JP5040901B2 - In-vehicle information device and in-vehicle information system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle information device and an in-vehicle information system that are mounted on a vehicle and display information.

  In recent years, car navigation devices not only display the current position of a vehicle on a map or guide a route to a destination, but also have an AV (Audio Visual) function and display various information. It has come to have a function as an in-vehicle information device. In conventional navigation devices, not only car navigation but also applications such as TV and DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) / CD (Compact Disc) can be used, and switching between them is a tab displayed at the bottom of the screen. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-207966 (5th page, FIG. 3)

  In the conventional navigation device, navigation method, and navigation program, one application is selected and used. This function is easy to use in the full screen display that occupies the entire display device. It is difficult to use the so-called sub-screen display that divides and forms a sub-screen and displays it by using multiple applications, and the full screen and sub-screen cannot be switched quickly with a touch switch. There was a problem that there was.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an in-vehicle information device and an in-vehicle information system that can easily switch between applications for displaying a small screen and switching between a full screen and a small screen. Is what you get.

  An in-vehicle information device according to the present invention includes an image display unit that displays an image, an input unit that inputs a user's operation, a recording unit that records an application program for a device, and a processing unit. The processing means forms a sub-screen by dividing the screen of the image display means and a group of tabs for switching the entire screen in which tabs for selecting applications for displaying images on the screen of the image display means are collected. A tab group for switching a small screen in which tabs for selecting an application for displaying an image are gathered is displayed on the image display means, and an application corresponding to the selected tab is read from the recording means by input information from the input means, It is executed on the corresponding screen.

  According to this invention, since the application is switched using the tab group for switching the full screen and the tab group for switching the sub screen, the application of the sub screen can be easily switched between the full screen and the sub screen. Thus, an in-vehicle information device with improved user convenience can be obtained.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an in-vehicle information device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. A main CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1 that is a processing means reads a program from an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 2 that is a recording means in which a program of an application for a device is recorded, and uses the built-in memory 3 as a program execution area. Various processes are performed using it. At that time, the application is switched and executed in accordance with input information from the touch panel 4 as an input means for inputting a user operation, and a screen at the time of executing the application is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5 as an image display means for displaying an image. indicate. In addition, sound is output from the speaker 7 through the amplifier 6. Here, the transmissive touch panel 4 is formed on the liquid crystal monitor 5 as a touch switch, and is configured so that an operation can be easily input according to the display on the liquid crystal monitor 5. You may make it.

  Specifically, the main CPU 1 reads a navigation program from the HDD 2 and starts the navigation program using the built-in memory 3. The map DB is also read from the map DB (database) stored in the HDD 2, and the current position and vehicle speed are read from the navigation device GPS (Global Positioning System) 8 and the vehicle speed pulse 9, respectively, and the current position is superimposed on the map. The displayed display data is created and an image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5. Thereafter, route setting, navigation, and the like are performed by a user operation using the touch panel 4.

  The main CPU 1 also has tabs for selecting applications for navigation devices, AV devices, broadcast receiving devices, communication devices, vehicle control devices, and portable devices connected to the in-vehicle information device for full screen switching. It is displayed on the tab group and the tab group for switching the sub screen. Thereafter, in response to the user's selection of an application tab from the touch panel 4, a DTV (digital television) receiver 10 and a radio receiver 11 that are broadcast receiving devices, or a CD / DVD / BD (Blu-ray) that is an AV device. Disc) Also with respect to the drive 12, each application program is read and executed. Further, via a device I / F (interface) 13, a memory audio 14 that functions as a portable device and an AV device, a mobile phone 15 that functions as a portable device and a communication device, and an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection System) 16 that is a communication device are connected. Thus, it is possible to take out images, sounds and information while controlling each of them. When vehicle control equipment such as an air conditioner is connected, temperature setting or the like may be performed.

  The operation of the in-vehicle information device configured as described above will be described based on the screen display examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the flowchart of FIG. First, a navigation application as shown in FIG. 2A is displayed on a full screen by a predetermined operation after the power is turned on. In this figure, vertical tab groups (100a to 100e) are tab groups for full screen switching, and horizontal tab groups (110a to 110e) are tab groups for switching sub-screens. If, for example, the DTV tab 100b in the right full-screen switching tab group is touched, the DTV is displayed on the full screen as shown in FIG. Further, in the screen state of FIG. 2A, when the DTV tab 110b on the child screen is touched, for example, the navigation screen displayed so far is displayed on the left side as shown in FIG. It is displayed on the sub-screen (Navi-DTV screen). Further, in the state of FIG. 2A, touching, for example, the NAVI tab 110a on the child screen, a navigation-navigation screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 3B. These two navigation screens may be switched between display locations and scales as appropriate.

  Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a flowchart of screen switching. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, an initial full screen display (step S200) is performed. Thereafter, an operation within the current screen is performed (step S210). In other words, the function in the screen is controlled by an icon or the like displayed on the screen. Then, after that, it is determined whether or not a tab in the tab group for switching the full screen (hereinafter referred to as a full screen tab) has been pressed (step S220). If the tab has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S221. If the full-screen tab is not pressed, it is determined whether a tab in the sub-screen switching tab group (hereinafter referred to as a sub-screen tab) has been pressed (step S230). If it has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S231. move on. If it is not pressed, neither the full-screen tab nor the sub-screen tab is pressed, and the process returns to step S210.

  In step S221 after the full screen tab is pressed, it is determined whether or not the full screen display has been performed so far. If it is a full screen display, the screen remains as a full screen and the process proceeds to step S223. If they are different, the two screens are switched to the full screen (step S222), and the process proceeds to step 223. In step S223, an application corresponding to the pressed tab is displayed on the full screen. Thereafter, the process returns to step S210.

  In step S231 after the sub-screen tab is pressed, it is determined whether there have been two screens so far. If they are different, the full screen display is made, so the full screen is displayed as a two-screen display (step S232). However, in that case, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the left screen displays the original full-screen application (step S233) and proceeds to step S234. If there are two screens, the two screens remain unchanged and the process proceeds to step S234. In step S234, the right child screen displays an application corresponding to the pressed tab. Thereafter, the process returns to step S210.

  Although not shown, the same effect can be obtained by arranging a tab group for switching a small screen vertically and arranging a tab group for full screen switching horizontally. Further, horizontal tab groups may be used without using vertical tab groups. In this case, for example, the left tab group may be arranged for full screen switching, and the right tab group may be arranged for sub screen switching. Also, the color, shape, and size of the tabs for switching between full screen and sub screen may be changed. In this case, since it is easy to distinguish, usability improves. For example, for full screen switching, the corners may be round rectangles. Furthermore, the color and shape of the currently selected / displayed tab may be changed from the color and shape of the unselected tab.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, full-screen tabs may be arranged vertically on the left side. In this case, in the case of two screens (FIG. 5B), the left screen is a reduced version of the entire screen, and the right screen is a child screen.

  In the in-vehicle information device configured as described above, since the application is switched using the tab group for switching the full screen and the tab group for switching the sub screen, the application between the full screen and the sub screen, or the application of the sub screen Can be easily switched, and an in-vehicle information device with improved user convenience can be obtained. Also, if one tab group of the tab group for switching the full screen and the tab group for switching the sub-screen is in the horizontal direction and the other tab group is in the vertical direction, these tab groups can be easily distinguished, Improved usability

  Further, when the vertical and horizontal tab groups are arranged on the driver side, the convenience for the driver is improved. In addition, if the horizontal tab groups are used instead of the vertical tab groups, the passenger in the front passenger seat can use it easily. In addition, when the full screen tabs are arranged in the left column, the main screen (left screen of 2 screens) and full screen tabs are continuous, and the sub screen and sub screen tabs are also continuous. Will improve. Furthermore, when the color, shape, and size of the tab are changed, it becomes easier to distinguish, so it is easier to use.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, the length of the tab group for switching the small screen is an appropriate length as shown in FIG. 6A, but in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6B. A display device is described in which the length of the tab group for switching the sub-screen is matched with the size of the sub-screen.

The apparatus configuration here is the same as the block diagram of FIG. 1, and the operation is also the same as the flowchart of FIG. However, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, the length n ₁ of the tab group for the small screen is not the same as the horizontal size N _{1 of the} small screen, but here, FIG. As shown in b), the length n ₂ of the tab group for the child screen is made to correspond to the horizontal size N ₁ of the child screen and aligned. The length of the tab group for full-screen, corresponding to the vertical size M ₁ of the main screen may be the same length.

  Although not shown, the width of the drawing area of the main screen and the sub screen may be changed by dragging the boundary between the two screens. At this time, the size of the tab group for the child screen may be changed in conjunction with the child screen size.

  In the in-vehicle information device configured as described above, the tab group has the same length as the screen width when the application is executed, so that the screen width can be easily understood and the main screen and the sub screen can be easily distinguished. Further, if the boundary between the two screens is changed by dragging, the width of the screen to be viewed can be easily increased, so that convenience is improved.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the first and second embodiments, the tab of the app of the device installed in the vehicle is displayed in advance. However, in the third embodiment, since it can be carried like a portable device, it is attached to the in-vehicle information device. -Describes the tab display of apps that can be removed and the tab display of apps that cannot be used. The apparatus configuration here is the same as the block diagram of FIG. 1, and the operation is also the same as the flowchart of FIG.

  When the device can be used by the device attached to the in-vehicle information device, the tab of the app for that device is displayed. When the app cannot be used by removing the device, omit the tab display. Also good. For example, when the memory audio is not connected, it is the same as in FIG. 6B. However, when the memory audio is connected, as shown in FIG. Memory tabs (101f and 110f) are automatically added to the tab group. The same applies when a mobile phone or the like is connected. When the device I / F 13 is connected by Bluetooth or the like, a tab appears. If the length of the tab group is the same as the length of the child screen, the number of tabs increases because the tab is newly added. For this reason, it is preferable that the width of each tab be slightly narrowed so that the tab group and the screen length are aligned.

  In addition, when the tab of the app for the device is displayed regardless of whether the device is connected or not, when the device is not connected, it is darkly displayed and cannot be used like the memory tabs 101f and 110f in FIG. You may show that it is a function. Alternatively, the shape and size of the tab may be changed. Furthermore, the tab may be displayed darkly even when the broadcast receiving device or communication device such as DTV or radio cannot be received and cannot be used.

  In the in-vehicle information device configured as described above, since the devices and applications that can be used can be readily seen from the tab, the convenience of the user is improved.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
In Embodiments 1 to 3, in order to switch only the left main screen without changing the right screen in the case of two screens, it is necessary to switch to full screen once and then display the sub screen again. The operation becomes complicated. In the fourth embodiment, a tab group for the main screen is provided at the upper left, and the application on the left screen can be switched without displaying the full screen at the time of two screens.

  When, for example, the DTV tab 111b in the tab group (111a to 111e) at the upper left is pressed when the full screen shown in FIG. 9A is displayed, the two screens shown in FIG. 9B are obtained, and the left screen is the DTV video screen. become. In this way, the left screen changes according to the tab, and the right screen displays the application in full screen display. When an appropriate tab in the upper right tab group (110a to 110e) is pressed, the right screen changes according to the pressed tab. When a vertical tab group (101a to 101e) for full screen switching is pressed, the full screen display is changed from the two screen display. In this way, the application and the image can be switched between the full screen and the sub-screen and between the sub-screens.

  In the in-vehicle information device configured as described above, the left screen can be switched without making a full screen in the case of two screens, so that the operation is not complicated. In addition, since the application and the image can be easily switched between the full screen and the sub screen and between the sub screens, the convenience is improved.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
Although the first to fourth embodiments are used as a single device, the fifth embodiment relates to an in-vehicle information system that can control the AV functions and the like of the passenger seat and the rear seat.

  FIG. 10 shows a configuration diagram of the entire system. In this figure, the head unit 20 controls the entire system, provides the user with images, music sources, information, device operations, etc., and has a UI (user interface) for the entire system. The head unit 20 includes a main CPU 1, HDD 2, built-in memory 3, touch panel 4, liquid crystal monitor 5, amplifier 6, and speaker 7.

  In this system, a normal wiring or a wired or wireless in-vehicle LAN (Local Area Network) 17 is used as an in-vehicle network for transmitting signals and information between devices. These connect the components of the system and send audio, video signals, control signals, information, and the like controlled from the head unit 20 to the subunits 21a to 21c. The in-vehicle LAN 17 may be configured by known IEEE 1394 (Institut of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 1394), MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport), or the like. The subunits 21a to 21c connected to the in-vehicle LAN are configured by liquid crystal monitors 5a to 5c controlled by the sub CPUs 1a to 1c and individual speakers 7a to 7c, and provide images and music to the respective sheets. Note that a vehicle control device such as an air conditioner may be connected to the in-vehicle LAN.

  In FIG. 10, a navigation device comprising a GPS 8 and a vehicle speed pulse 9 and a CD / DVD / BD drive 12 are connected to the main CPU 1 of the head unit 20, a memory audio connected to the DTV 10, the radio receiver 11, and the device I / F 13. 14 is connected to the in-vehicle LAN 17, but these devices may be connected to the in-vehicle LAN 17 or to the main CPU 1 of the head unit 20. Moreover, you may comprise a head unit including these apparatuses like the structure shown in FIG.

  After the power is turned on, the entire screen of FIG. 11A is displayed by a predetermined operation, and the entire screen and the left and right child screens are operated as in the fourth embodiment. Here, when the Seat tab 101g is pressed, a 4-minute screen is displayed as shown in FIG. Here, the upper right screen is the driver's seat (in the case of a right-hand drive vehicle), the upper left is the passenger seat, the lower right is the right rear seat, the lower left is the left rear seat screen, and each sub screen has a tab for switching the sub screen Groups are arranged.

  Here, when a tab on the child screen is pressed, the head unit 20 connects the AV source and the like to individual subunits, and controls the sub CPUs 1a to 1c of each subunit to directly execute each application. FIG. 11B displays the result of pressing the upper left DTV tab, lower left radio tab, upper right navigation tab, and lower right Audio tab. At this time, the DTV video flows on the liquid crystal monitor of the subunit in the passenger seat, and the DTV sound flows on the speaker of each seat. Similarly, a radio channel setting screen and radio sound flow in the left rear seat, and a CD / DVD / BD screen and sound flow in the right rear seat. Here, when a tab for a full screen displayed on the liquid crystal monitor of the head unit, for example, the navigation tab 101a is pressed, the liquid crystal monitor of the head unit becomes a full screen display. Here, the sub CPUs 1a to 1c execute each application, but the main CPU 1 may execute each application, and the video and audio of each application may be distributed to each subunit through the in-vehicle LAN.

  The operation of the in-vehicle information system configured as described above will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. First, an initial full screen display (step S300) is performed as shown in FIG. Next, an operation within the current screen is performed (step S310). In other words, the function in the screen is controlled by an icon or the like displayed on the screen. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the tab is pressed (step S320). If the tab is not pressed, the process returns to step S310. When the tab is pressed, it is determined whether the tab is the seat tab 101g (step S330). If the tab is not the seat tab 101g, the switching process between the two screens and the full screen is performed as in the first to fourth embodiments (step S330). S331).

  When the Seat tab 101g is pressed, a four-divided screen is displayed (step S340). Thereafter, an operation (step S350) in each current screen is performed. It is determined whether or not the full screen tabs 101a to 101f have been pressed (step S360). If the full screen tabs 101a to 101f have been pressed, a full screen display corresponding to the tab is displayed (step S361).

  If the full-screen tab is not pressed in step S360, it is determined whether the sub-screen tabs 110a to 110f, 111b to 111f, 112b to 112f, 113b to 113f are pressed (step S370). When the sub-screen tab is not pressed, the process returns to step S350. When the button is pressed, the application is switched according to each tab (step S371), and then the process returns to step S350. Although not displayed in the screen, when the return tab or the return icon is pressed, the screen before the screen is displayed may be displayed, and the process may return to step S310.

  Although the AV source is mainly controlled here, individual seat functions such as an air conditioner may be controlled. In addition, the tab group for switching the small screen in the horizontal direction and the tab group for switching the full screen in the vertical direction are arranged, but the tab group for switching the small screen in the vertical direction and the tab for switching the full screen in the horizontal direction. Groups may be placed. When there are two rear seats, the screen is divided into six parts, and this display is easier to understand because it matches the seat arrangement.

  In addition, in this embodiment, since the liquid crystal monitor of the subunit does not have a touch panel, when the user of each seat changes the AV source or the like, the driver or the like changes the AV source or the like. You may go. Further, a touch panel may be installed on the liquid crystal monitor of each seat so that the AV source or the like can be changed using the touch panel of each seat.

  In the in-vehicle information device configured as described above, an individual device can be used for each seat, so that each user's preference can be accommodated. In addition, since the switching between the full screen and the four-split screen and the switching of each application between the four-split screens can be easily performed, the convenience is further improved.

It is a block diagram which shows Embodiment 1-4 of this invention. It is an example of the full screen display which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an example of the small-screen display which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of Embodiment 1-4 of this invention. It is another example of the screen display which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an example of the screen display which shows Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is an example of the screen display which shows Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is an example of the screen display which shows Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is an example of the screen display which shows Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is an example of the screen display which shows Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of Embodiment 5 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Main CPU (processing means)
2 HDD (recording means)
3 Built-in memory 4 Touch panel (input means)
5 LCD monitor (image display means)
6 Amplifier 7 Speaker 8 GPS
9 Vehicle speed pulse 10 DTV
11 Radio receiver 12 CD / DVD / BD drive 13 Equipment I / F
14 Memory audio 15 Mobile phone 16 ETC
17 Car LAN
20 Head unit 21a Sub unit 1
21b Subunit 2
21c Subunit 3
100a to 100e Full screen tab 101a to 101f Full screen tab 101g Seat tab 110a to 110f Sub screen tab 111a to 111f Sub screen tab 112b to 112f Sub screen tab 113b to 113f Sub screen tab

Claims (9)

Image display means for displaying an image;
An input means for inputting a user operation;
Recording means for recording a program of an application for a device;
A tab group for switching the entire screen in which tabs for selecting the application for displaying an image on the screen of the image display means are assembled, and a screen is formed by dividing the screen of the image display means to form an image on the child screen. A tab group for switching a small screen in which tabs for selecting the application to be displayed are gathered is displayed on the image display means, and the application corresponding to the selected tab is recorded in the image display means according to input information from the input means An in-vehicle information device comprising processing means that reads out from the means and executes it on a corresponding screen.   The processing means includes a tab for selecting at least one application among the applications for navigation devices, AV devices, broadcast receiving devices, communication devices, vehicle control devices, and portable devices, for switching the full screen. The in-vehicle information device according to claim 1, wherein the information is displayed on a tab group and the tab group for switching the small screen.   The in-vehicle information device according to claim 1, wherein the tab group for switching the full screen and the tab group for switching the sub-screen are arranged such that one tab group is aligned in the horizontal direction and the other tab group is aligned in the vertical direction.   2. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1, wherein a length of at least one of the full-screen switching tab group and the sub-screen switching tab group corresponds to a length of an execution screen of the application in contact with the tab group. Information device.   The processing means changes the length of the tab group for switching the sub-screen accordingly when the boundary of the sub-screen is operated by the input information from the input means and the length of the sub-screen changes. The in-vehicle information device according to claim 4.   2. The device according to claim 1, wherein, when a device is connected, a tab for selecting an application for the device is displayed on the full-screen switching tab group and the sub-screen switching tab group. 4. The in-vehicle information device according to any one of 4 above.   When the broadcast receiving device or the communication device is not receivable or when the connection of the device is released, the processing means is configured to select the full screen switching tab group and the sub screen switching tab group. The in-vehicle information device according to claim 1, wherein a tab for selecting an application for a device is not displayed or a color or a shape is changed. An in-vehicle network for transmitting signals;
A sub-unit connected to the in-vehicle network and having display means corresponding to a seat, sound output means, and control means;
A head unit connected to the in-vehicle network and comprising the in-vehicle information device according to claim 1,
A device connected to the in-vehicle network or the head unit directly or via a device interface that mediates connection;
The head unit is an in-vehicle information system that performs control to execute the application corresponding to the selected tab or to be executed by the corresponding subunit.   The in-vehicle information system according to claim 8, wherein the head unit forms the sub-screen according to the arrangement of a plurality of seats, and the tab groups for switching the sub-screen are arranged in correspondence with the sub-screen.

Images