Navigation device with improved user interface and mounting features

• US 7,987,046 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Moore, Scott T., Peterman, Glenn T., Skelton, Paul E., Hansen, Kevin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US11/696,478
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701213-215
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233

Abstract

A device with an improved user interface and mounting features comprises a sensor operable to detect a mounting configuration of the device, a display, and a processing system coupled with the sensor and the display. The processing system is generally operable to receive an indication of the detected mounting configuration from the sensor and present information on the display according to the detected mounting configuration.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a touch-screen display; and

a processing system coupled with the touch-screen display, the processing system operable for;

causing an input index to be displayed by the display, the input index corresponding to a plurality of inputs and having a positionable index portion corresponding to only a portion of the inputs,

receiving a signal from the touch-screen display for detecting a change in the position of the positionable index portion,

identifying inputs corresponding to the positionable index portion utilizing the received signal, and

causing the identified inputs to be displayed on the display.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inputs correspond to alphanumeric characters.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the presented input index provides a representation of the inputs at a first size and each of the identified inputs corresponding to the positionable index portion is presented at a second size greater than the first size.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second size is at least three times greater than the first size.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positionable index portion is slidable along the input index.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input index, positionable index portion, and identified inputs are presented concurrently on the touch-screen display.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, further including a housing to house at least a portion of the touch-screen display and computing element.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, further including a plurality of functionable inputs coupled with the processing system to provide inputs thereto, each of the functionable inputs positioned in the housing to the left of the touch-screen display for facilitating use by the left hand.

9. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the housing is operable to couple with interchangeable end caps.