JP2005149605A - Electronic device, guidance display method of operator, program of electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to obtain user-friendliness like an originally equipped function even for a changed function, by applying an electronic device, a guidance display method for an operator, and a program of the electronic device to for instance car audio equipment and effectively evade users confusion. <P>SOLUTION: By making the guidance of functions of operators 27B and 27C to be displayed by electronic paper 23, the functions of the operators 27B and 27C are changed by change of whole functions by change of a program in a controller, and at the same time, the display of the functions of the operators 27B and 27C by the electronic paper 23 are changed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, an operator guidance display method, and an electronic device program, and can be applied to, for example, a car audio device. In the present invention, the function guide of the operator is displayed by electronic paper, the function of the operator is changed by changing the overall function by changing the program in the controller, and the function of the operator by electronic paper is changed. By changing the display, it is possible to effectively avoid the user's confusion and to obtain the user-friendliness of the changed function like the function originally provided.

  In recent years, various electronic devices have been provided which can change functions as needed. That is, for example, in a car audio device, a device capable of adding audio equipment such as a CD changer is provided. In such a car audio device, a program related to a controller that controls the overall operation is changed. The function to control the added audio equipment can be added.

  Conventionally, in an electronic device in which such a function can be changed, an operation by the user is accepted by selecting a menu on the menu screen, and the menu on the menu screen is changed to correspond to the change in the function. A user operation related to the changed function is accepted.

  However, in this type of electronic device, there are also operations that are frequently used in relation to the changed functions, and if such operations are executed by selecting a menu, there is a problem that the usability is significantly deteriorated. In particular, such menus are generally formed in a hierarchical structure, so that it is necessary for the user to select the desired menu by sequentially following the hierarchical structure while checking the screen. In an in-vehicle device such as an audio device, it also hinders safe driving.

  On the other hand, with respect to functions originally provided, usability can be improved by accepting frequently used operations by an operator provided on the operation panel. With regard to functions that have been changed in this way, operations that are frequently used are accepted by the operation of the operator, and it is possible to improve the operability of the functions that have been changed accordingly, like the functions that are originally provided. . However, if the operation of the function changed in this way is accepted by the operation of the operator, the display for guiding the function of the operator provided on the operation panel is different from the actual function of the operator. Therefore, there is a risk that the user will be confused and the usability will be worsened.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-277907 proposes to provide information acquired from a network or the like by so-called electronic paper.
JP 2002-277907 A

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and it is possible to effectively avoid the user's confusion, and with regard to a changed function, an electronic device and an operation element that can be used as in the original function The information display method and electronic device program are proposed.

  In order to solve this problem, in the first aspect of the invention, the controller is applied to an electronic device that receives a user's operation by the operator, and the function of the operator is displayed by electronic paper provided on the operation panel of the operator. The function of the operator is changed by changing the entire function by changing the program in Fig. 2, and the display of the function of the operator by electronic paper is changed.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, the present invention is applied to a guidance display method for an operator that accepts an operation by a user, the function of the operator is displayed by electronic paper provided on the operation panel of the operator, and the program in the controller is changed. By changing the overall function, the function of the operator is changed and the display of the function of the operator by electronic paper is changed.

  Further, in the invention of claim 4, the operation is applied to the program of the electronic device that changes the function of the electronic device by installing the electronic device that accepts the user's operation by the operator so as to correspond to the change of the function. A function change step for changing the function of the child and changing the display of the function of the operator by electronic paper is provided.

  According to the configuration of the first aspect, the present invention is applied to an electronic device that accepts a user's operation by the operation element, and the function of the operation element is displayed by electronic paper provided on the operation panel of the operation element. Change the function of the controller by changing the function, and change the display of the function of the controller on the electronic paper so that the display of the function of the controller does not differ from the function of the actual controller. The operation related to the entire function can be accepted by the operation of the operator, effectively avoiding the confusion of the user, and with regard to the changed function, it is possible to obtain the usability like the function originally provided.

  Thus, according to the configurations of claims 3 and 4, guidance display of the operator that can effectively avoid the confusion of the user and can obtain the user-friendliness like the function originally provided with respect to the changed function. Methods and electronic device programs can be provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively avoid the user's confusion with respect to the changed function, and to obtain the user-friendliness like the function originally provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

(1) Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a car audio apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention together with related configurations. The car audio device 1 controls the operation of the CD changer 3 housed in the trunk room by the main body device 2 in response to an operation by the user, thereby making a desired compact disc from a plurality of compact discs held by the CD changer 3. Can be played selectively to enjoy music. The car audio apparatus 1 is configured such that the music source can be added as necessary, and the optical disc player 4 is prepared as the music source that can be added.

  For this reason, the car audio device 1 is provided with the original function of controlling the operation of the CD changer 3 so that music can be enjoyed. A function for enjoying music by the player 4 can be added.

  For this reason, the CD changer 3 holds a plurality of compact discs, and selects and reproduces the compact discs designated by the user from the plurality of compact discs under the control of the main unit 2, and the audio data as the reproduction result is reproduced from the main unit. Output to 2.

  That is, in the CD changer 3, the mechanical unit 5 selects a compact disc designated by the user from a plurality of compact discs held by the CD changer 3 under the control of the controller 6, and conveys the compact disc to a predetermined drive unit. This compact disc is driven to be reproducible. Further, the optical pickup is sought by the control of the controller 6 with respect to the compact disc held in the drive unit in this way, thereby performing processing such as music feeding. In addition, under the same control of the controller 6, the compact disc held in the drive unit in this way is conveyed to the original storage position.

  The audio circuit 7 processes the reproduction signal output from the optical pickup provided in the drive unit, thereby reproducing the audio data recorded on the compact disc and outputting it to the main unit 2.

  The controller 6 is a computer that executes a processing program recorded in a memory, and controls the operation of the mechanical unit 5 and the audio circuit 7 in response to the control of the main body device 2. As a result, in the CD changer 3, the compact disc to be reproduced is switched under the control of the main unit 2, and further, processing such as song feeding can be executed.

  On the other hand, the optical disc player 4 is a playback device capable of playing back a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory). The optical disc player 4 is connected to the main unit 2 and is loaded by the user under the control of the main unit 2. The audio data recorded in the ROM is reproduced and output to the main unit 2.

  That is, in the optical disc player 4, the mechanical unit 9 sets the CD-ROM loaded by the user so as to be reproducible under the control of the controller 10, and seeks the optical pickup to the CD-ROM set in this way. Further, this CD-ROM is ejected.

  The audio circuit 11 processes the reproduction signal output from the optical pickup provided in the drive unit, thereby reproducing the audio data recorded on the CD-ROM and outputting it to the main unit 2.

  The controller 10 is a computer that executes a processing program recorded in a memory (not shown), and controls the operation of the mechanical unit 9 and the audio circuit 11 in response to the control of the main body device 2. As a result, the optical disc player 4 can execute processing such as switching the music to be reproduced under the control of the main unit 2.

  The main unit 2 controls the operations of the CD changer 3 and the optical disc player 4 in response to a user operation, and provides audio data output from the CD changer 3 and the optical disc player 4 to the user.

  That is, in the main unit 2, the interface (IF) 14 inputs audio data output from the CD changer 3 and the optical disc player 4 and outputs the audio data to the audio circuit 15, and the audio circuit 15 outputs the audio data output from the interface 14. Based on the data, the speaker 17 is driven by the volume or the like according to an instruction from the controller 16. As a result, the main unit 2 can provide the user with music based on the audio data reproduced by the CD changer 3 and the optical disc player 4.

  The interface (IF) 21 inputs and outputs control data and the like between the CD changer 3 and the optical disc player 4 under the control of the controller 16. Thus, the main unit 2 can control the operations of the CD changer 3 and the optical disc player 4 through the interface 21.

  The display unit 25 is formed of a liquid crystal display panel, and displays various menu screens related to the car audio device 1, for example. The operation unit 26 is formed by a touch panel provided on the display screen of the display unit 25 and various operators provided on the operation panel of the main body device 2. The electronic paper 23 is provided on the operation panel of the main body device 2, and displays a function guide of the operation element of the operation unit 26 provided on the operation panel under the control of the controller 24.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 1A, in the main body device 2, for example, an electronic paper 23 is attached to the front surface of the operation panel 28 made of a metal plate, and a liquid crystal display is formed in a rectangular area formed on the operation panel 28. A display unit 25 is formed by a panel, and various pressing operators 26A to 26F and rotary operators 27A to 27C are provided on the operation panel 28.

  The press operators 26A to 26F and the rotary operators 27A to 27C are assigned operation functions such as source switching and volume, respectively. The electronic paper 23 is illustrated in FIG. 1 (B1) by taking the rotary operators 27B and 27C as an example. As shown in (), guidance of the function of each operator is displayed. FIG. 1 (B1) shows a case where only the CD changer 3 is connected to the main unit 2. The direction in which the track number increases and the track number are set for the rotary operator 27B. The function of switching the track corresponding to one song is assigned in the decreasing direction, the display of the function of switching the track in the direction of increasing this track number (Track +), the display of the function of switching the track in the direction of decreasing the track number (Track-) is executed by the electronic paper 23. Further, a function for switching a compact disc that is a reproduction target in a direction in which the disk number increases and a direction in which the disk number decreases is assigned to the rotary operator 27C, and the reproduction target in the direction in which the disk number increases is assigned. The electronic paper 23 displays a function display (Disc +) for switching and a function display (Disc-) for switching the reproduction target in the direction of decreasing the disc number.

  In the main device 2, an interface (IF) 18 is an interface based on USB (Universal Serial Bus), RS232C, or the like. Thus, the main unit 2 can be connected to a personal computer (PC) 19 or the like.

  The controller 16 is a computer that controls the overall operation of the car audio device 1. Each unit of the main body device 2, the CD changer 3, and the optical disk responds to the operation of the operation unit 26 by executing a program recorded in a memory (not shown). A control command is output to the player 4. As a result, the car audio apparatus 1 can test the desired content by controlling the operations of the CD changer 3 and the optical disk player 4 in response to an operation by the user.

  In this processing, when the display of the menu screen is instructed by the user, the controller 16 displays a menu screen having a hierarchical structure on the display unit 25 under the control of the display unit 25. Further, in response to a user operation on this menu screen, a lower-level menu screen or the like is displayed, and each unit is instructed to switch operations. Similarly, the operation unit 26 is operated to instruct each unit to switch operations.

  On the other hand, when the personal computer 19 is connected via the interface 18 and a program is provided from the personal computer 19, the controller 16 updates the program held in the memory by this program.

  That is, in this embodiment, a server 29 is provided on the Internet 20 for the car audio apparatus 1 and a home page is provided by a predetermined URL (Uniform Resource Locator). Here, this URL is notified when the optical disc player 4 is purchased. This homepage provides a program necessary for changing the functions of the car audio device 1 with the addition of the optical disc player 4, and this program is provided from this homepage by accessing this homepage and selecting the corresponding program. In addition, this program update process is instructed.

  Thus, when the program is downloaded to the personal computer 19, the controller 16 uploads the program from the personal computer 19 according to the description on the homepage, and records the program by overwriting in the memory in which the program has been recorded. ing. When the program provided from the personal computer 19 is recorded in the memory in this way, the controller 16 executes a reset process by this program and installs this program.

  By this process, the controller 16 is set to be able to control the added optical disk player 4. That is, by this processing, the controller 16 updates the menu screen displayed on the display unit 25 so as to correspond to the addition of the optical disc player 4. In addition, the function assignment to each operation element is updated, and thereby the user interface is updated so that the user can operate the added optical disk player 4 as well.

  In this update of the user interface, the controller 16 instructs the controller 24 to draw the electronic paper 23 with the drawing data included in the processing program, whereby the function of the car audio apparatus 1 by adding such an optical disk player 4 is instructed. The function display of each operator on the electronic paper 23 is changed so as to correspond to the function of each operator changed corresponding to the change.

  That is, in this case, in the example shown in FIG. 1 (B2), the controller 16 is further connected to the optical disc player 4 with respect to the rotary operators 27B and 27C to which the switching function of the track and compact disc in the CD changer 3 has been assigned. A function of switching between tracks and folders is added, whereby the functions related to the rotary operators 27B and 27C are changed to correspond to the addition of the optical disc player 4. Further, the display of the function related to the rotary operator 27C is changed so as to correspond to the addition of the function in the rotary operators 27B and 27C. In the display of the rotary operator 27C, it is displayed that the operation target is a disk or a folder.

  Note that the controller 16 changes the functions of the other operation elements in addition to these rotary operation elements 27B and 27C, for example, for the source switching operation required due to the addition of the optical disk player 4, and the operation The content display is changed.

(2) Operation of the embodiment In the above configuration, in the car audio apparatus 1, the function of each operation element provided on the operation panel 28 is displayed for each operation element by the display of the electronic paper 23. In this case, it is possible to select and operate the operation element with certainty by the display on the electronic paper.

  In the car audio apparatus 1, the operation of the operation element that displays the function by the electronic paper 23 is detected by the controller 16, and the CD changer 3 operates by controlling the operation of the CD changer 3 by the controller 16. The compact disc is played back and the audio data is input to the main unit 2 and output from the speaker 17. Further, for example, when the user operates the rotary operation element 27B, the controller 16 instructs the CD changer 3 to perform track jump in the direction in which the track number increases or decreases in the track number for the currently reproduced track. In response to this, track jump processing is executed by the CD changer 3, so that operations such as music feed can be executed by operating the rotary operator 27 </ b> B. When the rotary operation element 27C is operated, the compact disk replacement by this operation is instructed from the controller 16 to the CD changer 3, so that the compact disk currently being reproduced is returned to the original storage position in the CD changer 3. The compact disk stored and corresponding to the amount of operation of the rotary operation element 27C is transported and reproduced, whereby an operation related to switching of the compact disk can be executed by operating the rotary operation element 27C.

  On the other hand, when an additional optical disk player 4 is added, the optical disk player 4 is connected to the main unit 2. Further, by connecting a personal computer 19 to the interface 18 of the main unit 2 and accessing a homepage related to the optical disc player 4 by the personal computer 19, a program necessary for adding the optical disc player 4 is provided from this homepage. .

  In this car audio apparatus 1, the program provided from this homepage is stored by overwriting in the memory that holds the program that has been used for the processing of the controller 16 until then, and this program is installed by a subsequent reset. Accordingly, the program is set so that the CD changer 3 and the optical disc player 4 can be controlled in correspondence with the addition of the optical disc player 4. As a result, in the car audio apparatus 1, the functions of the respective controls that are set so as to correspond to the operation of only the CD changer 3 are updated so that the optical disc player 4 can be operated. The menu screen displayed on the display unit 25 is also updated so that the optical disc player 4 can be operated.

  Thus, in the car audio device 1, even if the function is changed due to the addition, a new function related to the change can be selected by operating the operation element, thereby assigning frequently used operations to the operation of the operation element. , User convenience is improved.

  In this way, when the assignment of the function to the operator is updated, the car audio device 1 installs the program to the controller 24 of the electronic paper 23 so as to correspond to the update of the function. Drawing is instructed from the controller 16, thereby changing the display of the function provided in each operator so as to correspond to the change in the function of the operator. As a result, the user can operate the operator whose function is changed in this way by checking the function by the changed display. As a result, the car audio device 1 can use the functions related to such a change as if they were originally provided in the car audio device 1, thereby effectively avoiding user confusion. As for the changed function, the user-friendliness like the function originally provided can be obtained.

(3) Effects of the embodiment According to the above configuration, the function of the operator is displayed by electronic paper, and the function of the operator is changed by changing the entire function by changing the program in the controller. At the same time, by changing the display of the function of the operator using the electronic paper, it is possible to effectively avoid the user's confusion and obtain the convenience of the changed function, such as the originally provided function.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case has been described in which the display of electronic paper is switched by a program related to expansion, and this program is acquired from the network. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is acquired from various recording media. In this case, it may be obtained from an additional optical disc player. In such a recording medium, various recording media such as a memory card, an optical disk player, and an optical disk that can be reproduced by a CD changer can be widely applied.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the audio device by the optical disk player is added has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to the case where the audio device by the CD changer is added. The present invention can also be widely applied when removing such an audio device once added.

  Further, in the above-described embodiments, the case where the display by electronic paper is switched for the change of function due to the change of the external device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the function of the operator is changed by changing the function of the main body device itself. And the display of the electronic paper may be switched so as to correspond to the change in the function of the operator.

  In the above-described embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to a car audio device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is widely applied to various electronic devices such as various audio devices and video devices. be able to.

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, a car audio device.

It is a top view which shows the operation panel of the main body apparatus of the car audio apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the car audio apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Car audio apparatus, 2 ... Main body apparatus, 3 ... CD changer, 4 ... Optical disk player, 6, 10, 16 ... Controller, 23 ... Disciple paper, 26A-26F, 27A-27C ... Operation Child

Claims (4)

In an electronic device that accepts a user's operation with an operator,
Display the function of the operator by electronic paper provided on the operation panel of the operator,
By changing the overall function by changing the program in the controller,
The electronic device, wherein the function of the operator is changed and the display of the function of the operator by the electronic paper is changed. The electronic device is a car audio device;
The change in the overall function is the addition of a function for controlling another newly connected audio device,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the change of the function of the operator is an addition of a function of operating the other newly connected audio device. In the guidance display method of the operator that accepts the operation by the user,
Display the function of the operator by electronic paper provided on the operation panel of the operator,
By changing the overall function by changing the program in the controller,
A method for displaying guidance for an operator, wherein the function of the operator is changed, and the display of the function of the operator on the electronic paper is changed. In the program of the electronic device that changes the function of the electronic device by installing the electronic device on the electronic device that receives the user's operation by the operator,
An electronic device program comprising: a function change step of changing the function of the operator so as to correspond to the change of the function and changing the display of the function of the operator by the electronic paper.

Images