In-vehicle input system

• US 20110296340A1
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakagawa, Kunihiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,555,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/783
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00985 Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/126 Rotatable input devices for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/774 on or in the centre console
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser

Abstract

An in-vehicle input system includes: a display device for displaying screen images having selection items; a selection operation device for moving a cursor from a first selection item to a second selection item to select and input the second selection item; a first image switching device for switching from a current level screen image to a lower level screen image when the selected second selection item is input; a second image switching device for switching from the current level screen image to an upper level screen image when the selection operation device selects and inputs a level return item of the selected second selection item disposed on a nearest screen edge side of the selected second selection item; and a level return item display device for emphasizing a display of the level return item when the second selection item is selected.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle input system comprising:

a display device for displaying a plurality of selection screen images, which are switchable to each other, wherein each selection screen image includes a plurality of selection areas;

a selection operation device for moving a cursor from one selection area to another adjacent selection area on one of the selection screen images along with an operation direction so that the another adjacent selection area is selected alternatively, and for inputting the selected another adjacent selection area;

a first image switching device for switching from the one of the selection screen images to another one of the selection screen images when the another adjacent selection area on the one of the selection screen images is input by the selection operation device, wherein the another one of the selection screen images is a lower level selection screen image of the one of the selection screen images, and corresponds to the input another adjacent selection area;

a second image switching device for switching from the one of the selection screen images to further another one of the selection screen images when the selection operation device selects and inputs a side area of the another adjacent selection area under a condition that the another adjacent selection area is selected, wherein the side area is disposed on a nearest screen edge side of the selected another adjacent selection area, and the further another one of the selection screen images is a upper level of the one of the selection screen images, and corresponds to the input side area; and

a level return operation direction display device for emphasizing visually and displaying the side area as a level return operation direction display area under the condition that the another adjacent selection area is selected by the selection operation device, wherein the side area is emphasized compared with a case where the another adjacent selection area is not selected.

2. An in-vehicle input system comprising:

a display device for displaying a plurality of screen images, which are switchable to each other, wherein each screen image includes a plurality of selection items, the screen images provides a hierarchical structure having an upper level screen image, a current level screen image and a lower level screen image, and the selection items includes a first selection item and a second selection item;

a selection operation device for moving a cursor from the first selection item to the second selection item on the current level screen image along with an operation direction so that the second selection item is selected alternatively, and for inputting the selected second selection item;

a first image switching device for switching from the current level screen image to the lower level screen image when the selected second selection item on the current level screen image is input, wherein the lower level screen image corresponds to the input second selection item;

a second image switching device for switching from the current level screen image to the upper level screen image when the selection operation device selects and inputs a level return item of the selected second selection item under a condition that the second selection item is selected, wherein the level return item is disposed on a nearest screen edge side of the selected second selection item, and the upper level screen image corresponds to the level return item; and

a level return item display device for emphasizing a display of the level return item when the second selection item is selected by the selection operation device, wherein the display of the level return item is emphasized compared with a case where the second selection item is not selected.

3. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 2,

wherein the level return item display device emphasizes the display of the level return item in a screen image edge region on the current screen image, and

wherein the screen image edge region is disposed on the nearest screen edge side of the selected second selection item.

4. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a level return item setting device for displaying the level return item of the selected second selection item on the current screen image to be one of the selection items for returning to the upper level screen image,

wherein the level return item display device emphasizes the display of the level return item on the current screen image.

5. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 4,

wherein the level return item display device emphasizes the display of the level return item in a screen image edge region on the current screen image,

wherein the screen image edge region is disposed on the nearest screen edge side of the selected second selection item, and

wherein the level return item setting device shifts another one of the selection items from the screen image edge region to another position of the current screen image when the another one of the selection items is arranged in the screen image edge region of the current screen image, and displays the level return item of the selected second selection item in the screen image edge region on the current screen image.

6. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 4,

wherein the level return item display device emphasizes the display of the level return item in a screen image edge region on the current screen image,

wherein the screen image edge region is disposed on the nearest screen edge side of the selected second selection item, and

wherein the level return item setting device shifts the selected second selection item from the screen image edge region to another position of the current screen image when the selected second selection item is arranged in the screen image edge region of the current screen image, and displays the level return item of the selected second selection item in the screen image edge region on the current screen image.

7. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 6,

wherein each of the selection items is an overlapping image in a selection area, which is overlapped and displayed over a background image in the selection area,

wherein the overlapping image of the second selection item is displayed and emphasized by the cursor when the cursor is disposed on the second selection item, and

wherein the level return item setting device shifts the overlapping image of the second selection item from the screen image edge region to another position of the current screen image when the selected second selection item is arranged in the screen image edge region of the current screen image, displays the background image of the second selection item in the screen image edge region, and displays the level return item of the selected second selection item in the screen image edge region on the current screen image so that the level return item is overlapped over the background image.

8. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 4,

wherein the level return item setting device displays the level return item of the selected second selection item at all of a plurality of nearest screen edge sides of the selected second selection item when there are a plurality of nearest screen edges of the selected second selection item.

9. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 2,

wherein the selection items of the current level screen image include a ring shaped selection item group, in which the selection items are arranged in a ring shape.

10. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 9, further comprising:

a level return item setting device for displaying the level return item of the selected second selection item on the current screen image to be one of the selection items for returning to the upper level screen image,

wherein the level return item display device emphasizes the display of the level return item on the current screen image,

wherein the current level screen image has a rectangular shape,

wherein each selection item in the ring shaped selection item group is arranged to face a respective side of the rectangular shape so that the selection items of the ring shaped selection item group are arranged in a cross shape,

wherein the level return item setting device displays the level return item of the selected second selection item between the selected second selection item and a side of the rectangular shape of the current level screen image when the second selection item is selected, and the second selection item belongs to the ring shaped selection item group, and

wherein the side of the rectangular shape of the current level screen image is the nearest screen edge of the selected second selection item.

11. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 2,

wherein the selection items of the current level screen image include a linear shaped selection item group, in which the selection items are arranged in a linear shape.

12. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a level return item setting device for displaying the level return item of the selected second selection item on the current screen image to be one of the selection items for returning to the upper level screen image,

wherein the level return item display device emphasizes the display of the level return item on the current screen image,

wherein the current level screen image has a rectangular shape,

wherein the selection items in the linear shaped selection item group are arranged along with a side of the rectangular shape, which is a nearest edge of the linear shaped selection item group, and

wherein the level return item setting device moves the selected second selection item from the side of the rectangular shape to be spaced apart from the side of the rectangular shape when the second selection item is selected, and the second selection item belongs to the linear shaped selection item group, and displays the level return item of the selected second selection item between the moved second selection item and the side of the rectangular shape of the current level screen image.

13. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 7,

wherein the selection items of the current level screen image include a linear shaped selection item group, in which the selection items are arranged in a linear shape,

wherein the current level screen image has a rectangular shape,

wherein the selection items in the linear shaped selection item group are arranged along with a side of the rectangular shape, which is a nearest edge of the linear shaped selection item group, and

wherein the level return item setting device shifts a whole of the linear shaped selection item group to be spaced apart from the side of the rectangular shape in order to move the selected second selection item from the side of the rectangular shape to be spaced apart from .the side of the rectangular shape when another one of the selection items is arranged in the screen image edge region of the current screen image, and the another one of the selection items belongs to the linear shaped selection item group.

14. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 2,

wherein the second image switching device switches from the current level screen image to a level return object selection screen image when the selection operation device selects and inputs the level return item of the selected second selection item,

wherein the level return object selection screen image includes a plurality of selection items for switching from the level return object selection screen image to upper level screen images, which are different from each other, respectively, and

wherein the second image switching device switches from the level return object selection screen image to a corresponding upper level screen image of one of the selection items in the level return object selection screen image when the selection operation device selects and inputs the one of the selection items in the level return object selection screen image.

15. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a display prohibition operation device for receiving a display prohibition operation, which prohibits to display the level return item of the selected second selection item; and

a display prohibition device for prohibiting the level return item display device from displaying the level return item when the display prohibition operation device receives the display prohibition operation.

16. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a third image switching device for switching from the current level screen image to another lower level screen image when the selection operation device selects and inputs a third selection item on the current level screen image, wherein the another lower level screen image corresponds to the input third selection item, and does not include any selection item; and

a second level return item display device for displaying the level return item for returning from the another lower level screen image to the current level screen image visually identifiable at a position of the another lower level screen image,

wherein the position of the another lower level screen image corresponds to an arrangement position of the third selection item on the current level screen image.

17. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 10,

wherein the selection operation device functions as a cross direction operation unit, and

wherein the cross direction operation unit is capable of moving an operation body of the selection operation device toward four directions of a cross shape, which corresponds to the cross shape of the selection items of the ring shaped selection item group.

18. The in-vehicle input system according to claim 2,

wherein the selection operation device is a remote control device disposed in a compartment of a vehicle nearer a driver seat of the vehicle than the display device so that the selection operation device is operable for a driver of the vehicle under a condition that the driver sits down on the driver seat.