Multiple visual display device and vehicle-mounted navigation system

• US 20080133122A1
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanayama, Hideyuki, Mashitani, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 8,050,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

In a vehicle-mounted navigation system, an operating unit that operates the driver'"'"'s seat side image and an operating unit that operates the passenger'"'"'s seat side image had to be provided separately, which increased the number of operation buttons and the size of the navigation system device. In a vehicle-mounted navigation system that displays images in multiple directions, an operating direction detector detects which direction an operation was performed from, and a controller controls the vehicle-mounted navigation system based on a detection result of the operating direction detector.

Claims

1. A visual display device, comprising:

a multiple visual display that displays a first image in a first direction and a second image in a second direction;

an operating unit that executes an operation from the first direction and the second direction;

an operating direction detector that detects whether the operation was performed from the first direction or the second direction; and

a controller that controls the first image or the second image based on a detection result of the operating direction detector and an operation performed by the operating unit.

2. The visual display device of claim 1, wherein the operating unit is a touch panel,

wherein the first image includes a first operation button for the first image, and the second image includes a second operation button for the second image,

wherein the controller controls the first image when the operating direction detector detects an operation from the first direction and a region of the touch panel corresponding to the first operation button has been operated, and the controller controls the second image when the operating direction detector detects an operation from the second direction and a region of the touch panel corresponding to the second operation button has been operated.

3. The visual display device of claim 1, wherein the second image is different from the first image.

4. The visual display device of claim 1, wherein the second direction is different from the first direction.

5. The visual display device of claim 1, wherein one of the first direction and the second direction corresponds to a driver'"'"'s seat direction and the other of the first direction and the second direction corresponds to a passenger'"'"'s seat direction, and

wherein the operating unit is operable from the driver'"'"'s seat direction and the passenger'"'"'s seat direction.

6. The visual display device of claim 1, wherein the operating direction detector includes an operation direction detection button on one of the first image and the second image, and

wherein when the operating direction detection button is operated, the operating direction detector determines that the visual display device is operated from a direction designated by the operating direction detection button during a certain period of time after the operation of the operating direction detection button.

7. The visual display device of claim 1, wherein the operating direction detector detects whether the operation was performed from the first direction or the second direction by detecting a gravity center position of an operator'"'"'s hand.

8. A vehicle-mounted navigation system, comprising:

a visual display device that includes

a multiple visual display that displays a first image in a first direction and a second image in a second direction;

an operating unit that executes an operation from the first direction and the second direction;

an operating direction detector that detects whether the operation was performed from the first direction or the second direction; and

a controller that controls the first image or the second image based on a detection result of the operating direction detector and an operation performed by the operating unit,

wherein one of the first direction and the second direction corresponds to a driver'"'"'s seat direction and the other of the first direction and the second direction corresponds to a passenger'"'"'s seat direction, and the operating unit is operable from the driver'"'"'s seat direction and the passenger'"'"'s seat direction, and

wherein the vehicle-mounted navigation system is controlled based on a detection result of the operating direction detector and an operation to the operating unit.

9. The vehicle-mounted navigation system of claim 8, wherein the first image and the second image each includes an operation button that performs a common control, and

wherein when an operation from one of the driver'"'"'s seat direction and the passenger'"'"'s seat direction is restricted, the operation button displayed in the driver'"'"'s seat direction and the operation button displayed in the passenger'"'"'s direction are displayed in a different manner.

10. The vehicle-mounted navigation system of claim 9, wherein when one of the operation buttons is operated to change a displayed image, an image in the driver'"'"'s seat direction is replaced with an image that does not interfere with driving, if the image in the driver'"'"'s seat direction is an image that is likely to interfere with driving.

11. The vehicle-mounted navigation system of claim 10, wherein the image that is likely to interfere with driving is a moving picture.

12. The vehicle-mounted navigation system of claim 10, wherein the image that is likely to interfere with driving is long text.

13. The vehicle-mounted navigation system of claim 10, wherein the image that does not interfere with driving is simplified text.

14. The vehicle-mounted navigation system of claim 8, further comprising a speed input unit to which at least one speed signal corresponding to vehicle speed is inputted, wherein the controller conforms the first image and the second image when the speed signal indicates below a predetermined speed.

15. The vehicle-mounted navigation system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first image and the second image includes an operating direction detection button, and wherein when the operating direction detection button is operated, the operating direction detector determines that an operation was performed from a direction designated by the operation direction detection button for a predetermined period of time after the operation of the operation direction detection button.