JP2005292846A - Map display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map display device having good operability, in which frequency of a user checking a position of an inputting means at the time of his/her operation is decreased. <P>SOLUTION: As an inputting means, the device comprises a joy stick 2 capable of implementing three operations of tilting in a plurality of the predetermined directions (arrows 22a-22h), rotating around an axis line 20 (arrows 21a and 21b), and pressing in the direction of the axis line 20 (arrow 23). A command of scroll display of the map can be assigned to the operations of the joystick 2, and a rotation operation can be assigned to the change in scale. The number of switches of a remote control and an operation panel part can be made small as compared with a conventional technology. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a map display device such as a navigation device mounted on a vehicle.

  In addition to displaying the current position of the vehicle and the surrounding road map, a prior art in-vehicle navigation device having a plurality of navigation functions such as destination setting, map scale, route calculation, etc. is known (For example, see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.) These prior art navigation apparatuses include a joystick as an operation device, and the joystick can be tilted in a plurality of directions and pressed in an axial direction.

  In a multi-function navigation device having a joystick capable of performing only two operations, many operations cannot be assigned to the joystick. Therefore, a large number of icons for each function are displayed on the display means, or a large number of switches are required on the operation panel unit. . The navigation device having such a configuration is inconvenient because it is necessary to check the positions of icons and switches each time the user executes each function. In addition, the number of parts of the operation panel and the remote control increases.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-122876 JP-A-10-197263

In the navigation device, a map display is performed as a basic function. In the map display, in addition to the scroll operation for moving the display range, an operation for instructing to increase or decrease the scale of the map to be displayed is also required.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a map display device with good operability.

The present invention provides a map display device capable of displaying a map on a display means,
A first input for instructing scroll display of the map;
A map display device comprising: an input means capable of performing a second input for instructing to increase or decrease a scale of the map according to a rotation direction of a rotation operation.

  According to the invention, the map display device capable of displaying a map on the display means includes the input means. The input means can perform a first input for instructing the scroll display of the map and a second input for instructing to increase or decrease the scale of the map according to the rotation direction of the rotation operation. The user of the map display device can not only instruct the scroll display of the map by the first input to the input means, but also the scale operation according to the rotation direction of the rotation operation in the rotation operation as the second input. Can be instructed to increase or decrease. Since the input means can also input to change the scale of the map, when changing the scale of the map, there is no need to touch other input means other than the input means for instructing scroll display, such as a switch for switching the input mode, There is no need to search again. The frequency with which the user checks the position of the input means during operation is reduced, and the operability of the map display device can be improved.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a map display device capable of displaying a map on the display means.
Input means for instructing scroll display of the map;
A rotation detection unit for detecting a rotation operation of the input means;
A map display device comprising control means for increasing or decreasing a scale of the map according to a rotation direction of the rotation operation when the rotation detection unit detects a rotation operation of the input means. .

  According to the present invention, a map display device capable of displaying a map on the display means includes an input means and a control means for instructing a scroll display of the map, and has a rotation detection unit for detecting a rotation operation of the input means. When a rotation operation of the input unit is detected by the rotation detection unit, the control unit increases or decreases the scale of the map according to the rotation direction of the rotation operation. Since the input means for instructing the scroll display can also be rotated to change the scale of the map, other input means other than the input means for instructing the scroll display when changing the scale of the map, for example, a switch for switching the input mode There is no need to touch and search. Not only can the scroll display be instructed by the input means, but the scale can be increased or decreased in accordance with the rotation direction of the rotation operation, so that the operability of the map display device can be improved.

  According to the present invention, the scale of the map is increased in accordance with the clockwise rotation operation of the input means, and the scale of the map is decreased in accordance with the rotation operation of the input means in the counterclockwise direction. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, the scale of the map can be increased by a clockwise operation on the input means, and the map can be decreased by a counterclockwise rotation operation.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the scale of the map is determined according to the amount of rotation of the rotation operation.

  According to the present invention, the scale of the map can be determined according to the rotation amount of the rotation operation to the input means.

  In the present invention, the rotation detection unit may detect a rotation operation when the rotation state is maintained while the input unit is pressed.

  According to the present invention, when the user of the map display device performs a rotation operation while pressing the input means, the map scale is detected as a rotation operation for changing the scale of the map. You can avoid it. In addition, an instruction for only the rotation operation can be assigned to, for example, map rotation.

  In the present invention, scrolling in a predetermined direction is continued during the first input.

  According to the present invention, if the first input to the input unit is continued, scrolling in a predetermined direction can be continued, so that operability with respect to a scroll display instruction can be improved.

  According to the present invention, the user of the map display device can not only instruct scroll display of the map by the first input to the input means such as a joystick, but also can change the scale of the map by the rotation operation. Therefore, when changing the scale of the map, there is no need to touch other input means other than the input means for instructing the scroll display, such as a switch, and it is not necessary to search. The frequency with which the user checks the position of the input means during operation is reduced, and the operability of the map display device can be improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, the input means such as a joystick for instructing the scroll display of the map can be rotated by changing the scale of the map. Therefore, the input means other than the input means for instructing the scroll display when changing the scale of the map. There is no need to touch or search for other input means, such as switches. Not only can the scroll display be instructed by the input means, but the scale can be increased or decreased in accordance with the rotation direction of the rotation operation, so that the operability of the map display device can be improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to increase the scale of the map by rotating the input means in the clockwise direction and to reduce the scale of the map by rotating the counterclockwise.

  According to the present invention, the scale of the map can be determined according to the rotation amount of the rotation operation to the input means.

  Further, according to the present invention, when the user of the map display device performs a rotation operation while pressing the input means, it is detected as a rotation operation for changing the scale of the map. For example, it can be assigned to map rotation.

  Moreover, according to this invention, the 1st input to an input means can be continued and the scroll to a predetermined direction can be continued.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a navigation device 1 as a map display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a joystick 2 as an example of an input unit. It is a top view. A navigation device 1 mounted on a vehicle includes a navigation device main body 5 and a display 3 (display means).

  The navigation device body 5 includes a CD-ROM (compact disk-read only memory) drive 8, a map drawing unit 9, an operation detection unit 10, an operation panel unit 4, a video RAM 14, a video conversion unit 15, and a remote control light receiving unit 16. The map-only disc 6 is loaded in the CD-ROM drive 8 and the map data on the map-only disc 6 is read out. The CD-ROM drive 8 may be a DVD-ROM (digital versatile disk-read only memory) drive. The remote control light receiving unit 16 receives a command signal from the remote control 7 operated by the user. Further, the operation panel unit 4 is provided with a plurality of switches (not shown) and a joystick 2. A joystick 2 is also provided on the remote controller 7.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the joystick 2 is fixed to the surface of the operation panel 4 of the navigation device 1 or the shaft 18 protruding forward from the surface of the remote controller 7 and one end of the shaft 18. And a knob portion 19. The joystick 2 rotates around the axis 20 of the shaft 18 (in the direction of arrows 21a and 21b) and tilts in a plurality of predetermined directions around the connecting portion on the other end of the shaft 18 (this embodiment). In the form, three operations are possible: eight directions shown by arrows 22a to 22h) and a pressing operation to the other side of the axis 20 direction (the arrow 23 direction, the back side of the drawing in FIG. 3).

  An operation of the operation panel unit 4 or the remote controller 7 by the user is detected by the operation detection unit 10. In particular, the operation of the joystick 2 is detected by the rotation detection unit 11, the tilt detection unit 12, and the press detection unit 13 of the operation detection unit 10.

  The rotation detection unit 11 is realized by, for example, a rotary encoder 24 that detects the rotation angle in multiple stages, and thereby detects the rotation direction and the rotation angle around the axis 20 of the joystick 2.

  The tilt detection unit 12 is realized by, for example, a plurality (eight in this embodiment) of limit switches 25a to 25h arranged at the same radial distance from the axis 20 in the tilt direction (arrows 22a to 22h) of the joystick 2. The tilt direction of the joystick 2 is detected by pressing the limit switches 25a to 25h.

  The pressing detection unit 13 is realized by, for example, a spring return type limit switch 26, and thereby, a pressing operation to the other side of the joystick 2 in the axis 20 direction (right side in FIG. 2) is detected.

  As described above, the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment includes the joystick 2 that can perform the three operations of the rotation operation, the tilting operation, and the pressing operation, and therefore, compared with the navigation device having the joystick that can perform only two operations of the prior art. Thus, it becomes possible to assign more navigation function operations to the joystick 2. Therefore, the number of switches of the operation panel unit 4 can be reduced as compared with the prior art. Furthermore, when the user executes the navigation function, the frequency of checking the position of the switch is reduced, and the complexity is eliminated.

  Referring again to FIG. 1, basic map data read by the CD-ROM drive 8 and operation amount data of the joystick 2 by the user detected by the operation detection unit 10 are input to the map drawing unit 9. The map drawing unit 9 creates adjusted map data adjusted to the scale and rotation position desired by the user based on each input data, and outputs the created adjusted map data to the video RAM 14.

  The video RAM 14 is a so-called buffer memory, and temporarily stores the input adjusted map data. The video conversion unit 15 reads the adjusted data stored in the video RAM 14, converts it into image data, and outputs it to the display 3. The display 3 displays a map adjusted to the scale and rotation position desired by the user based on the input image data.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the road map 28 is displayed on the display screen 31 of the display 3. The navigation device 1 of the present embodiment can display a road map 28 on the display screen 31. The displayed road map 28 can be rotated and displayed around an axis perpendicular to the display screen 31. The rotation of the road map 28 can be performed by operating the joystick 2.

  When the road map 28 is displayed on the display screen 31, the road map 28 displayed on the display screen 31 can be rotated by rotating the joystick 2 around the axis 20. At this time, the rotation direction of the joystick 2 viewed from the user and the rotation direction of the road map 28 coincide with each other. That is, when the user rotates the joystick 2 around the axis 20 in the clockwise direction (arrow 21b), the road map 28 on the display screen 31 rotates in the clockwise direction as viewed from the user. Further, when the user rotates the joystick 2 counterclockwise around the axis 20 (arrow 21a), the road map 28 of the display 3 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the user. With such a configuration, the correspondence between the operation of the joystick 2 and the rotation direction of the road map 28 on the display screen 31 is clarified, so there is no sense of discomfort as in the prior art.

  The rotation amount of the road map 28 on the display screen 31 corresponds to the rotation amount of the joystick 2. As described above, the rotation amount of the joystick 2 is detected by the rotation detection unit 12. For example, it is calculated by measuring the number of pulses of the rotary encoder. Depending on the amount of rotation of the joystick 2, the amount of rotation of the road map 28 on the display screen 31 is determined. More specifically, an amount obtained by multiplying the rotation amount detected by the rotation detection unit 12 with a unit dot for map drawing becomes the rotation amount of the road map 28 on the display screen 31, and the road map 28 rotates by this rotation amount. . For example, in the state shown in FIG. 4, when the joystick 2 is rotated 90 ° counterclockwise (arrow 21a) around the axis 20, the road map 28a rotated 90 ° counterclockwise as shown in FIG. Is displayed.

  In the navigation device 1 of this embodiment, the scale of the road map 28 displayed on the display screen 31 can be changed, and the scale of the road map 28 can be changed by operating the joystick 2.

  When the road map 28 is displayed on the display screen 31, the scale of the road map 28 displayed on the display screen 31 can be changed by rotating the joystick 2 around the axis 20 while pressing it in the direction of the arrow 23. . At this time, when the user presses the joystick 2 and rotates it around the axis 20 in the clockwise direction (arrow 21b), the road map 28 on the display screen 31 is displayed in an enlarged manner from the displayed state. The Further, when the user presses the joystick 2 and rotates it counterclockwise (arrow 21a) around the axis 20, the road map 28 on the display screen 31 is displayed in a reduced size than the displayed state. The The scale amount of the road map 28 on the display screen 31 corresponds to the rotation amount of the joystick 2.

  For example, in the state shown in FIG. 4, when the joystick 2 is pressed and rotated counterclockwise (arrow 21 a) around the axis 20, a reduced road map 28 b shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display screen 31.

  In the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the road map 28 displayed on the display screen 31 can be scrolled, and the road map 28 can be scrolled by operating the joystick 2.

  When the road map 28 is displayed on the display screen 31, the road map 28 on the display screen 31 can be scrolled by tilting the joystick 2. At this time, the tilt direction of the joystick 2 viewed from the user and the scroll movement direction of the road map 28 coincide with each other. That is, when the user tilts the joystick 2 in the direction of the arrow 22b, the road map 28 on the display screen 31 scrolls upward as viewed from the user, and when the joystick 2 is tilted in the direction of the arrow 22f, the display screen 31 is displayed. The road map 28 scrolls downward as viewed from the user. For example, when the joystick 2 is tilted to the left (arrow 22a) when viewed from the user while the road map 28 of FIG. 4 is displayed, as shown in FIG. The moved road map 28 c is displayed on the display screen 31.

  Further, when the joystick 2 is tilted and the road map 28 on the display screen 31 is scrolling, the joystick 2 is pressed in the direction of the arrow 23 to change the scroll movement speed of the road map 28. it can. Here, the scroll moving speed of the road map 28 may be slowed by pressing the joystick 2, but it is preferable to increase the scroll moving speed. By increasing the scroll movement speed, the road map 28 at the target position can be displayed quickly, improving usability.

  Further, the navigation device 1 of the present embodiment has a plurality of navigation functions. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the display screen 31 when each navigation function is selected and executed. The display screen 31 displays a plurality of icons 29 for executing each navigation function and a specifying means such as a cursor 30 and a pointer for specifying and executing the icons 29. The operation can be performed by operating the joystick 2.

  When the cursor 30 is displayed on the display screen 31, the cursor 30 on the display screen 31 can be moved by tilting the joystick 2. At this time, the tilting direction of the joystick 2 viewed from the user and the moving direction of the cursor 30 coincide with each other. That is, when the user tilts the joystick 2 in the direction of the arrow 22b, the cursor 30 on the display screen 31 moves upward as viewed from the user. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 8, the cursor 30 moves to the item 29a above the item 29b. When the user tilts the joystick 2 in the direction of the arrow 22f, the cursor 30 on the display screen 31 moves downward as viewed from the user. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 8, the cursor 30 moves to the item 29c below the item 29b.

  Furthermore, the moving speed of the cursor 30 can be changed by tilting the joystick 2 and pressing the joystick 2 in the direction of the arrow 23 while the cursor 30 on the display screen 31 is moving. Here, although the movement speed of the cursor 30 may be decreased by pressing the joystick 2, it is preferable to increase the movement speed. By increasing the moving speed of the cursor 30 in this way, the cursor 30 can be quickly reached to the icon of the target item, and usability is improved.

  Further, the navigation device 1 of the present invention has a function for searching for the optimum route to the destination based on the telephone number, postal code, latitude and longitude information of the destination, and the map code. These phone numbers, postal codes, latitude and longitude information, and map sequences such as map codes can also be input by operating the above-described three-operation joystick 2. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display screen 31 when inputting a telephone number.

  On the display screen 31, for example, a plurality of blocks 32 corresponding to each digit of a telephone number and a cursor 33 indicating that input is possible are displayed. In this state where each block 32 and the cursor 33 are displayed, the number on the cursor 33 can be increased or decreased by rotating the joystick 2 around the axis 20. At this time, each time the user rotates the joystick 2 around the axis 20 in the clockwise direction (arrow 21b) by 36 °, a number obtained by adding 1 to the displayed number is displayed. Each time the user rotates the joystick 2 around the axis 20 in the counterclockwise direction (arrow 21a) by 36 °, a number obtained by subtracting 1 from the displayed number is displayed.

  Further, when the telephone number is inputted, the digit of the cursor 33 can be moved by tilting the joystick 2. At this time, the tilting direction of the joystick 2 and the moving direction of the cursor 33 coincide with each other. For example, when the joystick 2 is tilted rightward (in the direction of the arrow 22h) as viewed from the user, the cursor 33 moves to the right block 32f as viewed from the user. When the joystick 2 is tilted leftward (in the direction of the arrow 22d) when viewed from the user, the cursor 33 moves to the left block 32d when viewed from the user.

  When the input of the telephone number is completed by combining the above-described tilting and rotating operations of the joystick 2, the input telephone number is determined by pressing the joystick 2 in the direction of the axis 20. When the telephone number is determined in this way, a route to the destination of this telephone number is searched.

  As described above, the operation of changing the number in each digit of the number sequence such as the telephone number, the postal code, the latitude and longitude information, and the map code, the digit moving operation of the cursor 33, and the operation of confirming the input number sequence are performed. Since the operation can be performed by operating the joystick 2, the operation speed is improved. Further, since the pressing operation as in the prior art is not required for inputting the digits of each digit, it is possible to prevent an operation error that the joystick is tilted by mistake during the input of the digits and the cursor moves.

The following embodiments are possible for the present invention.
(1) A navigation device mounted on a vehicle,
Display means;
A navigation device comprising: a joystick that can be tilted in a plurality of predetermined directions, can rotate about a predetermined axis, and can be pressed in the axial direction.

  A navigation device mounted on a vehicle includes display means and a joystick provided on an operation panel unit or a remote controller. This joystick is capable of three operations: a tilting operation in a plurality of predetermined directions, a rotation operation around a predetermined axis, and a pressing operation in the axial direction. As a result, the number of navigation function operations assigned to the joystick is increased, so that the number of icons displayed on the display means and the number of switches on the operation panel unit can be reduced as compared with the prior art.

  In particular, since a joystick capable of three operations of tilting in a plurality of predetermined directions, rotation around an axis, and pressing in the axial direction is provided, many navigation functions can be assigned to the operation of the joystick, Compared to the prior art, the number of switches on the remote control and the operation panel can be reduced.

(2) A map is displayed on the display means,
A navigation device, wherein the map is rotated by rotating the joystick around the axis.

  The display means displays the current position of the vehicle and a road map around the vehicle. When the user rotates the joystick around the axis, the map displayed on the display means rotates. In the prior art, since the joystick is not rotatable, the map is rotated by tilting the joystick, which makes it difficult for the user to grasp the operation. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the rotation operation of the joystick corresponds to the rotation of the map, the operation becomes easy for the user. As a result, it is possible to eliminate a sensuous gap in the rotation operation of the map.

  In particular, since the map displayed on the display means is rotated by rotating the joystick around the axis, it is possible to eliminate the uncomfortable feeling of the map rotation operation.

  (3) The navigation device characterized in that the scale of the map is changed by rotating the joystick around the axis while being pressed in the axial direction.

(4) In a state where the joystick is pressed in the axial direction, by rotating the joystick to one side around the axis, the map is enlarged from the displayed state,
A navigation device characterized in that a map is reduced more than the displayed state by rotating the joystick in the axial direction to the other side around the axis.

  Since an operation for changing the scale of the map is also assigned to the joystick, when changing the scale of the map, it is not necessary to touch other operation devices other than the joystick, such as a switch, or to search for it.

(5) Scrolling the map by tilting the joystick,
A navigation device characterized in that the scroll movement speed of the map is changed by pressing in the axial direction with the joystick tilted.

  Since the user can change the scrolling of the map and the scrolling speed of the map by operating the joystick, the operability is improved.

(6) having a plurality of predetermined navigation functions;
The display means displays an item corresponding to the navigation function and a designation means for selecting and specifying a target item,
A navigation apparatus characterized in that the designation means is moved by tilting the joystick, and the moving speed of the designation means is changed by pressing in the axial direction with the joystick tilted.

  The user can move the designation means for designating an item indicating each navigation function by operating the joystick, and can change the moving speed of the designation means. This improves operability.

(7) having a sequence input mode for inputting a sequence,
The display means displays a cursor for inputting the numerical sequence,
By rotating the joystick around the axis, increase or decrease the number on the cursor,
Move the cursor digit by tilting the joystick,
A navigation apparatus characterized in that an input number sequence is determined by pressing a joystick in an axial direction.

(8) The navigation device, wherein the number sequence is a telephone number.
(9) The navigation device, wherein the number sequence is a zip code.

  (10) The navigation device, wherein the number sequence is latitude and longitude information.

  (11) The navigation device, wherein the number sequence is a map code (registered trademark) in which position data of a specific place is coded.

(12) Increase the number on the cursor by rotating the joystick around the axis to one side;
A navigation apparatus characterized in that a number on a cursor is decreased by rotating a joystick around an axis to the other side.

  The navigation apparatus has a number sequence input mode for inputting a number sequence such as a telephone number, a postal code, latitude and longitude information, and a map code, and a cursor for inputting the number sequence is displayed on the display means. In this sequence input mode, the user increases the number on the cursor by rotating the joystick around one axis, for example clockwise, and by rotating the joystick around the axis to the other side, for example counterclockwise, Decrease the number on the cursor. Further, when the user tilts the joystick, for example, to the right, the cursor moves to the next digit, and when the user tilts to the left, the cursor moves to the previous digit. When the input of the number sequence is completed by combining the tilting and rotation operations, the input number sequence is determined by the user pressing the joystick in the axial direction. As described above, the number changing operation, the digit moving operation, and the number sequence confirming operation can be performed with one joystick, so that the operability, in particular, the operation speed is improved. In addition, since a pressing operation is not required for inputting the digits of each digit, it is possible to prevent an operation error that the joystick is tilted by mistake during the input of the digits and the cursor moves.

It is a block diagram of the navigation apparatus 1 as a map display apparatus which is one Embodiment of this invention. 2 is a perspective view of a joystick 2. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a joystick 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the state in which the road map 28 was displayed on the display screen 31 of the display 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the road map 28a which rotated the road map 28 of FIG. 4 90 degree counterclockwise. It is a figure which shows the road map 28b which reduced the road map 28 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the road map 28c which scrolled the road map 28 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the display screen 31 when selecting and performing a navigation function. It is a figure which shows the display screen 31 at the time of telephone number input.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation apparatus 2 Joystick 3 Display 5 Navigation apparatus main body 11 Rotation detection part 12 Tilt detection part 13 Press detection part 18 Axis part 19 Knob part 20 Axis line

Claims (6)

In a map display device capable of displaying a map on the display means,
A first input for instructing scroll display of the map;
A map display device comprising: an input means capable of performing a second input instructing to increase or decrease a scale of the map according to a rotation direction of a rotation operation. In a map display device capable of displaying a map on the display means,
Input means for instructing scroll display of the map;
A rotation detection unit for detecting a rotation operation of the input means;
A map display device comprising: a control unit that increases or decreases a scale of the map according to a rotation direction of the rotation operation when the rotation detection unit detects a rotation operation of the input unit.   The scale of the map is increased according to a clockwise operation of the input means, and the scale of the map is decreased according to a rotation operation of the input means in a counterclockwise direction. Item 3. The map display device according to item 1 or 2.   The map display device according to claim 1, wherein a scale of the map is determined according to a rotation amount of the rotation operation.   The map display device according to claim 2, wherein the rotation detection unit detects a rotation operation when the rotation state is maintained while the input unit is pressed.   2. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein scrolling in a predetermined direction is continued during the first input.

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