JP2003344087A - Car navigation apparatus, image displaying method therein, program for image displaying method, and recording medium recording the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the display of a car navigation apparatus easier to see than a conventional one by adopting this image displaying method in the car navigation apparatus to the display of a map for example. <P>SOLUTION: Portable terminal equipment 4 for information is utilized for the display of information, and information relating to the map to be displayed on the side of a body 3 is displayed by the terminal equipment 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car navigation device, an image display method in a car navigation device, a program of the image display method, and a recording medium recording the program of the image display method, and can be applied to, for example, display of a map. it can. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, the information portable terminal device is used for displaying information, and the information relating to the map displayed on the main body side is displayed on the information portable terminal device, so that the display can be made easier to see than before. To

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in car navigation systems, various measures have been taken to display maps and the like so that various kinds of information can be reliably transmitted using a limited display screen. There is.

That is, in the car navigation system, a map is displayed so that it can be used for route guidance to a destination. For example, by displaying this map in a bird's eye view, the map can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner. . In addition, such a bird's-eye view is used to form a child screen on a detailed map display to display a wide area map so that the current position can be easily grasped. In addition, the current direction of travel is also displayed, and when used for directions, information about various road conditions such as the driving lane classification (lane guide) and signals is displayed. There is.

In such a car navigation system, RGB is used as a display device for such a display.
A dedicated display device by input and a display device by composite video signal input can be connected, and two video output terminals are provided corresponding to these display devices, whichever display device is connected. , Display screens with the same contents can be displayed.

On the other hand, as an information device related to such user movement, a PDA (Personal Digital
There are portable information terminal devices such as Assisiants). The PDA is designed to be small and lightweight so that it can be carried and used not only when moving by vehicle but also when walking or by public transportation. It is designed to be able to convey information.

[0006]

By the way, the car navigation device has a drawback that it is difficult to enlarge the display screen by disposing the car navigation device in a limited space in the car. As a result, in the car navigation device, even if the display is devised variously as described above, there is a problem that the display is hard to see after all.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and is capable of making the display easier to see than in the past, an image display method in the car navigation device, an image display method program, and an image display. An attempt is made to propose a recording medium in which the method program is recorded.

[0008]

In order to solve such a problem, the invention of claim 1 is applied to a car navigation device, and when it is difficult to send and receive data to and from a portable information terminal device through an interface, a map Display the image of and the sub image by the information related to the map on the display device,
When data can be transmitted / received to / from the portable information terminal device through the interface, a sub image is displayed on the portable information terminal device.

Further, according to the invention of claim 6, when it is difficult to transmit and receive data to and from the portable information terminal device by applying the image display method in the car navigation device, the map image and the information related to the map are used. A step of displaying the sub image on the display device and a step of displaying the sub image on the mobile information terminal device when data can be transmitted and received to and from the mobile information terminal device are provided.

Further, in the invention of claim 7, when it is difficult to send and receive data to and from the portable information terminal device by applying it to the program of the image display method, a sub image based on the map image and the information related to the map is displayed. And a step of displaying the image on the display device and a step of displaying the sub image on the mobile information terminal device when data can be transmitted and received to and from the mobile information terminal device.

According to the invention of claim 8, the image display method program is applied to a recording medium in which it is difficult to send and receive data to and from the portable information terminal device. , A step of displaying a map image and a sub image based on information related to the map on the display device, and displaying the sub image on the mobile information terminal device when data can be transmitted / received to / from the mobile information terminal device. And the steps to do so.

According to the structure of claim 1, when it is applied to the car navigation device and it is difficult to send and receive data to and from the portable information terminal device due to the interface, the sub image based on the map image and the information related to the map is added. When the image is displayed on the display device and the data can be transmitted / received to / from the mobile information terminal device through the interface, the user carries the mobile information terminal device by displaying the sub image on the mobile information terminal device. In this case, the sub-image can be displayed using this portable information terminal. As a result, the display device can stop the display of the sub-image and display only the map image if necessary, and thus the display can be made easier to see than in the past.

As a result, claim 6, claim 7, claim 8
According to the configuration, the image display method in the car navigation device that makes the display easier to see than the conventional method,
An image display method program and a recording medium recording the image display method program can be provided.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

(1) Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a car navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with related configurations. This car navigation device 1 acquires current position information in a main body device 2 installed under a seat, a trunk or the like, and based on this current position information or the like, displays a map or the like on a liquid crystal display device 3 arranged on a dashboard. indicate. As a result, the car navigation device 1 can display directions and the like.

In this car navigation device 1, a connector is further provided on the side of the liquid crystal display device 3, and the PDA 4 can be directly or indirectly connected via this connector. Ie PD
When the A4 is directly connected, the PDA 4 and this connector are connected by a cable so that the PDA 4 can be connected to the liquid crystal display device 3. When connecting indirectly, the cable of the cradle 5 is connected to this connector, and the PDA 4 is set in this cradle 5, so that the PDA 4 can be connected to the liquid crystal display device 3. Accordingly, in the car navigation device 1, the liquid crystal display device 3
The PDA 4 is connected via the PDA 4 and various display functions of the PDA 4 are used. Further, in order to utilize the display function of the PDA 4 as described above, by connecting the PDA 4 to the main body device 2 via the liquid crystal display device 3, it is possible to simplify the installation of the cable used for the connection.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the PDA 4. Interface (I / F) on PDA4
11 is an interface of the memory card 12,
When the memory card 12 is mounted in the memory card slot formed on the PDA 4, the central processing unit (CP
U) Under the control of 20, the data recorded in the memory card 12 is read out and output to the bus BUS.
The data output to the US is recorded in the memory card 12.

Digital-analog conversion circuit (D / A) 1
3 is a bus BUS under the control of the central processing unit 20.
The audio data input via the digital-analog conversion is performed, and the speaker 14 is driven by the audio signal based on the analog signal obtained as a result. As a result, the PDA 4 can listen to the music recorded in the memory card 12, and can also provide the user with various voice messages.

The LCD control circuit 16 drives the liquid crystal display panel 15 under the control of the central processing unit 20 to display various images. The touch panel 17 is the liquid crystal display panel 1.
5, the touch panel control circuit 18 is arranged on the front side of
The operation of the touch panel 17 is detected and the central processing unit 20 is notified. This allows the PDA 4 to display various images, menus, etc., and detect menu selections, etc.

The interface (I / F) 21 is an interface with the car navigation device 1, and when the PDA 4 is set in the cradle 5 or is connected to the connector of the liquid crystal display device 3 via a cable. Various data and commands input from the liquid crystal display device 3 are output to the bus BUS. The central processing unit 20 is a controller that controls the operation of the PDA 4, and a random access memory (RAM) 22.
Secure a work area for read-only memory (RO
M) The various processing procedures recorded in 23 are executed. By executing this processing procedure, the central processing unit 20 records a memo or the like by handwritten characters input via the touch panel 17 and can display the memo thus recorded. Also, for example, a personal computer can be connected so that various data can be downloaded from the personal computer, and conversely, data can be uploaded. Further, the data downloaded in this manner can display a map, an electronic mail, a text and the like.

In these processes, when the PDA 4 is directly or indirectly connected to the liquid crystal display device 3 and the car navigation device 1 gives an instruction to switch the operation mode, the central processing unit 20 performs the cradle 5 operation.
The entire operation is controlled so as to display an image based on the image data input via. In addition, the car navigation device 1 selects the menu by operating the touch panel 17.
To notify. As a result, the PDA 4 can be used as an auxiliary display device and an input device of the car navigation device 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the car navigation device 1. In the car navigation device 1, the communication device 30 is connected to the Internet via a mobile telephone network to acquire data such as a homepage, under the control of a sub central processing unit (sub CPU) 33, and the data is processed by the sub central processing. Notify the unit 33. The remote commander (remote control) 31 is a remote control device of the car navigation device 1, and the remote control light receiving unit 32 receives an infrared remote control signal transmitted from the remote commander 31 and outputs the reception result to the sub central processing unit. Notify 33.

Under the control of the sub central processing unit 33, the GPS device 34 detects the current position by receiving and processing the radio waves from the satellite obtained via the GPS antenna 35, and the data of this current position is detected by the sub device. Notify the central processing unit 33.

The sub-central processing unit 33 is connected to the remote commander 31 by the user via the peripheral controller 37.
Operation of the main central processing unit (main CPU) 40
To notify. The operation of the GPS device 34 is controlled by the control of the main central processing unit 40 via the peripheral control device 37, and the data of the current position is acquired. The data of the current position thus obtained is corrected by the vehicle speed pulse P obtained from the vehicle, and the current position is corrected according to the movement of the vehicle. Further, the sub central processing unit 33 notifies the peripheral control device 37 of the data of the current position obtained in this way, and outputs it to the optical disc device 36 as necessary. In addition, the sub central processing unit 33
Controls the operation of the communication device 30 according to an instruction from the main central processing unit 40, acquires data such as a homepage, and outputs the data to the peripheral control device 37. Further, by the same control of the main central processing unit 40, from the controller of the vehicle in which the car navigation device 1 is mounted,
Data of various vehicles such as vehicle speed, remaining amount of fuel, and travel distance are acquired and notified to the main central processing unit 40.

The optical disk device 36 is the peripheral controller 3
7. Under the control of the sub central processing unit 33, the data recorded on the optical disc 38 is reproduced to reproduce the data in the peripheral controller 37.
Output to. As a result, in the car navigation device 1, the map data corresponding to the current position detected by the GPS device 34, the map data of the area instructed by the peripheral control device 37, and the data of various contents such as music and movies are read from the optical disc 38. It can be reproduced and output to the peripheral control device 37.

Digital-analog conversion circuit (D / A) 4
2 performs digital-analog conversion processing on audio data input via the peripheral control device 37, and drives the speaker 43 by an audio signal obtained as an analog signal. As a result, the car navigation device 1 can enjoy the music recorded on the optical disk 38, and can notify the user of various audio warnings.

The peripheral control device 37 is a controller for controlling the operation of the liquid crystal display device 3 and the like under the control of the main central processing unit 40, and the operation data of the remote commander 31 notified from the sub central processing unit 33 and the current position. Data of the main central processing unit 40
To notify. Further, according to an instruction from the main central processing unit 40, various images generated from video data and map data obtained by reproducing the optical disc 38 are displayed on the liquid crystal display device 3. As a result, the car navigation device 1 can display images of directions and the like, and can further reproduce the optical disc 38 to enjoy video contents.

In these controls, the peripheral controller 37 notifies the main central processing unit 40 of the connection of the PDA 4 when the connection of the PDA 4 to the liquid crystal display device 3 is detected. Further, by this notification, the video data output from the main central processing unit 40 is output to the PDA 4, and the menu selection information obtained from the PDA 4 is notified to the main central processing unit 40. As a result, the peripheral control device 37 also functions as an interface of the PDA 4. The peripheral control device 37
Is configured to monitor the logical value of a predetermined terminal of the connector to which the PDA4 is connected, and to detect the connection of the PDA4 by the logical value of this terminal which changes when the PDA4 is connected.

Under the control of the main central processing unit 40, the tuner 47 is a television program, an FM broadcast, an AM.
It receives a broadcast and outputs the video data and audio data of the received program.

The main central processing unit 40 is a controller for controlling the operation of the car navigation system 1, and secures a work area in the random access memory (RAM) 45 and records it in the read only memory (ROM) 46. The entire operation is controlled by executing. In this processing program,
It is provided by pre-installation, further downloaded via a network such as the Internet, and further provided by various recording media. Moreover, as such a recording medium, a recording medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magnetic tape or the like can be applied. By executing this processing program, the central processing unit 40 is configured to execute processing such as route guidance according to a user's instruction.

Therefore, in this embodiment,
In the car navigation device 1, the sub central processing unit 33, the GPS device 34, the optical disk device 36, the digital-analog conversion circuit 42, the peripheral control device 37, the main central processing unit 40, the random access memory 45, and the read-only memory 46 are the main device 2. It is designed to make up.

In the main central processing unit 40,
In this series of controls, when the connection of the PDA 4 is notified from the peripheral control device 37, the operation mode of the PDA 4 is switched and a predetermined menu screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 15 of the PDA 4. Also, the selection of a menu on this menu screen is detected via the peripheral control device 37, and in accordance with the selection of this menu, the information related to the display image displayed on the liquid crystal display device 3 is displayed on the PDA 4, and this is also displayed. Correspondingly, the display of the liquid crystal display device 3 is switched. As a result, in the car navigation device 1, P
When DA4 is connected, the liquid crystal display device 3
, And PDA 4 are assigned to the main monitor and the sub monitor, respectively.

FIG. 5 is a table showing the relationship of the images thus assigned to the liquid crystal display device 3 and the PDA 4. In the main central processing unit 40, when the PDA 4 is not connected and the user gives instructions such as route guidance by operating the remote commander 31,
As shown in FIG. 1A, a detailed map GM is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 3 in the form of a bird's-eye view. Furthermore, a child screen is formed on a part of this display, and the wide area map GS is displayed on this child screen.
Is displayed. Further, a traveling direction G1, a lane guide G2 indicating a traveling lane, a traveling distance, and a road guide G3 during traveling are displayed above the screen. Further, in the case of route guidance, information G4 relating to the course change is displayed at the bottom of the screen.

With the map thus displayed, the PDA
4 is connected, the main central processing unit 40 displays a wide area map, a lane guide,
Vehicle information, TV screen, traffic jam information, store information, song title display, PDA screen, WEB page, mail screen menu is displayed on PDA4 (Fig. 4), and PDA4, liquid crystal display corresponding to each menu selection The display of the device 3 is switched.

Here, for example, when the display of a wide area map is selected by the user, the display in FIG.
As shown in (B), the wide area map GS displayed on the main screen is displayed on the PDA 4. On the other hand, when the lane guide menu is selected, similarly, the lane guide G2 displayed on the main screen is displayed on the PDA 4. As a result, in the car navigation device 1, extra display on the main screen can be reduced, and the main screen can be made easier to see accordingly.

On the other hand, the main central processing unit 40
When the vehicle information menu is selected, displays the information such as the traveling speed and the remaining fuel amount acquired from the controller of this vehicle on the PDA 4. When the menu on the TV screen is selected, the video data obtained by the tuner 47 is displayed on the PDA 4. When the menu of traffic jam information is selected, the traffic information is acquired by connecting to a predetermined service providing station under the control of the communication device 30, and the traffic jam information is displayed on the PDA 4. When the menu of store information is selected, a series of sub-menu screens, a list of stores, and the like are displayed on the PDA 4, thereby notifying the user of information such as restaurants along the railway. When the song title display is selected, the song title being played is displayed on the PDA 4. On the other hand, when the menu on the PDA screen is selected, PDA4
The operation mode of is returned to the original operation mode, so that the PDA 4 can execute various processes by the original operation.

On the other hand, when the Web page menu is selected, the main screen display is switched to the home page display, and the HTML file acquired by the communication device 30 is displayed on the main screen. When the menu of the mail screen is selected, the display of the main screen is switched to the display of electronic mail, and the electronic mail obtained by connecting to the mail server by the communication device 30 and the electronic mail held in the PDA 4 are displayed on the main screen. . When the menu of the Web page or the mail screen is selected, the image of the map displayed on the main screen until then is displayed on the PDA 4.

In these displays, the main central processing unit 40 switches the display of the main screen when switching the display of the main screen when the current position changes due to the movement of the vehicle, etc. Switch the display. When traffic congestion information is displayed, new traffic congestion information is acquired at regular time intervals, and the sub-screen display is switched according to this traffic congestion information.

(2) Operation of the Embodiment With the above-described configuration, in this car navigation device 1, the map GM is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 3 by the user operating the remote commander 31, as in a normal car navigation device. And again this map GM
Wide area map GS and lane guide G2
Etc. are displayed (FIG. 1 (A)). On the other hand, when the user gives an instruction to watch the television program, the television program is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 3. When the user gives an instruction to listen to music, the speaker 43 provides audio data received by the tuner, music by audio data obtained by reproducing the optical disc 38, and the like.

In the car navigation system 1, when the user directly connects the PDA 4 which is an information portable terminal device to the liquid crystal display device 3 or indirectly through the cradle 5, the connection of the PDA 4 is performed through the peripheral control device 37. Is detected by the main central processing unit 40. In the car navigation device 1, by connecting the PDA4,
A menu screen is displayed on the PDA 4, and by selecting a predetermined menu on the menu screen, the liquid crystal display device 3 and the PDA 4 are set as the main monitor and the sub monitor, respectively, and a detailed map is displayed on the main monitor. In addition, sub-images related to this map, such as the lane guide G2 and the wide area map GS, are displayed on the sub monitor (FIG. 1 (B)).

As a result, this car navigation system 1
The display on the liquid crystal display device 3 can be neat, and only a map image can be displayed due to its large area, which makes the screen easier to see than in the past. .

On the other hand, when a menu such as vehicle information or traffic jam information, which is a display menu of such related information, is selected, corresponding information is displayed on the PDA 4. As a result, in the car navigation device 1, it is possible to provide the user with more useful information for various driving without switching the display on the liquid crystal display device 3 at all. By the way, if you try to display such information on the main screen,
Furthermore, the display becomes more difficult to see. As a result, the car navigation device 1 can make the display on the main screen easy to see even when other information useful for driving is displayed.

When the PDA 4 is connected and used for display in this manner, the car navigation system 1
A connector for connection is provided in the liquid crystal display device 3, and the PDA 4 is connected to the main body device 2 via the liquid crystal display device 3. As a result, in this car navigation device 1, the installation of the cable used for connection can be simplified.

That is, when a connection cable for connecting the PDA 4 and the main body apparatus 2 is separately provided, the main body apparatus 2 may be arranged in the trunk room, and depending on the vehicle, the cable may be routed by about 7 [m]. You will need it. However, if a connector for connection is provided in the liquid crystal display device 3 and the main body device 2 and the PDA 4 are connected via the liquid crystal display device 3 as in this embodiment, such cable routing can be effectively avoided. be able to.

(3) Effects of the Embodiments According to the above configuration, the information portable terminal device is used for displaying information, and the information relating to the map displayed on the main body side is displayed on the information portable terminal device. The display can be made easier to see than in the past.

At this time, by connecting the portable information terminal device via the connector provided on the display device so that data can be exchanged, the installation of the cable used for the connection can be simplified.

When the portable information terminal device is connected to this connector and it is detected that data can be sent to and received from the portable information terminal device, the information portable terminal device is automatically used for displaying information. It is possible to improve the usability of the user.

Further, an operation on the portable information terminal device is detected through the interface, and in response to the detected operation, the display of the portable information terminal device is switched, and further, in association with the switching of the map image. By switching the display of the portable information terminal device, the information desired by the user can be appropriately provided.

(4) Other Embodiments In the above-mentioned embodiments, the case where the information related to the image of the map displayed on the main screen is displayed on the portable information terminal side has been described. Is not limited to this, and information other than these may be displayed together.

In the above embodiment, the PDA
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be connected by an interface such as wireless communication or infrared communication.

In the above embodiment, the case where the portable information terminal device is a PDA has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the display of the sub-screen can be performed by various portable information such as a mobile phone. A terminal device can be applied.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, the information portable terminal device is used for displaying information, and the information relating to the map displayed on the main body side is displayed on the information portable terminal device. In comparison, the display can be made easier to see.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a display screen in a car navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the car navigation device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the PDA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the car navigation device of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a chart showing a correspondence relationship between display screens.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Car navigation device, 2 ... Main device, 3 ...
... Liquid crystal display device, 4 ... PDA, 5 ... Cradle, 20, 33, 40 ... Central processing unit, 37 ...
... Peripheral control device

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kenji Kirigaya             6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Soni             -Inside the corporation F-term (reference) 2C032 HB22 HB25 HC02 HC08 HC24                       HC27 HD03 HD13                 2F029 AA02 AB07 AB13 AC02 AC09                       AC14 AC16                 5H180 AA01 BB12 BB13 FF05 FF07                       FF22 FF27 FF33 FF35 FF38

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A car navigation device for displaying a map image on at least a predetermined display device, comprising an interface capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from a portable information terminal device, and control means for controlling the operation of the display device. The control means displays an image of the map and a sub-image of information related to the map on the display device when data transmission / reception to / from the portable information terminal device is difficult due to the interface. A car navigation device, wherein the sub-image is displayed on the portable information terminal device when data can be transmitted and received to and from the portable information terminal device by the interface. 2. The car navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the portable information terminal device is connected in a data exchangeable manner through a connector provided on the display device. 3. The control means, by connecting the portable information terminal device to the connector,
The car navigation device according to claim 2, wherein it is detected that data can be transmitted and received to and from the portable information terminal device. 4. The control means detects an operation on the portable information terminal device via the interface, and switches the display of the portable information terminal device in response to the detected operation. The car navigation device according to claim 1. 5. The car navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit switches the display of the portable information terminal device in conjunction with the switching of the image of the map. 6. An image display method in a car navigation device for displaying a map image on at least a predetermined display device, the step of detecting that data can be transmitted and received to and from a portable information terminal device, and the portable information. When it is difficult to send and receive data to and from the terminal device, a step of displaying the image of the map and a sub image based on the information related to the map on the display device, and between the mobile information terminal device And a step of displaying the sub image on the portable information terminal device when data can be transmitted and received. 7. A program for an image display method in a car navigation device for displaying a map image on at least a predetermined display device, the step of detecting that data can be transmitted and received to and from a portable information terminal device, When it is difficult to send and receive data to and from the portable information terminal device, a step of displaying the image of the map and a sub image based on the information related to the map on the display device; And a step of displaying the sub-image on the portable information terminal device when data can be transmitted and received between them. 8. A recording medium in which a program for an image display method in a car navigation device that displays a map image on at least a predetermined display device is recorded, wherein the program for the image display method is a data file with a portable information terminal device. The step of detecting that it is possible to send and receive data, and when it is difficult to send and receive data to and from the portable information terminal device, the image of the map and a sub-image of information related to the map are displayed on the display device And a step of displaying the sub image on the portable information terminal device when data can be transmitted and received to and from the portable information terminal device. A recording medium on which is recorded.