Navigation device with touch screen
View Patent ↗A navigation device is programmed to be able to associate any function, belonging to a core set of functions, with a non-overlapping touch input zone that is large enough to be reliably activated using a finger. Hence, the present invention is predicated on the insight that it is possible to identify a set of core functions and to then enable all of them to be reliably selected/activated by a finger touch to a touch input zone large enough for reliable activation. This is especially advantageous for an in-car navigation device in which the core functions are those functions that are likely to be activated by a driver whilst still driving.
1. A hand-held self contained navigation device programmed with a map database and software that enables a route to be planned to a destination, wherein the device is further programmed to:
display a normal navigation mode screen that shows, when in use, a current location of the navigation device:
associate each of a plurality of functions, belonging to a core set of functions, with a respective non-overlapping touch input zone that is large enough to be reliably activated using a finger of a user; and
suspend display of the normal navigation mode screen and display said core set of functions in place of the normal navigation mode screen, in response to a finger touch of the user of an expanded touch zone on the displayed normal navigation mode screen.
2. The navigation device of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of functions is initiated by selecting a graphical option and, whenever a displayed screen includes graphical options, then each of the graphical options is linked to a respective one of the non-overlapping touch input zones that is large enough to be reliably activated using a finger is displayed.
3. The navigation device of claim 1 wherein the navigation device is mountable on a vehicle dashboard and the core set of functions include functions that are activatable by a driver whilst driving.
4. The navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the core set of functions include functions that cannot be selected or activated from the same screen.
5. The navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the core set of functions includes one or more of:
(i) moving between a relatively highest level in a menu hierarchy to a next level down;
(ii) tasking away from the normal navigation mode screen;
(iii) selecting selectable options that initiate route recalculation functions; and
(iv) setting the current location as a location to be marked on a map.
6. The navigation device of claim 5 , wherein the selectable options relate to one or more of the following functions:
(a) calculate alternative route;
(b) calculate alternative route without including an extent of the road ahead;
(c) calculate alternative route without including a predefined road; and
(d) revert to original route.
7. The navigation device of claim 2 , wherein the graphical options are graphical icons.
8. The navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the touch input zone is at least 0.7 cm 2 in area.
9. The navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the touch zone is activated by a single or a double touch.
10. The navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the navigation device is further programmed to be able to associate any key, belonging to the keys of a virtual keyboard, with a non-overlapping touch input zone that is large enough to be reliably activated using a finger.
11. A method of displaying navigation information, the method being deployed in a hand-held self contained navigation device programmed with a map database and software that enables a route to be planned to a destination, comprising:
displaying a normal navigation mode screen that shows a current location of the navigation device;
defining at least one core set of functions performable by said navigation device;
associating each of the core set of functions with a respective non-overlapping touch input zone that is large enough to be reliably activated using a finger of a user; and
suspending display of the normal navigation mode screen and displaying said core set of functions in place of the normal navigation mode screen, in response to a finger touch of the user of an expanded touch zone on the displayed normal navigation mode screen.
12. Computer software adapted to enable a hand-held self contained navigation device, programmed with a map database and software that enables a route to be planned to a destination; wherein the computer software: displays, when in use, a normal navigation mode screen that shows a current location of the navigation device, associates each of a plurality of functions, belonging to a core set of functions, with a respective non-overlapping touch input zone that is large enough to be reliably activated using a finger of a user, and suspends display of the normal navigation mode screen and displays said core set of functions in place of the normal navigation mode screen in response to a finger touch of the user of an expanded touch zone on the displayed normal navigation mode screen.
13. A navigation device programmed with a map database and software that enables a route to be planned to a destination, the device comprising:
a touch sensitive display to display a normal navigation mode screen that shows, when in use, a current location of the navigation device; and
a processor to, in conjunction with the software, suspend display of the normal navigation mode screen on the touch sensitive display and control the touch sensitive display to display a core set of functions in place of the normal navigation mode screen, in response to a user touch of an expanded touch zone on the displayed normal navigation mode screen, each of the core set of functions being associated with a non-overlapping touch input zone that is large enough to be reliably activated by a finger of a user.
14. The navigation device of claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of functions is initiated by selecting a graphical option and, whenever a displayed screen includes graphical options, then each of the graphical options is linked to a respective one of the non-overlapping touch input zones that is large enough to be reliably activated using a finger is displayed.
15. The navigation device of claim 13 , wherein the core set of functions includes one or more of:
(i) moving between a relatively highest level in a menu hierarchy to a next level down;
(ii) tasking away from the normal navigation mode screen;
(iii) selecting selectable options that initiate route recalculation functions; and
(iv) setting the current location as a location to be marked on a map.
16. The navigation device of claim 15 , wherein the selectable options relate to one or more of the following functions:
(a) calculate alternative route;
(b) calculate alternative route without including an extent of the road ahead;
(c) calculate alternative route without including a predefined road; and
(d) revert to original route.
17. The navigation device of claim 14 , wherein the graphical options are graphical icons.
18. The navigation device of claim 13 , wherein the touch input zone is at least 0.7 cm 2 in area.
19. The navigation device of claim 13 , wherein the touch zone is activated by a single or a double touch.