WO2014188254A1

WO2014188254A1 - Map display controller and map display control system

Info

Publication number: WO2014188254A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/000775
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hitoshi Kumon
Original assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2013-05-22
Filing date: 2014-05-20
Publication date: 2014-11-27
Also published as: JP2014228703A

Abstract

A map display controller includes an input unit to which operations in a front-and-rear direction and a right-and-left direction are simultaneously input, and a control unit that causes a display unit to display a cursor and a map which is switched to a planar map or an overhead map, that causes the display unit to display the map and the cursor so as to relatively move in the front-and-rear direction and the right-and-left direction on the basis of the operations, respectively, when the planar map is displayed, and that causes the display unit to display the cursor so as to move relative to the overhead map in a predetermined direction on the basis of one of the operations and to rotate the overhead map about a predetermined position on the basis of the other input when the overhead map is displayed.

Description

MAP DISPLAY CONTROLLER AND MAP DISPLAY CONTROL SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a map display controller and a map display control system.

2. Description of Related Art

[0002] A portable navigation apparatus is known in which a map is scrolled in a direction corresponding to a touch position on a touch panel when a two-dimensional map is displayed and a map is rotated in a direction corresponding to the touch position on the touch panel when a three-dimensional map is displayed (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010- 107199 (JP 2010-107199 A)). In this configuration, an image cut from a scene viewed by a user is displayed in the three-dimensional map.

[0003] A navigation apparatus is known which includes a straight direction instructing operation member that is operated to instruct a straight direction, a rotation instructing operation member (rotary switch) that is rotationally operated to instruct a rotation, and operation means that scrolls a two-dimensional map in the direction of the operated instruction when the two-dimensional map is displayed and the straight direction instructing operation member is operated, that scrolls a bird's-eye view in the direction of the operated instruction when the bird's eye view is displayed and the straight direction instructing operation member is operated, and that rotates the bird's-eye view in accordance with an operated rotation when the rotation instructing operation member is operated (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006- 138979 (JP 2006- 138979 A)).

[0004] However, in the configuration described in JP 2010-107199 A, since the map is drawn so that the viewpoint of the three-dimensional map matches a user's viewpoint in an actual space (since the map is drawn as an image cut from a scene viewed by the user), it is difficult for the user to clearly understand the position of the user's viewpoint on the map.

[0005] In this regard, in the configuration described in JP 2006-138979 A, a scrolling instruction in the bird's-eye view is to move the position of the viewpoint in the scrolling instructed direction in parallel and the rotation in the bird's-eye view is embodied about the viewpoint of the bird's-eye view. Therefore, in the configuration described in JP 2006-138979 A, the user can visually recognize a cursor indicating the user's position on the map.

[0006] However, in the configuration described in JP 2006-138979 A, it is necessary to provide the rotation instructing operation member in addition to the straight direction instructing operation member. That is, it is necessary to install two types of operation members and thus there is room for improvement in view of cost or a mounting space. Since it is necessary to make use of two types of operation members, operations are complex for the user and there is room for improvement in view of operability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides a map display controller not requiring two or more types of operation members.

[0008] A map display controller according to a first aspect of the invention includes an input unit to which an operation in a front-and-rear direction and an operation in a right-and-left direction are simultaneously input; and

a control unit that embodies a scrolling operation, in which a relationship between a map display and a cursor displayed on a display unit varies, on the basis of input information to the input unit,

wherein the map display includes a planar map display and an overhead map display based on a viewpoint higher than a viewpoint of a user in an actual space, and

wherein the control unit relatively moves the cursor in the front-and-rear direction and the right-and-left direction relative to the planar map display in response to an input in the front-and-rear direction and an input in the right-and-left direction through the input unit in the course of displaying of the planar map display, and relatively moves the cursor in a predetermined direction relative to the overhead map display in response to one of the input in the front-and-rear direction and the input in the right-and-left direction and rotates the overhead map display around the cursor or a moving object position display in response to the other input in the course of displaying of the overhead map display.

[0009] A map display controller according to a second aspect of the invention includes an input unit to which an operation in a front-and-rear direction and an operation in a right-and-left direction are input, and a control unit that embodies a scrolling operation, in which a relationship between an overhead map display and a cursor displayed on a display unit varies, on the basis of input information to the input unit. The cursor is displayed at a position on a sight line from a viewpoint of the overhead map display, and the control unit relatively moves the cursor relative to the overhead map display in a predetermined direction in response to one of an input in the front-and-rear direction and an input in the right-and-left direction and rotates the overhead map display around the cursor in response to the other.

[0010] A map display control system according to a third aspect of the invention includes an input unit to which an operation in a front-and-rear direction and an operation in a right-and-left direction are simultaneously input; and

a control unit that causes a display unit to display a cursor and a map which is switched to a planar map or an overhead map based on a viewpoint higher than a viewpoint of a user in an actual space, that causes the display unit to display the map and the cursor so as to relatively move in the front-and-rear direction and the right-and-left direction on the basis of the operation in the front-and-rear direction and the operation in the right-and-left direction, respectively, input to the input unit when the planar map is displayed as the map, and that causes the display unit to display the cursor so as to move relative to the overhead map in a predetermined direction on the basis of one of the operation in the front-and-rear direction and the operation in the right-and-left direction input to the input unit and to rotate the overhead map about a predetermined position on the basis of the other input when the overhead map is displayed as the map. [0011] According to the aspects, it is possible to provide a map display controller that can embodies an intuitive sense of movement on a map as if a user freely flew in the sky and that can embodies a scrolling operation capable of accurately designating a position without using two or more types of operation members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a map display device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a top view schematically illustrating an operation unit;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a 3D map display and a 2D map display, respectively;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a relationship between the operation of a joystick and a scrolling form of a map display.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reaction map; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow which is performed by a control unit using the reaction map illustrated in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of map display controller 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a top view schematically illustrating an operation unit 10.

[0015] The map display controller 1 is mounted on a vehicle. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1 , the map display controller 1 includes an operation unit 10, a joystick operation detecting unit 16, a reaction force generating unit 18, a control unit 20, a navigation electronic control unit (hereinafter, referred to as a navigation ECU) 22, and a display 30.

[0016] The operation unit 10 may be disposed, for example, in a center console section of the vehicle. The operation unit 10 is operated by a user and embodies various operations on a screen display displayed on the display 30. For example, various operations may include an operation of scrolling a map display displayed on the display 30, an operation of switching a screen display displayed on the display 30, an operation of selecting a choice item displayed on the display 30 (an operation of moving a cursor), and an operation of determining a selected choice item (a choice item on which the cursor is located).

[0017] A choice item forms an operation button which can be remotely operated through the use of the operation unit 10. The choice item (operation button) may be associated with an arbitrary type (function). That is, details which can be operated through the use of the operation unit 10 may be arbitrary. For example, the choice items may include a choice item for displaying (calling) an operation screen display or a map display for variously setting a navigation system on the display 30. The choice items may include a choice item for variously setting an air conditioner or a choice item (menu choice item) for displaying the operation screen display thereof on the display 30. The choice items may include a choice item for setting an audio or a TV in various ways (such as adjustment of a sound volume) or a choice item (menu choice item) for displaying the operation screen display thereof on the display 30. The choice items may be choice items (such as icons or launchers) for starting arbitrary applications. The choice items may be character input buttons in an operation screen display such as a Japanese Syllabary input screen display. The choice items may include respective lists which are scrolled in a list screen. The choice items may include buttons for scrolling respective lists.

[0018] The operation unit 10 includes a joystick 12. The joystick 12 may be a lever type or a knob type and is mounted on the vehicle so as to be rotatable about an X axis (in a transverse direction of the vehicle) and to be rotatable about a Y axis (in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle). Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the joystick 12 can be operated (tilted) in the transverse direction (X I and X2 directions) and can be operated (tilted) in the longitudinal direction (Yl and Y2 directions). The joystick 12 may be configuration not to be rotatable about an Z axis (an axis perpendicular to the X axis and the Y axis). FIG. 2 schematically illustrating a rectangular movable range (operation range) 12a of the joystick 12. The movable range 12a may have a shape other than a rectangle. The joystick 12 can be operated in the movable range 12a forward, backward, rightward, leftward, or in any combined direction thereof. The movable range 12a may be a transversely-long shape to correspond to a transversely-long shape of the display 30 or a square shape. Here, the aspect ratio may not be 1 (in general, the display 30 is transversely long). The movable range 12a may have a shape other than a rectangle. The joystick 12 may be configured to be slidable in the vehicle longitudinal direction and the vehicle transverse direction instead of being rotatable about the X axis and being rotatable about the Y axis. For example, the joystick 12 may implement parallel sliding movement perpendicular to the X axis and the Y axis through the use of a link mechanism.

(0019] The joystick 12 may be mounted on the vehicle so as to be pressed in the downward direction of the Z axis (in the direction perpendicular to the Z axis and the Y axis). In this case, the joystick 12 can be subjected to a pressing operation. The pressing operation on the joystick 12 may correspond to an operation (determination operation) of embodying determination of a selected choice item on the display 30.

[0020] The operation unit 10 may include a mechanical switch (hereinafter, referred to as a "hard switch") 14 as an optional element. The hard switch 14 may be disposed, for example, in the vicinity of the joystick 12 or may be disposed in the joystick 12 itself (for example, a lever part of the joystick 12). In the example, illustrated in FIG. 2, the hard switch 14 is disposed on a more front side of the vehicle than the joystick 12 and includes three switches 14a, 14b, and 14c. For example, the switch 14c may be a menu switch for calling various menu choice items and the switch 14a may be a switch for calling a map display (home map display) based on a current position. The switch 14b may be a seesaw switch which is rotatable around the X axis (right-and-left direction) and may be a switch for enlarging and reducing a map display. When the pressing operation on the joystick 12 is not possible, the hard switch 14 may include a hard switch for a determination operation. The operation signal of the hard switch 14 is transmitted to the control unit 20.

[0021] The joystick operation detecting unit 16 detects an operation (movement) of the joystick 12. The joystick operation detecting unit 16 may include a sensor for detecting a rotation angle (the position in the front-and-rear direction of the joystick 12) around the X axis of the joystick 12 and a sensor for detecting a rotation angle (the position in the right-and-left direction of the joystick 12) around the Y axis of the joystick 12. These sensors may be, for example, a potentiometer. When a pressing operation on the joystick 12 is possible, the joystick operation detecting unit 16 may include a sensor for detecting the pressing operation. In this case, the sensor may be a pressure sensor or a tact switch. The joystick operation detecting unit 16 transmits the detected operation information as an operation signal to the control unit 20.

[0022] The reaction force generating unit 18 generates a reaction force in response to a drive command from the control unit 20. The reaction force is applied to the joystick 12 and causes the joystick 12 to serve as a haptic device. The reaction force generating unit 18 may include an actuator for generating a reaction force around the X axis and an actuator for generating a reaction force around the Y axis. These actuators may be, for example, a DC motor. When an X-axis drive signal is received from the control unit 20, the actuator around the X axis is driven in response to the X-axis drive signal to generate a predetermined torque around the X axis. When a Y-axis drive signal is received from the control unit 20, the actuator around the Y axis is driven in response to the Y-axis drive signal to generate a predetermined torque around the Y axis.

[0023] The control unit 20 may include, for example, an electronic control unit

(ECU). The functions of the control unit 20 may be arbitrarily embodied by hardware, software, firmware, or combinations thereof. For example, an arbitrary part or all of the functions of the control unit 20 may be embodied by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The functions of the control unit 20 may be embodied by cooperation of plural ECUs.

[0024] The control unit 20 performs reaction control of the joystick 12 through the use of the reaction force generating unit 18. The control unit 20 causes the reaction force generating unit 18 to generate a reaction force corresponding to the position of the joystick 12 (the position in a movable range 12a). The relationship between the reaction force generated by the reaction force generating unit 18 and the position of the joystick 12 may be defined in a map (hereinafter, referred to as a "reaction map"). The reaction map may be prepared depending on the types of the screen display on the display 30. In this case, the reaction map may be switched by interlocking with a change of the screen display on the display 30. The control unit 20 determines the position of the joystick 12 from the operation signal from the joystick operation detecting unit 16 and supplies the drive signal (the X-axis drive signal and/or the Y-axis drive signal) corresponding to the position of the joystick 12 to the reaction force generating unit 18 with reference to the reaction map.

[0025] The control unit 20 performs display control of the screen display on the display 30 in cooperation with the navigation ECU 22. The control unit 20 may perform a process of scrolling a map display displayed on the display 30, a process (transition process) of switching the screen display displayed on the display 30, a process of moving a cursor among choice items displayed on the display 30, a process of moving a cursor on the map display, and the like in response to the operation signal from the joystick operation detecting unit 16. The movement of the cursor among the choice items may be correlated with the position of the joystick 12 in the absolute coordinate system or may be correlated with the movement of the joystick 12 in a relative coordinate system. When an operation of pressing the joystick 12 is possible, the control unit 20 performs a process of determining a selected choice item in response to the operation signal indicating the pressing operation from the joystick operation detecting unit 16. The selected choice item may be a choice item at which the cursor is located. In this case, the choice item at which the cursor is located may be, for example, a choice item emphasized relative to other choice items. The determination process may be a process of performing a function corresponding to the determined choice item. For example, the determination process may be accompanied with a display of sub choice items, transition of a screen display such as a change of the screen display, an input of characters, a start of an application, and transmission of a control signal to another ECU (for example, an air-conditioner ECU). The determination process may be accompanied with appropriate changing of the display of the determined choice item or generating of a predetermined sound so as to inform the user of detection of the "determination operation".

[0026] In the course of displaying of a map display, the control unit 20 may selectively perform any one of a pointing mode and a scroll mode in cooperation with the navigation ECU 22. In the pointing mode, the control unit 20 moves a cursor on the map display in response to an operation signal (an operation signal indicating an operation in the front-and-rear direction or the right-and-left direction) from the joystick operation detecting unit 16. In the pointing mode, the position of the cursor on the map display may be correlated with the position of the joystick 12 in the absolute coordinate system. That is, positions in the movable range 12a may be absolutely correlated with the positions on the screen of the display 30. When the cursor is located at a position other than the present location, the control unit 20 may switch the operation mode from the pointing mode to the scroll mode in response to an operation signal indicating a pressing operation from the joystick operation detecting unit 16. At this time, the display form of the cursor may be changed (for example, from a cursor of a pointer shape or a cross mark shape to the display form of the cursor 92 illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B) to inform a user of the switching to the scroll mode. At the time of switching to the scroll mode, the map display may be relatively moved (scrolled) so that the displayed position of the cursor is located at a predetermined position of the substantial center of the screen of the display 30. When the cursor is located at the present location, the control unit 20 may output point information around the present location (for example, points of interest (POI) or word-of-mouse information of peripheral facilities) in response to an operation signal indicating a pressing operation (determination operation) from the joystick operation detecting unit 16. In this case, the pointing mode may be maintained and a choice item may be displayed at each point on the map display. In this case, when the pressing operation (determination operation) is detected in a state where a choice item of a certain point is selected, the control unit 20 may output detailed information of the point.

[0027] The navigation ECU 22 detects the present location (the vehicle position) or the traveling direction on the basis of positioning information from a GPS receiver (not illustrated) and performs route guidance control to a destination or the like. At this time, the navigation ECU 22 may display the present location on the map display displayed on the display 30 to perform a variety of guidance. The navigation ECU 22 performs screen display control of the display 30 in cooperation with the control unit 20 as described above. At this time, the navigation ECU 22 generates an image signal for a screen display of the display 30 and transmits the generated image signal to the display 30. For example, when receiving a screen display switching command to a three-dimensional map display from the control unit 20 in the course of outputting a two-dimensional map display, the navigation ECU 22 generates an image signal obtained by drawing the three-dimensional map display and transmits the generated image signal to the display 30. A part or all of the navigation ECU 22 may be embodied by the control unit 20.

[0028] The display 30 is disposed at (fixed to) a remote position from the operation unit 10. The display 30 may be an arbitrary display device such as a liquid crystal display or a head-up display (HUD). The display 30 is disposed at an appropriate position (for example, an instrument panel) in the vehicle interior. The display 30 may be a portable display. In this case, the display 30 is carried into the vehicle and is (temporarily) fixed to an appropriate position in the vehicle interior. The display 30 may be a touch panel display or a display not capable of sensing a touch. A map display, an operation screen display, or the like is displayed on the display 30. When the map display is not displayed thereon, videos of a TV, a periphery monitoring camera, or the like may be displayed on the display 30.

[0029] FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a three-dimensional map display (hereinafter, referred to as a "3D map display") and a two-dimensional map display (hereinafter, referred to as a "2D map display"), where FIG. 3A schematically illustrates an example of the 3D map display and FIG. 3B schematically illustrates an example of the 2D map display.

[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the 2D map display may be a display showing a map in a mode (planar view) in which the ground is viewed from the sky. Therefore, two points having a constant distance is drawn in the same distance at any position on the map. For example, a road having the same width is drawn in the same width at any position on the map.

[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the 3D map display may be a display showing a map in a mode (overhead view or bird's-eye view) in which the ground is obliquely viewed from a high position (which not as high as the sky but higher than the viewpoint of a user in an actual space). Therefore, two points having a constant distance may be drawn in a mode in which the distance therebetween decreases as it gets closer to the upper side of the map. For example, a road having the same width may be drawn in a width decreasing as it get farther from a vehicle position display Ql . The 3D map display may be drawn in various types using 3D graphic techniques. For example, the 3D map display may be drawn in a perspective view when viewed down from a high viewpoint or may be drawn on the basis of a normal 2D map display with painting and memory factors (perspective, overlapping, aerial perspective) added thereto. The 3D map display may be embodied by only simply deforming the 2D map display into a trapezoid depending on the perspective viewing down the 2D map display. Here, the display range of the 3D map display is not limited to the trapezoidal range illustrated in FIG. 3A, and may be a wide range covering the outside thereof. In the 3D map display, a horizon may be drawn at a certain distance and the sky may be drawn above the horizon. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, it is preferable that the 3D map display be drawn so that the vehicle traveling direction is always directed to the upper side (head up). The 3D map display may be drawn so that the north is always directed to the upper side (north up). In the 3D map display illustrated in FIG. 3A, a building display Q2 is schematically drawn in a planar rectangular shape, but may be drawn in a parallelepiped shape or may be drawn more realistically. The height of the viewpoint of the 3D map display may be adjusted by a user.

[0032] The operations of the joystick 12 and the scroll forms of the map display in the scroll mode will be described below. In the below description, "forward movement" and "backward movement" are defined with the upward direction in the map display as the forward direction.

[0033] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a relationship between the operations of the joystick 12 and the scroll forms of the map display, where FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a relationship between operation directions of the joystick 12 and the scroll forms of the 3D map display and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the operation directions of the joystick 12 and the scroll forms of the 2D map display. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the map display on the display 30 is illustrated in the upper part and the operation unit 10 is illustrated in the lower part.

[0034] The control unit 20 displays a cursor 92 for the scroll mode on the map display in the scroll mode. The cursor 92 has a function (location designating function) of designating a position on the map display. The cursor 92 on the map display may be located at any position on a sight line from the viewpoint of the map display. For example, the cursor 92 on the map display may be arranged in the vicinity of an intersection between the sight line and the road surface.

[0035] The position of the cursor 92 on the map display varies depending on the operation (forward and backward operations, rightward and leftward operations, or operations of any combination thereof) of the joystick 12 in the pointing mode before being changed to the scroll mode. That is, the position of the cursor 92 on the map display is determined in the pointing mode and the position (and the direction) of the cursor 92 on the screen of the display 30 does not vary in the scroll mode. For example, in the scroll mode, the position of the cursor 92 on the screen of the display 30 is fixed to a predetermined position of a substantial center of the screen of the display 30. Therefore, "movement (forward and backward movements) and "turn" of the cursor 92 in the following description does not represent the absolute movement of the cursor 92 on the screen of the display 30 but represent relative movement of the cursor 92 to the map display. The change from the pointing mode to the scroll mode may be implemented in response to the determination operation (for example, a pressing operation on the joystick 12) when the position of the cursor 92 is located at a position other than the present location as described above.

[0036] The shape of the cursor 92 is arbitrary. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 4 A and 4B, the cursor 92 has a shape in which a circle and cross lines (of which the center parts are removed) are combined but may have a cross mark shape or the like. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the cursor 92 does not have a shape including direction information, but may have a shape including direction information. In this case, in the scroll mode, the direction of the cursor 92 may be fixed. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the cursor 92 is drawn as an overhead view when the cursor is displayed on the 3D map display, and is drawn as a planar view when the cursor is displayed on the 2D map display. The cursor in the pointing mode may have an arbitrary shape and may have a shape (for example, a pointer resembling a person's hand, an arrow, or a cross mark) different that of the cursor 92.

[0037] The control unit 20 displays scroll guide displays (94L, 94R, and the like) around the cursor 92 in the scroll mode. The scroll guide displays are displays for guiding a scrolling operation using the joystick 12. In the scroll mode, the positions of the scroll guide displays are fixed along with the cursor 92.

[0038] In the course of displaying of the 3D map display, the control unit 20 displays the scroll guide displays 94L and 94R on the right and left sides of the cursor 92 and displays the scroll guide displays 96A and 96B on the upper and lower sides of the cursor 92, as illustrated in FIG. 4A. The scroll guide display 94L has a shape of a leftward arc-like arrow and guides the leftward rotation (turn) of the cursor 92. The scroll guide display 94R has a shape of a rightward arc-like arrow and guides the rightward rotation (turn) of the cursor 92. The scroll guide display 96A has a shape of an upward straight arrow and guides the forward movement of the cursor 92. The scroll guide display 96B has a shape of a downward straight arrow and guides the backward movement of the cursor 92.

[0039] In the course of displaying of the 2D map display, the control unit 20 displays the scroll guide displays 96C and 96D on the right and left sides of the cursor 92 and displays the scroll guide displays 96A and 96B on the upper and lower sides of the cursor 92, as illustrated in FIG. 4B. The scroll guide display 96A has a shape of an upward straight arrow and guides the forward movement of the cursor 92. The scroll guide display 96B has a shape of a downward straight arrow and guides the backward movement of the cursor 92. The scroll guide display 96C has a shape of a leftward straight arrow and guides the leftward movement of the cursor 92. The scroll guide display 96D has a shape of a rightward straight arrow and guides the rightward movement of the cursor 92.

[0040] Preferably, in the scroll mode, the control unit 20 displays a connection line display 80 connecting the cursor 92 and a vehicle position display Q l on the map display as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Accordingly, during the scrolling operation, a user can efficiently understand the relative relation to the vehicle without losing the direction of the vehicle position display Q l . The connection line display 80 is preferably drawn in such a thickness varying manner that the thickness thereof varies depending on the distance between the cursor 92 and the vehicle position display Ql . For example, the connection line display 80 may be drawn so that the thickness thereof increases as the position of the cursor 92 gets close to the vehicle position and decreases as the position of the cursor gets distant from the vehicle position like a rubber band. In this way, an effect of visually expressing the. magnitude of the distance between the cursor 92 and the vehicle position display Ql may be exhibited.

[0041] Preferably, the control unit 20 displays a distance display 82 (see "2.1 km" in FIGS. 4A and 4B) indicating the distance between the cursor 92 and the vehicle position display Ql on the map in the vicinity of the connection line display 80. Accordingly, it is possible to understand the distance from the present location to the position corresponding to the cursor 92 on the map display (the distance on the map) in the scroll mode. The position corresponding to the cursor 92 on the 3D map display and serving as a reference for calculating the value of the distance display 82 may correspond to the position of the cursor 92 on the 2D map display when the 3D map display is switched to the 2D map display in that state. [0042] In the course of displaying of the 3D map display, the control unit 20 implements upward and downward scrolling of the 3D map display, rightward and leftward rotating (turning) scrolling of the 3D map display, and an arbitrary combination thereof (for example, the upward scrolling along with the leftward rotating scrolling) depending on the operations (forward and backward operations, rightward and leftward operations, and an arbitrary combined operation thereof) of the joystick 12.

[0043] In the example illustrated in FIG. 4A, the control unit 20 moves (scrolls) downward the 3D map display on the display 30 while maintaining the position of the cursor 92 in response to the forward operation on the joystick 12. By moving downward the 3D map display relative to the cursor 92, the scrolling (downward (backward) scrolling) is implemented as if the cursor 92 moved forward on the 3D map display. In this way, the forward movement of the cursor 92 is implemented by the forward operation on the joystick 12.

[0044] Similarly, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4A, the control unit 20 moves (scrolls) upward the 3D map display on the display 30 while maintaining the position of the cursor 92 in response to the backward operation on the joystick 12. By moving upward the 3D map display relative to the cursor 92, the scrolling (upward (forward) scrolling) is implemented as if the cursor 92 moved backward on the 3D map display. In this way, the backward movement of the cursor 92 is implemented by the backward operation on the joystick 12. The control unit 20 may exhibit an effect of drawing back the viewpoint by slightly raising the height of the viewpoint (zooming out) at the time of start of the backward movement (at the time of start of the backward operation on the joystick 12).

[0045] Similarly, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4A, the control unit 20 rotates (scrolls) rightward the 3D map display about the position of the cursor 92 on the display 30 while maintaining the position (direction) of the cursor 92 in response to the leftward operation on the joystick 12. By rotating rightward the 3D map display relative to the cursor 92, the scrolling (rightward scrolling) is implemented as if the cursor 92 rotated leftward on the 3D map display. In this way, the leftward turn of the cursor 92 is implemented by the leftward operation on the joystick 12. The rotation of the 3D map display may be implemented around the cursor 92 (in a form in which the position of the cursor 92 on the 3D map display does not vary and the height of the viewpoint does not vary).

(0046] Similarly, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4A, the control unit 20 rotates (scrolls) leftward the 3D map display about the position of the cursor 92 on the display 30 while maintaining the position of the cursor 92 in response to the rightward operation on the joystick 12. By rotating leftward the 3D map display relative to the cursor 92, the scrolling (leftward scrolling) is implemented as if the cursor 92 rotated rightward on the 3D map display. In this way, the rightward turn of the cursor 92 is implemented by the rightward operation on the joystick 12. The rotation of the 3D map display may be implemented around the cursor 92 (in a form in which the position of the cursor 92 on the 3D map display does not vary and the height of the viewpoint does not vary).

[0047] It is described above that the downward scrolling, the upward scrolling, the rightward rotating scrolling, and the leftward rotating scrolling are individually implemented, but when the operation direction on the joystick 12 is a combined direction of the front-and-back direction and the right-and-left direction, two corresponding scrolling operations are implemented accordingly. For example, when the operation direction on the joystick 12 is a backward and rightward direction (an obliquely right-backward direction), the upward scrolling and the leftward rotating scrolling are simultaneously implemented. When the operation direction of the joystick 12 is a forward and leftward direction (an oblique left-forward direction), the downward scrolling and the rightward rotating scrolling are simultaneously implemented.

[0048] In the course of displaying of the 2D map display, the control unit 20 implements the upward and downward scrolling of the 2D map display, the leftward and rightward scrolling of the 2D map display, and any combination thereof (for example, oblique upward scrolling) in response to the operations (the forward and backward operations, the rightward and leftward operations, or any combined operation thereof) of the joystick 12. [0049] In the example illustrated in FIG. 4B, the control unit 20 moves (scrolls) downward the 2D map display on the display 30 while maintaining the position of the cursor 92 in response to the forward operation on the joystick 12. By moving downward the 2D map display relative to the cursor 92, the scrolling (downward scrolling) is implemented as if the cursor 92 moved forward on the 2D map display. In this way, the forward movement of the cursor 92 is implemented by the forward operation on the joystick 12.

[0050] Similarly, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4B, the control unit 20 moves (scrolls) upward the 2D map display on the display 30 while maintaining the position of the cursor 92 in response to the backward operation on the joystick 12. By moving upward the 2D map. display relative to the cursor 92, the scrolling (upward scrolling) is implemented as if the cursor 92 moved backward on the 2D map display. In this way, the backward movement of the cursor 92 is implemented by the backward operation on the joystick 12.

[0051] Similarly, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4B, the control unit 20 moves

(scrolls) rightward the 2D map display on the display 30 while maintaining the position of the cursor 92 in response to the leftward operation on the joystick 12. By moving rightward the 2D map display relative to the cursor 92, the scrolling (rightward scrolling) is implemented as if the cursor 92 moved leftward on the 2D map display. In this way, the .leftward movement of the cursor 92 is implemented by the leftward operation on the joystick 12.

[0052] Similarly, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4B, the control unit 20 moves (scrolls) leftward the 2D map display on the display 30 while maintaining the position of the cursor 92 in response to the rightward operation on the joystick 12. By moving leftward the 2D map display relative to the cursor 92, the scrolling (leftward scrolling) is implemented as if the cursor 92 moved rightward on the 2D map display. In this way, the rightward movement of the cursor 92 is implemented by the rightward operation on the joystick 12.

[0053] In the course of displaying of any one of the 3D map display and the 2D ^" map display, the control unit 20 may output point information of that point and/or peripheral point information (for example, POI) on the basis of the position of the cursor 92 on the map display at that time when the determination operation (for example, the pressing operation on the joystick 12) is detected in the scroll mode. Accordingly, the user can see the point information of the location and/or the peripheral point information by performing the determination operation (designating a location) when the cursor 92 goes to a desired location on the map display in the scroll mode. When this determination operation is performed (a location is designated^, the control unit 20 may switch the operation mode to the pointing mode or may display choice items for each point on the map display. When the pressing operation (determination operation) is detected in a state where a choice item of a certain point is selected, the control unit 20 may output detailed information of the point.

[0054] The control unit 20 may maintain the display state of the connection line display 80 in the course of various scrolling of the map display. In this case, since the position of the vehicle position display Ql moves relative to the position of the cursor 92 along with the map display, the connection line display 80 dynamically varies with a variation in positional relationship between the cursor 92 and the vehicle position display Ql (similarly, the numerical value of the distance display 82 also dynamically varies). The connection line display 80 may be maintained even when the vehicle position display Ql moves out of the screen (that is, when the vehicle position display Ql is not displayed). Accordingly, the user can efficiently understand a map around the present location without losing the direction of the vehicle position display Ql in the course of scrolling.

[0055] In the example illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, in the course of displaying of the 3D map display, the forward and backward operations on the joystick 12 embodies the forward and backward movement of the cursor 92 on the 3D map display and the rightward and leftward operations on the joystick 12 embodies the right and left turns of the cursor 92 on the 3D map display, as described above. Accordingly, a user can obtain a sense of movement on a map as if the user freely flew in the sky while accurately understanding the position of the cursor 92 as if the user looked down from a viewpoint of a back and upper side, thereby efficiently understanding the map around the cursor 92. This "sense of movement as if the user freely flew in the sky" greatly contributes to improvement of product marketability. When a switch 14c for enlarging and reducing a map display is provided as described above and the switch 14c is operated in the course of displaying of the 3D map display, the 3D map display is enlarged or reduced. The enlargement and reduction of the 3D map display in the course of displaying thereof is a display form as if the viewpoint ascended and descended, thereby further emphasizing the "sense of movement as if the user freely flew in the sky".

[0056] In the example illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, since the cursor 92 is continuously displayed in the course of scrolling of the map display, the cursor 92 can be considered as the vehicle and can move (drive) the cursor 92 along the road in the map display. Accordingly, for example, in the course of displaying of the 3D map display, the user can obtain a sense of movement as if the user flew in the sky along the road in the map, and can efficiently understand the map around the present location (for example, a route to a destination). -

[0057] In the example illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, since the forward movement and the backward movement of the cursor 92 in the course of displaying of the 3D map display correspond to a shifting operation and an accelerating operation of the vehicle and the rightward and leftward turns of the cursor 92 correspond to an operation of turning a steering wheel to right and left, the user can intuitively move (drive) the cursor 92 with movement corresponding to movement of the vehicle. This is contrasted with the rightward and leftward movement of the cursor 92 in the course of displaying of the 2D map display. That is, movement of the vehicle which cannot move laterally in parallel is embodied by the cursor 92 in the course of displaying of the 2D map display. Specifically, the moving speed (that is, a degree of accelerator opening) of the cursor 92 at the time of forward movement and backward movement may vary depending on displacement (a degree of operation from a neutral position) in the front-and-backward direction of the joystick 12. Similarly, the turning angle (that is, steering angle) of the cursor 92 at the time of turning may vary depending on displacement (a degree of operation from the neutral position) in the right-and-left direction of the joystick 12. The displacement (the degree of operation from the neutral position) of the joystick 12 may be detected by two or more steps by the joystick operation detecting unit 16 and the moving speed of the cursor 92 or the like may vary by two or more steps.

[0058] In the example illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, since the position of the joystick 12 can be detected in oblique directions as well as in four directions of front, back, - right, and left (quasi-analog multi-values in 8 directions, 16 directions, or all directions), for example, the movement of the cursor 92 obtained with the oblique forward operation on the joystick 12 is movement as if the vehicle moved along a curve.

[0059] In this way, in the example illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the user can easily intuitively perform a scrolling operation on the 3D map display as if the user moves in the traveling direction along the road. The user can look around by turn in place (the rightward and leftward operations not accompanied with the forward and backward operations on the joystick 12) and can easily find out a desired point of a scrolling destination, that is, can easily change a viewpoint. The turn in place in the course of displaying of the 3D map display is the only movement for embodying vehicle movement which cannot be actually made out of a variety of movement of the cursor 92 embodied in the course of displaying of the 3D map display.

[0060] In the example illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, scrolling directions allocated to the operation directions of the joystick 12 are difference in displaying of the 3D map display and displaying of the 2D map display. That is, in the course of displaying of the 3D map display, the rightward and leftward operations on the joystick 12 embodies rightward and leftward turn of the cursor 92 on the 3D map display. On the contrary, in the course of displaying of the 2D map display, the rightward and leftward operations on the joystick 12 embodies the rightward and leftward movement of the cursor 92 on the 2D map display. Accordingly, it is possible to embodies the upward and downward scrolling, the rightward and leftward scrolling, and the rotating scrolling of the map display by the use of a single operation member (joystick 12) without using two types of operation members. The switching between the 3D map display and the 2D map display may be implemented using any method. For example, a hard switch 14 for switching may be set. Alternatively, the switching between the 3D map display and the 2D map display may be implemented using the operation of the joystick 12 itself. For example, when a high reaction-force area is set in the movable range of the joystick 12 and an operation passing over the high reaction-force area is detected, the switching between the 3D map display and the 2D map display may be implemented (this configuration will be described later with reference to FIG. 6).

[0061] Here, in the course of displaying of the 3D map display, since the rightward and leftward operations on the joystick 12 embodies the rightward and leftward turns of the cursor 92 on the 3D map display, the above-mentioned merits are achieved, but the rightward and leftward movement has difficulty (for example, a labor for crosscut, return with one turn, or the like increases). On the contrary, in the course of displaying of the 2D map display, since the rightward and leftward operations on the joystick 12 embodies the rightward and leftward movement of the cursor 92 on the 2D map display, the rightward and leftward movement of the cursor 92 is easy. Accordingly, in the example illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the user can easily perform intuitive movement and accurate designation of location while utilizing the merits by performing the rightward and leftward operations on the joystick 12 while switching the 3D map display and the 2D map display.

[0062] In the example illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the connection line display

80 or the distance display 82 are displayed as a preferable example, but the use of thereof may be skipped.

[0063] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reaction map. The reaction map illustrated in FIG. 5 may be commonly used in displaying of the 3D map display and displaying of the 2D map display. The reaction map illustrated in FIG. 5 may be used in any mode of the pointing mode and the scroll mode in the course of displaying of the map display. Here, when operation items are displayed on the map display by the determination operation or the like, the reaction map may be switched to correspond to the display of the operation items. [0064] The reaction map may be a map in which the magnitude and the direction of a reaction force corresponding to the position of the joystick 12 are defined. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the reaction map may be set on the basis of the assumption of a rectangular map area 120 corresponding to the movable range 12a of the position of the joystick 12. The positions in the movable range 12a may be respectively correlated with the positions in the map area 120 in a one-to-one correspondence manner (in the absolute coordinate system). That is, the positions of the joystick 12 (the positions in the movable range 12a) may be correlated with the positions in the map area 120 in a one-to-one correspondence manner. In the below description, regarding the position of the joystick 12 or the positional relationship in the map area 120, the "upper-and-lower direction" is defined so that a side (deep side) distant from a user (operator) is the upper side and a side (front side) close to the user is the lower side. The "inner side" and the "outer side" in the map area 120 are based on a central area 128.

[0065] In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, high reaction-force areas 122A, 122B, 122C, and 122D, a normal operation area 124, an edge area 126, and a central area 128.

[0066] The high reaction-force areas 122A, 122B, 122C, and 122D are arranged so as to surround the normal operation area 124. The high reaction-force area 122A is arranged on the upper side of the normal operation area 124. The high reaction-force area 122B is arranged on the lower side of the normal operation area 124. The high reaction-force area 122C is arranged on the left side of the normal operation area 124. The high reaction-force area 122D is arranged on the right side of the normal operation area 124. The normal operation area 124 is arranged at the center of the map area 120 so as to occupy most of the map area 120. The pointing operation (cursor moving operation) using the joystick 12 may be embodied in the normal operation area 124. The edge area 126 is arranged on the outer circumferential side of the high reaction-force areas 122A, 122B, 122C, and 122D so as to form an edge of the map area 120. The central area 128 is arranged at the center of the map area 120. The central area 128 may correspond to the neutral position of the joystick 12.

[0067] When the position of the joystick 12 is located in the high reaction-force areas 122A, 122B, 122C, and 122D, a force (force directed to the inner side) in a direction in which the joystick 12 is returned to the normal operation area 124 is applied to the joystick 12 as schematically indicated by an arrow F2 in FIG. 5. Accordingly, when the user operates the joystick 12 to change the position of the joystick 12 to the inner side of the high reaction-force areas 122A, 122B, 122C, and 122D from the normal operation area 124, a reaction force for bounding back the joystick 12 is generated as if a "wall" were present at that position. That is, the high reaction-force areas 122A, 122B, 122C, and 122D serve as a reaction wall against the position variation of the joystick 12 from the normal operation area 124 to the outer side. The force (high reaction force) generated in the high reaction-force areas 122 A, 122B, 122C, and 122D has only to be an arbitrary value within a range which can be overcome by a normal user's operation force or may be adapted in consideration of the operability or a feeling of moderation (feeling of wall).

[0068] When the position of the joystick 12 is located in the normal operation area 124, a force (force directed to the center) for drawing the joystick 12 to the central area 128 (which corresponds to the neutral position of the joystick 12) is applied to the joystick 12 as schematically indicated by an arrow Fl in FIG. 5. Accordingly, for example, when a hand is released from the joystick 12, the joystick 12 is naturally returned to the neutral position. In this case, the magnitude of the force generated in the normal operation area 124 is set in consideration of operability in the normal operation area 124, but may be set to be significantly smaller than the magnitude of the force generated in the high reaction-force areas 122A, 122B, 122C, and 122D. When the position of the joystick 12 is located in the central area 128, the force to be applied to the joystick 12 may be zero.

[0069] When the position of the joystick 12 is located in the edge area 126, an outward force is applied to the joystick 12 as schematically indicated by an arrow F3 in FIG. 5. Accordingly, the user can feel a sense of¹ passing over the high reaction-force areas 122A, 122B, 122C, and 122D (reaction walls). When it is not necessary to give a wall passing feeling, the force applied to the joystick 12 in a state where the position of the joystick 12 is located in the edge area 126 may be zero. [0070] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow which is performed by the control unit 20 using the map illustrated in FIG. 5. The process flow illustrated in FIG. 6 is associated with processes when the 3D map display is displayed on the display 30. Substantially, the same process flow may be performed for the processes when the 2D map display is displayed on the display 30. The process flow illustrated in FIG. 6 may be repeatedly performed for every predetermined process cycle in the scroll mode in the course of displaying of the 3D map display.

[0071] In step 600, it is determined on the basis of operation information from the joystick operation detecting unit 16 whether the position of the joystick 12 is located in the normal operation area 124. The process of step 602 is performed when the position of the joystick 12 is located in the normal operation area 124, and the process of step 604 is performed otherwise.

[0072] In step 602, the 3D map display is scrolled on the basis of the position of the joystick 12 (the operation direction of the joystick 12). The scrolling of the 3D map display may be carried out in the form described above with reference to FIG. 4A. At this time, the scrolling speed may be a predetermined normal speed. Here, the scrolling speed may be set to be variable in the normal operation area 124. For example, the scrolling speed may be variable so that the scrolling speed increases as the joystick goes to the outer side of the normal operation area 124. When the process of step 602 ends, the process of step 600 is performed again in the next process cycle.

[0073] In step 604, it is determined on the basis of the operation information from the joystick operation detecting unit 16 whether the position of the joystick 12 is located in the high reaction-force areas 122A, 122B, 122C, and 122D. The process of step 606 is performed when the position of the joystick 12 is located in the high reaction-force areas 122A, 122B, 122C, and 122D, and the process of step 608 is performed otherwise.

[0074] In step 606, the 3D map display is scrolled on the basis of the position of the joystick 12. The scrolling of the 3D map display may be carried out in the form described above with reference to FIG. 4A. At this time, the scrolling speed is higher than the scrolling speed embodied in step 602. Accordingly, when the position of the joystick 12 goes into the high reaction-force areas 122 A, 122B, 122C, and 122D from the inside of the normal operation area 124, the scrolling speed increases (that is, the turning speed and the moving speed of the cursor 92 on the 3D map display increase). That is, when the user applies a force to the outer side against the reaction wall, the speed of the cursor 92 on the 3D map display is higher than that in the normal operation area 124. Accordingly, the user can achieve a higher stroke speed with a sense of pressing the front and rear walls (the high reaction-force areas 122A and 122B) or the right and left walls (the high reaction-force areas 122C and 122D), thereby improving the operability. When the position of the joystick 12 is located in the high reaction-force areas 122A, 122B, 122C, and 122D, the scrolling speed may be fixed or variable. For example, as the position of the joystick 12 goes to the outer side in the high reaction-force areas 122 A, 122B, 122C, and 122D, a form in which the reaction force increases and the scrolling speed gradually increases may be embodied. When the process of step 606 ends, the process of step 600 is performed again in the next process cycle.

[0075] In step 608, it is determined whether the position of the joystick 12 moves from the inside of the high reaction-force area 122B to the (lower) edge area 126. That is, it is determined whether the position of the joystick 12 passes over the lower high reaction-force area 122B downward and moves to the edge area 126 (that is, whether a wall passing operation is detected). The process of step 610 may be performed when the position of the joystick 12 moves from the inside of the lower high reaction-force area 122B to the edge area 126, and the process of step 600 may be started in the next process cycle otherwise. For example, when the position of the joystick 12 moves from the inside of the right and left high reaction-force areas 122C and 122D to the edge area 126 as the otherwise case, a predetermined function (for example, a function of calling various menu choice items or the like) may be performed.

[0076] In step 610, the map display on the display 30 is switched from the 3D map display to the 2D map display. When the map display is switched to the 2D map display in this way, the same processes as in FIG. 6 may be performed in the scroll mode. In this case, when the position of the joystick 12 moves from the inside of the upper high reaction-force area 122A to the (upper) edge area 126, that is, when the position of the joystick 12 passes over the upper high reaction-force area 122A upward and moves to the edge area 126 (see step 608), the map display on the display 30 may be switched from the 2D map display to the 3D map display (see step 610).

.[0077] The switching between the 2D map display and the 3D map display may be embodied by continuous transition accompanied with animation. Accordingly, the user can intuitively understand the variation in viewpoint of the map. The continuously transition accompanied with animation may be embodied in an arbitrary mode, and may be embodied, for example, in a mode in which the map display rises upward and the height of the viewpoint increases (zoom out) at the time of switching from the 3D map display to the 2D map display. On the contrary, the continuous transition accompanied with animation may be embodied in a mode in which the map display falls to the deep side and the height of the viewpoint decreases at the time of switching from the 2D map display to the 3D map display. The cursor 92 on the 3D map display does not have a concept of height. Accordingly, when the position of the cursor 92 is designated, the position of the cursor 92 itself may be a designated point on the map. However, by slightly moving the position of the cursor 92 forward or backward at the time of switching between the 2D map display and the 3D map display, a position difference corresponding to a looking-down angle may be expressed to improve an intuitive sense for viewpoint change.

[0078] Accordingly, According to the process flow illustrated in FIG. 6, the switching from the 3D map display to the 2D map display may be embodied by causing the position of the joystick 12 to pass over the lower high reaction-force area 122B downward. As a result, the user can embodies the switching from the 3D map display to the 2D map display while performing various scrolling operations using the joystick 12.

[0079] When the switching from the 2D map display to the 3D map display is embodied by passing over the upper high reaction-force area 122A, the user can embodies the switching from the 2D map display to the 3D map display while performing various scrolling operations using the joystick 12. In this case, since the operation direction for switching the map display (the direction of the wall passing operation) corresponds to the variation of the map display, the user can intuitively easily perform a switching operation between the 2D map display and the 3D map display. That is, since the user can causes the map display to fall with a sense of pressing the upper part of the map display (transition to the 3D map display) and can cause the map display to rise up with a sense of pressing the lower part of the map display (transition to the 2D map display), the user can perform an intuitive operation. In general, since the screen of the display 30 is disposed to stand upright substantially vertically, this assignment is optimal. Here, the contrary thereto may be established.

[0080] In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the lower high reaction-force area 122B may function only in the course of displaying of the 3D map display. That is, the lower high reaction-force area 122B may be deactivated in the course of displaying of the 2D map display. Similarly, the upper high reaction-force area 122A may function only in the course of displaying of the 2D map display. That is, the upper high reaction-force area 122A may be deactivated in the course of displaying of the 3D map display. For example, individual reaction maps may be prepared for the 2D map display and the 3D map display, the lower high reaction-force area 122B may not be formed in the reaction map for the 2D map display, and the upper high reaction-force area 122A may not be formed in the reaction map for the 3D map display.

[0081] While the embodiments are described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and may be modified and changed in various forms within the scope of the appended claims. All or a part of the elements in the above-mentioned embodiments may be combined.

[0082] For example, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the operation unit 10 including the joystick 12 which can be simultaneously operated in the front-and-rear direction and the right-and-left direction is used as a preferable example of the input unit, , but an input unit which cannot be simultaneously operated in the front-and-rear direction and the right-and-left direction may be alternatively used. That is, an input unit which can be operated in each of the front-and-rear direction and the right-and-left direction may be alternatively used. This input unit may be, for example, a mechanical switch or a touch switch. In this case, complex scrolling operations are not embodied (that is, the operability is poor), but substantially the same advantages as in the above-mentioned embodiments can be achieved.

[0083] For example, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the operation unit 10 including the joystick 12 is used as a preferable example of the input unit, but a track ball, a planar touch pad, or the like may be used instead of the joystick 12. Here, a reaction force (haptic mechanism) may not be used and a reaction force mechanism capable of achieving the same effect may be provided depending on the aspects. For example, the track ball may be provided with a braking mechanism suppressing the rotation. The planar touch pad may be provided with a vibration mechanism providing a feeling of presence of a wall. In the planar touch pad, for example, the function of the reaction wall may be embodied by generating predetermined vibration (vibration feedback).

[0084] In the above-mentioned embodiments, the 3D map display and the 2D map display can be selectively displayed as a preferable example, but the 2D map display may not to be displayed. In a preferable example of the above-mentioned embodiments, in the course of displaying of the 2D map display, the rightward and leftward operations on the joystick 12 embody the rightward and leftward movement of the cursor 92 on the 2D map display and the forward and backward operations on the joystick 12 embody the upward and downward movement of the cursor 92 on the 2D map display, but another form may be employed. For example, the rightward and leftward operations on the joystick 12 may embody the right and left turns of the cursor 92 (tuming of the 2D map display around the cursor 92) on the 3D map display and the forward and backward operations on the joystick 12 may embody the upward and downward movement of the cursor 92 on the 2D map display.

[0085] In the above-mentioned embodiments, in the course of displaying of the

3D map display, the rightward and leftward operations on the joystick 12 embody the right and left turns of the cursor 92 (turning of the 3D map display around the cursor 92) on the 3D map display and the forward and backward operations on the joystick 12 embody the upward and downward movement of the cursor 92 on the 3D map display, but the operations may be reverse. That is, in the course of displaying of the 3D map display, the rightward and leftward operations on the joystick 12 may embody the rightward and leftward movement of the cursor 92 on the 3D map display and the forward and backward operations on the joystick 12 may embody the right and left turns of the cursor 92 on the 3D map display.

[0086] In the above-mentioned embodiments, the turning speed of the cursor 92 varies depending on the displacement of the joystick 12 (the degree of operation form the neutral position), but the turning angle of the cursor 92 may vary depending on the displacement of the joystick 12 instead. Specifically, the turning angle (that is, the degree of steering) of the cursor 92 at the time of turning may vary depending on the displacement in the right-and-left direction of the joystick 12 (the degree of operation from the neutral position). When the turning angle of the cursor 92 at the time of turning varies depending on the displacement in the right-and-left direction of the joystick 12 but the displacement in the right-and-left direction of the joystick 12 is maintained as a constant value, the turning is stopped at the time point at which the corresponding turning angle is achieved. However, even when the turning angle of the cursor 92 at the time of turning varies depending on the displacement in the right-and-left direction of the joystick 12 but the displacement in the right-and-left direction of the joystick 12 is maintained as a constant value, the turning is continued (the cursor turns at a constant turning speed). The displacement (the degree of operation from the neutral position) of the joystick 12 is detected by two or more steps and the turning angle of the cursor 92 varies by two or more steps.

[0087] In the above-mentioned embodiments, the 3D map display rotates around the cursor 92 in response to the rightward and leftward operations on the joystick 12 in the course of displaying of the 3D map display, but the 3D map display may rotate around the vehicle position display Ql .

[0088] In the above-mentioned embodiments, the map display controller 1 is mounted on a vehicle, but may be used in a place other than the vehicle (for example, for applications of displaying a map display on a display of a personal computer at home or the like). The map display controller 1 may be mounted on a moving object (for example, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a tablet terminal) other than a vehicle. In this case, the vehicle position display corresponds to a moving object position display. The above-mentioned embodiments are associated with the map display for navigation, but may also be applied to a map display for applications (for example, simple viewing) other than the navigation.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A map display controller comprising:

an input unit to which an operation in a front-and-rear direction and an operation in a right-and-left direction are simultaneously input; and

2. The map display controller according to claim 1 , wherein the cursor is able to move to a position separated from a moving object position display on the map display.

3. The map display controller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit continuously displays the cursor at a predetermined fixed position in a screen of the display unit during a scrolling operation.

4. The map display controller according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit simultaneously embodies the scrolling operations corresponding to an input in the front-and-rear direction and an input in the right-and-left direction, respectively, in response to simultaneous inputs of the input in the front-and-rear direction and the input in the right-and-left direction through the input unit.

5. The map display controller according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit rotates the overhead map display around the cursor while moving the cursor in a predetermined direction relative to the overhead map display in response to simultaneous input of an input in the front-and-rear direction and an input in the right-and-left direction through the input unit in the course of displaying of the overhead map display.

6. The map display controller according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the input unit includes an operation member that is operated in the front-and-rear direction and the right-and-left direction within a predetermined operation range, and

wherein the control unit changes at least one of a degree of scrolling and a scrolling speed by two or more steps depending on a degree of operation on a reference position of the operation member.

7. The map display controller according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit continuously displays a connection line display connecting the cursor and a moving object position display during the scrolling operation.

8. The map display controller according to claim 7, wherein the thickness of the connection line display varies depending on a distance between the cursor and the moving object position display so as to decrease as the distance between the cursor and the moving object position display increases.

9. A map display controller comprising:

an input unit to which an operation in a front-and-rear direction and an operation in a right-and-left direction are input; and

a control unit that embodies a scrolling operation, in which a relationship between an overhead map display and a cursor displayed on a display unit varies, on the basis of input information to the input unit,

wherein the cursor is displayed at a position on a sight line from a viewpoint of the overhead map display, and

wherein the control unit relatively moves the cursor relative to the overhead map display in a predetermined direction in response to one of an input in the front-and-rear direction and an input in the right-and-left direction and rotates the overhead map display around the cursor in response to the other.

10. A map display control system comprising:

a control unit that causes a display unit to display a cursor and a map which is switched to a planar map or an overhead map based on a viewpoint higher than a viewpoint of a user in an actual space, that causes the display unit to display the map and the cursor so as to relatively move in the front-and-rear direction and the right-and-left direction on the basis of the operation in the front-and-rear direction and the operation in the right-and-left direction, respectively, input to the input unit when the planar map is displayed as the map, and that causes the display unit to display the cursor so as to move relative to the overhead map in a predetermined direction on the basis of one of the operation in the front-and-rear direction and the operation in the right-and-left direction input to the input unit and to rotate the overhead map about a predetermined position on the basis of the other input when the overhead map is displayed as the map.

1 1. The map display controller according to claim 10, further comprising a detection unit that detects a position of a moving object,

wherein the control unit is mounted on the moving object and displays an icon at the position of the moving object on the map display, and

wherein the predetermined position is a position of the cursor or the icon.