JPH10122876A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] By selecting a mark normally displayed on a screen during a navigation operation as an icon, it is possible to easily input various navigation functions. [Constitution] On a screen during a navigation operation, a car mark icon indicating a current position and a direction of a vehicle, a GPS icon indicating a GPS reception status, a route guidance icon indicating a distance and a direction to a destination, a map currently displayed , And a map display icon representing the azimuth of the map display are displayed. When the user wants to correct the current position, the user selects and confirms the icon highlighted by the highlighting means 1e using the joystick 2 or the like. As a result, the user can perform the current position correction and the like using the function execution unit 1f.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted navigation system for displaying a current position of a vehicle and a map around the vehicle on a display. (Hereinafter simply called during navigation operation).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, on-vehicle navigation devices that detect the position of a vehicle and display the position of the vehicle together with a map screen have been manufactured and sold, and are widely used by users. According to such an input method of the navigation device during the navigation operation, a menu screen displayed on the entire display as shown in FIG. 1 is selected from the screen during the navigation operation of FIG. Next, an icon in eight directions on the menu screen is selected and confirmed with a joystick, and after setting the function for the icon, the screen returns to the screen during the navigation operation again (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
-49241). Here, in general, an “icon” refers to a small figure indicating the individual function of software (“Information and Communication New Language Dictionary, 1996,” February 26, 1996).
Nikkei BP Publishing Center). The icon in the navigation device is a graphic that prompts execution of a function unique to the navigation device as shown in FIG.

[0003]

The functions that can be executed during the navigation operation include the current position correction and the GPS.
Confirmation of reception status, destination setting, scale change, map display direction change, etc. In a conventional navigation device, a user presses a specific switch on a remote controller for controlling a navigation function to display a menu screen as shown in FIG. 1. If the user does not select each function on the menu, each function is displayed. Could not be executed.

[0004] In this case, there is a problem that the user has to go to the menu screen, so that the input operation is troublesome, and in addition, the current position cannot be known. Further, in order to select a specific icon on the menu screen of FIG. 1, one of eight directions must be selected centering on the * mark. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and displays icons on a screen during a navigation operation, and by selecting the icons, simplifies the operation of executing a function frequently used by a user as much as possible. It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device which is excellent in operability of input to a device.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation apparatus, comprising: a current position determining means for determining a current position of a vehicle based on signals from a receiver or various sensors; Storage means for storing a map,
In a navigation device having a display means for displaying the current position on a screen together with the road map, an icon defined as an icon by associating a specific mark with a specific function to be executed is displayed on the road by the display means. An icon display control means to be displayed on the screen together with the map, an icon selection instructing means for instructing selection of an icon displayed on the display means, and a specific icon to be selected according to the input from the icon selection instructing means Icon selection means, highlighting means for highlighting the selected specific icon on the screen, icon determination instructing means for instructing determination of the selected specific icon, and the selected specific icon And a function executing means for activating a function corresponding to the navigation device. That.

According to the above configuration, a "current position correction icon" for correcting the current position is displayed on the screen during the navigation operation as shown in FIG. 3, and the user can change the current position or the like. When the user wants to do so, the user can select a “current position correction icon” or the like by using a joystick or the like, and can fix it. For this reason, the user can correct the current position without shifting to the menu screen as shown in FIG.

[0007] The "current position correction icon" includes G
"GPS reception icon" indicating the reception status of PS, "destination setting icon" for setting a destination, "registered location setting icon" for registering a registered location, "route for providing route guidance to the destination" Guidance icon "," route calculation icon "to calculate the route to the destination," scale icon "to change the scale of the currently displayed map,
And a "map display icon" for changing the orientation of the map display. The “joystick or the like” refers to an input device having a function of instructing a direction and a function of instructing confirmation by operating a single finger of a user, as shown in FIG.

[0008] Specifically, in FIG. 3, if an upward selection is made based on the center of the screen, the outer periphery of the “current position correction icon” is displayed in a different color from the outer periphery of other icons. It is highlighted and indicates that the current position can be corrected. At this time, the highlight may be displayed by inverting the color of the entire icon. If the user wants to correct the current position, the current position can be corrected by confirming. On the other hand, if the user does not want the current position to be corrected, the user selects a direction of another icon to be set by using a joystick or the like so as to perform another setting or the like, and fixes the direction.

The direction may be selected not based on the center of the screen but on the basis of the currently highlighted icon. For example, when the current highlight is displayed on the “GPS reception icon” and the user wants to change the scale, the direction of the “map display icon” using the joystick or the like based on the position of the “GPS reception icon”, and the “map scale icon” May be selected. Alternatively, the direction of the "route calculation icon" and the direction of the "map scale icon" may be selected (referred to as "free-moving icon selection method").

When the user wants to correct the current position, the user selects and confirms the "current position correction icon" with a joystick or the like, and then displays "scroll", "current position correction", "direction" on a pop-up menu as shown in FIG. Fix ",
And the item of “trajectory display” are displayed. The user can correct the current position or the like by selecting and confirming these items with a joystick or the like.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing confirmation of the GPS reception status when the "GPS reception icon" is selected and confirmed. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state where the scale at the time when the “map scale icon” is selected and confirmed is selected. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a map display mode when a “map display icon” is selected and confirmed is selected. The form of the map display includes a heading-up display in which the traveling direction of the vehicle is kept constant and the map is rotated and displayed, and a front wide display in which the traveling direction of the vehicle is displayed in a wide map. FIG.
It is a figure which shows a mode that the destination at the time of selecting and confirming a "route guidance icon" is set. Specifically, by inputting a telephone number, a destination corresponding to the telephone number is searched for and a destination is set.

[0012] The navigation device according to claim 2 is
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein a mark normally displayed on the screen of the display means during the navigation operation is used as an icon. The mark displayed on the screen during the navigation operation on the screen of FIG. 2 indicates the state of the navigation operation. In particular,
The "car mark" in the center of the screen indicates the current position and direction of the vehicle,
The "GPS mark" at the top right of the screen shows the GPS reception status, the "route guidance mark" at the bottom of the screen shows the distance and direction to the destination, the "scale mark" at the bottom left of the screen shows the scale of the currently displayed map, “Map display direction mark” at the upper left of the screen indicates the direction of the map display, respectively. When the icon of FIG. 3 described above is superimposed on the screen of FIG. 7, the icon and the mark are complicatedly displayed, and the user may be confused when inputting.

Therefore, in order to avoid confusion of the user, the mark normally displayed during the navigation operation has an icon function. Hereinafter, a mark that is normally displayed during the navigation operation and has a function of an icon is referred to as a “car mark icon”, a “GPS mark”, or the like.
Mark icon "," route guidance mark icon ",
They are called "scale mark icon" and "map display direction mark icon". The selection and determination of the icon by the user is the same as the free movement type icon selection method described with reference to FIG. 3, and is as follows. In FIG. 7, the “car mark icon” is displayed with the outer periphery of the icon highlighted. this is,
This shows that the current position can be corrected. If the user wants to correct the current position, the user can fix the current position with a joystick or the like and can correct the current position. On the other hand, if the user does not want to correct the current position,
The direction of another icon to be set is selected with a joystick or the like and determined.

If the current highlight is displayed on the "GPS mark icon" and the user wants to change the scale, the direction of the "car mark icon" and the " What is necessary is just to select the direction of the "scale mark icon". The setting of the function for the determined icon is shown in FIGS.
13, the description is omitted here.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the navigation device,
3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the icon selection instructing means is a direction instructing means for instructing a direction, and the icon selecting means is input from the direction instructing means based on a currently selected icon. 3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is an icon selection unit that selects an icon located in the set direction as an icon to be selected next. Specifically, in FIG. 7, the “car mark icon” is highlighted at the outer periphery of the icon. This indicates that the current position can be corrected. If the user wants to correct the current position, confirm it with a joystick, etc.
The current position can be corrected. On the other hand, if the user does not want to correct the current position, the direction of the next icon to be selected is designated by a joystick or the like with reference to the "car mark icon" so as to perform other settings and the like, and the setting is made.

If the current highlight is displayed on the "GPS mark icon" and the user wants to change the scale, the direction of the "car mark icon" is designated by a joystick or the like based on the position of the "GPS mark icon". Further, the direction of the “scale mark icon” may be indicated based on the “car mark icon”.

The setting of the function for the determined icon is the same as that shown in FIGS.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation device comprising:
3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the icon selection instructing unit is a trigger input unit that instructs a trigger for changing a selected icon, and
2. The icon selecting means according to claim 1, wherein said icon selecting means selects an icon in a next order from a currently selected icon in a predetermined order in accordance with an input from said trigger input means. Or the navigation device according to 2. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, it is assumed that the “map display direction mark icon” is currently highlighted by reverse display. At this time, if the user inputs an instruction in any direction using a joystick or the like, a trigger input regardless of the input direction results in
The “GPS mark icon” is highlighted, and the “GPS mark icon” can be determined. Next, when the user inputs an arbitrary direction using a joystick or the like, the “route guidance mark icon” is highlighted.
As described above, if the user continues to input an arbitrary direction with the joystick or the like, the icons are annularly highlighted in the order indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8 regardless of the direction, and the original icon is highlighted again ( This is called “fixed order icon selection method”).

The setting of the function for the determined icon is the same as that shown in FIGS.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation device,
The navigation device according to claim 3 or 4,
The icon selection instructing means comprises a direction indicating section of a joystick with a push button, and the icon determination instructing means comprises a push button section of a joystick with a push button. FIG. 5 is a front view of the joystick-type input device with push buttons of FIG. 4, and a central projection also functions as a direction indicating unit and a push button unit. Pressing the central projection from the side activates the function of selecting the pressed direction, and pressing the projection from the top activates the function of determining the selected direction. FIG. 6 shows a card-type input device. When one of eight buttons around the center confirm button is pressed, a function for indicating a pressed direction is activated, and when the center confirm button is pressed, a function for confirming is performed. Operates. In addition, a trackball or the like can be used as an input device.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
This will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1. Block diagram FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the navigation device. The navigation apparatus main body 1 is stored in input means 2 such as a joystick, an antenna 6 for receiving radio waves from GPS satellites, a vehicle speed sensor 4 for outputting vehicle speed information, a direction sensor 5 for outputting direction information, and a road map dedicated disk D. CD drive 3 for acquiring a road map, display means 7 for displaying the current position of the vehicle superimposed on the road map and displaying an icon, and voice for notifying the user that the input is made by the input means 2 Alternatively, a speaker 8 that emits a beep sound is provided. The interior of the navigation device body 1 includes a memory control unit 1a, a distance acquisition unit 1
b, azimuth obtaining means 1c, absolute position obtaining means 1d, highlighting means 1e for highlighting an icon, function executing means 1f, output control means 1g, and position detecting means 1h. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 14, route calculation means for calculating a route to the destination, route guidance for teaching the user the traveling direction of the vehicle at the branch point to the destination by the display means 7 and the speaker 8 The invention of the present application can be applied without any problem even to a device provided with transmission / reception means for obtaining traffic information from a means, a ground center or a broadcasting station.

2. Free movement type icon selection method Regarding the free movement type icon selection method, FIGS.
And the flowchart of FIG.

(1) Main Flowchart FIG. 15 is a main flowchart of the invention according to the claims of the present application. In S1, it is detected whether or not the user inputs a decision key such as a joystick. If the enter key is pressed (True), voice or B
After the EEP sound is emitted, the flow shifts to S2, where the function execution start subroutine is called.
Move to 3. In S3, it is detected whether or not a direction key such as a joystick is input by the user. If the direction key has been input (True), a beep sound is emitted and the process proceeds to S4, where the icon highlighting subroutine is called. If not (Fault), the process returns to S1.

(2) Function execution start subroutine When the process proceeds to S2, the function execution start subroutine of FIG. 16 is called. First, as shown in FIG. 9, a pop-up menu is displayed for the user to select execution of a function corresponding to the navigation operation (S21). One item described in the pop-up menu is highlighted (S22). Next, a timeout is detected (S2
3). If timeout occurs (True), return
Of the function execution (S2) ends. Conversely, if the confirmation key is input without a timeout (Fault), S24
Move to. In S24, if the user presses the enter key (True), a voice or BEEP sound is emitted and then S2
If the confirmation key is not input (Fault), the process proceeds to step S5.
Move to 27. In S27, the next item described in the pop-up menu is highlighted. If the next item does not exist in the pop-up menu (the bottom item is highlighted or there is only one item in the pop-up menu), the first item is displayed.

On the other hand, when the process proceeds to S25, as shown in FIG. 9, the user corrects or sets the function for the highlighted item. Next, in S26, if the correction or setting in S25 is performed normally (True), the process returns and the function execution start (S2) in FIG. 15 ends. If not done successfully
(Fault), and returns to S22.

(3) Icon emphasis display (free movement icon selection method) subroutine In S4 of FIG. 15, the icon emphasis display subroutine (FIG. 17) is called. In S41a of FIG. 17, it is checked whether or not there is an icon adjacent to the direction obtained from the input of the direction key by the user. If there is an adjacent icon (True), after shifting to S42a, the adjacent icon is highlighted as shown in FIG. 7, the process returns, and the icon highlighting (S4) in FIG. 15 ends. On the other hand, if there is no adjacent icon (Fault), the process returns to FIG.
Is completed (S4).

3. Fixed order icon selection method Regarding the fixed order icon selection method, FIGS.
And the flowchart of FIG. FIGS. 15 and 16 are common in the free movement type icon selection method, and the icon is highlighted (the fixed order type icon selection method).
Only the subroutine (FIG. 18) is different.

The icon highlighting (fixed order icon selection method) subroutine of FIG. 18 will be described below. At S4 in the main flowchart (FIG. 15), the icon highlighting subroutine (FIG. 18) is called. FIG.
In step S41b of FIG. 8, the next icon is highlighted from the currently highlighted icon in a predetermined order as shown in FIG.
Returning to 5), the icon emphasis display (S4) in the main flowchart ends.

In the above, an example has been described in which the mark normally displayed on the screen of the display means is used as the icon during the navigation operation for displaying the current position of the vehicle on the map. However, a function that does not display a normal mark may be registered in advance as an icon, and the registered icon may be displayed on the screen of the display unit during the navigation operation.

[0030]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the menu screen is not displayed, the screen during the navigation operation is not erased. As a result, the user can continue to check the current position and does not need to shift to the menu screen, so that various functions related to the navigation operation can be easily performed by a simple operation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the mark normally displayed during the navigation operation is used for the icon, so that the overlapping display of the mark and the icon can be avoided, and the screen can be used effectively. In addition, since icons of a familiar pattern are used for selection in a familiar position, the operation can be performed very intuitively and easily and easily.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when an icon displayed on the screen during the navigation operation is selected, a joystick or the like is input in the direction of the next icon to be selected based on the currently selected icon. May be. That is, since the joystick or the like is input in the direction of the next icon to be selected based on the currently selected icon, if the frequently used icons are grouped in a predetermined place on the screen, the number of times of instructing and inputting the direction can be reduced. Can be reduced. As a result, the operation of selecting an icon by the user is greatly simplified, so that various functions related to the navigation operation are more easily executed.

According to the invention, when selecting an icon displayed on the screen during the navigation operation, the joystick or the like may be input in any direction. That is, the icons are highlighted in a predetermined order, so that the icons can be selected only by glance at the screen during the navigation operation. As a result, the operation of selecting an icon by the user is greatly simplified, so that various functions related to the navigation operation are more easily executed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the input means is a joystick, the user can perform a desired operation only with the sense of a finger without looking at the input means, thereby reducing the burden of operation. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a menu screen in a conventional navigation device.

FIG. 2 is a screen showing that a navigation operation is being performed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing icons displayed during a navigation operation.

FIG. 4 is a diagram using a joystick.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a joystick type input means.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a card-type input unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a free-moving icon selection method.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a fixed order icon selection method.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a search around a current position.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing confirmation of a GPS reception status.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a scale change of a displayed map.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing selection of a display mode of a map.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a destination setting.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a navigation device main body.

FIG. 15 is a main flowchart according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a subroutine for starting function execution.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a subroutine of icon highlighting (free-moving icon selection method).

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a subroutine of icon highlighting (fixed order icon selection method).

[Explanation of symbols]

 D: Map dedicated disk 1 ... Navigation device main body 2 ... Input means 3 ... CD drive 4 ... Vehicle speed sensor 5 ... Direction sensor 6 ... Antenna 7 ... Display means 8 ... Speaker 1a ... Memory control means 1b ... Distance acquisition means 1c ... Direction acquisition Means 1d Absolute position acquisition means 1e Highlighting means 1f Function execution means 1g Output control unit 1h Current position determination means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A current position determining means for determining a current position of a vehicle based on signals from a receiver or various sensors; a storage means for storing a road map; and displaying the current position on a screen together with the road map. And a display means for displaying an icon defined as an icon in association with a specific mark to be executed on the screen together with a road map on the screen by the display means. Means, an icon selection instructing means for instructing selection of an icon displayed on the display means, an icon selecting means for selecting a specific icon in response to an input from the icon selection instructing means, and the selected specific Highlighting means for highlighting an icon on the screen; and an icon for instructing confirmation of the selected specific icon. A navigation device comprising: a console confirmation instruction unit; and a function execution unit that activates a function corresponding to the selected specific icon. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said icon definition means defines a mark normally displayed when a road map is displayed as an icon in association with a specific function. 3. The icon selection instructing means is a direction instructing means for instructing a direction, and the icon selecting means is configured to display an icon in a direction input from the direction instructing means based on a currently selected icon. 3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is an icon selection unit that selects an icon to be selected next. 4. The icon selection instructing means is a trigger input means for instructing a trigger to change a selected icon, and the icon selecting means follows a predetermined order in accordance with an input from the trigger input means. 3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is an icon selection unit that selects an icon in a next order from a currently selected icon. 5. The icon selecting and instructing means comprises a direction indicating section of a joystick with a push button, and the icon confirming and instructing means comprises a push button of a joystick with a push button. 4. The navigation device according to claim 1.