JP3815288B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device that guides a user to a predetermined destination or informs of a congestion state of a road to the destination, and particularly relates to an in-vehicle navigation device that can be remotely operated.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many conventional navigation devices using a remote control method are operated by a driver or a passenger by pointing an attached remote control toward a light receiving portion of the navigation device and pressing a switch on the remote control. There is also a navigation device that has a touch panel display screen and can be operated by a driver or a passenger directly touching the display screen.
[0003]
Further, for example, in JP-A-11-173865, first display means is installed at a position that is easily visible from the driver's seat, and second display means is installed at a position that is easily visible from the rear seat. In particular, a technique for improving operability from the rear seat by enabling the operation is disclosed.
[0004]
On the other hand, for example, in JP-A-8-33071 and JP-A-7-271507, it is possible to input a remote instruction by irradiating and selecting a light pointer by a laser beam or the like on a display screen. A remote instruction input device or method using optical input is disclosed. In the remote instruction input by such light input, for example, the light irradiation position on the display screen is obtained by image analysis, or the light irradiation position is obtained by using a light sensor on the display screen or a light sensor independent of the display screen. Various technologies have been disclosed, such as requesting the
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a conventional navigation device using a remote control method, it is necessary to select a switch to be pressed on the remote control according to the operation content. For this reason, when performing an operation, it is necessary to look at the hand (remote control), which not only makes the operation cumbersome but also concentrates on the line of sight. It is very dangerous. In particular, the number of switches to be operated has increased as the performance of recent navigation devices has improved, and the number of switches to be operated increases, so the number of times to look at the hand increases. It is becoming more and more erroneous.
[0006]
In addition, if you operate the switch on the display screen or the navigation device directly, you can select the desired function etc. with a single operation, but you have to do it many times to select the list on the display screen you want to select. I must. Further, when the switch on the display screen or the navigation device body is directly operated, it is not possible to perform an operation from a remote location (for example, the rear seat).
[0007]
Further, in a conventional touch panel type navigation device, for example, an accurate position may not be specified depending on the thickness of a finger, or a switch may be small and erroneously pressed, resulting in many erroneous operations. Further, as in the case of operating the direct display screen or the switch of the navigation device main body, it cannot be operated remotely.
[0008]
Further, the navigation device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-173865, which improves the operability from the rear seat, requires a plurality of display means such as liquid crystal and remote control means such as a remote controller and its light receiving part. , Functionality and practicality are low and cost is high.
[0009]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a navigation device that can be operated remotely, such as a rear seat, has few erroneous operations, and can be operated without directing a line of sight at hand. Objective.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, the navigation device according to claim 1, displaying a display screen including a predetermined area associated with the predetermined processing on the display screen, Ru is irradiated from the outside to the display screen When detecting an optical signal having the first intensity, detecting irradiation position information on the display screen of the detected optical signal having the first intensity, and further detecting an optical signal having the second intensity In addition, a predetermined process associated with a predetermined region including the irradiation position information of the optical signal having the first intensity is performed.
[0011]
As a result, the navigation apparatus can be remotely operated, and further, erroneous operations can be reduced and the operation can be performed without directing the line of sight to the hand.
[0012]
Further, in the navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further, as set forth in claim 2, the light detecting means are installed in the display unit, to be able to detect the light signal that will be irradiated directly on the display unit ing.
[0013]
As a result, it is possible to accurately specify the irradiation position of the light irradiated by the operation of the navigation device and prevent malfunction such as detection of an erroneous selection region.
[0014]
The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a menu table that describes a correspondence between a predetermined process and a predetermined area for each of the plurality of display screens. Storage means for storing is provided.
[0015]
Thereby, it is possible to set different selection areas on each display screen, and it is possible to set processing corresponding to each selection area.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the navigation device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment according to the navigation apparatus of the present invention. 1 includes a position detection means 1, a map data storage means 6, an operation switch group 7, an external memory 9, a display means 10, a sound output means 11, a remote control sensor (light detection means) 12, a remote control terminal. 13. External information input / output means 14 and a control circuit (control unit) 8 to which these means are connected, and are installed in the vehicle so that a person riding in the vehicle can visually recognize. The The control circuit 8 is configured as a normal computer, and controls a CPU (Central Processing Unit) having a processing function, a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory) having a data storage function, and data input / output control. It has an internal configuration such as an I / O (Input / Output) processor that performs the above and a bus line that connects these configurations.
[0019]
Further, the position detection means 1 is based on a geomagnetic sensor 2 that measures the earth's magnetism, a gyroscope 3 that maintains a reference direction angle, a distance sensor 4 that detects a travel distance and a distance to a destination, and a radio wave from a satellite. A GPS receiver 5 for GPS (Global Positioning System) for detecting the position of the vehicle is included. Each of these means (the geomagnetic sensor 2, the gyroscope 3, the distance sensor 4, and the GPS receiver 5) has an error with different properties, so that the plurality of sensors are used while interpolating each other. It is configured. Further, depending on the accuracy, it is possible to configure the position detecting means 1 using only a part of the above-described means, and further, a steering rotation sensor, a wheel sensor of each rolling wheel, or the like may be used. Is possible.
[0020]
The map data storage means 6 is a means for storing various data including so-called map matching data, map data, and landmark data for improving the accuracy of position detection, and these data are used in the navigation operation. . As the map data storage means 6, a CD (Compact Disc) or a DVD (Digital Video Disc) is generally used based on the amount of data, but a medium such as a memory card may also be used. Is possible.
[0021]
The display unit 10 is, for example, a color display liquid crystal display, and the screen of the display unit 10 includes a vehicle current position mark indicating the current position of the vehicle input from the position detection unit 1 and a map data storage unit 6. The read map data can be displayed, and additional data such as a guidance route to be displayed on the map can be displayed in an overlapping manner. The voice output means 11 is means for notifying the user of various information by voice.
[0022]
The external information input / output means 14 is a means for receiving information provided from the outside (for example, an infrastructure such as a VICS system (Vehicle Information and Communication System)) and transmitting information to the outside. is there. Information received from the outside is processed by the control circuit 8, and if necessary, the information processed by the control circuit 8 is output from the external information input / output means 14 to the outside.
[0023]
A remote control terminal (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) 13 is a means for generating and irradiating light, and the generation of light can be controlled by a user operation. When the navigation apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 1 receives light from the remote controller 13 and receives the position of the destination from the operation switch group 7 or the remote controller sensor 12, the navigation apparatus 20 takes an optimum route from the current position to the destination. It also has a route guidance function that automatically selects and forms and displays a guidance route and calculates the required time to the destination. For example, a touch switch or a mechanical switch (panel switch) integrated with the display unit 10 is used for the operation switch group 7 and used for various user inputs.
[0024]
The remote control sensor 12 is means for receiving optical input from the remote control 13. The remote control sensor 12 can be installed in various ways. For example, the remote control sensor 12 is installed in the display means 10 and receives light from the remote control 13 to select items displayed on the display screen in conjunction with the display screen. -It is possible to enable input.
[0025]
Next, an embodiment of the operation according to the navigation device 20 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation according to the navigation apparatus of the present invention. In the present embodiment, light is used as the input system of the navigation device 20. First, in step S101, the power is turned on and the navigation device 20 is activated. At this time, a predetermined initial screen (for example, an initial menu selection screen) is displayed on the display means 10. The display screen displayed on the display means 10 includes items that can be selected by light input from the remote controller 13, and the user operating the remote controller 13 irradiates the item to be selected with light from the remote controller 13. The item is selected by pressing the switch. In addition, for each display screen, a menu table that describes the correspondence between a predetermined area and a predetermined process that is performed when that area is selected is set, and this menu table is stored in advance in a storage means such as a ROM. It is preferable to keep it.
[0026]
There are various methods for the remote control sensor 12 of the navigation device 20 to detect the light input from the remote control 13. For example, the remote control 13 indicates to which position on the display screen the light from the remote control 13 is irradiated. Light (hereinafter referred to as initial light) is always irradiated, and when the user presses a switch on the remote controller 13, light having a predetermined wavelength different from the initial light is irradiated from the remote controller 13, or more than a predetermined intensity. Be sure to be exposed to the light. That is, for example, when two different wavelengths are used, light having a wavelength in the visible region is used as initial light, and light having a wavelength in the infrared region is used as a selection light signal used for pressing the switch.
[0027]
In this case, the remote controller 13 is configured to generate light having two different types of wavelengths and to generate light having two different types of intensities. It is configured such that light having two different wavelengths from 13 can be identified, and light having two different intensities from remote controller 13 can be identified.
[0028]
The remote control sensor 12 detects light having a predetermined wavelength or light having a predetermined intensity or more to detect that the switch of the remote control 13 is pressed (that is, a user's desired item is selected). Is possible. With the above configuration, the user who operates the remote controller 13 uses the light that the remote controller sensor 12 does not react to accurately align the desired position (desired item) on the display screen, and switch A desired item can be selected by irradiating the remote controller sensor 12 with light that reacts when the button is pressed.
[0029]
In step S102, the navigation device 20 waits for light input from the user, and when light indicating selection of an item (selection light signal: hereinafter referred to as switch light) is received from the remote controller 13, a display screen is displayed in step S103. The position information (irradiation position information) of the switch light above is detected. In step S104, it is determined whether the detected position information is a predetermined selection area defined on the display screen. If the position information is not included in the predetermined selection area, the process returns to the light input standby state (step S102). On the other hand, if the position information is included in the predetermined selection area, the position is determined in step S105. It is determined that a predetermined selection area including information has been selected, and processing associated with the selected predetermined selection area is started.
[0030]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, navigation device 20 can perform processing associated with a predetermined selection area selected by light input from remote controller 13. Therefore, for example, when the predetermined selection area is a switch indicating a change in orientation on the navigation screen, a screen display switching process is performed, and when the predetermined selection area is a switch indicating an operation for transitioning to the menu screen, the menu screen is switched. If the selected position is on the map, various remote operations can be performed by the remote controller 13 such as a process of scrolling the map to that position.
[0031]
In addition, for example, the navigation device 20 can be operated from a place away from the place where the navigation device 20 is installed, such as a rear seat as well as a driver seat and a passenger seat, and the operation is always performed while viewing the display screen. Therefore, it is possible to operate without directing the line of sight to the hand.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a navigation device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an operation according to the navigation apparatus of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Position detection means 2 Geomagnetic sensor 3 Gyroscope 4 Distance sensor 5 GPS receiver 6 Map data storage means 7 Operation switch group 8 Control circuit (control part)
9 External memory 10 Display means 11 Audio output means 12 Remote control sensor (light detection means)
13 Remote control terminal (remote control)
14 External information input / output means 20 Navigation device

Claims (3)

Display means for displaying a display screen including a predetermined area associated with a predetermined process;
A light detection means capable of detecting an optical signal having two different intensities from the outside Ru is irradiated on the display screen,
Detecting the irradiation position information on the display screen of the optical signal having a first intensity detected by said light detecting means, different from the second and pre-Symbol first intensity detected by said light detecting means Control means for detecting the optical signal having an intensity and performing the predetermined process associated with the predetermined area including the irradiation position information;
Navigation device having.   The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the light detection unit is installed in the display unit and detects the optical signal directly irradiated on the display unit.   The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores a menu table that describes a correspondence relationship between the predetermined process and the predetermined area for each of a plurality of display screens.

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