Multiple visual display device and vehicle-mounted navigation system

• US 8,050,858 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Mashitani, Ken, Kanayama, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kiswanto, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US11/727,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20080133122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 725/37, 725/74, 725/78, 725/80, 353/7, 353/8, 353/34, 348/51, 348/54, 348/57, 348/59, 348/113, 348/118, 348/119, 340/988, 340/995.1
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

In a vehicle-mounted navigation system, an operating unit that operates the driver'"'"'s seat side image and an operating unit that operates the passenger'"'"'s seat side image had to be provided separately, which increased the number of operation buttons and the size of the navigation system device. In a vehicle-mounted navigation system that displays images in multiple directions, an operating direction detector detects which direction an operation was performed from, and a controller controls the vehicle-mounted navigation system based on a detection result of the operating direction detector.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted navigation system, comprising:

a visual display device that includes a multiple visual display that displays a first image in a first direction and a second image in a second direction;

an operating unit that executes an operation from the first direction and the second direction;

an operating direction detector that detects whether the operation was performed from the first direction or the second direction; and

a controller that controls the first image or the second image based on a detection result of the operating direction detector and based on an operation performed by the operating unit, wherein one of the first direction and the second direction corresponds to a driver'"'"'s seat direction and the other of the first direction and the second direction corresponds to a passenger'"'"'s seat direction, and the operating unit is operable from the driver'"'"'s seat direction and the passenger'"'"'s seat direction, and wherein the vehicle-mounted navigation system is controlled based on a detection result of the operating direction detector and an operation to the operating unit;

wherein the first image and the second image each includes an operation button that performs a common control, and wherein when an operation from one of the driver'"'"'s seat direction and the passenger'"'"'s seat direction is restricted, the operation button displayed in the driver'"'"'s seat direction and the operation button displayed in the passenger'"'"'s direction are displayed in a different manner; and

wherein when one of the operation buttons is operated to change a displayed image, an image in the driver'"'"'s seat direction is replaced with an image that does not interfere with driving, if the image in the driver'"'"'s seat direction is an image that is likely to interfere with driving.

2. The vehicle-mounted navigation system of claim 1, wherein the image that is likely to interfere with driving is a moving picture.

3. The vehicle-mounted navigation system of claim 1, wherein the image that is likely to interfere with driving is long text.

4. The vehicle-mounted navigation system of claim 1, wherein the image that does not interfere with driving is simplified text.

5. A vehicle-mounted navigation system, comprising:

a visual display device that includes a multiple visual display that displays a first image in a first direction and a second image in a second direction;

an operating unit that executes an operation from the first direction and the second direction;

an operating direction detector that detects whether the operation was performed from the first direction or the second direction;

a controller that controls the first image or the second image based on a detection result of the operating direction detector and based on an operation performed by the operating unit, wherein one of the first direction and the second direction corresponds to a driver'"'"'s seat direction and the other of the first direction and the second direction corresponds to a passenger'"'"'s seat direction, and the operating unit is operable from the driver'"'"'s seat direction and the passenger'"'"'s seat direction, and wherein the vehicle-mounted navigation system is controlled based on a detection result of the operating direction detector and an operation to the operating unit; and

a speed input unit to which at least one speed signal corresponding to vehicle speed is inputted, wherein the controller conforms the first image and the second image when the speed signal indicates below a predetermined speed.