Operating device, image display system, map display controller and program for map display controller

Abstract

An image display system has an operating device, a specifying device and an image display device. If the operating device receives a single operation from an exterior (i.e., from user), the operating device outputs first and second signals based on the single operation. The specifying device specifies a viewpoint and a sight line direction to look down a picture based on the first and second signals outputted by the operating device. The image display device displays an image of the picture in such a manner that the picture is looked down from the viewpoint in the sight line direction specified by the specifying device. As a result, the operation for adjusting the viewpoint and the sight line direction is facilitated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of embodiments will be appreciated, as well as methods of operation and the function of the related parts, from a study of the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the drawings, all of which form a part of this application. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a hardware structure diagram showing a vehicle navigation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a two-hinge stick input device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the two-hinge stick input device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the two-hinge stick input device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the two-hinge stick input device of FIG. 4 taken along the line V-V;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing a deviation sensing mechanism according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the two-hinge stick input device in an initial state according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram conceptually showing an assumption during an operation of the two-hinge stick input device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a program executed by a control circuit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram conceptually showing map conversion processing executed by the control circuit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 is an operation example of the two-hinge stick input device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a diagram conceptually showing an operation intention of a user corresponding to the operation shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a diagram conceptually showing another operation example of the two-hinge stick input device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a diagram conceptually showing an operation intention of the user corresponding to the operation shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a diagram conceptually showing yet another operation example of the two-hinge stick input device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a diagram conceptually showing an operation intention of the user corresponding to the operation shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a bird's-eye image in the case where a sight line is directed vertically downward according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a bird's-eye image in the case where the sight line is directed forward according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a bird's-eye image in the case where the sight line is directed rightward according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a bird's-eye image in the case where the sight line is directed leftward according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a bird's-eye image in the case where the sight line is directed backward according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a bird's-eye image in the case where the sight line is directed forward on the right according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a bird's-eye image in the case where the sight line is directed forward on the left according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a bird's-eye image in the case where the sight line is directed backward on the right according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a bird's-eye image in the case where the sight line is directed backward on the left according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 26A to 26H are perspective views showing examples of holding the two-hinge stick input device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing a two-hinge stick input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a vertical cross-sectional diagram showing the two-hinge stick input device according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a detailed perspective view showing a ball receiving section of the two-hinge stick input device according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing an operation example of the two-hinge stick input device according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing another operation example of the two-hinge stick input device according to the second embodiment; and

FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing yet another operation example of the two-hinge stick input device according to the second embodiment.

Claims

1. An operating device comprising: a grip;a first supporting section that has a first end and a second end and that supports the grip with the first end; anda second supporting section for supporting the second end of the first supporting section, whereinthe grip can tilt about the first end of the first supporting section such that the first end acts as a supporting point, andthe first supporting section can tilt about the second end such that the second end acts as a supporting point.

2. The operating device as in claim 1, wherein the grip can be gripped by a user of the operating device.

3. The operating device as in claim 1, further comprising: a first resisting section for exerting a force in a direction for returning a first inclination of the grip with respect to the first supporting section to a first initial inclination; anda second resisting section for exerting a force in a direction for returning a second inclination of the first supporting section with respect to the second supporting section to a second initial inclination, whereinthe operating device is adjusted such that the first resisting section and the second resisting section exert the forces that provide a larger difference between the second inclination and the second initial inclination than a difference between the first inclination and the first initial inclination when only a point on the grip is pushed.

4. The operating device as in claim 1, further comprising: a first resisting section for exerting a force in a direction for returning a first inclination of the grip with respect to the first supporting section to a first initial inclination; anda second resisting device for exerting a force in a direction for returning a second inclination of the first supporting section with respect to the second supporting section to a second initial inclination, whereinthe operating device is structured such that a direction of the first initial inclination is different from a direction of the second initial inclination.

5. The operating device as in claim 4, wherein the operating device is structured such that an angular difference between the direction of the first initial inclination and the direction of the second initial inclination is equal to or greater than 90 degrees.

6. The operating device as in claim 1, wherein the grip extends in a direction from the first end toward the second end of the first supporting section to cover the first supporting section.

7. The operating device as in claim 1, wherein the first supporting section includes a plurality of rods contacting different positions on the grip and a deviation sensing section for sensing a positional deviation among the rods caused by a change in the inclination of the grip with respect to the first supporting section.

8. The operating device as in claim 1, wherein the second supporting section includes a rotating member that contacts the second end of the first supporting section and that supports the second end,the second end is formed with a curved face providing a concave shape facing the rotating member,the second end is supported by the rotating member at a part of the curved face, andthe curved face has a curvature radius longer than a radius of the rotating member.

9. An operating device comprising: a grip; anda supporting section that has an end supporting the grip, whereinthe grip can tilt about the end of the supporting section such that the end acts as a supporting point, andthe supporting section includes a plurality of rods contacting different positions on the grip and a deviation sensing section for sensing a positional deviation among the rods caused by a change in the inclination of the grip with respect to the supporting section.

10. The operating device as in claim 9, wherein the grip can be gripped by a user of the operating device.

11. An operating device comprising: a grip; anda supporting section for supporting an end of the grip, whereinthe grip can tilt about the end thereof such that the end acts as a supporting point,the supporting section has a rotating member that contacts and supports the end of the grip,the end of the grip is formed with a curved face providing a concave shape facing the rotating member,the end of the grip is supported by the rotating member at a part of the curved face, andthe curved face has a curvature radius longer than a radius of the rotating member.

12. The operating device as in claim 11, wherein the grip can be gripped by a user of the operating device.

13. An image display system comprising: an operating device that outputs first and second signals based on a single operation applied from an exterior when the operating device receives the single operation from the exterior;a specifying device that specifies a viewpoint and a sight line direction to look down a picture based on the first and second signals outputted by the operating device; andan image display device that displays an image of the picture in such a manner that the picture is looked down from the viewpoint in the sight line direction specified by the specifying device.

14. The image display system as in claim 13, wherein the operating device receives the operation from a user of the operating device.

15. The image display system as in claim 13, wherein the operating device outputs a third signal based on another operation applied from the exterior,the specifying device specifies a display contraction scale at the time when the picture is looked down based on the third signal outputted by the operating device, andthe image display device displays the image of the picture at the display contraction scale specified by the specifying device in such the manner that the picture is looked down from the viewpoint in the sight line direction specified by the specifying device.

16. The image display system as in claim 15, wherein the another operation is applied by a user of the operating device.

17. A map display controller applied to an image display device, the map display controller comprising: a specifying device that specifies a direction to look down a map from above, the direction being different from a forward direction; anda drawing control device that makes the image display device display the map in such a manner that the map is looked down in the looking-down direction specified by the specifying device.

18. A program for making a computer function as: a specifying device that specifies a direction to look down a map from above, the direction being different from a forward direction; anda drawing control device that makes an image display device display the map in such a manner that the map is looked down in the looking-down direction specified by the specifying device.