Display apparatus, audio-video navigation system, displaying method and car

• US 6,023,290 A
• Filed: 04/22/1996
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Seita, Kazuhisa
• Primary Examiner(s): RAO, ANAND SHASHIKANT
• Application Number:
  US08/636,136
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 348/113, 348/116, 348/118, 348/115, 455/90, 455/91, 455/186.1, 340/361, 340/937, 340/438, 340/938
• US Class Current: 348/118
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers

Abstract

An audio-video navigation systems that permits performing a navigation while reproducing a disc, by displaying an operation status of the disc player and analyzed level of each frequency component of the signal are superimposed onto a map for navigation. When performing the navigation while receiving by a tuner, the display of the receiving state of the tuner and analyzed level of each frequency component of the signal are superimposed onto the map for navigation.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for displaying information from a plurality of audio sources comprising:

first information generating means for generating an image of an electronic map showing streets for navigation from a memory on which map information including said streets is recorded and using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that utilizes satellites to obtain a current location;

second information generating means for generating an image of information relating to one of said plurality of audio sources;

display means for selectively displaying said image of an electronic map showing streets for navigation and said image of information relating to one of said plurality of audio sources;

image mixing means for generating a mixed image for display on said displaying means from said image of an electronic map showing streets for navigation and said information relating to one of said plurality of audio sources generated respectively by said first and said second information generating means, said image mixing means having a plurality of working memories for storing respective information relating to said plurality of audio sources and for storing said map information and having a frame memory so that said information to be displayed is copied into said frame memory to form said mixed image, wherein said mixed image is formed of said image of information relating to one of said plurality of audio sources superimposed on said image of an electronic map showing streets for navigation; and

a display switching key connected to said image mixing means for causing said image of information relating to one of said audio sources to be superimposed on said image of an electronic map showing streets for navigation upon a user first depressing said display switching key while said image of an electronic map showing streets for navigation is being displayed on said displaying means and upon the user next depressing said display switching key additionally displaying a frequency analysis image and upon the user next depressing said display switching key displaying only said image of an electronic map showing streets for navigation,

wherein said navigation allows a user to navigate from a street of the current location to a street of a destination.

2. The display apparatus for displaying information from a plurality of sources as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image of information relating to one of said plurality of sources is an image representing an operation status of an audio and/or video equipment forming one of said plurality of sources.

3. An audio-video navigation system for displaying information from a plurality of audio sources simultaneously, comprising:

displaying means for displaying an image;

navigation means for generating a first image of a map showing streets representing navigating information from a memory in which map information including said streets is recorded and using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver which utilizes satellites to obtain a current location;

audio-video operating means for generating a second image representing an operation status of an audio and/or video equipment forming one of said plurality of audio sources; and

image mixing means for generating a mixed image from said first image of a map showing streets representing navigating information and said second image representing an operation status generated respectively by said navigation means and said audio-video operating means for display by said displaying means, said image mixing means having a plurality of working memories for storing respective information relating to said plurality of audio sources and for storing said map information and having a frame memory so that said information to be displayed is copied into said frame memory to form said mixed image, wherein said mixed image is formed of said second image representing an operation status superimposed on a section of said first image of a map showing streets representing navigating information; and

a display switching key for causing said second image representing an operation status to be superimposed on said first image of a map showing streets representing navigation information upon a user first depressing said display switching key when said first image of a map showing streets representing navigating information is being displayed on said displaying means and upon the user next depressing said display switching key additionally displaying a frequency analysis image and upon the user next depressing said display switching key displaying only said image of a map showing streets representing navigating information;

wherein said navigation allows a user to navigate from a street of the current location to a street of a destination.

4. The audio-video navigation system for displaying information from a plurality of sources simultaneously as claimed in claim 3, wherein said audio and/or video equipment is a disc reproducing apparatus.

5. The audio-video navigation system for displaying information from a plurality of sources simultaneously as claimed in claim 3, wherein said audio and/or video equipment is a receiving apparatus.

6. The audio-video navigation system for displaying information from a plurality of sources simultaneously as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second image representing said operation status of said disc reproducing apparatus includes an image representing a frequency analysis of an output signal of said disc reproducing apparatus.

7. The audio-video navigation system for displaying information from a plurality of sources simultaneously as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second image representing said operation status of said receiving apparatus includes an image representing a frequency analysis of an output signal of said receiving apparatus.

8. A car with an audio-video navigation system for displaying information from a plurality of audio sources simultaneously, comprising:

displaying means located in the car for displaying an image;

navigation means located in the car for generating a first image of a map showing streets representing navigating information, wherein said first image is generated from a memory in which map information including said streets is recorded and using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that utilizes satellites to obtain a current location;

audio-video operating means located in the car for generating a second image representing an operation status of an audio and/or video equipment forming one of said plurality of audio sources; and

image mixing means located in the car for generating a mixed image from said first image of a map showing streets representing navigating information and said second image representing an operation status generated respectively by said navigation means and said audio-video operating means, said image mixing means having a plurality of working memories for storing respective information relating to said plurality of audio sources and for storing said map information and having a frame memory so that said information to be displayed is copied into said frame memory to form said mixed image, wherein said mixed image is formed of said second image representing said operation status of said audio and/or video equipment superimposed on a section of said first image of a map showing streets representing navigating information; and

a display switching key connected to said image mixing means for causing said second image representing an operation status to be superimposed on said first image of a map showing streets representing navigating information upon a user first depressing said display switching key while said first image of a map is being displayed on said displaying means and upon the user next depressing said display switching key additionally displaying a frequency analysis image and upon the user next depressing said display switching key displaying only said image of a map showing streets representing navigating information,

wherein said navigation allows a user to navigate from a street of the current location to a street of a destination.

9. A method for use in an audio-video navigation system for displaying information including displaying means for displaying an image, a display switching key, navigation means for generating navigating information, an audio-video operating means for generating an image of an operation status and image mixing means for generating a mixed image from said navigation means and said audio-video operating means,

the method for displaying an image of said navigating information and said image of said operation status, comprising the steps of:

generating navigating information using said navigation means from a memory in which map information including streets is recorded and using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver which utilizes satellites to obtain a current location;

generating and displaying an image of said navigating information as an electronic map showing said streets using said displaying means when a predetermined key is operated by a user of the system; and

generating said image of said operation status;

generating said mixed image by storing information relating to said image of said operation status and said map information in a plurality of working memories and by copying said information to be displayed into a frame memory to form said mixed image;

displaying said image of said operation status superimposed on a section of said image of said navigating information upon first operating said display switching key by the user and additionally displaying a frequency analysis image upon the user next operating said display switching key and displaying only said navigating information upon next operating said display switching key,

wherein said navigation allows a user to navigate from a street of the current location to a street of a destination.

10. A method for displaying information from a plurality of audio sources comprising the steps of:

generating a first image of a map showing streets for navigation based on first information from a first information source from a memory in which map information including said streets is recorded and using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that utilizes satellites to obtain a current location;

generating a second image based on second information relating to an operation status of one of said plurality of audio sources from a second information source;

displaying said first image of a map showing streets for navigation including data obtained from said global positioning system receiver;

mixing said first image of a map showing streets for navigation and said second image relating to an operation status of said plurality of audio sources for forming a mixed image by storing respective information relating to said plurality of audio sources and said map information in a plurality of working memories and by copying said information to be displayed into a frame memory to form said mixed image, wherein said second image relating to an operation status of said plurality of audio sources is superimposed on a section of said first image of a map showing streets for navigation;

first operating a display switching key;

displaying said mixed image;

next operating said display switching key;

additionally displaying a frequency analysis image;

next operating said display switching key; and

displaying only said first image of a map showing streets for navigation,

wherein said navigation allows a user to navigate from a street of the current location to a street of a destination.