JPH07271809A - On-vehicle display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an on-vehicle display device capable of improving operability for the selection of an item from a menu screen having hierarchical structure by displaying indexes corresponding to an item group in each hierarchy on the menu screen by a display means. CONSTITUTION:Indexes corresponding to an item group in each hierarchy obtained by hierarchically constituting the items of various information are displayed on the menu screen of each hierarchy. When a crew touches any one of selecting items displayed on a display 2, the selected item is detected by a touch panel 3 and display switching processing or item setting processing corresponding to the touched item is executed. Since the indexes corresponding to the item group of each hierarchy are displayed, which hierarchy where the selecting operation is applied at present can easily be grasped and a feeling of safeness can be obtained even in the case of selecting an item from a menu screen with a deep hierarchy.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted display device for displaying various information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle-mounted display device is known in which a specific item is selected from a plurality of information items and operation items displayed on a menu screen and desired information is displayed and operated. . In this type of display device, if many items are displayed on one screen, it becomes difficult to see. Therefore, when the number of items is large, the menu is divided into a plurality of menu screens, and the menu screen of the upper hierarchy is changed to the menu of the lower hierarchy. The screens are sequentially displayed to select the items in each layer, and finally the desired item can be selected.

In such an item selecting operation, if an erroneous operation is performed or if it is desired to confirm the item of the upper hierarchy selected previously, the user should return to the menu screen of the upper hierarchy to redo the selecting operation or set the item. May check the items in the upper hierarchy of. In such a case, in order to avoid going back to the highest level and starting the selection operation again from the beginning, a touch panel switch for the "previous page" is provided in the screen, and the "previous page" switch is operated to There has been proposed a display device capable of returning to the hierarchy (for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.
(See Japanese Patent Publication No. 173821).

However, in the above-described display device, as the hierarchy becomes deeper, it becomes more difficult to grasp in which hierarchy the selection operation is currently performed, and there is a problem that it becomes uneasy. In addition, there is a problem that the "previous page" switch has to be operated many times when returning to the higher hierarchy, which is a troublesome operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle display device which has improved operability when selecting items on a menu screen having a hierarchical structure.

[0006]

The present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7 showing an embodiment. According to the invention of claim 1, a menu screen for each layer is formed by layering various items of information. The present invention is applied to an in-vehicle display device having a display means for sequentially displaying from a menu screen of a higher hierarchy and a selection means for selecting an arbitrary item from a menu screen of each hierarchy, and the items of each hierarchy are displayed by the display means. By displaying the indexes 301 to 305 corresponding to the group on the menu screen, the above object is achieved. In the vehicle-mounted display device according to claim 2, the indexes 301 to 305 from the highest hierarchy to the hierarchy currently displaying the menu screen are displayed by the display means.
Is to be displayed. According to the vehicle-mounted display device of the third aspect, when any one of the indexes is selected by the selection means by the display means, the menu screen of the hierarchy corresponding to the selected index is switched to.

[0007]

The indexes 301 to 305 corresponding to the item group of each layer are displayed on the menu screen for each layer, which is configured by layering various information items. As a result, it is possible to easily understand in which hierarchy the selection operation is currently performed, and a sense of security can be obtained even when the item selection operation is performed on the menu screen of the deep hierarchy. Also, when returning to the menu screen of the higher hierarchy, it is possible to surely return to the menu screen of the desired hierarchy by operating the "previous page" switch while looking at the index. When any one of the indexes is selected by the selecting means, the menu screen of the hierarchy corresponding to the selected index is displayed. As a result, it is possible to return directly to the menu screen of the hierarchy corresponding to the index selected by the selection means without having to operate the "previous page" switch many times, and the operability at the time of item selection is improved.

Incidentally, in the section of means and action for solving the above problems for explaining the constitution of the present invention, the drawings of the embodiments are used for the purpose of making the present invention easy to understand. It is not limited to.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the in-vehicle display device of the present invention is applied to a display device of an in-vehicle navigation device will be described. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment. The vehicle-mounted display device of this embodiment includes a control circuit 1, a display 2 and a touch panel 3. The control circuit 1 includes a microcomputer and peripheral components such as the ROM 1a and the RAM 1b, and executes a control program described later to perform an item selection process on the menu screen. Information such as control programs, menu screens, and selection items is stored in the ROM 1a in advance. Display 2 is CRT or LCD
Various information such as a menu screen is displayed on a display device such as. The touch panel 3 is provided on the front surface of the display 2 and detects a position touched by an occupant on the display screen by infrared rays or the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of selection items on a menu screen for setting a destination. The selection items are hierarchized in five stages from the first highest layer to the fifth lowest layer, and are sequentially displayed on the display 2 from the menu screen of the first highest layer.

3 to 7 are views showing examples of menu screens for setting a destination. In these figures, "input" 301 and "traffic" 30 displayed at the top of the display screen
2, "prefecture name" 303, "route" 304, "station name" 305
Is an index when "transportation" is selected in the first layer. These indexes correspond to the selection item groups of each hierarchy shown in FIG. 2, and represent the types of selection item groups of each hierarchy. Indexes are displayed from left to right each time item selection processing is performed in each layer. "Input" 301
Is an index corresponding to the selection process of the first hierarchy for selecting the input type of the destination from among “facility”, “place name” and “transportation”. Also, "Traffic" 302 is an index corresponding to the selection process of the transportation system of the second layer when "Traffic" is selected in the first layer, and "Prefecture name" 303 is the case where "Traffic" is selected in the first layer. It is an index corresponding to the selection process of the prefecture names of the third hierarchy of. Furthermore, the “route” 304 is the fourth when “transportation” is selected in the first layer.
The index corresponding to the selection process of the route of the hierarchy, "Station name" 305 is the fifth when "Transportation" is selected in the first hierarchy.
It is an index corresponding to the process of selecting a station name of a hierarchy.
When “facility” or “place name” is selected in the first layer, an index indicating the type of selection item group is displayed in each layer.

When an occupant touches any of the selection items displayed on the display 2, the touch panel 3 detects which selection item is touched, and a display switching process and an item setting process corresponding to the touched selection item are performed. Be seen. That is, the selection items displayed on the display 2 serve as a switch for activating various processes by interlocking with the touch panel 3. Therefore, hereinafter, each selection item is referred to as a switch, and the selection item on the display screen is touched. This is called operating a switch.

FIG. 3 shows a menu screen for selecting the input type of the first layer. In this menu screen, enter 30
The index of 1 is displayed, and the "previous page" 306 for returning to the menu screen of the immediately previous layer is displayed.
Then, “facility” 310, “transportation” 311 and “place name” 312, which are the selection items of the first layer, are displayed.

When the passenger touches the selection item of "traffic" 311 on the input type menu screen shown in FIG. 3, that is, when the "traffic" switch 311 is operated, the menu screen displays the second type traffic type shown in FIG. Switch to the menu screen to select. On this menu screen, "Input" 301
In addition to the index of “Transportation” 302, the “Previous page” 306, the selection items of the second layer “JR” 320, “Airport” 321,
“Private railway” 322 and “port” 323 are displayed.

When an occupant operates the "JR" 320 switch on the traffic type menu screen shown in FIG. 4, the menu screen is switched to the menu screen for selecting the prefecture name of the third hierarchy shown in FIG. In this menu screen, enter 3
01, "Traffic" 302 index plus "prefecture name" 3
No. 03 index is displayed, "Previous page" 306 and prefecture name selection switches 330, 331
And the prefecture name changeover switches 332, 333 are displayed. The occupant operates the prefecture name switch 332 or 333 to switch the display of the prefecture name, and when the desired prefecture name is displayed, operates the selection switch 330 or 331 to select it.

When an occupant selects "Tokyo" on the menu screen of prefectures shown in FIG. 5, the menu screen is displayed as shown in FIG.
The screen switches to the menu screen for selecting the route name of the fourth layer shown in. On this menu screen, in addition to the indexes of "input" 301, "traffic" 302 and "prefecture name" 303, a new index of "route" 304 is displayed, and "previous page" 306 and route name selection Switches 340 and 341 and route name changeover switches 342 and 3
43 and are displayed. The crew has a line name switch 3
Operate 42 or 343 to switch the route name display,
When the desired route name is displayed, the selection switch 340 or 341 is operated to select it.

When the occupant selects "Yamanote Line" from the menu screen of the route name shown in FIG. 6, the menu screen is switched to the menu screen shown in FIG. 7 for selecting the station name of the fifth layer. In this menu screen, "Input" 301, "Transportation"
In addition to the indexes of 302, “prefecture name” 303 and “route” 304, a new index of “station name” 305 is displayed, and “previous page” 306, station name selection switches 350 and 351, and station name changeover switch 35
2, 353 are displayed. The occupant operates the station name changeover switch 352 or 353 to switch the display of the station name, and when the desired station name is displayed, operates the selection switch 350 or 351 to select.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the control program of the microcomputer. The operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to this flowchart. When the occupant performs an operation to select one of the multiple information items, or while executing another control program, it is necessary to allow the occupant to select one of the multiple information items. Then, the microcomputer of the control circuit 1 starts executing this control program. First, in step S1, the variable n representing the hierarchy of the selection item of the hierarchical structure stored in the RAM 1b is set to 1, and the process proceeds to step S2 to display the menu screen for selecting the item of the nth hierarchy on the display 2 To display. In a succeeding step S3, indexes from the highest hierarchy to the nth hierarchy are displayed on the upper part of the display screen. The operation waits for any switch to be operated in step S4, and when any switch is operated, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, it is determined whether or not the "previous page" switch 306 has been operated, and the "previous page"
If the switch 306 is operated, the process proceeds to step S6, and if not, the process proceeds to step S9. When the "previous page" switch 306 is operated, the variable n representing the hierarchy is decremented in step S6, and the variable n is continued in step S7.
Is determined to be 0 or not. If the variable n is 0, step S
8. If not, skip step S8. When the variable n is 0, n is set to 1 in step S8, the process returns to step S2, and the above process is repeated. On the other hand, when the "previous page" switch 306 is not operated in step S5, it is determined in step S9 whether or not the selection item switch for advancing to the menu screen of the next layer is operated, and if it is operated, the step is performed. If not, the process proceeds to step S11. When the selection item switch that advances to the next layer is operated, the variable n is incremented in step S10, the process returns to step S2, and the above-described processing is repeated. When the selection item switch for advancing to the next layer is not operated among the selection item switches displayed on the menu screen, the process corresponding to the other selection item switches operated in step S11 is performed. At this time, if the layer is the lowest layer, the selected item is finally set. In step S12, when any information item is finally selected on the menu screen of the lowest layer, or when a forced termination switch (not shown) is operated, execution of the control program is terminated, and otherwise. It returns to step S4 and waits for any switch to be operated.

As described above, since the index indicating the type of item selection operation performed up to that time is displayed on the hierarchically structured menu screen, it is possible to easily grasp in which hierarchy the selection operation is currently performed. , A sense of security can be obtained even when performing an item selection operation on a menu screen in a deep hierarchy. Also, when returning to the upper layer, it is possible to surely return to the desired layer by operating the "previous page" switch while looking at the index.

In the above-described embodiment, the indexes displayed on the menu screen simply represent the types of item selection operations performed up to that point, but the indexes are switched by interlocking these indexes with the touch panel 3. May function as. Figure 9
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a fifth level menu screen for destination setting shown in FIG. 2. Index switches “input” 361, “traffic” 362, “prefecture name” 363, “route” 364 and “station name” 365 are displayed at the top of the menu screen. When the occupant touches any index, the touch panel 3 detects which index is touched, and the menu screen corresponding to the touched index is read and displayed. For example, when the menu screen for selecting a station name is displayed and the prefecture name already selected is incorrect, the "prefecture name" index switch 363 is touched, that is, the switch 363 is operated. Then, the "prefecture name" menu screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed immediately without going through the "route" menu screen from the "station name" menu screen, and the "prefecture name" selection can be redone. Note that, in FIG. 9, the other item selection switches are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

10 and 11 are flowcharts showing a control program of a modification of the embodiment provided with the index switch. It should be noted that the same step numbers are given to the steps that perform the same processing as in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, and the differences will be mainly described. When the "previous page" switch 306 is not operated and the selection item switch for advancing to the next layer is not operated, the process proceeds to step S21, and the first page
It is determined whether or not the mth index switch has been operated from the hierarchy, and when the mth index switch has been operated, the process proceeds to step S22. In step S22,
The variable n indicating the hierarchy is set to m, and the process returns to step S2.
The menu screen of the nth layer corresponding to the mth index switch is displayed. On the other hand, when none of the index switches is operated, the process proceeds to step S11,
A process corresponding to the operated other selection item switch is performed.

As described above, the hierarchical structure menu screen is provided with the index switch indicating the kind of the item selecting operation performed so far, so that it is possible to easily grasp in which hierarchy the selecting operation is currently performed. , You can feel secure even when performing item selection operations on a deep menu screen, and if you operate the index switch, you will return directly to the desired menu screen without repeatedly operating the "previous page" switch. It is possible to improve the operability when selecting items.

The selecting means is not limited to the infrared touch panel of the above-mentioned embodiment and its modification. For example, you may make it select a selection item and an index with a cross line and a direction key. Further, the application example of the present invention is not limited to the navigation devices of the above-described embodiment and its modifications.

In the configuration of the above embodiment, the control circuit 1
The display 2 constitutes a display unit, and the touch panel 3 constitutes a selection unit.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the index corresponding to the item group of each layer is displayed on the menu screen for each layer which is configured by layering various information items. Therefore, it is possible to easily understand in which hierarchy the selection operation is currently performed, and a sense of security can be obtained even when the item selection operation is performed on the menu screen of the deep hierarchy. Also, when returning to the menu screen of the higher hierarchy, it is possible to surely return to the menu screen of the desired hierarchy by operating the "previous page" switch while looking at the index. Further, when any one of the indexes is selected by the selection means, the menu screen of the hierarchy corresponding to the selected index is switched, so that it is not necessary to operate the "previous page" switch many times, and the selection means By doing so, it is possible to directly return to the menu screen of the layer corresponding to the selected index, and the operability at the time of item selection is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of selection items on a menu screen for setting a destination.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen for selecting an input type of the first layer for setting a destination.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen for selecting a traffic type of the second layer for setting a destination.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen for selecting a prefecture name in the third layer for setting a destination.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen for selecting a route name of the fourth layer for setting a destination.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen for selecting a station name of the fifth layer for setting a destination.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a control program of the microcomputer of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a case where an index switch is provided on a menu screen for selecting a station name on the fifth layer for setting a destination.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a control program of a modified example of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a control program example of a modified example of the embodiment, following FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 control circuit 1a ROM 1b RAM 2 display 3 touch panel 301-305 index 306 previous page switch 310-312, 320-323, 330-333, 3
40-343, 350-353 Selection item switch 361-365 Index switch

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Reference number in the agency FI Technical display location G09B 29/10 A (72) Inventor Tadashi Sakikawa 2499-1 Hironodai, Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture (72) Inventor, Yoichi Nakamura, 2-4991, Hironodai, Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Inc. (72) Inventor, Yoichi Nakamura (72), Inventor, Yoichi Ueda, 2-491, Hironodai, Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture・ Informatics (72) Inventor Toru Saito 2-4991 Hironodai, Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Xanavi Co., Ltd. Informatics (72) Inventor: Shoichiro Morita 2-491, Hironodai, Zama City, Kanagawa, Ltd. In informatics

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A display unit having a menu screen for each layer, which is configured by layering various information items, and displaying sequentially from a menu screen of an upper layer, and an arbitrary item from the menu screen of each layer. In the in-vehicle display device, the display device displays an index corresponding to an item group of each layer on a menu screen. 2. The in-vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays an index from a highest hierarchy to a hierarchy in which a menu screen is currently being displayed. 3. The in-vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit, when any index is selected by the selection unit, a menu screen of a layer corresponding to the selected index. In-vehicle display device characterized by switching to.