JPH10214172A - Method for displaying hierarchical menu, and on-vehicle information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sharply improve the operability, by making the number of displayable indexes several times as large as a conventional number, and making shallow the depth of a hierarchical construction even in a screen, whose display size in the right-and-left direction is small. SOLUTION: First hierarchical menus 11 and 12 having plural indexes 10 arranged in the horizontal direction are displayed overlapping each other on a display part 5, and when the operating knob of an operating part 2 is rotated right and left or up and down by a driver or a fellow passenger, this is detected by a control part, a cursor 13 is moved right and left or up and down, and a second hierarchical menu 14 corresponding to the index 10, in which this cursor 13 is present, is displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hierarchical menu display method for displaying desired menu contents in a simple and easy-to-understand operation procedure, and a vehicle-mounted information display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an on-vehicle display device mounted on an automobile or the like and displaying road information or navigating to a destination, an "on-vehicle display device" disclosed in JP-A-7-271809 has been conventionally known. Are known.

[0003] As shown in FIG.
00 creates a menu screen 102 in which items to be displayed are hierarchized, and menus the contents of each item for each hierarchy, adds an index 103 to each of these menu screens 102, and is mounted on an automobile or the like. Display 1
01, these indexes 103 are displayed side by side in the horizontal direction. And each of these indexes 103
Is selected, a menu screen 102 corresponding to the selected index 103 is displayed, and one of the item selection switches 104 displayed on the menu screen 102 or the previous page switch 105 is displayed.
When the user selects the item or the like, the next hierarchical screen corresponding to the selected content is displayed, thereby making it easy to select an item and simplifying the operation.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional vehicle-mounted display device 100, the display 10
Since 1 itself is small, there is a problem that many indices 103 cannot be arranged in the left-right direction on the display screen.

[0005] Further, such a conventional in-vehicle display device 1 is described.
In the case of 00, if the number of the indexes 103, which are the highest hierarchy, is configured to be small, a deeper hierarchical structure must be adopted, and there is a problem that operability is deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has been described in claims 1 and 2.
Can increase the number of indices that can be displayed even if the display screen is small, especially if the display screen in the horizontal direction is short, thereby reducing the depth of the hierarchical structure and improving operability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hierarchical menu display method and an in-vehicle information display device that can be significantly improved.

According to the present invention, the display direction of each hierarchical menu displayed on the display screen is associated with the operation direction of an operation switch such as a joystick device.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an in-vehicle information display device that allows a user to easily recognize an operation direction.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a plurality of first-level menus are displayed in a plurality of rows by vertically overlapping each other, and each of these first-level menus is displayed. When any of the items is selected, a second hierarchical menu corresponding to the selected item is displayed as an item selection menu.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an in-vehicle display, on which the content of the first hierarchical menu or the N-th display is displayed.
In the in-vehicle information display device for displaying the contents of the designated hierarchical menu among the contents of the hierarchical menu, a plurality of first hierarchical menus are displayed in a plurality of rows by being vertically overlapped,
When any one of these first-level menu items is selected, the control unit 3 displays a second-level menu corresponding to the selected item as an item selection menu.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the on-vehicle information display device according to the second aspect, the content of the first hierarchical menu or the hierarchical direction of the Nth hierarchical menu is made to correspond to the operation direction of the operation switch. Features.

[0011] In the above configuration, in the first and second aspects,
A plurality of first-level menus are displayed in a plurality of rows superimposed on each other, and when any of these first-level menu items is selected, a second-level menu corresponding to the selected item is displayed in an item selection menu. By displaying as
Even when the length of the display screen, especially in the left-right direction, is short, the number of indices that can be displayed is made several times larger than in the past, thereby reducing the depth of the hierarchical structure and greatly improving operability.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the display direction of each hierarchical menu displayed on the display screen is established by associating the contents of the first hierarchical menu or the hierarchical direction of the Nth hierarchical menu with the switch operation directions. And the operation direction of the joystick device or the like, so that the user can easily understand the operation direction.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

<< Structure of Embodiment >> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an in-vehicle information display device according to the present invention.

The on-vehicle information display device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is disposed in a driver's seat, a passenger's seat, or the like of an automobile and includes an operation unit 2 operated by a driver or a passenger, and a microprocessor. A control unit 3 for performing various controls in accordance with the contents of the operation, devices 4 for performing processing specified by a program, control of each actuator, and the like based on control information from the control unit 3; And a display unit 5 for displaying each hierarchical menu and the like on the display screen based on the display information output from.

The operation unit 2 is operated by a driver or a passenger.
Is operated, the control unit 3 generates control information corresponding to the operation content, causes each device 4 to operate to perform a designated process or operation, and displays the control information on the display unit 5 based on the control information. To display each hierarchical menu or the like, or to switch each displayed hierarchical menu or the like.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the operating section 2 includes a switch panel 6, a conical column 7 vertically suspended on the switch panel 6, and an upper part of the column 7 in the X-axis direction. , A spherical operation knob 8 attached rotatably in the Y-axis direction and pushed in the Z-axis direction, and a push button 9 provided on the switch panel 6. When the operation knob 8 is turned in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, the rotation direction and the rotation angle are detected, and the detection result is supplied to the control unit 3 as coordinate information.
When the operation knob 8 is pushed in the Z-axis direction, an execution instruction signal (enter signal) is generated and supplied to the control unit 3. Further, when the driver or passengers push the push button 9, the control unit 3 generates a cancel signal and supplies it to the control unit 3.

The control unit 3 includes a microprocessor for performing various processes and a ROM (or EPROM, EE) storing a program of the microprocessor and the like.
PROM, etc.), a RAM used as a working area of the microprocessor, a control board including a communication element for communicating with other processing boards, and the like. A process of generating control information based on a signal, a cancel signal, a programmed processing procedure, and the like, controlling each device 4, displaying each hierarchical menu on the display unit 5, and switching each hierarchical menu And so on.

<< Operation of the Embodiment >> Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 1, the perspective view shown in FIG. 2, and the like.

<Selection of Second Hierarchical Menu> First, when the power supply of the on-vehicle information display device 1 is turned on by a driver or a passenger, the information is registered in advance on the display unit 5 by the control unit 3. As shown in the initial screen, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the first hierarchical menu 11 and the first hierarchical menu 12 in which the respective indexes 10 are arranged in the horizontal direction are displayed vertically and two levels, and are set in advance. Index 1
A cursor 13 is displayed on the index 10 of 0, for example, the number “1”. Each index 10 corresponds to each second-level menu. When the cursor 13 is moved, a second-level menu 14 that is the content of the index 10 where the cursor 13 is located is displayed.

In this state, when the driver or passengers turn the operation knob 8 of the operation unit 2 rightward to move the cursor 13 on the index 10 of the number "2", FIG.
As shown in (b) of FIG.
Is deleted, and the second hierarchical menu 15 corresponding to the index 10 with the number “2” is displayed.

When the driver or fellow passenger turns the operation knob 8 of the operation section 2 further rightward, the cursor 13 is moved to the index 10 of the number "3", and FIG. As shown in FIG.
The second level menu 15 corresponding to 0 is deleted, and the second level menu 16 corresponding to the index 10 with the number “3” is displayed.

The operation unit 2 is operated by a driver or a passenger.
Is turned upward, and the cursor 13 is moved to the first position.
When the user moves on any one of the indexes 10 on the hierarchical menu 12, for example, the index 10 with the number “6”, the second hierarchical menu that has been displayed up to that time, for example, the index 10 corresponding to the index 10 with the number “1” While the two-level menu 14 is deleted, as shown in FIG.
The upper and lower sides of the first hierarchical menu 11 and the first hierarchical menu 12 are exchanged, and the second hierarchical menu 17 corresponding to the index 10 with the number “6” is displayed.

<Selection of Third Hierarchy Menu> Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, while the second hierarchy menu 14 corresponding to the index 10 of the number "1" is displayed, the operation knob 8 is selected. Is turned downward (forward) or the operation knob 8 is pushed in, as shown in FIG. 3D, the second index corresponding to the index 10 of the number “1”.
The cursor 13 is moved on the hierarchical menu 14, and the third hierarchical menu 18 corresponding to the position (item position) where the cursor 13 is located is displayed.

In this state, when the operation knob 8 is turned to the right or the operation knob 8 is depressed, the cursor 13 moves to the third hierarchical menu 18 as shown in FIG. Each item of the third hierarchical menu 18 can be selected.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3D, when the second hierarchical menu 14 corresponding to the index 10 of the number "1" is displayed, the operation knob 8 is moved upward (toward) or upward. When it is turned in any of the downward directions (forward direction), for example, downward, the corresponding rotation is performed.
As shown in the figure, the cursor 13 on the third hierarchical menu 14 moves downward, the third hierarchical menu 18 displayed so far is erased, and the position of the cursor 13 (the second hierarchical menu 14 The third hierarchical menu 19 corresponding to (item position) is displayed.

In this state, when the operation knob 8 is turned clockwise or the operation knob 8 is depressed, the cursor 13 moves to the third hierarchical level menu 19 as shown in FIG. 5B. Each item of the third hierarchical menu 19 can be selected.

<Move to upper level> Also, a state where one of the third level menus 18 and 19 is displayed on the display unit 5, for example, as shown in FIG. A menu 18 is displayed.
When the operation knob 8 is turned in the direction in which the previous hierarchical menu (second hierarchical menu 14) is displayed (leftward) in a state where the cursor 13 is present above, the cursor 13 is correspondingly turned. Moves to the second hierarchical menu 14, and each item of the second hierarchical menu 14 becomes selectable.

The second hierarchical menu 1 is displayed on the display unit 5.
4, 15, 16 or 17 is displayed, and the cursor 13 is located on any of the second hierarchical menus 14, 15 or 16, for example, as shown in FIG. When the hierarchical menu 14 is displayed, and the cursor 13 is located on the second hierarchical menu 14, the operation knob 8 is moved to the previous hierarchical menu (the first hierarchical menu 1).
When the cursor 13 is turned in the direction in which (1, 12) is displayed (upward), the cursor 13 correspondingly moves the first hierarchical menu 1
1 and each index 10 of the first hierarchical menu 11 becomes selectable.

The second hierarchical menu 1 is displayed on the display unit 5.
When the push button 9 is pressed and a cancel signal is output from the operation unit 2 in a state where any one of 4, 15, 16, 17 and one of the third hierarchical menus 18, 19 are displayed, the control is performed. This is detected by the part 3,
The second hierarchy menus 15 and 1 displayed on the display unit 5
The third hierarchy menus 18 and 19 are deleted along with the cursors 6 and 17 and the cursor 13 is moved to the lower position as shown in FIG.
Is the index 1 of the number “1” in the first hierarchical menu 11
It returns to the initial screen moved to 0.

<< Effects of Embodiment >> As described above, in this embodiment, the first hierarchical menu 1
When the operation unit 2 is operated by a driver or a passenger, the control unit 3 generates control information corresponding to the operation content and displays the information on the display unit 5 when the operation unit 2 is operated by a driver or a passenger. Is moved, and the second hierarchical menus 14, 15, 16, 17 and the third
Since the hierarchical menus 18 and 19 are displayed, the number of indices 10 that can be displayed can be made several times as large as that of the conventional one even when the length of the display screen in the left-right direction is short. By reducing the depth, operability can be greatly improved.

Further, the currently selected hierarchical menu and the next hierarchical menu are displayed on one screen, so that the driver or the passenger can select the currently selected hierarchical menu. Can be easily grasped, thereby making it easier for the user to make a selection and determine whether to execute.

The first hierarchical menus 11, 12 and the second hierarchical menus 14, 15, 1 and 2 displayed on the display unit 5 are displayed.
The directions of the hierarchies 6, 17, and the third hierarchical menus 18 and 19 correspond to the operating directions of the operation knob 8, so that the driver and the passenger can easily grasp the operating direction.

<< Other Embodiments >> In the above-described embodiment, the operation unit 2 having the operation knob 8 which is rotatable and pushable is used. An operation unit according to the operation method, for example, the operation unit 20 shown in FIG. 6 may be used.

The operation unit 20 shown in FIG. 1 has a semicircular operation surface disposed on a switch panel 21 attached to an automobile or the like, and generates an enter signal when pressed by a driver or the like. Enter switch 22
And a cancel switch 23 having a semicircular operation surface disposed below the enter switch and generating a cancel signal when pressed by a driver or the like.
And 1 / located above the enter switch 22
It has a four-ring-shaped operation surface, and has a quarter-ring-shaped operation surface disposed below the upward switch 24 that generates an upward signal when pressed and an cancel switch 23 when pressed. A down switch 25 for generating a down signal when pressed, and an enter switch 2
2 and the left side of the cancel switch 23. The left side switch 26 has a 1/4 ring-shaped operation surface and generates a left direction signal when pressed. It has a 1/4 ring-shaped operation surface disposed in the right direction, and includes a right direction switch 27 that generates a right direction signal when pressed.

When the driver presses the enter switch 22, an enter signal is generated and supplied to the control unit 3. When the cancel switch 23 is pressed, a cancel signal is generated. Then, this is supplied to the control unit 3. When any one of the upward switch 24, the downward switch 25, the left switch 26, and the right switch 27 is pressed, an upward signal, a downward signal,
Either a left direction signal or a right direction signal is generated and supplied to the control unit 3 as coordinate information.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the first and second aspects, even when the display screen is small, particularly when the length in the left-right direction is short, the number of indices that can be displayed is reduced by the conventional number. Thus, the depth of the hierarchical structure can be reduced, and the operability can be greatly improved.

According to the third aspect, the display direction of each hierarchical menu displayed on the display screen is associated with the operation direction of an operation switch such as a joystick device. It can be easily grasped, and the work efficiency of the screen display / selection operation is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an in-vehicle information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a detailed configuration example of an operation unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a display operation example of the on-vehicle information display device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a display operation example of the on-vehicle information display device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a display operation example of the on-vehicle information display device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another example of the operation unit used in the in-vehicle information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an example of a conventionally known in-vehicle display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 In-vehicle information display device 2, 20 Operation part 3 Control part 4 Equipment 5 Display part (In-vehicle display) 6, 21 Switch panel 7 Prop 8 Operation knob (switch) 9 Push button (switch) 10 Index 11, 12th One-level menu 13 Cursor 14, 15, 16, 17 Second-level menu 18, 19 Third-level menu 22 Enter switch 23 Cancel switch 24 Up switch 25 Down switch 26 Left switch 27 Right switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of first-level menus are displayed in a plurality of rows superimposed one on top of another, and when any of the items in each of the first-level menus is selected, a second corresponding to the selected item is selected. A hierarchical menu display method, wherein a hierarchical menu is displayed as an item selection menu. 2. An in-vehicle information display having an in-vehicle display, and displaying, on the in-vehicle display, the content of a designated hierarchical menu among the contents of the first hierarchical menu to the N-th hierarchical menu. In the display device, a plurality of first-level menus are displayed in a plurality of rows superimposed on each other, and when any of these first-level menu items is selected, a second level corresponding to the selected item is selected. An in-vehicle information display device comprising a control unit for displaying a menu as an item selection menu. 3. The on-vehicle information display device according to claim 2, wherein the contents of the first hierarchical menu or the hierarchical direction of the N-th hierarchical menu correspond to the operation directions of the operation switches. Information display device.