JP3982184B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation operating device used for a navigation device having a 3D display function, for example.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A navigation device installed in an automobile displays a 3D map from a display screen as shown in FIG. 5, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, in order to inform the driver of the vehicle position and the road conditions around the vehicle. 3D display), specifically, each point on the map is displayed in 3D as if viewed from a slightly higher position to recognize the road conditions and destination conditions while driving To make it easier. Recently, it has become possible to search for a destination by scrolling in the state of the map displayed in 3D.
[0003]
By the way, in order to scroll the map in the 3D state, in addition to the function of scrolling the map in 2D directions (mainly eight directions of front and rear, left and right, diagonal directions), the function of rotating the direction looking down from the viewpoint, A function to raise and lower the height of the viewpoint is required.
[0004]
In order to realize this 3D scroll function, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-272196 proposes an operation device having a structure in which movement in each direction is assigned to a single joystick that stands up from an operation surface.
[0005]
This is because the joystick is tilted in the forward / backward, left / right, and diagonal directions to cause 2D scrolling in 8 directions, and the joystick is twisted (rotated around the axis), resulting in a movement that rotates the line of sight. This is a structure that moves the viewpoint up and down by pushing or pulling along the axial direction.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The navigation device has a mode for setting a destination as is known, and when searching for a destination by 3D scrolling of the map, the current location required for the navigation function is required unless the mode for setting the last destination is set. Information such as the route from to the destination cannot be obtained. Usually, an operation of pushing in is used to switch the mode for setting the destination.
[0007]
Incidentally, navigation devices are required to have improved operability. For this purpose, it is required that a single joystick can perform a visual line rotation operation and a viewpoint position adjustment operation together with scrolling in eight directions.
[0008]
However, if a decision function is further assigned to a joystick that is assigned movement in each direction with a single line, the operation for adjusting the height of the viewpoint and the decision operation for determining the destination become push operations that overlap each other. End up.
[0009]
Therefore, in the navigation apparatus, two joysticks are assigned so that functions are not overlapped with each joystick.
[0010]
However, when the number of joysticks is increased, there is a difficulty in that a large operation surface is required and the arrangement of other operation members is inevitably changed, and improvement of this point is demanded.
[0011]
The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and its purpose is to have a function of scrolling a map displayed in 3D, a function of adjusting a line of sight and a viewpoint, and a function of setting a destination by pushing, An object of the present invention is to provide an operation device for navigation that can be operated with a single operation member.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the navigation operation device according to claim 1 is capable of scrolling the stereoscopic display map and rotating the line of sight on the horizontal plane by operating the operation member from each direction except the pushing direction and the pulling direction. 3D scroll mode and viewpoint position adjustment mode that can adjust the viewpoint position by operation from each direction are assigned respectively, and further, the first switching means and 3D scroll mode and viewpoint position adjustment are performed by operating the pulling direction of the operation member. By switching the mode, the second switching means switches to the destination setting mode by the operation in the pushing direction of the operation member, and the scroll of the stereoscopic display map and the line of sight by the operation of one operation member Rotation operation, adjustment of viewpoint position, and destination setting.
[0013]
In addition to the above-described object, the navigation operation device according to claim 2 uses one joystick excellent in operability to scroll the stereoscopic display map, rotate the line of sight, adjust the viewpoint position, and set the destination. A 3D scroll mode that allows the joystick to scroll in each direction of the stereoscopic display map and rotate the line of sight on the horizontal plane by operating from the front and rear, left and right diagonal directions and the direction around the axis, and the viewpoint from the front and rear direction Assigns a viewpoint position adjustment mode that allows height adjustment, and switches the 3D scroll mode and viewpoint position adjustment mode with the first switch element by operating the joystick's pulling direction, in the push-in direction along the axis of the joystick. A configuration is adopted in which the first switch element is used to switch to the destination setting mode by operation.
[0014]
In addition to the above object, the navigation operation device according to claim 3 has a function of rotating the line of sight by an operation around the axis of the joystick so that the line of sight can be rotated even in the viewpoint position adjustment mode. The mode has the following.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in FIGS.
[0016]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a GPS navigation device mounted on, for example, an automobile. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a control unit configured with, for example, a microcomputer.
[0017]
Connected to the control unit 1 are an antenna 2 that receives radio waves from a satellite, a map information memory 3, a display 4 (display unit), and an operation device 5.
[0018]
The map information memory 2 stores map data required to display each point on the map in 3D (solid) so as to be scrollable in each direction.
[0019]
The control unit 1 has a function of detecting the vehicle position according to the satellite radio wave from the antenna 2 and the map data, and a map near the vehicle position on the screen of the display 4, for example, as shown in FIG. A function for 3D display (three-dimensional display) of each point on the map like a scene viewed from a viewpoint looking down from a position, and a function for scrolling the map on the display 4 displayed in the 3D in each direction according to an operation from the operation device 5 , Function to set destination (destination setting mode), function to search travel route from own vehicle position to destination according to destination setting, along with search route while detecting own vehicle position on 3D display map Has a function of guiding the traveling of the vehicle.
[0020]
The present invention is applied to the operation device 5 used for scrolling the 3D display map, rotating the line of sight of the 3D display, adjusting the viewpoint position, and setting the destination. The structure of the operating device 5 is shown in FIGS.
[0021]
The structure of the operating device 5 will be described. Reference numeral 6 in FIG. 2 denotes a main body formed in a box shape, for example, having an operating surface 6a (shown only in FIG. 1) on the upper surface. An operation member, for example, a rod-shaped joystick 7 is disposed in the center of the main body 6 along the vertical direction.
[0022]
The joystick 7 is elastically supported by a plurality of spring members 9 that connect between the upper wall 6 b of the main body 6 and a flange-shaped spring receiving portion 8 formed on the upper outer periphery of the joystick 7. Thus, the entire joystick 7 can be displaced in each of the pushing direction, the pulling direction, and the twisting direction (direction around the axis). A large-diameter knob 10 formed at the upper end (one end) of the joystick 7 protrudes upward from the operation surface 6a, and the knob 10 is used to perform operations in different directions, that is, operations in the pushing direction. Operation in the pulling direction, twisting (rotation) direction, tilting operation in each direction displayed on the operation surface 6a with the indicator 11, that is, tilting operation in each of the eight directions of front / rear / left / right / diagonal is there.
[0023]
Further, the bottom wall portion 6c of the main body 6 facing the tip side of the joystick 7 (the end opposite to the knob 10: the other end) corresponds to a push button switch 12 (second switch element, second switching means): (Hereinafter simply referred to as a switch 12) and a pulling direction contact switch 13 (corresponding to a first switch element and a first switching means: hereinafter simply referred to as a switch 13) are incorporated, and when the joystick 7 is pushed in, this is indicated. When the joystick 7 is pulled, a signal indicating that is output from the switch 13.
[0024]
A sub member 14 is assembled to the upper part of the joystick 7. The sub member 14 is constituted by, for example, a flat and substantially bowl-shaped member whose opening is directed upward. This central portion (axial center) is fitted into the shaft portion of the joystick 7. The saddle-shaped portion of the sub member 14 is elastically supported from below by a plurality of spring members 15 assembled to an annular wall portion 6d protruding from the middle of the side wall of the main body 6 toward the center (axial center) side. The open end of the sub member 14 is abutted against the back surface of the upper wall of the main body 6. When the knob 10 is tilted in accordance with the direction of the indicator 10, the secondary member 13 follows the movement of the knob 10 and tilts in the same direction.
[0025]
A plurality of contact switches 17 (hereinafter simply referred to as switches 17) are incorporated in the upper surface portion of the wall portion 6d and the back surface portion of the upper wall 6b in accordance with the arrangement (eight directions) of the indicators 11, and each indicator When the knob 10 is tilted to 10 directions, the switch 17 in the tilted direction operates (opens and closes), and a signal indicating the tilted direction is output.
[0026]
A switch unit 18 that outputs a signal by operating the knob 10 in the twisting direction is incorporated between the lower part of the joystick 7 and the part of the auxiliary member 14 around it. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the switch portion 18 is formed with chamber portions 19 projecting in a direction perpendicular to the axial center direction of the joystick 7 on both side portions of the auxiliary member 13 sandwiching the joystick 7. A pair of projecting portions 20 projecting into the chamber portion 19 is formed in the chamber portion, and a pair of rotation direction button switches 21 (hereinafter referred to as “rear”) are formed on the inner surface of the chamber portion 19 facing each one side surface (side surface in the same direction) of the projecting portion 20. , Simply referred to as a switch 21). Accordingly, when the knob 10 is twisted in one direction or the other direction, the switch 21 in the twisting direction operates to output a signal that the knob 10 has been operated clockwise or counterclockwise. It is. The knob 10 always returns to the neutral position (centering mechanism) by the elastic force of the pair of spring members 22 installed in the chamber portion 19 on the side opposite to the switch 21 side.
[0027]
Each of these switches 12, 13, 17, and 21 is connected to the control unit 1. The control unit 1 assigns two modes, a 3D scroll mode and a viewpoint position adjustment mode, to the joystick 7. These can be switched by a specific operation of the joystick 7 that is not used in both modes, that is, an operation in the pulling direction of the joystick 7.
[0028]
That is, the 3D scroll mode set in the control unit 1 is
a. When the joystick 7 is tilted in the eight directions indicated by the indicator 11 (tilting operation), the map 3D displayed on the screen of the display 4 is scrolled in the tilted direction by the signal of the switch 17 in each direction output at this time. Function b. When the joystick 7 is rotated to the left and right around the axis (twisting left and right), the map displayed in 3D on the screen of the display 4 is formed in a mode combining a function of rotating in the rotation direction with reference to the line of sight.
[0029]
The viewpoint position adjustment mode set by the control unit 1 is
a. When the joystick 7 is tilted to the back side or pulled to the near side, the viewpoint height of the map displayed in 3D on the screen of the display 4 is raised or lowered by the signal of the switch 17 in the same direction b. When the joystick 7 is rotated to the left and right around the axis (torsional operation on the left and right), it is formed in a mode in which functions for rotating the line of sight on the map displayed on the screen of the display 4 are combined.
[0030]
In addition, the control unit 1 has a function of alternately switching between the 3D scroll mode and the viewpoint position adjustment mode every time the joystick 7 is pulled, and more specifically, every time a signal is output from the switch 13 by the pulling operation. . Thus, every time the joystick 7 is pulled, a scroll mode or a viewpoint position adjustment mode can be selectively assigned to the joystick 7.
[0031]
Further, the controller 1 is set with a function of switching to a destination setting mode for setting a destination by a signal from the switch 12 output at this time when the joystick 7 is pushed in.
[0032]
With such a mode switching function and a destination setting mode switching function, a single joystick 7 is used to scroll the map displayed in 3D on the screen of the display 4 (the state shown in FIG. 5) while scrolling the destination. And the destination can be set.
[0033]
That is, if the operation at this time is described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the map near the vehicle position is displayed in 3D on the screen of the display 4, and the joystick 7 is set in the 3D scroll mode. To do.
[0034]
At this time, for example, first, it is assumed that the viewpoint position on the map displayed in 3D on the display 4 is adjusted to a viewpoint position that makes it easy to find the destination.
[0035]
At this time, the user pulls the joystick 7 upward.
[0036]
Then, the control unit 1 determines that the “pulling operation” has been performed from the signal output from the switch 13, and the control content proceeds from step S1 to step S2 to step S3, and the mode is changed. Thus, the viewpoint position adjustment mode is assigned to the joystick 7 (selection of the viewpoint position adjustment mode).
[0037]
Thereafter, while viewing the map in 3D display, the joystick 7 is tilted forward or tilted forward.
[0038]
Then, the control flow of the control unit 1 proceeds to a routine for specifying the viewpoint changing direction in step S6 or step S7, through step S4 and step S5, according to the signal output from the switch 17, and in step S8. Alternatively, as in step S9, the height of the viewpoint determined by the map displayed in 3D is raised or lowered. Further, the control unit 1 updates the screen in consideration of the movement of the viewpoint as shown in step S10, and the 3D display map changes to a state in which the viewpoint position is changed up and down.
[0039]
At this time, if the direction of rotation of the line of sight is to be adjusted, the knob 10 of the joystick 7 is operated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Then, in accordance with the signal output from each switch 21 by the twisting operation of the joystick 7, the process proceeds from step S5 to step S11, and the line of sight on the map displayed in 3D is determined based on the rotation direction of the joystick 7 (clockwise or counterclockwise). ). Further, in step S11, the screen is updated in consideration of the direction of the line of sight, and the 3D display map changes to a state in which the line of sight is changed in the rotation direction.
[0040]
When the adjustment of the viewpoint position is completed, the joystick 7 is pulled. Then, the control flow of the control unit 1 proceeds from step S5 to step S12 by the signal output from the switch 13, and returns to the 3D scroll mode again. Thereby, the 3D scroll mode is assigned to the joystick 7 (selection of the 3D scroll mode).
[0041]
Thereafter, if the joystick 7 is tilted in the eight directions displayed by the indicator 11 in order to search for a destination while viewing the map displayed in 3D, the control unit 1 outputs from the switch 17 when the joystick 7 is tilted. In accordance with the received signal, the viewpoint is moved in parallel in the direction in which the joystick 7 is tilted as in step S13, and the screen is updated in consideration of the movement of the viewpoint as in step S15. Thereby, the map of 3D display is scrolled in the direction in which the joystick 7 is tilted.
[0042]
Further, if it is necessary to adjust the direction of the line of sight for the search for the destination, if the knob 10 of the joystick 7 is operated in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the signal output from the switch 21 is obtained. The line of sight is rotated (clockwise or counterclockwise) in the rotation direction of the joystick 7 as in step S14, and the screen is updated in consideration of the direction of the line of sight as in step S15. Thereby, the map of 3D display is rotated in the rotation direction of the joystick 7.
[0043]
If the destination is found on the screen using the scroll of the 3D map, the destination is determined by changing to the mode for determining the destination.
[0044]
At this time, the knob 10 of the joystick 7 is pushed in.
[0045]
Then, the control unit 1 receives the signal output from the switch 12, changes to a routine from step S1 to step S16, and switches to the destination setting mode for setting the destination. Then, by using this mode to determine the searched destination, a route from the vehicle position necessary for the navigation function to the destination can be obtained.
[0046]
Thus, with only one operation member, that is, one joystick 7, operations such as 3D display map scrolling, line-of-sight rotation operation, viewpoint height (position) adjustment, and destination setting can be performed without any problem. It is compatible and can provide high operability. In particular, even in the viewpoint position adjustment mode, since the movement of the line of sight can be performed, it is possible to adjust the rotation direction of the line of sight for fine adjustment without switching to the 3D scroll mode.
[0047]
Moreover, since the number of joysticks 7 is only one, there is no trouble that a large operation surface 6a is required or the arrangement of other members is changed.
[0048]
In addition, by switching modes using the pulling direction of the joystick 7, it is possible to perform 3D display map scrolling, adjustment of viewpoint height (position), and destination setting with high operability.
[0049]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which a rod-shaped joystick is used as the operation member has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a joystick having another shape may be used.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to change the line of sight from scrolling a map in 3D display without causing unnecessary trouble by using one operating member by mode switching utilizing the pulling direction. Rotation operation, adjustment of the viewpoint position, and setting of the destination can be performed, and the navigation device can be operated with high operability.
[0051]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above effects, the adoption of a joystick makes it possible to scroll the map in 3D display, rotate the line of sight, adjust the viewpoint position, and to achieve the purpose. There is an effect that the setting of the ground can be performed.
[0052]
According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the above-described effect, there is an effect that it is possible to rotate the line of sight for fine adjustment in the viewpoint position adjustment mode.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance around an operation member of an operation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, together with a configuration of a navigation device.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of the operating device.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing control until a destination is searched while scrolling a map displayed in 3D and set in a destination setting mode;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a map displayed in 3D on the screen of the display.
[Explanation of symbols]
5 ... Operation device 7 ... Joystick (operation member)
12 ... push button switch (second switch element, second switching means)
13 ... Contact switch (first switch element, first switching means).

Claims (3)

3D scroll mode that can be operated in multiple directions and can be scrolled in each direction of the stereoscopic display map and rotated on the horizontal plane by operating from each direction except the push-in direction and pulling direction. And a viewpoint position adjustment mode capable of adjusting the viewpoint position in the map by the operation of
First switching means for switching between the 3D scroll mode and the viewpoint position adjustment mode by an operation in a pulling direction of the operation member;
A navigation operating device comprising: a second switching means for switching to a destination setting mode by operating the pushing direction of the operating member. The operation member is formed of a member that can be operated in a front / rear / left / right diagonal direction, a direction around an axis, and an axis direction, and a three-dimensional display map can be operated by operating from the front / rear / right / left diagonal direction and the direction around the axis. A joystick assigned to each of a 3D scroll mode in which scrolling in each direction and rotation of the line of sight on a horizontal plane and a viewpoint position adjustment mode in which the viewpoint height in the map can be adjusted by operation from the front and rear direction Configured with
The first switching means includes a first switch element that switches between the 3D scroll mode and the viewpoint position adjustment mode by an operation in a pulling direction of the joystick.
2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the second switching unit includes a second switch element that switches to a destination setting mode by an operation in a pushing direction along an axial center direction of the joystick . Operating device . The navigation operation device according to claim 2, wherein the viewpoint position adjustment mode further has a function of rotating a line of sight by an operation around an axis of the joystick.

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