Navigation device

• US 6,647,338 B1
• Filed: 02/27/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Hamberger, Klaus, Schroder, Jurgen, Remlinger, Wolfram
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/070,064
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 701/212, 701/200, 340/988, 340/995, 340/990, 345/161, 345/184, 345/649, 345/659, 345/156, 345/428
• US Class Current: 701/212
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• 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: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/00 Maps; Plans; Charts; Diagrams, e.g. route diagram star maps G09B27/04; devices for holding or supporting maps A47B97/02; for computing purposes G06G1/14, G09B1/16; display boards G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A navigation device for installation in a motor vehicle. The navigation device has a monitor on which a plurality of images, including a map image and a menu, and a rotary switch. The scale of the display as well as other features can be selected or changed by combinations or rotations and depressions of the rotary switch.

Claims

1. A navigation device, for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a monitor on which at least one image may be displayed, including an image of a map; and

a rotary switch,

wherein in a first operating mode, a scale of the map image is selected by rotation of the rotary switch and in a second operating mode, a cursor is moved along a predetermined route in the at least one image by one of application of an axial force to the rotary switch and rotation of the rotary switch.

2. The navigation device as specified in claim 1, wherein the a center of the map image is retained when the scale is selected.

3. The navigation device as specified in claim 1, wherein the a direction of movement of a the cursor in the at least one image is selected by rotation of the rotary switch.

4. The navigation device as specified in claim 1, wherein movement of a the cursor in a selected direction of movement or in a direction opposite the selected direction is effected through rotation of the rotary switch.

5. The navigation device as specified in claim 4, wherein the selected direction of movement of the cursor during movement of the cursor or with the cursor at rest is changed through rotation of the rotary switch.

6. The navigation device as specified in claim 1, wherein movement of a the cursor in a selected direction or in t a direction opposite the selected direction is effected or canceled through an application of an axial force on the rotary switch.

7. The navigation device as specified in claim 6, wherein the selected direction of movement of the cursor during movement of the cursor or with the cursor at rest is changed through rotation of the rotary switch.

8. The navigation device as specified in claim 1, wherein an image may be called up which is a menu containing at least one function.

9. The navigation device as specified in claim 8, wherein each of the first operating mode, the second operating mode and at least one additional operating mode is set by means of the function.

10. The navigation device as specified in claim 1, wherein a function may be selected in another operating mode through rotation of the rotary switch.

11. The navigation device as specified in claim 1, wherein each of the first operating mode, the second operating mode and at least one additional operating mode is set through axial movement of the rotary switch.

12. The navigation device as specified in claim 1, wherein the each of the first operating mode, the second operating mode and a at least one additional operating mode is set through operation of at least one additional rotary switch, a pressure switch, or a sliding switch.

13. The navigation device as specified in claim 1, wherein each of the first operating mode, the second operating mode and at least one additional operating mode is set through a brief application of axial force to the rotary switch.

14. A navigation device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a monitor on which at least one image is displayed, including an image of a map and image of a menu; and

a rotary switch,

wherein in one operating mode, a scale of the map image is selected by rotation of the rotary switch, and

wherein a point on the map image or a reigion in a vicinity of the point corresponding to a current cursor position is identified by an information function.

15. The navigation device as specified in claim 14, wherein the point on the map corresponding to the current cursor position is selected as a destination or an intermediate destination by information the function.

16. The navigation device as specified in claim 15, wherein a distance between the destination or the intermediate destination and a current position of the vehicle is displayed on the monitor by the information function.

17. A navigation device for a motor vehicle comprising:

a monitor on which at least one image is displayed, including an image of a map and an image of a menu; and

a rotary switch.

wherein in one operating mode a scale of the map image is selected by rotation of the rotary switch, and

wherein a point on the map corresponding to a current cursor position is selected as a destination or an intermediate destination by an information function.

18. The navigation device as specified in claim 17, wherein a distance between the destination or the intermediate destination and a current position of the vehicle is displayed on the monitor by the information function.

19. A navigation device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a monitor on which at least one image is displayed including an image of a map; and

a rotary switch,

wherein in a first operating mode a scale of the map image is selected by rotation of the rotary switch, and in a second operating mode, a function may be selected by rotation of the rotary switch, and

wherein a point on the map image or a region in a vicinity of the point corresponding to a current cursor position is identified by an information function.