US006040824A
`
`United States Patent
`Maekawa et al.
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`6,040,824
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Mar. 21, 2000
`
`[54]
`
`INFORMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM VVITH
`TOUCH PANEL
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Kazuteru Maekawa; Yukiyoshi
`Suzuki; Takcshi Yanagikubo, all of
`Anjo, Japan
`
`[73] Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Japan
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/885,138
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Jun. 30, 1997
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Japan .................................. .. 8201982
`Jul. 31, 1996
`[JP]
`
`Int. Cl.7 ....................................................... G09G 5/00
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`345/173; 345/121; 345/146
`[58] Field of Search ................................... .. 345/146, 173,
`345/121, 174, 178; 340/990, 995, 988
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT T)(’)(”1UMENTS
`
`4,698,625
`4,992,947
`5,539,429
`
`................... .. 345/145
`10/1987 McCaskill et al.
`.. 701/210
`2/1991 Nimura et al.
`.
`7/1996 Yano et al.
`........................ .. 345/173
`
`9/1996 Delorme
`5,559,707
`5/1997 Davidson
`5,627,567
`6/1997 Mullet ct al.
`5,638,523
`..
`5,691,747 11/1997 Amano et al.
`5,757,358
`5/1998 Osaga .................... ..
`
`........... .. 345/167
`. 345/173
`. 345/326
`. 345/145
`.. 345/146
`
`Primary Examiner—Steven J. Saras
`Assistant Examiner—Amr Awad
`Attorney, Agent, or FL'rm—Lorusso & Loud
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An information display system has a touch panel for select-
`ing an item from a plurality of displayed items by touching.
`Coordinate differences between each of the coordinates of
`the plurality of displayed items and the touch position
`coordinates are calculated. The item having the least calcu-
`lated coordinate difference is the selected item. Subsequent
`touchings Within a predetermined time and distance are
`determined to be attempts to correct previous erroneous
`selections causing probabilities of selecting the previously
`selected items to be reduced, such as by changing relative
`calculated coordinate differences to favor selection of other
`items. Alternatively, a next candidate button can be touched
`to select the item with the next least coordinate difference.
`
`15 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
`
`0 Touch Panel Reaction Position
`
`0 Landmark Coordinate Position
`
`0 Touch Reaction Position
`
`Google Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 1 of 22
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`F
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`0
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`Sheet10f15
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`6,040,824
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`Page 2 of 22
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`Page 2 of 22
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 21,2000
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`Sheet 2 of 15
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`6,040,824
`
`A
`
`°”'°E R0“) 9”‘
`
`Number of Roads (n)
`
`$
`
`SHAPE DATA
`Number of Nodes
`
`Longitude
`
`Road No.
`
`5
`
`Rood Attribute Data
`
`Address & Size of Shape Data
`
`Address 8: Size of Guide Data oooa
`oooooo‘i
`
`C)
`
`GUIDE DATA
`
`Intersection Name
`
`Caution Data
`
`Road Name Data
`
`Ad¢ess&SizeofRoadNameVaioeData
`
`Address & Size of Destination Data
`
`DESTINATION DATA
`
`Number of Destinations
`
`nesnmmou DIRECTION DATA
`
`Destination Road No.
`Destination Nome
`Address & Size, of Destination
`E
`2
`me
`once
`0
`Destination Direction Data
`Running Guide Data
`
`oooo<
`
`Invalid
`:
`: Unnecessary
`: Straight
`: Right
`: Obliquely Right
`: Rightward Turning Direction
`° Left
`E Obiiquely Left
`
`: Leftward Turning Direction
`
`FIG. 2
`
`1.1
`
`Page 3 of 22
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`Page 3 of 22
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 21,2000
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`Sheet 3 0f 15
`
`6,040,824
`
`Intersection Data
`
`Number of Intersections (n)
`
`Landmark Data
`
`Intersection No.
`
`Number of Landmarks (rn)
`
`Intersection Coordinates
`
`Landmark Coordinates
`
`information of Connected Roads
`
`Address & Size of Landmark
`
`Mark Pattern
`
`Faced Road
`
`Landmark Name
`
`FIG. 3(a)
`
`FIG. 3(b)
`
`Landmark Drawing Data
`
`:00 Bank Mark Drawing Data
`:<X>Bank Mark Drawing Data
`2
`Bank Mark Drawing Data
`:
`GS Mark Drawing Data
`:
`
`68 Mark Drawing Data
`
`Page 4 of 22
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`Page 4 of 22
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 21,2000
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`Sheet 4 of 15
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`6,040,824
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`II 81
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`II 32
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`II S3
`
`I
`
`Guide Route
`
`I 34
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Page 5 of 22
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`Page 5 of 22
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 21,2000
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`Sheet 5 0f 15
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`6,040,824
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`
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`
`
`li‘.iE4‘.'.i'=E‘:iL1l ‘
`IMIKPJMI
`
`
`FIG. 51) i
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`Page 6 of 22
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`Page 6 of 22
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21,2000
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`Sheet 6 0f 15
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`6,040,824
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`Page 7 of 22
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`Page 7 of 22
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21,2000
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`Sheet 7 0f 15
`
`6,040,824
`
`FIG.
`
`'7
`
`Page 8 of 22
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`Page 8 of 22
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 21,2000
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`Sheet 8 0f 15
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`6,040,824
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`Page 9 of 22
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`Page 9 of 22
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21,2000
`
`Sheet 9 0f 15
`
`6,040,824
`
`
`
`—A1
`
`‘
`
`400m
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 10 of 22
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`Page 10 of 22
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21,2000
`
`Sheet 10 of 15
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`6,040,824
`
`0 Touch Panel Reaction Position
`
`0 Landmark Coordinate Position
`
`0 Touch Reaction Position
`
`FIG. 10
`
`Page 11 of 22
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`Page 11 of 22
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21,2000
`
`Sheet 11 of 15
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`6,040,824
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`lnput Peripheral Search
`
`Select Genre
`
`811
`
`$12
`
`Search Landmark Corresponding to Selected Genre
`
`Display Landmark on Map
`
`316
`
`S15
`
`Touch Detected ? -
`
`N
`
`Y
`
`Acquire Touch Positron Coordinates (Xo,Yo)
`
`513
`
`514
`
`0
`
`Set Square Region (xoia. Yoib) Around Touch POSIUOH Coordinates
`
`S17
`
`Acquire Landmark In
`Square Region
`
`318
`
`324
`
`Display Touch
`Position at
`
`Screen Center
`
`319
`
`s2o @ N
`
`Y
`
`
`
`Calculate Coordinate Difference (Xn,Yn)
`Between Acquired Landmafx Coordinates
`and Touch Position Coordinates
`
`1
`
`Select Landmark Minimizing Coordinate Difference
`
`9
`
`Display Selected Landmark at Screen Center
`
`Display Name of Selected Landmark
`
`522
`
`323
`
`0
`
`FIG. 11
`
`Page 12 of 22
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`Page 12 of 22
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21,2000
`
`Sheet 12 of 15
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`6,040,824
`
`0
`
`N
`
`Y
`
`FIG. 12
`Y
`
`526
`
`/‘S27
`
`s23
`
`N
`
`Acquire Touched Position Coordinates (X°’,Y°’)
`
`S29
`
` Predetennined
`Time Elapsed from Previous
`Touch ?
`
`
`
`
`
`N
`
`Calculate Difference Between Previous
`Touch Position Coordinates and Present
`Touch Position Coordinates
`
`S31
`
`S32
`
`,
`Coordinate
`Difference Within Predetermined
`Range ?
`Y
`
`Calculate Difference (Xn.Yn) Between Acquired
`Individual Landmark Coordinates and
`Touch Position Coordinates
`
`3253
`
`834
`
`835
`
`536
`
`Multiple Differences Between Touch Position
`Coordinates and Coordinates of Previous
`Selected Landmarks by Predetermined Value
`
`Select Landmark with
`Minimum Coordinate Difference
`
`Display Map with Selected
`Landmark at Screen Center
`
`Display Name of Selected Landmark
`
`0
`
`325
`
`N
`
`
`
`Page 13 of 22
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`Page 13 of 22
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21,2000
`
`Sheet 13 of 15
`
`6,040,824
`
`
`
`PERIPERAL E
`.3
`
`
`
`AZ
`
`Y STORE
`BUSINESS HOURS 2 5:00~24:00
`TEL : 03-00000
`
`PARKING AREA . 1"
`
`ItM I-
`
`FIG. 13B
`
`Page 14 of 22
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`Page 14 of 22
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21,2000
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`Sheet 14 of 15
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`6,040,824
`
`
`
`LANE REGULATION INFORMAHON
`DAY/HOURS: 7:00 OF 6th to 3:00 of 10th
`TWO OF THREE LANES REGULATED
`
`Page 15 of 22
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`Page 15 of 22
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 21,2000
`
`Sheet 15 of 15
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`6,040,824
`
`r\l
`
`400m
`
`—A1
`
`
`
` i
`MI‘
`
`
`
`IITI
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`4\ Fl‘
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`
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`Page 16 of 22
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`Page 16 of 22
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`

`
`6,040,824
`
`1
`INFORMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM WITH
`TOUCH PANEL
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to an information display
`system provided with a touch panel suitable for a navigation
`system or the like.
`2. Related Art
`
`In prior art information display systems having touch
`panels, a variety of information such as menu items are
`displayed on a display unit, and choices are input by
`manually touching selected items of the displayed informa-
`tion through the touch panel. When a manual
`touch is
`detected, the touch position coordinates on the screen are
`detected to determine which of the items displayed on the
`screen has been selected, and processing proceeds in accor-
`dance with the item which was selected.
`
`In one vehicular navigation system of the prior art, the
`display unit is provided with a touch panel to make it easier
`for an operator to make a variety of settings and to present
`the information while the vehicle is running. If an item of a
`particular type such as a convenience store, a gas station or
`a fast food restaurant
`is selected on the screen of the
`
`navigation system, a landmark of the selected type is dis-
`played on the map in the screen so that the user can easily
`recognize at a glance the location of the shop of the selected
`type.
`In the aforementioned navigation system of the prior art,
`a displayed landmark can be selected by touching the
`desired landmark on the display screen to set a transition
`point or a destination point for the navigation system.
`However if the displayed map covers an urbane district or a
`wide area, a plurality of the landmarks may be densely
`displayed on the display screen.
`The method of selecting a displayed landmark by the
`touch screen is advantageous in that the landmark can be
`selected by a single touch. However, the item selected by
`manual
`touch may be ambiguous (incapable of being
`determined) if the landmark to be selected is one of a
`plurality of closely spaced landmarks.
`Thus an erroneous selection can result when densely
`displayed landmarks are selected through the touch panel, as
`described above. Even when the user recognizes the erro-
`neous selection and repeats the input, the erroneous selec-
`tion can be repeated if the dense display state is unchanged.
`Where items to be selected by touch are displayed densely
`on the display, erroneous selections occur frequently.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`An object of the present invention is to solve the above-
`specified problems by providing an information display
`system having a touch panel wherein the system can deter-
`mine an optimum selected item for the touched position to
`thus improve the ease of operation.
`According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
`provided an information display system having a touch
`panel for selecting an item by touch from a plurality of
`displayed items, wherein the differences between the coor-
`dinates of the touched position and the coordinates of the
`plurality of displayed items displayed on the display screen
`are calculated, and the selected item is determined to be the
`one item among the plurality of displayed items having the
`least calculated coordinate difference from the touched
`
`position.
`
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`2
`According to a second aspect of the present invention, the
`plurality of displayed items are marks displayed on the map
`so that
`the coordinates of the individual marks are the
`
`locations of the marks on the map.
`According to third aspect of the present invention, it is
`further determined whether or not a touch is a selection
`
`following an erroneous determination of a selected item, and
`when it is determined that the present touch is being made
`to correct a previous erroneous selection, a weighting factor
`for selection of the previously determined item is lowered.
`According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the
`determination that a present touch is being made to correct
`an erroneous selection determined from a previous touch is
`based on the condition that the present touch is within a
`predetermined time from the previous touch and that the
`coordinate difference between the previous and present
`touch positions are within a predetermined range.
`According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when
`a determination is made that the present touch is being made
`to correct an erroneous selected item determined from a
`
`previous touch, a value representing the distance between
`the previously selected item and the present touch position
`is changed.
`According to a sixth aspect of the present invention,
`wherein the information display system includes a second
`candidate selecting switch which, when operated, the next
`item being selected from the displayed items sequentially in
`the order of increasing coordinate differences.
`According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the
`items being selected are landmarks or road regulation marks
`superposed on the map.
`According to an eighth aspect of the present invention,
`selected items including landmarks or road regulation marks
`can be used as navigation point data.
`According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the
`selected items are displayed at the center of the screen.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a
`vehicular navigation system employing an information dis-
`play system in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a diagram of the structure of files of road data
`used in the system of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3(a) is a diagram of the structure of a file of
`intersection data used in the system of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3(b) is a diagram of the structure of a file of
`landmark data used in the system of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3(6) is a diagram of the structure of a file of landmark
`drawing data used in the system of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the overall operation of the
`navigation system of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 5A is a diagram of a display screen showing a
`present place centralized route guide map;
`FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating touching of a menu item
`to select a peripheral search.
`FIG. 5C is a diagram of a display screen displayed in
`transiting from the map screen of FIG. 5A to a peripheral
`search;
`FIG. 5D is a diagram illustrating touching of a menu item
`to select a genre of “Convenience Store”.
`FIG. 6A is a diagram of a periphery search screen
`displaying landmarks of the genre “Convenience Store”;
`FIG. 6B is a diagram similar to FIG. 6A but illustrating
`selection of a displayed landmark on the screen;
`
`Page 17 of 22
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`6,040,824
`
`3
`FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a peripheral search screen
`with the selected landmark in the center;
`FIG. 8A is a diagram similar to FIG. 6B but illustrating
`selection of a displayed landmark from densely displayed
`landmarks;
`FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating a peripheral search
`screen with a selected landmark in densely displayed land-
`marks in the center;
`FIG. 9A is a diagram similar to FIG. 8B but illustrating an
`attempt to correct an erroneous selection of a landmark from
`a plurality of densely displayed landmarks;
`FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating a peripheral search
`screen with a corrected selection of a landmark in the center;
`FIG. 10 is a graph showing coordinates of a touch position
`and a plurality of landmarks during determination of a
`selected landmark from a plurality of densely displayed
`landmarks;
`FIG. 11 is a flow chart of first portion of a procedure
`performed during a periphery search;
`FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a second portion of a procedure
`performed during a periphery search;
`FIG. 13A is a view similar to FIG. 8A but in a modified
`
`procedure;
`FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating a peripheral search
`screen with a selected landmark in densely displayed land-
`marks in the center in the modified procedure;
`FIG. 14A is a diagram showing selection of a item in a
`further modified landmark selecting screen in which the
`landmarks are densely displayed;
`FIG. 14B is a diagram of a peripheral search screen with
`a selected landmark in densely displayed landmarks in the
`center in the further modified landmark selecting screen;
`FIG. 15A is a diagram similar to FIG. 8B but employed
`in still another modified procedure;
`FIG. 15B is a diagram illustrating touching of a menu
`item “Next Candidate” in the another modified procedure to
`correct an erroneously selected landmark in densely dis-
`played landmarks; and
`FIG. 15C is a diagram of a peripheral search screen in the
`another modified procedure with the corrected selected
`landmark in the densely displayed landmarks in the center.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`One preferred embodiment of the present invention is
`applied in a vehicular navigation system shown in FIG. 1.
`The vehicular navigation system includes: an input/output
`unit 1 for inputting/outputting information on a route guide;
`a present position detecting unit 2 for detecting information
`on the present position of a vehicle; an information memory
`unit 3 having recorded navigation data necessary for calcu-
`lating the route, display/voice guide data necessary for
`providing guidance along the route, and application and/or
`operating system (OS) programs; and a central processing
`unit 4 for controlling the entire system.
`The input/output unit 1 displays navigation and input
`selection information or items under control of the central
`
`processing unit 4, inputs driver selections such as a desti-
`nation or instructions, outputs guidance information in voice
`or on the display screen in accordance with the instructions
`entered by the driver, and outputs processed data to the
`printer. For performing these functions, the input portion
`includes a touch switch or screen 11 for inputting the
`destination in terms of a telephone number or coordinates on
`
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`a map and for entering instructions such as requesting route
`guidance. Alternatively,
`input may be made by an input
`device such as a remote controller. The output portion
`includes a display screen 12 for displaying input selection
`data on the screen and for displaying route guidance infor-
`mation automatically on the screen in response to a request
`of the driver; a printer 13 for printing data processed by the
`central processing unit 4 and data stored in the information
`memory unit 3; and a speaker 16 for outputting audio route
`guidance.
`The input/output unit can also include a voice recognition
`unit (not shown) for enabling voice input of instructions and
`destination points; a card or disc reading unit (not shown) for
`reading data recorded in an IC card or a magnetic card or
`disc; a data communication unit (not shown) for transferring
`data between an information center which stories data
`
`necessary for navigation to provide the information through
`communication lines when demanded by the driver; and an
`information storage device such as an electronic note storing
`in advance data intrinsic to the driver such as map data and
`destination data.
`
`The display 12 is a color CRT or a color liquid crystal
`display, and displays in colors all
`the screens that are
`necessary for navigation, such as a line setting screen, a
`section diagram screen and an intersection diagram screen
`based upon the map data or guide data processed by the
`central processing unit 4, and buttons in the corresponding
`screen for setting the route, for guidance along the route and
`for switching to another screen. For example, information
`such as the name of an approaching intersection is popped
`up and displayed in colors at a suitable time in the section
`diagram screen.
`The display 12 is mounted in the instrumental panel of the
`vehicle in the vicinity of the driver’s seat so that the driver
`can confirm the present position of his vehicle and can
`acquire information on the route being traveled by observing
`the section diagram. The display 12 is equipped with the
`touch screen 11 having switch elements overlying the dis-
`played function buttons so that the input operations may be
`executed by touching the button. This input signal generat-
`ing means, composed of the displayed images of buttons and
`the overlying touch switch elements, forms the input portion
`of the hardware.
`
`The present position detecting unit 2 detects or receives
`information on the present position of the vehicle and
`includes: an absolute azimuth sensor 24 made of a geomag-
`netic sensor or the like; a relative azimuth sensor 25 having
`a steering sensor, a gyro and so on; a range sensor 26 for
`detecting the distance traveled from the RPM of the wheels;
`a GPS receiver utilizing the satellite navigation system
`(GPS); a VICS receiver acting as traffic information acquir-
`ing means; and/or a data transceiver 23. The VICS receiver
`22 receives road traffic information through FM radio
`channels, electric beacons or light beacons, and the data
`transceiver 23 is exemplified by a portable telephone or
`personal computer for exchanging the information necessary
`for the navigation with a traffic information center (e.g.,
`ATIS) when demanded by the user.
`The information memory unit 3 is an external unit, for
`example a CD-ROM, having stored programs and data
`necessary for navigation. The stored programs include a
`program for searching a route, a program for determining
`input in accordance with the present embodiment, a program
`for controlling the display output necessary for video route
`guidance and for controlling audio output necessary for
`voice guidance, data necessary for performing the searching,
`
`Page 18 of 22
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`6,040,824
`
`5
`input, output and control functions, and display information
`data necessary for the route guidance and map display. For
`example, the stored data includes all the data necessary for
`the navigation system such as files of map data, search data,
`guide data, map matching data, destination data and regis-
`tered point data. Alternatively, the CD-ROM contains only
`the stored data and the programs are stored in the central
`processing unit 4.
`The central processing unit 4 includes: a CPU 40 for
`executing a variety of processor or arithmetic operations; a
`flash memory 41 for receiving and storing programs and
`data read from the CD-ROM of the information memory
`unit 3; a ROM 42 with stored programs or procedures for
`reading stored programs such as checking and updating the
`programs of the flash memory 41; a RAM 43 for temporarily
`latching the searched route guide information such as the
`point coordinates of a set destination, a road name code No.
`or the data being processed; an image memory 44 for
`receiving and storing graphic data to be used in generating
`an image displayed on the screen; an image processor 45 for
`fetching the graphic data from the image memory 44 in
`accordance with a display output control signal from the
`CPU 40 and for processing the graphic data to output video
`signals to the display; a voice processor 46 for synthesizing
`or forming analog signals of voice sounds such as words,
`phrases and sentences, warning sounds or other sounds, as
`read out of the information memory unit 3 under control of
`a voice output control signal from the CPU, and for output-
`ting the analog signals to the speaker 16; a communication
`interface 47 for transferring input/output data to and from
`the central processing unit 4, the input/output unit 1, the
`present position detecting unit 2 and the memory unit 3; a
`sensor input interface 48 for fetching sensor signals from the
`present position detecting unit 2; and a clock 49 for writing
`the date and time in the internal diagnosis information. In the
`route guidance system, the driver can select route guidance
`by screen display and/or voice output.
`Alternatively, the aforementioned program for checking
`and updating programs in the flash memory may be stored
`in the external memory 3. The programs for determining
`input according to the present
`invention and the other
`programs for executing the navigation may be wholly stored
`in a CD-ROM or an external memory medium, or these
`programs may be partially or wholly stored in the ROM 42
`in the central processing unit 4.
`The data and programs, when stored in the external
`memory medium, are input as external signals to and pro-
`cessed by the central control unit of the navigation system so
`that the various navigation functions can be performed.
`In the navigation system, as described above, the flash
`memory 41 has a relatively large capacity for receiving and
`storing the programs from the CD-ROM of the external
`memory unit, and the ROM 42 has a small capacity stored
`with the programs for starting and reading information
`and/or programs from the CD-ROM. The flash memory 41
`is non-volatile for retaining or latching the stored informa-
`tion even when the power is turned OFF. For starting the
`CD-ROM, the CPU 40 executes the program in the ROM 42
`to check the version of the programs stored in the flash
`memory 41 and to read the version of the CD-ROM pro-
`grams from the disk managing information from the infor-
`mation memory unit 3. The loading (or updating) operation
`of the programs is executed when it is determined that the
`programs on the CD-ROM are an updated version of the
`programs in the flash memory 41.
`FIG. 2 shows an example of the structure of major road
`data files A, B, C, D and E stored in the CD-ROM 3 shown
`
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`in FIG. 1. File A presents a guide road data file containing
`stored data necessary for calculating the guidance route,
`such as data respresenting the road number, the length, the
`road attribute data, the address and size of the shape data,
`and the address and size of the guide data of each of n roads.
`Each road between branch points has separate road numbers
`for each direction (outward or homeward). The aforemen-
`tioned shape data includes, as shown in file B, coordinate
`data of longitude and latitude for the nodes of each road and
`for m nodes for each road divided by a plurality of nodes into
`successive road sections.
`
`The aforementioned guide data includes, as shown in file
`C of FIG. 2, names of intersections (or branch points),
`caution point data, road name data, the address and size of
`the road name data, and the address and size of the desti-
`nation data.
`
`The aforementioned destination data includes, as shown
`in file D of FIG. 2,
`the destination road number,
`the
`destination name, the address and size of the destination
`name voice data,
`the destination direction data and the
`running guide data. The aforementioned destination name
`includes a district name. As shown in File E, the destination
`direction data are data codes indicating invalid (for disusing
`the destination direction data), unnecessary (for no
`guidance), straight, right, obliquely right, rightward turning
`direction, left, obliquely left and leftward turning direction.
`FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) shows data structures of the inter-
`section data and the landmark data, as stored in the
`CD-ROM 3 of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the intersec-
`tion data includes, for each of n intersections, the intersec-
`tion number,
`the intersection coordinates (longitude and
`latitude), information of roads connected to the intersection,
`and the address and size of the landmarks of the facilities
`
`near the intersection on the displayed map. As shown in FIG.
`3(b), the landmark data includes, for each of m landmarks,
`the landmark coordinates (longitude and latitude of the
`facilities indicated by the landmark), the landmark pattern
`number, the road faced by the facilities indicated by the
`landmarks, and the landmark name. As shown in FIG. 3(c),
`landmark drawing data includes landmark drawing data
`corresponding to the landmark patterns Nos. 0, 1, 2, - - - ,
`and so on.
`
`The navigation process of the entire navigation system is
`shown in the flow chart of FIG. 4. Initially any updated
`programs from the information memory unit 3 are read into
`the flash memory 41 of the central control unit 4 before start
`of the program for route guidance. The destination is set (at
`step S1) by entering the target name such as a place or
`facilities name, a telephone number, an address, a registered
`point, or a road name. Next, the present position is detected
`(at step S2) by the present position detecting unit 2 to display
`a peripheral map around the present position and the name
`of the present position. The route from the present position
`to the destination is searched (at step S3). After the route is
`determined, route guidance (step S4) such as display of map
`segments with a present position marker thereon is provided
`until the destination is reached. If a detour setting is input
`before the destination is reached, a search area including the
`detour point is set wherein a portion of the route to the
`destination searched again, and route guidance continues
`along the modified route until the destination is reached.
`FIG. 5A shows a road map display screen around the
`present position marker in the display unit provided with the
`touch panel. On the screen, several touch buttons or switches
`are displayed in addition to an azimuth or direction indicat-
`ing mark and a distance scale unit. The displayed touch
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`7
`switches include a peripheral search touch switch for initi-
`ating a search for the facilities around the present position;
`a detail touch switch for displaying a detailed map; a whole
`route touch switch for initiating a new search for a route to
`the destination; a re-search touch switch for the starting a
`re-search by searching the periphery; a wide-range touch
`switch for displaying a wide-range map; and a return switch
`for returning to an initial screen for route guidance.
`If the peripheral search switch is touched as illustrated in
`FIG. 5B, the screen of FIG. 5C is displayed wherein the
`lower portion of the screen shows facility selecting switches
`such as switches for selecting a convenience store, a parking
`lot or garage, a gas station, a family restaurant, a bank and
`so on. For example if the switch convenience store is
`selected by touching as shown in FIG. 5D, the screen of FIG.
`6A is displayed to show landmarks of convenience stores at
`their locations surrounding the present position.
`In this
`method of displaying landmarks,
`landmarks around the
`present position in a predetermined region larger than the
`area displayed on the map screen are acquired by searching
`the data shown in FIG. 3(b). The acquired landmarks are
`drawn and superposed on the map screen at their approxi-
`mate coordinate positions on the basis of the landmark
`drawing data. If a landmark F is then touched as shown in
`FIG. 6B, the display screen is changed to the screen shown
`in FIG. 7 wherein the selected facility, an “F mart” as
`indicated by the landmark F, is displayed in the road map
`with the landmark F at the center of the screen. When a set
`transit switch or a set destination switch is then touched, the
`facility of the landmark F is set as the transit point or a
`destination point. A cross mark is displayed over the land-
`mark F as a cursor indicating at its center the point setting
`position. If instead the register switch in FIG. 7 is touched,
`the facility, as indicated by the landmark F, is registered as
`a registered point. If the periphery search switch is touched
`again in any of the screens of FIGS. 6A, 6B or 7,
`the
`facilities selecting switches, as shown in the lower portion of
`the screen of FIG. 5, are again displayed. If it is desired to
`return to the preceding screen,
`the release switch (not
`shown) is touched. As an alternative to redrawing the screen
`map to display the selected landmark F at the center of the
`screen,
`the screen map may remain the same with the
`selected landmark indicated an a position not in the center of
`the screen. Furthermore the screen of FIG. 7, may display
`the business hours, the business content and/or the telephone
`number of the facility indicated by the landmark F.
`Next, selection by touch switches when the landmarks are
`densely displayed or closely positioned is described with
`reference to FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B and 10.
`FIGS. 8A and 8B show screens after a predetermined item
`select switch is touched such as one of the facilities select
`
`switches of FIG. 5. At the righthand upper portion of screen
`8A, there are displayed dense or closely spaced landmarks
`Y, K, M and P. The driver attempts to select landmark K by
`touch but as seen in FIG. 8B the landmark Y is erroneously
`selected. The screen changes with the landmark Y being
`centered and with the cursor indicating the selection of the
`landmark Y by being superposed over the landmark Y. If the
`driver again attempts to select landmark K by touch as
`shown in FIG. 9A, the probability of selecting the previously
`selected landmark Y is lowered, and the landmark K is
`properly selected so that the cursor is displayed over the
`landmark K. The central processing unit 4 in determining
`which switch was selected among a plurality of closely
`spaced switches in one embodiment lowers the probability
`of selecting the previously selected landmark Y when a
`subsequent touch is made within a predetermined time to
`correct an erroneous selection.
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`In FIG. 10, small black points indicate the reaction or
`switch contact points of the touch panel forming a grid on
`the touch panel; hatched circles indicate the landmark coor-
`dinate positions Y, K, M and P; and a solid circle indicates
`a touch reaction point 0 sensed by the navigation system.
`The coordinate difference or distance from the detected
`
`reaction point 0 to each of the landmark coordinate posi-
`tions Y, K, M and P is calculated; these coor