Portable navigation device

• US 20070273624A1
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pieter Geelen
• Original Assignee: Pieter Geelen
• Inventors: Geelen, Pieter
• Application Number:
  US11/882,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20070273624A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/84
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/102 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

Abstract

A navigation device is configured to allocate display setting such as color schemes and screen contents to at least one ambient lighting condition, monitors and evaluates a signal indicative of ambient lighting conditions and determines whether display settings for the current ambient lighting conditions are already in use and to change display settings so that they suit current ambient lighting conditions if needed.

Claims

1. A method for automatically adjusting visibility of a portable navigation device display, the method comprising the steps of:

allocating display settings for at least one ambient lighting condition,

monitoring a signal indicative of current ambient lighting condition, evaluating said signal,

selecting a display setting allocated to said current ambient lighting condition,

determining if a current display setting is the selected display setting, and

changing said current display setting to said selected display setting if said current setting is not said selected display setting.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one ambient lighting conditions comprises at least two ambient lighting conditions.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of allocating display view settings comprises selecting at least one of an appropriate view, a backlight level, and a color scheme.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein one of said display settings is a day view.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein one of said display settings is a night view.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein one of said display settings comprises a three dimensional view of a map;

and schematic representation of the sky at daytime.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein one of said display settings comprises a three dimensional view of a map;

and a schematic representation of the sky at nighttime.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein one of said display settings comprises a high backlight level and a color scheme using brighter colors.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein one of said display settings comprises a low backlight level and a color scheme using darker colors.

10. The method according to claim 3, wherein one of said display settings comprises a color scheme using inverted colors.

11. The method according to claim 3, wherein said color scheme is stored as a plugin.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of changing further comprises gradually changing backlight levels from a current backlight level to a level allocated to said selected display setting.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of gradually changing backlight level comprises a predefined number of incremental jumps ranging from a backlight level for current display mode to another backlight level for said selected display mode.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said gradually changing backlight level comprises five incremental jumps.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring further comprises receiving a signal from a light sensor.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said step of monitoring further comprises buffering said signal to filter temporary changes in ambient lighting conditions.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said light sensor is located on a printed circuit board of said portable navigation device.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring further comprises receiving a signal from a headlight sensor.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said headlight sensor is wired to said portable navigation device directly or through its docking unit.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of confirming connection of said portable navigation device to said signal.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein said headlight sensor is wirelessly connected to said navigation device.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring further comprises receiving a signal from a map matching function.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said map matching function indicates current location of said navigation device is in a tunnel.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein said map matching function indicates loss of positioning signal.

25. The method according to claim 1, wherein said display is a touch screen display with light emitting diode backlight.

26. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of changing further comprises presenting a confirmation dialog to the user of said portable navigation device.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said step of changing is delayed until a confirmation is given by the user of said navigation device.

28. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of selecting a display setting is performed manually by the user of said navigation device.

29. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of changing comprises the step of enabling or disabling at least one function of said navigation device.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said at least one function comprises one of a star map, points of interests, information relating to map items or a planned route, warning about speed limits, warning about driving breaks, displaying traffic information, displaying weather information, menu items, and menu color schemes.