Display apparatus

• US 20080211693A1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Tsuchikawa, Kazutomo, Ohzawa, Yoshiki, Yokota, Toshikazu, Okuno, Kiyokazu
• Granted Patent: US 7,804,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/995.26
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

A controller of a navigation apparatus acquires audio information when it is determined in a display switch process that a display of a display device is stored in a center console portion. An audio information image is generated from the acquired audio information. The generated audio information image is displayed on an exposed portion of a viewing area of the display. Even if the viewing area of the display is partially concealed by the center console portion, an exposed portion of the viewing area, which is not concealed by the center console portion, is effectively used. Useful information image such as an audio information image other than a usual navigation information image can be thus provided in the partially exposed portion of the viewing area of the display.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a display including a viewing area able to display an image, the display being movable between (i) a partially concealed position at which the viewing area is partially concealed inside a center console portion of the vehicle and (ii) a fully exposed position at which a whole of the viewing area is exposed from the center console portion;

a movement drive device configured to move the display between the partially concealed position and the fully exposed position;

a position switch unit configured to cause the movement drive device to switch to move the display between the partially concealed position and the fully exposed position according to a control signal;

an information acquisition unit configured to acquire notifying information;

an image generation unit configured to generate a first image and a second image from the acquired notifying information, the first image being displayed on the whole of the viewing area at the fully exposed position, the second image being displayed on an exposed portion of the viewing area at the partially concealed position; and

a notification unit configured to cause the display to display the first image on the viewing area at the fully exposed position and the second image on the exposed portion of the viewing area at the partially concealed position.

2. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the information acquisition unit includes

a first information acquisition unit configured to acquire navigation information for notification and

a second information acquisition unit configured to acquire at least one of audio information and vehicle information for notification; and

the image generation unit generates the first image from the navigation information acquired and the second image from the at least one of audio information and vehicle information acquired.

3. The display apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

an audio output device configured to output sounds, wherein;

the navigation information includes audio guidance information; and

while the first information acquisition unit acquires navigation information at the partially concealed position of the display, the notification unit causes the audio output device to output sounds based on the audio guidance information included in the acquired navigation information.

4. The display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the audio guidance information included in the acquired navigation information includes first audio guidance information used for outputting sounds when navigation using an image is executed and second audio guidance information used for outputting sounds when navigation using an image is not executed; and

while the first information acquisition unit acquires navigation information at the partially concealed position of the display, the notification unit causes the audio output device to output sounds based on the second audio guidance information included in the acquired navigation information.

5. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the information acquisition unit includes a first information acquisition unit configured to acquire navigation information for notification; and

the image generation unit generates the first image from the acquired navigation information and the second image from the acquired navigation information.

6. The display apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

an audio output device configured to output sounds, wherein;

the navigation information includes audio guidance information; and

while the first information acquisition unit acquires navigation information at the partially concealed position of the display, the notification unit causes the audio output device to output sounds based on the audio guidance information included in the acquired navigation information.

7. The display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the audio guidance information included in the acquired navigation information includes first audio guidance information used for outputting sounds when navigation using an image is executed and second audio guidance information used for outputting sounds when navigation using an image is not executed; and

while the first information acquisition unit acquires navigation information at the partially concealed position of the display, the notification unit causes the audio output device to output sounds based on the second audio guidance information included in the acquired navigation information.

8. The display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

the information acquisition unit includes a second information acquisition unit configured to acquire at least one of audio information and vehicle information for notification;

the image generation unit generates a third image from the at least one of audio information and vehicle information acquired, the third image being displayed on the exposed portion of the viewing area at the partially concealed position; and

while the first information acquisition unit does not acquire navigation information at the partially concealed position of the display, the notification unit causes the display to display the third image on the exposed portion of the viewing area at the partially concealed position.