NAVIGATION APPARATUS AND NAVIGATION APPARATUS DISPLAY METHOD

• US 20090171580A1
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: NEZU, Yoshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,271,193 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a navigation apparatus for displaying maps on a display section based on map data held in a recording section, the navigation apparatus including: a current position detection section configured to detect the current position of the navigation apparatus; a touch-sensitive panel configured to be installed on a display screen of the display section; and a control section configured to control changes in what is displayed on the display section in response to operations performed by a user on the touch-sensitive panel, wherein the control section displays either the current position or route directions in text form in a strip-shaped area along one edge of the display screen, and a map in all or part of the remaining area of the display screen, and according to an instruction given from the user, the control section changes the display of the strip-shaped area to the display of at least a menu for accepting input of operations regarding the map.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus for displaying maps on a display section based on map data held in a recording section, said navigation apparatus comprising:

a current position detection section configured to detect the current position of said navigation apparatus;

a touch-sensitive panel configured to be installed on a display screen of said display section; and

a control section configured to control changes in what is displayed on said display section in response to operations performed by a user on said touch-sensitive panel, wherein

said control section displays either said current position or route directions in text form in a strip-shaped area along one edge of said display screen, and a map in all or part of the remaining area of said display screen, and

according to an instruction given from said user, said control section changes the display of said strip-shaped area to the display of at least a menu for accepting input of operations regarding said map.

2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control section cancels the display of said menu in said strip-shaped area so as to restore the original display if no operation is detected to be performed on said touch-sensitive panel for a predetermined time period.

3. A navigation apparatus display method for use with a navigation apparatus for displaying maps on a display section based on map data held in a recording section, said navigation apparatus including

a current position detection section configured to detect the current position of said navigation apparatus, and

a touch-sensitive panel configured to be installed on a display screen of said display section,

said navigation apparatus display method comprising the steps of:

displaying either said current position or route directions in text form in a strip-shaped area along one edge of said display screen, and a map in all or part of the remaining area of said display screen; and

according to an instruction given from said user, changing the display of said strip-shaped area to the display of at least a menu for accepting input of operations regarding said map.

4. The navigation apparatus display method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of

canceling the display of said menu in said strip-shaped area so as to restore the original display if no operation is detected to be performed on said touch-sensitive panel for a predetermined time period.