Navigation apparatus and navigation apparatus display method

• US 8,271,193 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Application Number:
  US12/332,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20090171580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/209, 701/211, 701/431, 701/432, 715/825, 715/841, 345/1.1
• US Class Current: 701/432
• 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

A navigation apparatus for displaying maps includes 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. 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, 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 a 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 a display of at least a menu for accepting input of operations regarding said map by superimposing the display of the menu over the display of the current position or route directions in the strip shaped area.

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 an original display if no operation is detected to be performed on said touch-sensitive panel for a predetermined time period.

6. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control section displays either said current position or route directions in text form in the strip-shaped area along a bottom edge of said display screen, the strip shaped area including a button for requesting the menu, the control section changing the display of the strip shaped area from the current position or the route directions to the menu when the user selects the button.

3. A navigation apparatus display method for use with a navigation apparatus for displaying maps on a display 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:

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 a remaining area of said display screen; and

according to an instruction given from said user, changing the display of said strip-shaped area to a display of at least a menu for accepting input of operations regarding said map by superimposing the display of the menu over the display of the current position or route directions in the strip shaped area.

4. The navigation apparatus display method according to claim 3, further comprising:

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

5. The navigation method according to claim 3, wherein said displaying includes displaying either said current position or route directions in text form in the strip-shaped area along a bottom edge of said display screen, the strip shaped area including a button for requesting the menu, and the changing includes changing the display of the strip shaped area from the current position or the route directions to the menu when the user selects the button.