and 11
When the function button (MENU) 123 is pressed, the reference numerals 3, 117 are configured to exert the function (function selection mode) as the function selection button. With such a configuration, the number selection function buttons are also used as image quality adjustment and other function selection buttons in response to a predetermined button operation, and the shape of the button group and the function contents thereof are displayed on the screen of the Delevi receiver. It is possible to downsize the device and control multiple functions.

[0004]

However, there is no problem in performing a function operation while carefully watching the display screen, such as a television receiver or an audio device of this kind, but a vehicle such as a car navigation system does not have any problem. As a remote control used inside, it is not safe to concentrate the visual inspection of the display screen, so it is not practical to display the operation contents on the display screen, and the control circuit becomes complicated. However, this is not preferable because it causes high cost. Further, in the ordinary remote controller for car navigation including the remote controller of the conventional example, an attempt has been made to enhance the identification function by slightly changing the shape of the button for each function, but the height of the button is constant, and There is no special arrangement for the layout of the, and it was common to operate the function buttons while visually checking them in order to eliminate erroneous operations.

In view of the above, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the conventional remote controller, has excellent operability, and can reliably identify the function operation button without gazing at the remote controller while operating the remote controller without fear of erroneous operation. The purpose is to provide a remote controller for car navigation that has been made possible.

[0006]

For this reason, the present invention is characterized in that, in a navigation remote controller in which various function buttons are arranged on the surface, function buttons which are frequently used are arranged around the execution key. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the function buttons that are used more frequently are formed higher from the surface of the remote controller. Further, the present invention is characterized in that a draft is formed in the function buttons arranged around the execution key. Further, the present invention is characterized in that ribs are formed at different portions on each of the adjacent similar function buttons. Further, the present invention is characterized in that a rib is provided around the function button, which abuts before the function starts when the button is pressed.

By the above-mentioned solution means, it is possible to arrange a function button having a high frequency at a position where it can be reached by a natural operation of a finger, and it is excellent in operability. Although similar function buttons are arranged adjacent to each other in order to improve, the risk of erroneous operation is almost eliminated against the background of the high distinctiveness of the function buttons due to the height difference, and moreover, due to other obstacles such as fingers. It is also possible to eliminate the risk of pressing.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of a navigation remote controller of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1
5 shows a first embodiment of a navigation remote controller according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view and a side view of the remote controller, and FIG. 2 is a plan view and a side view of a wide area / detail button and a custom / purpose button. 3 is a plan and side view of the execute button and menu button, FIG. 4 is a plan and side view of the map / current position button, and FIG. 5 is a plan and side view of the brightness and tilt button. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation remote controller of the present invention is a navigation remote controller 1 having various function buttons arranged on its surface,
It is characterized in that function buttons that are frequently used, a wide area / details button 2, a custom / destination button 3, a menu button 5 and the like are arranged around the execution key 4.

The details will be described below. A large number of function buttons for pressing are arranged on the surface of the remote controller 1. As shown in FIG. 1B, the function buttons that are frequently used are formed higher from the surface of the remote controller. For example, the wide area / detail button 2 and the custom / destination button 3 arranged around the execution key 4 are formed to be 3 to 2 mm from the surface of the remote controller 1, and the menu button 5 is formed to be 2 mm, which is relatively high in frequency of use. The map button 6 which is arranged low from the execution key 4 is 1.2 mm, and the brightness button 7 and the tilt button 8 are 0.
It is formed as low as 5 mm. This makes it possible to prevent erroneous pressing and improve usability by grasping that the positions to be arranged differ depending on the frequency of use. Further, similar function buttons are arranged adjacent to each other in order to improve operability. Custom button 3A, destination button 3B, menu key 5A of menu button 5 and return button 5B, current location button 6
A and a map button 6B and the like.

In addition to changing the distance of the function button from the execution key 4 and the height of the button depending on the frequency of use, the frequency of use between similar function buttons as shown in FIGS. 2B and 4B. By changing the height of the button.
In FIG. 2, the wide area / details button 2 is configured to be higher than the custom / destination button 3, and in FIG.
Current location buttons 6 distributed to the left and right with C as the boundary
A is constructed higher than the map button 6B. With this configuration, since the button with the higher frequency is used even among the similar function buttons, the erroneous pressing is prevented and the usability is improved. Further, although the menu key 5A and the return button 5B in the menu button 5 in FIG. 3 have the same height, these may be configured such that the menu key 5A is high, for example.

In FIG. 2, the wide area / details button 2 is used to change the scale of the displayed map, etc., and is often operated relatively frequently during traveling. When the operation rib 2C is tilted toward the wide area display portion 2A, the displayed map is displayed. The scale becomes wide, and when the operation rib 2C is tilted to the detail display portion 2B side, the display map scale becomes narrow and the map is enlarged. On the other hand, in the case of the custom / destination button 3 which is slightly less frequently used, between the custom button 3A and the destination button 3B, which are similar function buttons constituting these, and when the respective buttons are pressed, the function of these buttons starts. A rib 3C that hits before is disposed. For example, if the height of the custom button 3A and the destination button 3B is 2 mm and the height of the rib 3C is 1.2 mm, the custom button 3
If the start of the function operation of A and the destination button 3B is set at the time of pressing 1 mm, when these ribs 3C hit the custom button 3A and the destination button 3B, only 0.8 mm is pressed. Rib 3C even if these buttons are pressed due to external obstacles, etc.
There is no erroneous operation due to the presence of.

Further, the custom button 3A and the destination button 3 which are arranged at a distant position above the execution key 4 (in the drawing).
As for B, since the thumb is often extended and used, both the custom button 3A and the destination button 3B arranged above and below (on the drawing) are pressed by the tip of the thumb and the abdomen. I was worried, but as mentioned above,
Due to the presence of the rib 3C, it is possible to easily recognize that the tip side of the abutting thumb is the custom button 3A and the base side is the destination button 3B, and the touch of the rib 3C does not abut the front side destination button 3B. It is also possible to easily grasp the operation without visually observing it.

As shown in FIG. 3, drafts are formed on the function buttons arranged around the execution key 4. Joystick 4 which is a cursor key around the execution key 4
B is arranged to form the execution button 4, and the execution button 4 is arranged at a portion where the thumb is located (slightly in front of the center of the body of the remote controller 1) while the remote controller 1 body is naturally gripped. It Draft slopes 5D and 5E are formed on the menu key 5A and the return button 5B arranged on the front side (downward in the drawing) of the execution button 4. Since the contact area of the button with the finger increases due to the presence of these inclined surfaces, these functions arranged on the peripheral portion of the execution key 4 on the abdomen of the thumb with the tip of the thumb still positioned on the execution button 4. It becomes possible to easily press the button. The menu button 5 is formed in an arc shape so as to surround the execution button 4, and has a larger contact area with a finger.

The brightness button 7 and the tilt button 8 shown in FIG. 5 are function buttons that are infrequently used and are convenient, and are arranged at the farthest positions where it is difficult to operate them with the thumb. The brightness button 7 increases the screen brightness + (plus) button 7A and decreases the screen brightness − (minus).
The button 7B and the button 7B are arranged vertically. The brightness button 7 and the tilt button 8 are formed at substantially the same height, and are formed lower than other function buttons. + Button 7A
The ribs 7C and 7D are formed on the upper side and on the lower side of the-button 7B, respectively, and in addition to improving the discriminating power from the tilt button 8, differentiation between the + button 7A and the-button 7B can be realized and the brightness can be improved. Adjustment can be easily done without relying on visual inspection.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the navigation remote controller according to the present invention. The function buttons are surrounded by (in the example shown, at least three sides are surrounded, but an appropriate 2
(Although sides etc. are also possible), it is characterized by arranging a rib that abuts before the start of the function of the button when the button is pressed. For example, the tilt buttons 8 are arranged on three sides around the tilt buttons 8 so as to be substantially equal to the height of the tilt buttons 8 or to be surrounded by ribs 9 that abut before the tilt buttons 8 start to function. With such a configuration, when the remote controller 1 is left with the operation surface facing down, even if the function button is pressed for some reason, the function operation is not unnecessarily started.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the shapes of the function buttons and the arrangement of the function buttons (provided that the frequency of use is about the same) are within the scope of the spirit of the present invention. It may be arranged on any side with respect to the execution key.In addition, a combination structure of a pair of function buttons having similar functions, for example, concentric circles, operation form (pressing is the main form, but sliding and rotating are also possible. Yes), height difference formation (in addition to dimensional difference, height difference that gives a different feel by sticking different materials, etc.), draft formation (planar gradient as well as curved surface discrimination by curvature difference) (Applying force, etc.), formation of ribs for identification (identification by the number of small circular ribs in addition to rectangular ribs, and in some cases it is also possible to use concave grooves instead of ribs), erroneous pressing Form of ribs for prevention (adjacent to each other) In addition to arranging ribs only between similar function buttons, a flat E-shaped rib surrounds both sides of each button and two sides adjacent to each other with one corner of the button sandwiched, and each three sides of similar function buttons that are adjacently arranged. Can be appropriately selected.

[0017]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in the navigation remote controller having various function buttons arranged on the surface, the function buttons which are frequently used are arranged around the execution key. The function buttons that are frequently used can be placed in a position that can be reached by natural finger operation, which is excellent in operability.In addition, by recognizing that the position is different depending on the frequency of use, it is possible to prevent accidental pressing and ease of use. improves. In addition, since the function buttons that are used more frequently are formed higher from the surface of the remote controller, the position where the function buttons are arranged can be easily grasped, and erroneous pressing can be prevented and usability is improved.

Further, when a draft is formed on the function buttons arranged in the peripheral portion of the execution key, the contact area of the button with the finger increases, so that the thumb of the execution button should be left on the execution button. It is possible to easily press these function buttons arranged around the execution key on the abdomen of the mouse, and the operability is improved. Furthermore, if similar function buttons are placed adjacent to each other and the one with the higher frequency of use is formed higher, the identification performance is improved because the button with the higher frequency of use is also similar among the similar function buttons. In addition, erroneous pressing is prevented and usability is improved. In addition, when ribs are formed on different parts of the adjacent similar function buttons, in addition to improving the discriminating power, erroneous operation in function operation is prevented.

Further, if ribs are provided between the adjacent similar function buttons before the start of the function of these buttons at the time of pressing, there is a risk of erroneous operation even if the buttons are pressed by an external obstacle or the like. Moreover, each of the similar function buttons can be easily identified without observing it by the part of the thumb that abuts against the rib, and no mistaken operation is performed. Furthermore, when a rib that abuts before the function starts when the button is pressed is arranged around the function button, when the remote control is left with the operation surface facing down,
Even if the function button is pressed for some reason, the function operation is not unnecessarily started. As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a car navigation remote controller which is excellent in operability and which enables the user to operate the function operation button without fail without paying attention to the remote control while surely identifying the function operation button. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a navigation remote controller of the present invention, and is a plan view and a side view of the remote controller.

FIG. 2 is a plan view and a side view of a wide area / detail button and a custom / purpose button.

FIG. 3 is a plan view and a side view of an execution button and a menu button of the same.

FIG. 4 is a plan view and a side view of the map / current position button.

FIG. 5 is a plan view and a side view of the brightness and tilt button of the same.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of a navigation remote controller according to the present invention, and is a plan view and a sectional view of a main part.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a conventional remote controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 remote control 2 Wide area / Detail button 2A wide area display 2B Detailed display section 2C operation rib 3 Custom / Destination Button 3A custom button 3B Destination button 4 Run button 4A Run key 4B Cursor key (joystick) 5 Menu button 5A Menu key 5B Back button 5C rib 6 map button 6A Current location button 6B map button 6C rib 7 Brightness button 7A + button 7B-button 7C rib 7D rib 8 Tilt button 9 three-way ribs

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A navigation remote controller having various function buttons arranged on the front surface thereof, wherein the frequently used function buttons are arranged around an execution key. 2. A navigation remote controller having various function buttons arranged on the surface thereof, wherein a function button that is used more frequently is formed higher from the surface of the remote controller. 3. The navigation remote controller according to claim 1, wherein a draft is formed in the function buttons arranged around the execution key. 4. The navigation remote controller according to claim 1, wherein ribs are formed on different portions of each of the adjacent similar function buttons. 5. The navigation remote controller according to claim 1, further comprising a rib around the function button, the rib being in contact with the function button before the button starts functioning.