JPH09145385A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the portability by forming the body of a plurality of collapsible sections coupled through hinges. SOLUTION: The navigation system comprises means for measuring the latitude and longitude of current position, a transparent display section 1 to be superposed on a map provided with reference lines for sectioning the map into a plurality of frame areas, and a reference line display section 21 for displaying the position to be matched with the reference line on the map, wherein the current position on the map is indicated by a current position mark M on the display section 1. The body 4 is formed of a plurality of collapsible sections coupled through hinges 6. The transparent display section 1 is formed as a recess in one body section such that it can contain at least a part of other body section when the body is folded. This structure can reduce the thickness of folded body.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device for displaying the current position of a vehicle or a person by using a positioning means such as GPS, and more particularly to a navigation device having a transmissive display portion superimposed on a map.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a navigation device, map information obtained by digitizing each point on a road on a map is referred to as a CD-RO.
It is stored in a storage medium such as an M or IC card, and the current location is GPS
Such a method has been put to practical use in which positioning is performed by positioning means such as the above, and map information around the current location is read from a storage medium and displayed on a display device. However, the map information is CD-RO
When stored in a storage medium such as an M or an IC card, a storage device and a data reading device from the storage medium are required, and it takes a lot of time to create map information, which reduces costs. It is difficult.

For this reason, an ordinary map type, that is, a transmissive display panel is used on a map as a reference line (usually a longitude line and a latitude line) on the map and a reference line on the device side. By matching with each other, a fixed current position display mark provided on the display panel displays the current position. An example is shown in FIG. The apparatus main body 4 having a positioning means and a control means such as GPS has a transparent display unit 1, a reference line display unit 21 arranged so as to surround the display unit 1, and a latitude and longitude of the current location. The display unit 22 includes a liquid crystal display for displaying numerical values, a plurality of input keys K1 to K6, and a cross-shaped cursor key K7. In the figure, 3 is an antenna. Keys K1 to K above
Among them, the key K1 is for setting the present position display mode, the key K2 is for selecting the map system, the key K3 is for setting the scale of the map to be used, and the key K4 is the destination. The key K5 is for setting, the key K5 is for selecting a menu, and the key K6 is for instructing and determining input data.

The display unit 1 is formed of a transparent plate having a current position mark M in the center thereof, and the display unit 1 has a main body 4 as shown in FIG.
It is fitted in the window holes penetrating the front and back sides of the device main body 4 on the back side thereof. The surrounding reference line display portion 22 is formed by a light emitting diode array. In this device, when the power switch SW is turned on, positioning operation of the current position is performed by the positioning means, and the positioning result is displayed on the display unit 22. At the same time as the display on the display unit 22, the position of the reference line for overlapping with the map is displayed on the reference line display unit 2.
It is displayed by turning on the light emitting diode (LED) at the appropriate position of 1. That is, the current location is 136 ° 1 east longitude
If it is 5'50 "and 34 ° 54'20" north latitude, this value is displayed on the display unit 22 and the reference longitude (136 ° 15'00 "east longitude) and latitude (34 ° north latitude 34 ° 5)
4′00 ″) is displayed by the light emission of the LED at the position determined by the preset scale with respect to the current position mark M on the reference line display unit 21. Therefore, the display unit 1 is superimposed on the map. When the longitude line and the latitude line marked on the map in the state are aligned with the reference line display portion 21, the point displayed by the current position mark M becomes the current position.

[0005]

Here, in order to improve the listability, the area of the transmissive display unit 1 must be large, but the keys K1 to K7 and the other display units 21,
The entire size including 22 becomes considerably large, and there is a problem in portability. As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-45438, if the apparatus main body is made to be foldable, it becomes smaller at the time of folding, but since the thickness doubles, improvement in portability cannot be expected, and especially Considering the case of carrying around, increasing the thickness rather deteriorates portability.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device which is highly portable.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the present invention provides a positioning means for positioning the latitude and longitude of the current location, and a transmissive display section that is superposed on a map and has a reference line that divides into a plurality of frame areas. In a navigation device that includes a reference line display unit that displays a reference line on the map and a position to be aligned, and displays the current position on the map by the current position mark on the display unit, the device body is freely foldable by a hinge unit. Is formed of a plurality of bodies connected to each other, the transmission type display portion provided on one of the bodies is formed as a recess, and at least a part of the other body is folded into the display portion. The feature is that it can be stored freely. Since at least a part of one body is stored in the transmissive display that is a recess when folded,
The thickness can be reduced.

In this case, it is preferable that the antenna of the positioning means projects from either one of the bodies, and in particular, it is provided on the side opposite to the hinge side of the body having the transmissive display section. . Further, the main body of the apparatus comprises a first container having a transmissive display unit and a second container having an operation unit, and the operation unit is formed as a recess when folded. The transmission type display section in this case may be formed of a transparent plate made of a soft material or a window hole penetrating the main body of the apparatus to display the present location. The mark is preferably formed by a wire stretched in this window hole. Further, it is desirable that the reference line display portion is formed on the periphery of the transmissive display portion.

It is also preferable to include a power switch that is turned on and off in association with folding and opening. When the positioning means has a high-level positioning function, the elevation angle of the destination may be displayed at the folding angle. In this case, it is more preferable to provide the elevation angle display section on the hinge section.

The orientation of the antenna may be variable with respect to the apparatus body, but it may be built in the apparatus body. It is also preferable to provide a map storage section on the back side of the transmissive display section. It is recommended that the hinge part be provided with a waterproof seal. Further, it is also preferable to provide a low frictional resistance portion on the back surface side of the transmissive display portion in the apparatus body.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the appearance of an apparatus, and an apparatus main body 4 incorporating a positioning means and a control means such as GPS, It is formed of two vessels 4a and 4b that are foldably connected by a hinge portion 6, and
The antenna 3 is projected from the opposite side of the hinge portion 6 of the one body 4a. In the figure, 9 is a compass. Here, the body 4a and the antenna 3 are thinner than the body 4b, and the body 4b is thicker than the body 4a, but smaller in size.

The transmissive display unit 1 is provided on the body 4a side. Further, a reference line display portion 21 formed of a light emitting diode array provided so as to surround the display portion 1 is also provided on the body 4a side. The display unit 22 formed of a liquid crystal display for displaying the latitude and longitude of the current position by numerical values, the power switch SW, the plurality of input keys K1 to K6 and the cross-shaped cursor key K7 are provided on the body 4b side. ing. The operation based on the operation of these operation units will be omitted.

The transmissive display unit 1 is formed of a transparent plate in which a current position mark M is formed as a through hole at the center thereof, and a window hole penetrating the front and back of the device body 4 is provided on the back side of the device body 4. Has been embedded in. For this reason, the front surface of the display unit 1 is a recess. In this device, when the power switch SW is turned on as in the conventional example, the positioning means performs the positioning operation of the current position, and the positioning result is displayed on the display unit 22. Simultaneously with the display on the display unit 22, the position of the reference line for overlapping with the map is displayed by turning on a light emitting diode (LED) at an appropriate position of the reference line display unit 21. That is, the current location is East longitude 1
If it is 36 ° 15'50 "and north latitude 34 ° 54'20", this value is displayed on the display unit 22 and the reference longitude (136 ° 15'00 "east longitude) and latitude (north latitude 3
4 ° 54′00 ″) is displayed by the light emission of the LED at the position determined by the preset scale with respect to the current position mark M in the reference line display unit 21. For this purpose, the display unit 1 is displayed on the map. If the above-mentioned longitude line and latitude line marked on the map are overlapped with the reference line display portion, the point displayed by the current position mark M becomes the current position. The reference line is the longitude line and the latitude line. It is not necessary and may be a frame area designated in advance by a matrix number or the like.

The device body 4 according to the present invention can be folded by the hinge portion 6. At the time of folding, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front surface of the body 4b. The side is fitted into the transmissive display unit 1 which is a recess on the front surface of the body 4a. The thickness at the time of folding can be reduced by the depth of fitting.

When folded, as is apparent from FIG. 3, the display unit 22 and the operation unit are exposed in the transmissive display unit 1, and the display unit 22 and the operation unit are exposed from the rear surface side of the transmissive display unit 1. Although it can be seen, by making the transparent plate forming the display unit 1 of a soft material, it is possible to operate the operation unit through the transparent plate even in the folded state. There is.
It should be noted that even when folded, the antenna 3 is in a state of protruding to the outside, and therefore there is no problem in positioning by the positioning means. Also, the antenna 3 here
Is attached to the body 4a so as to be rotatable about the shaft 30, so that the display unit 22 can be folded.
Also, the antenna 3 can be directed upward even when the operation unit can be viewed through the display unit 1.

A transmissive display unit 1 having a current position mark M
In order to enable the operation of the operation section through the display section 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the display section 1 is formed as a window hole penetrating the body 4a, and the current position mark M is hung by the wire 15 stretched in this window hole. It may be one. The display unit 1 may be a transparent touch panel corresponding to the operation unit on the body 4b side.

In the case where it may not be operated in the folded state, the power switch SW is pushed to the side of the body 4a to turn it off when folded, and the power switch turns on when opened. By doing so, it is not necessary to turn on / off the power switch SW. The elevation angle display unit 23 provided in the hinge unit 6 is effective when the positioning unit also has an advanced positioning function and can calculate the elevation angle of the destination with respect to the current location. As shown in FIG. 5, if the calculated elevation angle and the angle on the elevation display unit 23 are coincident with each other, as shown in FIG.
When the body 4b is horizontal, the body 4a and the antenna 3 indicate the elevation angle of the destination, which makes it easier to estimate the destination.

The antenna 3 may be built in the body 4b as shown in FIG. 7 or may be built in the body 4a.
Wiring to the antenna 3 becomes easy. In particular, if the antenna is also built in the body on the side where the positioning means is built, the wiring to the antenna 3 can be performed without passing through the hinge portion 6. FIG. 8 shows an example in which a map folder 7 which is slidable to the back side is provided on both side surfaces of the body 4a. The map 5 can be sandwiched between the folder 7 and the rear surface of the body 4a. In this case, it becomes easy to refer to the map while carrying it.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, by providing a convex rib 40 around the display unit 1 on the back side of the body 4a, when the apparatus body 4 is placed on the map 5, the apparatus body 4 slides on the map 5. Shows the improved version. As shown in FIG. 10, even if a tape 41 having a low frictional resistance coefficient is attached to the back surface, slippage can be improved. FIG. 11 shows the structure of the hinge portion 6, and by inserting both ends of the cylinder shaft 46 into the bearing cylinder 44 on the side of the body 4a and the bearing cylinder 45 on the side of the body 4b, the body 4b with respect to the body 4a is inserted. It is freely rotatable. Body 4
The lead wire 60 connecting the positioning means and control means in b to the reference line display portion 21 and the like on the side of the body 4a passes through the cylinder shaft 46. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder shaft 46, the bearing cylinders 44,
Waterproof seal 4 consisting of an O-ring that slidably contacts the inner surface of 45
By disposing 7,47, the hinge part 3 is waterproofed.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, the main body of the apparatus is formed of a plurality of containers which are foldably connected by the hinge portion, and the transmission type display portion provided on one of the containers is provided. A recess is formed so that at least a part of the other body can be stored in the display section when folded, and at least one of the one body is included in the transmissive display section that is a recess when folded. Since the portion is stored, it is possible to reduce the thickness. For this reason, it is possible to fold it, and the thickness does not double even when folded, which makes it highly portable.

In this case, if the antenna of the positioning means is projected from either one of the bodies, especially if it is provided on the side opposite to the hinge side of the body having the transmissive display unit, the antenna is folded. Even in this case, the reception of radio waves by the antenna will not be hindered. Further, the main body of the apparatus comprises a first container having a transmissive display unit and a second container having an operation unit, and the operation unit is formed as a recess when folded. When it is not operated overlapping the map, it can be used in the folded state by facing the display unit and being operable through the display unit. In this case, the transmissive display unit is formed of a transparent plate made of a soft material, or is formed of a window hole penetrating the apparatus main body and the current position mark is formed of a wire stretched in the window hole. There is no hindrance to the operation. Also,
If the reference line display portion is formed on the periphery of the transmissive display portion, the reference line display portion does not interfere.

When a power switch that is turned on and off in association with folding and opening is provided, it is not necessary to turn the power switch on and off, and it is possible to avoid forgetting to turn off the power switch. If the positioning means has a high-level positioning function, if the elevation angle of the destination can be displayed with the folding angle, the elevation angle of the destination can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner. If it is provided in the section, the elevation angle display based on the folding angle can be accurately performed.

It is preferable that the antenna has a variable orientation with respect to the main body of the apparatus, regardless of the posture in which it is used, but when it is built in the main body of the apparatus, wiring to the antenna becomes easy. If a map storage is provided on the back side of the transmissive display, it can be used while being carried. Further, it is preferable in terms of waterproofness that the hinge portion is provided with a waterproof seal.

Further, if a low friction resistance portion is provided on the back surface side of the transmissive display portion in the device body, it becomes easy to place the device body on the map and align the reference line.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the same when folded.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the same when folded.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a usage state of the same.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing another example of the above.

FIG. 7 is a front view of another example of the same.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of still another example of the above.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another example of the above.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a different example of the above.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a hinge portion.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 M current position mark 1 display unit 4 device body 6 hinge unit 21 reference line display unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kaname Okuno 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Toyokatsu Okamoto 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A positioning unit that measures the latitude and longitude of the current location, a transparent display unit that includes a reference line that divides into a plurality of frame areas and that is superimposed on a map, and a position that should be aligned with the reference line on the map. In a navigation device that includes a reference line display unit that displays, and a current position mark on the display unit that displays the current position on the map, the device body is formed of a plurality of bodies that are foldably connected by a hinge portion. In addition, the navigation is characterized in that the transmissive display part provided on one body is formed as a recess so that at least a part of the other body can be stored in the display part when folded. apparatus. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna in the positioning means projects from either one of the bodies. 3. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the antenna is provided on the side opposite to the hinge side in the body provided with the transmissive display unit. 4. The first device body includes a transmissive display unit.
And a second body having an operation portion, and when the folding operation is performed, the operation portion faces a transmissive display portion formed as a recess and can be operated through the display portion. The navigation device according to claim 1. 5. The navigation device according to claim 4, wherein the transmissive display unit is formed of a transparent plate made of a soft material. 6. The navigation device according to claim 4, wherein the transmissive display unit is a window hole penetrating the device body, and the current position mark is formed by a wire stretched in the window hole. 7. The navigation device according to claim 4, wherein the reference line display portion is formed on the periphery of the transmissive display portion. 8. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising a power switch that is turned on and off in association with folding and opening. 9. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means has a high-level positioning function and is capable of displaying the elevation angle of the destination at a folding angle. 10. The navigation device according to claim 9, wherein the elevation angle display portion is provided on the hinge portion. 11. The antenna according to claim 3, wherein the orientation of the antenna is variable with respect to the device body.
A navigation device as described. 12. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is built in the device body. 13. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising a map storage portion on the back side of the transmissive display portion. 14. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the hinge portion is provided with a waterproof seal. 15. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising a low-friction resistance portion on the back side of the transmissive display portion of the apparatus body.