JP2010060454A - Image output device and navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily identify a character string or an icon displayed on a screen of an extension monitor even when the screen size of a display of the extension monitor is smaller than the display of the body. <P>SOLUTION: Change processing is executed so that the map display, icon display, character font size are suitable for the display screen size of the extension monitor (S513-S515, S523-S525 and S533-S535), and image data after the changing processing is transmitted to the extension monitor (S516). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image output device that outputs image data to a main display device and a sub display device, and a navigation device including the image output device.

A navigation device is known that includes a front seat controller equipped with a display device and a rear seat display device that displays screen display data output from the front seat controller (Patent Document 1). .
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-244383

  However, the display screen sizes do not always match between the display device for the front seat controller and the display device for the rear seat. When the display screen size of the rear seat display device is smaller than the display screen size of the display device of the front seat controller, the same image as the image displayed on the display device of the front seat controller is displayed. Since the resolution is reduced when the image is displayed, the user has a problem that it is difficult to identify a character string such as a place name / intersection name or a precise symbol icon such as 3-D display at a glance.

  The present invention relates to an image output device that outputs image data to a main display device and a sub display device, or a navigation device including the image output device, a size acquisition unit that acquires screen size information of the sub display device, and a size A determining unit that inputs the screen size information acquired by the acquiring unit and determines whether or not the character and / or graphic displayed on the sub-display device has good visibility based on a predetermined algorithm; When a negative determination is made by the above, display changing means for changing the display form of characters and / or figures to a predetermined display form is provided.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to identify easily the character string and icon currently displayed on the screen of the sub display apparatus which has a display screen smaller than the display screen of a main display apparatus, and the convenience for a user improves. .

  With reference to FIGS. 1-6, the structure which incorporated the image output device by this Embodiment in the navigation apparatus is demonstrated.

  FIG. 1 shows a navigation device 10 mounted on a vehicle 1. The navigation device 10 includes a main body 100 and an additional monitor 200. The main body 100 includes a display module, and displays an image on its WVGA (Wide Video Graphics Array) screen. The expansion monitor 200 is connected to the main body 100 by a wired communication method or a wireless communication method, and displays an image on a QVGA (Quarter Video Graphics Array) screen of the display module based on image data output from the main body 100.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a WVGA screen display of the display module 150 of the main body 100 and a QVGA screen display of the display module 250 of the additional monitor 200 in the navigation device 10 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, the display screens of both display modules are drawn with the same area.

  On the WVGA screen of the display module 150 of the main body 100, a map is displayed, and a small character string 151 for displaying a place name and an icon 152 for a fine symbol such as 3-D display are displayed. As described above, the expansion monitor 200 displays a map on the QVGA screen of the display module 250 based on the image data output from the main body 100 in the same manner as the WVGA screen of the display module 150 of the main body 100. However, since the resolution (screen size) of the QVGA screen is much smaller than that of the WVGA screen, it may be difficult to view the icon 152 with a small symbol such as a small place name display 151 or a 3-D display. There is. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the small character string of the place name display is replaced with an icon 251 with a symbol (national flag or local government emblem) or the like, and the icon 152 of a fine pattern such as 3-D display is replaced with a simplified icon 252. To display.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall hardware configuration of the navigation device 10. As described above, the navigation device 10 includes the main body 100 and the additional monitor 200. In the CPU 110 of the main body 100, signals from the current location detection device 120 and the user input device 130 are input. The current position detection device 120 is a sensor (not shown) for detecting the current position of the vehicle, and includes, for example, a gyro sensor, a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor, and a vehicle speed sensor. The user input device 130 is, for example, a touch panel, a push button switch around the panel, a joystick, or a remote controller.

  The CPU 110 is an arithmetic processing unit that controls the entire main body 100, and the CPU 110 and its peripheral devices are connected to each other via a bus. The peripheral devices include a main storage device 115, an auxiliary storage device 140, a display module 150, and a communication interface 160. The main storage device 115 has a work memory that is a work area of the CPU 110 and a program memory in which a control program is stored.

  The auxiliary storage device 140 is a storage device that stores road map data and POI (Point of Interest or various facilities) information used for navigation processing. The auxiliary storage device 140 may be, for example, a hard disk drive, a CD or DVD storing road map data, a flash memory, other recording media, and a reading device thereof.

  The display module 150 displays image data including characters and graphics output from the CPU 110 on the screen.

  The communication interface 160 is used by the CPU 110 to transfer image data similar to image data (for example, road map data) including characters and graphics output to the display module 150 to the additional monitor 200.

  In the CPU 210 of the expansion monitor 200, a signal from the user input device 230 is input. The user input device 230 provides the same user interface as the user input device 130 of the main body 100.

  The CPU 210 is an arithmetic device that controls the expansion monitor 200 as a whole, and the CPU 210 and its peripheral devices are connected to each other via a bus. The peripheral devices include a main storage device 215, an auxiliary storage device 240, a display module 250, and a communication interface 260. The main storage device 215 is configured in the same manner as the main storage device 115 of the main body 100.

  The display module 250 displays image data transmitted from the CPU 110 of the main body 100 to the CPU 210 via the communication interface 160; 260.

  With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4, a description will be given of a procedure for generating and transferring image data that the CPU 110 of the main body 100 outputs to the screen of the display module 250 of the additional monitor 200. The following steps are executed as program processing of the CPU 110 in the main body 100.

  In step S <b> 401, the CPU 110 activates a data transfer processing program to the expansion monitor 200 and starts processing for searching for the connection of the expansion monitor 200. In step S402, it is determined whether or not there is an additional monitor 200 connected by wire or wireless. If the determination is negative, the process of step S402 is repeated. If the determination is affirmative, in step S403, information on the additional monitor 200 including individual identification information and screen size information is acquired. In step S404, it is determined whether the additional monitor 200 is registered in the display disable information list using the individual identification information as a key. When the expansion monitor 200 is registered in the display impossibility list, the CPU 110 cannot transfer image data to be displayed on the screen of the expansion monitor 200, for example, because the resolution is too small.

  If the determination in step S404 is affirmative, in step S421, image data for displaying “not displayable” on the additional monitor 200 is transferred. When the image data transfer to the additional monitor 200 is completed in step S422, this processing procedure is terminated. If a negative determination is made in step S404, “screen size-specific processing” (step S405), which will be described later with reference to FIG. 5, is executed, and whether or not image data transfer to the additional monitor 200 has been completed in step S406. Determine. If not finished yet, a negative determination is made, and in step S411, it is determined whether or not an operation by the user via the user input device 130 is being executed for the menu screen display on the main body 100. If the determination is negative, the processing procedure returns to step S406. If the determination is affirmative, in step S412, the CPU 110 transfers image data of a notification screen indicating “menu operation is in progress” to the expansion monitor 200. In step S413, it is determined whether or not the user's operation on the menu screen in the main body 100 is completed. If the determination is negative, step S413 is repeatedly executed until the operation is completed. If the determination is affirmative, in step S414, the image data transfer to the additional monitor 200 that has been continued from the “screen size-specific processing” (step S405) and has not ended yet is continued, and the processing procedure proceeds to step S406. Return.

  When the image data transfer to the additional monitor 200 that has continued from the “screen size-specific processing” (step S405) is completed, the determination in step S406 is affirmative. In step S407, the CPU 110 displays the “display image on the additional monitor 200”. When the image data on the notification screen indicating “transfer end” is transferred and the data transfer processing program to the expansion monitor 200 is stopped in step S408, this processing procedure ends.

  With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5, the process according to screen size corresponding to step S405 of FIG. 4 will be described. In step S501, CPU 110 determines whether the screen size of extension monitor 200 is equal to or larger than the screen size of main body 100 (WVGA in the example shown in FIG. 1). This is executed based on the screen size information included in the information related to the additional monitor 200 acquired in step S403. If the determination is affirmative, in step S506, the same image data as that displayed on the main body 100 is transferred to the additional monitor 200, and the processing procedure for each screen size is terminated.

  If a negative determination is made in step S501, it is determined in step S512 whether or not the screen size of the additional monitor 200 is a first screen size smaller than the screen size of the main body 100 (for example, VGA: Video Graphics Array). judge. If a negative determination is made, it is determined in step S522 whether or not the screen size of the additional monitor 200 is a second screen size smaller than the first screen size (for example, WQVGA: Wide Quarter Video Graphics Array). If the determination is negative, in step S532, it is determined whether or not the screen size of the additional monitor 200 is a third screen size (for example, QVGA) smaller than the second screen size.

  If the determination is affirmative in step S512, the display priority of the map screen is set to “high”, and a road having a width of 1 meter or more is displayed. Similarly, if the determination in step S522 is affirmative, the display priority of the map screen is set to “medium” and a road having a width of 4 meters or more is displayed. Furthermore, if the determination in step S532 is affirmative, the display priority of the map screen is set to “low”, and only the roads and main roads selected by route guidance for the vehicle 1 are displayed.

  After step S513 is completed, in step S514, the icon display priority is set to “large”, and the display of the corresponding icon is changed. Specifically, the top 70% of the icons included in the range displayed on the screen are displayed based on the icon display priority list arranged in descending order of the icon display priority set in advance by the user and set at the time of shipment. To do. In addition, the icon display priority list categorizes display icons by business type, for example, convenience store, fast food, movie theater, etc., and defines a correspondence relationship such as convenience store high priority, fast food normal, movie theater low priority Includes tables to play. An example of the table is shown in FIG. After step S523 is completed, the icon display priority is set to “medium” in step S524, and the display of the corresponding icon is changed. Specifically, the top 40% of icons included in the range displayed on the screen are displayed based on the icon display priority list arranged in descending order of icon display priority. At this time, the icon 152 of a fine symbol such as 3-D display is replaced with a simplified icon 252 for display such as changing to a flat display. After step S533 is completed, in step S534, the icon display priority is set to “small”, and the display of the corresponding icon is changed. Specifically, based on the icon display priority list arranged in descending order of icon display priority, the top 10% of the icons included in the range displayed on the screen are all replaced with the simplified icons 252 and displayed.

  After completion of step S514, in step S515, the font size change level of the character string is set to “small”, and the font size of the corresponding character string is changed. Specifically, the character string to be displayed is an intersection name, main road name, place name, and facility name, and the font size is changed to a value larger by 3 dots for display. After step S524 is completed, the font size change level of the character string is set to “medium” in step S525, and the font size of the corresponding character string is changed. Specifically, the character string to be displayed is the intersection name and the main road name, and the font size is changed to a value larger by 6 dots for display. The place name is displayed in the national flag / local government emblem, the facility name is replaced in the map symbol, and the icon 251 of the pattern based on each is displayed. After completion of step S534, the font size change level of the character string is set to “large” in step S535, and the font size of the corresponding character string is changed. Specifically, the character string to be displayed is the intersection name only, and the font size is changed to a value larger by 10 dots for display. The main road name is displayed on the road sign displaying the national road number / prefectural road number, the place name is replaced with the national flag / local government emblem, the facility name is replaced with the map symbol, and the icon 251 is based on the symbol.

  When a character string is displayed by changing the font size to a larger display screen size of the additional monitor 200 and displaying a character string, even if a part of the character string is replaced with the icon 251 and displayed, the character string not to be replaced is displayed. A ratio occupied by the display on the screen (hereinafter referred to as a character display ratio) is higher than that of the display screen of the main body 100, which may affect visibility. Based on the character string display priority table that has been set by the user in advance or set in advance, the character strings are displayed in descending order of priority, and all character string displays It is preferable that the total dot value occupied on the screen is not more than a predetermined value. The character string display priority table is a table that defines a correspondence relationship in which, for example, an intersection name on a route guidance target road has high priority, and other character strings have low priority.

  Upon completion of any of step S515, step S525, and step S535, the image whose display has been changed is transferred to the expansion monitor 200 in step S516, and the processing procedure for each screen size is terminated.

  If a negative determination is made in step S532, in step S542, the CPU 110 transfers image data of a notification screen “not displayable” to the additional monitor 200, and in step S543, the individual identification information is keyed. The additional monitor 200 is registered in the display impossible information list. When the data transfer processing program to the expansion monitor 200 is stopped in step S544, the CPU 110 of the main body 100 including the processing procedure for each screen size generates image data to be output to the screen of the display module 250 of the expansion monitor 200 and The transfer processing procedure ends.

The navigation device 10 according to the embodiment described above has the following operational effects.
(1) When the display screen size of the display module 250 of the additional monitor 200 is smaller than the display module 150 of the main body 100, and when it is determined that the visibility is not good based on a preset determination algorithm The CPU 110 of the main body 100 outputs image data that has been subjected to change processing so as to be suitable for the display screen size of the display module 250 of the expansion monitor 200 with respect to the map display, icon display, and character font size. It was configured to forward to 200. Thereby, when the user looks at the display screen of the display module 250 of the additional monitor 200 having a small display screen size, the displayed character string or icon can be easily identified, which is highly convenient.
(2) Image in which CPU 110 of main body 100 executes a change process for each additional monitor 200 so that the map display, icon display, and character font size are suitable for the display screen size of display module 250 of the additional monitor 200 Data is output and transferred to the additional monitor 200. As a result, the user can connect and use an additional monitor 200 having a plurality of display modules 250 having different display screen sizes at the same time.
(3) When the display screen size of the display module 250 of the additional monitor 200 is smaller than the display module 150 of the main body 100 and when it is determined that the visibility is not good based on a preset determination algorithm In this case, the CPU 110 of the main body 100 executes the change process only for the high priority display so as to be suitable for the display screen size of the display module 250 of the additional monitor 200 regarding the map display, icon display, and character string display. The configured image data is output and transferred to the expansion monitor 200. As a result, the amount of map display, icon display, and character string display suitable for the display screen of the display module 250 of the additional monitor 200 having a small display screen size is high, so that visibility and convenience are high.

The navigation device 10 described above can be modified as follows.
(1) In FIG. 1 described above, the main body 100, which is one device constituting the navigation device 10, is installed on the front seat side of the vehicle 1, and the additional monitor 200, which is the other device, is installed on the rear seat side. The expansion monitor 200 is not limited to the devices constituting the navigation device 10, but may be other devices including the communication interface 260 and the display module 250 for displaying images transferred from the main body 100 via communication. good. For example, various information terminal devices such as PND (Personal Navigation Device), PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone, a portable personal computer, a portable game machine, and a portable music player may be used.
(2) In FIG. 5 described above, when the icon display priority is set to “medium” or “low”, the simplified icon 252 is displayed. As the simplified icon 252, for example, a common mark may be used for each business type regardless of the store name such as XX department store and △△ department store, and the retail business regardless of the business type such as department store, supermarket, convenience store, etc. It is also possible to use a common mark for each industry type.
(3) In FIG. 5 described above, when the font size change level of the character string is set to “medium” or “large”, a part of the character string is replaced with the icon 251 and displayed on the screen. When the user selects the icon 251 on the screen, the icon 251 may be added without replacing the character string so that the CPU 210 of the additional monitor 200 can pop-up the character string. Alternatively, the character string may be deleted and not displayed without being replaced with the icon 251.
(4) In the above description, the display mode on the expansion monitor 200 is changed according to the screen size, but it may be changed according to the image data transfer speed between the main body 100 and the expansion monitor 200. Moreover, it is good also as changing according to the display mode change setting input into the expansion monitor 200 previously.

  The above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined. The above description is merely an example, and when interpreting the invention, there is no limitation or restriction on the correspondence between the items described in the above embodiment and the items described in the claims.

It is a figure which shows the vehicle carrying the navigation apparatus by one embodiment. It is a figure which shows the WVGA screen display of a main body and the QVGA screen display of an expansion monitor in the navigation apparatus by one Embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the hardware whole structure of the navigation apparatus by one Embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing a generation and transfer processing procedure of image data output from the CPU 110 of the main body 100 to the screen of the additional monitor 200. It is the flowchart which showed in detail the process according to screen size in step S405 of FIG. It is a figure explaining the icon display priority definition table classified by business condition.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 10 Navigation apparatus 100 Main body 110, 210 CPU 115, 215 Main storage device 120 Present location detection device 130, 230 User input device 140, 240 Auxiliary storage device 150, 250 Display module 151 Small character string of place name display 152 Dense design Icon 160, 260 Communication interface 200 Additional monitor 251 Icon 252 Simplified icon

Claims (6)

An image output device for outputting image data to a main display device and a sub display device,
Size acquisition means for acquiring screen size information of the secondary display device;
A determination unit that inputs the screen size information acquired by the size acquisition unit and determines whether or not the visibility of characters and / or graphics displayed on the secondary display device is good based on a predetermined algorithm; ,
An image output apparatus comprising: a display changing unit that changes a character and / or graphic display form to a predetermined display form when a negative determination is made by the determination unit. The image output apparatus according to claim 1,
The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display change unit changes a display form based on a display priority set in advance for characters and / or graphics. The image output apparatus according to claim 2,
The display priority is stored as a table. In the image output device according to claim 2 or 3,
An image output apparatus characterized in that a character and / or graphic whose display form is changed by the display changing means is limited to a character and / or graphic having a predetermined priority among the display priorities. In the image output device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display changing unit changes a predetermined character string to an icon corresponding to each character string.   A navigation apparatus comprising the image output apparatus according to claim 1.

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