JP2009031802A - Information display device and display control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to switch between increase and decrease in the amount of information displayed on a screen, and to enable a user to select types of information displayed on the screen. <P>SOLUTION: A storage means 5 stores a display control table 51 where "display" or "non-display" of each display information group is determined for a maximum display level having a large amount of display information, a minimum display level having a small amount of display information, and intermediate display level having an intermediate amount respectively. The setting of "display" or "non-display" of each display information group in the display control table 51 can be changed by operation of an input means 1 by a user. The display level of an image displayed on an image display means 3 can be also changed by operation of the input means 1 by the user. A control means 6 displays the image on the image display means 3 on the basis of the display control table 51 and the set value of the display level. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information display device and a display control method for displaying map information and current position information on a screen of a display device. However, the use of the present invention is not limited to the information display device and the display control method described above.

Conventionally, for example, as a positioning device for various mobile objects such as automobiles, aircraft, ships, etc.
There is a so-called self-supporting navigation device. This self-contained navigation apparatus obtains a two-dimensional displacement (vector amount) of a moving body based on azimuth data from an azimuth sensor and speed data from a speed sensor. And by integrating this two-dimensional displacement to the reference point,
Find the current position.

That is, for example, in the case of an automobile, the distance is calculated from the total number of pulses generated by the rotation of the drive shaft from the reference point to the current position. The travel distance is obtained by multiplying the calculated distance by a distance correction coefficient. The number of pulses generated during one rotation of the drive shaft is set in advance.

In addition, as a positioning device using an artificial satellite (GPS satellite), GPS (Global P
There is an navigation system. This GPS navigation device normally receives radio waves from three or more GPS satellites. Then, the current position of the reception point is calculated based on the pseudo distance data including the time offset of the receiver between each GPS satellite and the reception point and the position data of each GPS satellite. On the image display device of the GPS type navigation device, map data including the calculated current position and information on the current position are displayed.

A car driver or the like who is a user can grasp his / her current position in association with a map from an image displayed on the screen. Map data such as topographic maps, as well as guidance information data such as names of roads and intersections, road widths, landmarks, etc. are recorded on CD-ROM (
A data recording medium such as a compact disk-read only memory (DVD), a DVD-ROM (digital versatile disk-read only memory), or a hard disk, or a network via communication. There is also a navigation device having a function of displaying traffic jam information, weather information, and the like provided from a network through communication together with map information.

However, in the case of a conventional navigation device, the map information and various navigation information described above are simultaneously displayed on the screen. As navigation information is diversified as in recent times, the amount of information displayed on the screen becomes too large, and it is complicated and difficult to see. In addition, since the user cannot select the type of information displayed on the screen, unnecessary information may be displayed. As problems to be solved by the present invention, there are a problem that the amount of displayed information is too large to be seen and a problem that the type of displayed information cannot be selected, respectively.

  The information display device according to claim 1, a storage unit that stores a plurality of display information groups each including one or more pieces of information, and each display of the display information group for each of two or more display levels. Display control means for adjusting the amount of information displayed on the screen according to the display level by determining non-display, and input for inputting an operation command to select one of the two or more display levels The display control means adjusts the amount of information according to the one display level selected by the input operation command, and displays the screen on the screen immediately before the one display level is selected. It is characterized by adjusting the increase or decrease of the information amount by hiding some information for other display levels that have been displayed or by displaying some other information in addition to the information. Do

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display control method that reads out the information from a storage unit that stores a plurality of display information groups each including one or more pieces of information and displays the information on a screen. A display control method for adjusting the amount of information displayed on the screen according to the display level by determining whether to display or hide each of the display information groups. An input step of inputting an operation command to select the item, and when adjusting the amount of information according to the one display level selected by the input operation command, immediately before the one display level is selected Increase or decrease the amount of information by hiding some information for other display levels displayed on the screen or by displaying some other information in addition to the information Display control step of adjusting, characterized in that it comprises a city.

  Exemplary embodiments of an information display device and a display control method according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus includes an input unit 1, a positioning unit 2, an image display unit 3, an information providing unit 4, a storage unit 5, and a control unit 6.

The input means 1 is a device used when inputting an operation command from the outside. The positioning means 2 measures the current position and outputs it as current position information. The image display means 3 displays various map information including the current position, information on the current position, and various guidance information. The information providing unit 4 provides a plurality of display information groups. Each display information group includes one or more pieces of information. The storage means 5
A display control table 51 that defines “display” or “non-display” of each display information group for each of two or more display levels is stored.

For example, the higher the display level, the greater the amount of information displayed on the image display means 3. At the maximum display level, all display information groups provided by the information providing means 4 are displayed. At the minimum display level, only road information including roads on the guide route and roads in the vicinity thereof, and guide information serving as landmarks are displayed. The amount of information displayed at the intermediate display level is less than the maximum display level and greater than the minimum display level. The control means 6 controls the entire navigation device. The control means 6 causes the image display means 3 to display the current position information and various map information and guidance information provided by the positioning means 2 and the information providing means 4, respectively.

When the display level is changed, the control means 6 before the display level change is determined,
The image before the display level change displayed on the image display means 3 is gradually erased, and the image after the display level change is gradually displayed on the image display means 3. Thereby, the user can switch the display level while confirming the display image after changing the display level.
Further, since the display image before the display level change gradually disappears (fade out) and the image after the display level change gradually appears (fade in), the user can display information displayed on the image display means 3. An operational feeling that increases or decreases the amount steplessly is obtained. In addition, the user can perform an operation with a sense that the increase or decrease in the amount of information is adjusted in a state where the same image is displayed without switching the image displayed on the screen.

Further, the navigation device switches “display” of any display information group in the display control table 51 to “non-display” or “display” of “non-display” in accordance with an external operation command input to the input unit 1. Can be switched to. The control means 6 reads “
When the “display / non-display” setting is changed, before the setting change is decided, the image display means 3
The image before the setting change displayed in is gradually erased, and the image after the setting change is gradually displayed on the image display means 3. Accordingly, the user can switch the setting of “display / non-display” while confirming the display image after the change of the “display / non-display” setting. Further, the user can perform an operation as if switching between “display / non-display” of specific information in a state where the same image is displayed without switching the image displayed on the screen.

When a command to change the display level is input by operating the input unit 1, the control unit 6 gradually erases the display image before the display level is changed (fade out). The control unit 6 reads the display control table 51 from the storage unit 5. Then, the control means 6 displays an image of information designated as “display” at the display level selected by the change command in the display control table 51 among the plurality of display information groups provided from the information providing means 4. The means 3 is gradually displayed as a preview display image (fade in). At that time, the control means 6 prohibits the display on the image display means 3 for the information designated as “non-display” at the display level selected by the change command in the display control table 51.

When the user looks at the preview display screen and decides to change the display level, the control means 6 reflects the change and sets the subsequent display level to the level after the change. On the other hand, if the user decides not to change the display level, the control means 6 returns to the image before the display level change command is input.

According to the embodiment, when the amount of information displayed on the screen is large and difficult to see, the display level can be changed to a display level with a smaller amount of information displayed on the screen. When the user changes the display level to a level with a smaller amount of information, an easy-to-see image is displayed. Therefore, the user can easily read the display image. Moreover, since the information displayed on the screen can be selected according to the user's preference, the user's favorite image can be displayed at various display levels.

Next, a specific example applied to a vehicle-mounted navigation device will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the navigation device according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, this in-vehicle navigation device 100 includes a geomagnetic sensor 21, an angular velocity sensor 22, a mileage sensor 2.
3, GPS receiver 24, system controller 61, input device 11, DVD-ROM drive (CD-ROM drive or hard disk drive may be used) 41, DVD-
A ROM disk (which may be a CD-ROM disk or a hard disk) 42, a display unit 31, and a sound reproduction unit 71 are provided.

The geomagnetic sensor 21 outputs direction data of the traveling direction of the own vehicle. The angular velocity sensor 22 is
Detects the angular velocity when the vehicle is rotating and outputs angular velocity data. The travel distance sensor 23 detects the number of rotations of the shaft and integrates it to output travel distance data. The GPS receiver 24 receives radio waves from GPS satellites and outputs GPS positioning data.

The system controller 61 is provided with bearing data, angular velocity data, mileage data, and GP
Based on the S positioning data, the entire navigation device 100 is controlled. The system controller 61 includes an interface unit 62, a CPU 63, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 64, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 65. The interface unit 62 performs an interface operation with the outside.

The CPU 63 controls the entire system controller 61. The ROM 64 stores a control program that controls the system controller 61. The RAM 65 has a nonvolatile memory unit (not shown) and stores various data in a writable manner. The nonvolatile memory unit of the RAM 65 stores a display control table and the current display level. The display control table and the display level will be described later. The system controller 61 includes a bus line 66
Are connected to the input device 11, the DVD-ROM drive 41, the display unit 31, and the sound reproduction unit 71.

The input device 11 is used when a user inputs various data. The DVD-ROM drive 41 reads and outputs various data from the DVD-ROM disc 42 under the control of the system controller 61. The DVD-ROM disc 42 stores a display information group such as various map information and guide information. The display unit 31 includes a system controller 61
Various display information is displayed under the control of. The display unit 31 is a graphic controller 3
2, a buffer memory 33, a display control unit 34, and a display 35 are provided.

The graphic controller 32 controls the entire display unit 31 based on the control data from the CPU 63 sent via the bus line 66. The buffer memory 33
It consists of a memory such as a RAM (video RAM), and temporarily stores image information that can be displayed immediately. The display control unit 34 controls display of a display 35 such as a liquid crystal display device or a CRT (cathode ray tube) based on the image data output from the graphic controller 32.

The sound reproduction unit 71 reproduces and outputs various audio data under the control of the system controller 61. The sound reproducing unit 71 includes a D / A converter 72, an amplifier 73, and a speaker 74. The D / A converter 72 performs digital / analog conversion of audio digital data sent from the DVD-ROM drive 41 or the RAM 65 via the bus line 66. The amplifier 73 amplifies the acoustic analog signal output from the D / A converter 72. The speaker 74 converts the amplified acoustic analog signal into acoustic vibration and outputs it.

In the configuration described above, the geomagnetic sensor 21, the angular velocity sensor 22, the travel distance sensor 23, and the GPS receiver 24 constitute positioning means. The system controller 61 corresponds to control means. The input device 11 corresponds to an input unit. The display unit 31 corresponds to image display means. The RAM 65 corresponds to storage means for storing a display control table to be described later.

The DVD-ROM disc 42 and the DVD-ROM drive 41 are, for example, “landmark”, “road”, “railway”, “prefectural border”, “city block”, “house shape”, “intersection name”, “travel road name”. , "Interchange name", "High-speed lamp name", "Directional guidance", "Laneous guidance" and "Seasonal information" display information groups are stored, and the information contained in these display information groups is provided It constitutes information providing means. Further, the CPU 63, for example, based on a signal sent from each part of the navigation device 100 or a signal sent from a network via a wireless communication means (not shown), for example, “own vehicle position”, “guide route” ”,“ Current location ”,“ Traffic regulation ”,“ Scale display ”,“ Traffic information ”,“ Direction ”,“ Time ”,“ Scheduled arrival time ”,“ Distance to destination ”,“ Travel ”,“ Latitude ” The information providing means 4 is configured to calculate each display information group of “longitude” and “weather information” by calculating and providing information included in these display information groups.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the display control table stored in the nonvolatile memory unit of the RAM 65. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the display control table 8 has a plurality of display levels, for example, a maximum display level, an intermediate display level, and a minimum display level.
1. “Vehicle position”, “2. Guide route”, “3. Current location”, “4. Traffic regulation”, “5. Landmark”, “6. Road”, “7. Railway”, “8. Scale display” , "9. Traffic jam information",
“10. Direction”, “11. Prefectural border”, “12. Block”, “13. House”, “14. Time”,
“15. Expected arrival time”, “16. Distance to destination”, “17. Travel track”, “18.
"Intersection name", "19. Travel road name", "20. Interchange name", "21. High-speed ramp name", "22. Direction guidance", "23. Lane guidance", "24. Latitude and longitude", "2
5). Stored is a flag value indicating whether or not to display each display information group of “weather information” and “26. season information”.

If the flag value of the display control table 8 is 1, it is “display”, and if it is “0”, it is “non-display”. The user can individually set “display / non-display” of the display information group with the numbers 1 to 26 described above according to the display level. The display information group of “6.
For example, it is subdivided into sub-display information groups of “highway”, “toll road”, “main national road”, “general prefectural road”, “general road”, and “narrow street”. These sub display information groups can also be set to “display / non-display” independently.

At the maximum display level, all information effective for moving to the destination is displayed on the display 35. Therefore, in addition to the map information, the display image at the maximum display level includes information such as traffic jam information, time information, and weather information that is not related to the map information. At the minimum display level, the minimum amount of information that can move to the destination is displayed on the display 35.
Is displayed. That is, the display 35 displays so-called frame map level information that displays the degree of the mark of the corner. The amount of information displayed on the display 35 at the intermediate display level is smaller than the amount of information displayed at the maximum display level and larger than the amount of information displayed at the minimum display level.

For convenience of explanation, at the minimum display level, the display information group with numbers 1 to 6 can be switched between “display / non-display” by the user, but other display information groups are set to “non-display”. It is fixed. At the intermediate display level, the display information group with numbers 1 to 14 can be switched between “display / non-display” by the user, but other display information groups are fixed to “non-display”. ing. At the maximum display level, the user can set “display / non-display” of all display information groups. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 3, it is set to display all display information groups for which “display / non-display” can be set at each display level.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, three display levels are set. However, four or more display levels may be set by providing two or more intermediate display levels. In this way, “display / non-display” of the display information group can be set more finely. Further, an information group other than the display information group shown in FIG. 3 may be set.

Next, a procedure when the user sets “display / non-display” of the display information group in advance will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing display information group display setting processing. As shown in FIG. 4, when the user starts setting “display / non-display” of the display information group, first, the user operates the dial, lever, or button of the input device 11 to change the display level of the setting target. Is selected (step A1). When the selected display level is the minimum display level (step A2: minimum), the common display information group setting process described later is performed (step A3). When the setting process ends, the display information group display setting process ends.

When the display level selected by the user is the intermediate display level (step A2: intermediate), the common display information group setting process (step A4) is followed by an intermediate display information group setting process to be described later. (Step A5). And the display setting process of a display information group is complete | finished by completion | finish of those setting processes. When the display level selected by the user is the maximum display level (step A2: maximum), following the common display information group setting process (step A6) and the intermediate display information group setting process (step A7), A maximum display information group setting process, which will be described later, is performed (step A8). And the display setting process of a display information group is complete | finished by completion | finish of those setting processes.

Here, it is assumed that the common display information group is a display information group (including a sub display information group) given numbers 1 to 6 in the display control table 8 shown in FIG. Further, the intermediate display information group is a display information group to which numbers 7 to 14 are attached in the display control table 8. Further, the maximum display information group is a display information group with numbers 15 to 26 in the display control table 8.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the common display information group setting process executed in steps A3, A4 and A6. As shown in FIG. 5, when the common display information group setting process is started, the CPU 63 first reads the display control table 8 and the current display level from the RAM 65. Then, an image of the currently set display level is displayed on the display 35 (step B1). The user can sequentially set “display / non-display” of the common display information group numbered 1 to 6 in the display control table 8 while viewing the displayed image.

If the order of the numbers given in the display control table 8 is followed, the user first sets whether or not to change the display setting of the “own vehicle position” to which the number 1 is attached (step B2). At that time, a message prompting selection of whether or not to change may be displayed on the display 35, or the user may be asked by voice. When displaying a message on the display 35, the message may be displayed by superimposition. User inputs device 1
1 is selected (step B2: change), the display control table 8 is updated, that is, the flag of “own vehicle position” at the display level being set in the display control table 8 Is inverted (step B3). Specifically, if the value of the flag is “1”, it is set to “0”, and if it is “0”, it is set to “1”.

When the display control table 8 is updated, the CPU 63 performs a preview display process, which will be described later, and causes the display 35 to display a new image based on the updated display control table 8 (step B4). The user can determine whether or not to change the display setting of “own vehicle position” while viewing the displayed preview image. If the user operates the input device 11 and decides to make a change (step B5: Yes), the user is allowed to select whether or not to end the common display information group setting process (step B8).

On the other hand, when the user decides not to change in step B5 (step B5: No)
) The CPU 63 cancels the update of the display control table 8 (step B6). Then, an original image display process to be described later is performed, and the display image on the display 35 is returned to the image before the preview display in step B4 (step B7). Then, the process proceeds to Step B8.

In step B2, when the display setting is not changed, that is, when the display information group setting process is skipped, the process proceeds to step B8, and the user selects whether or not to end the common display information group setting process. In step B8, the user operates the input device 11,
When the end is selected (step B8: Yes), the process returns to the display information group display setting process shown in FIG. When the user selects continuation (step B8: No), the process proceeds to the setting of the next common display information group.

The user selects whether or not to change the display setting of the “guidance route” to which the number 2 is attached (step B9). Subsequent steps are the same as steps B3 to B8. That is, when the user selects change (step B9: change), the CPU 63 updates the display control table 8, that is, the value of the “guide route” flag in the display level being set in the display control table 8. Is reversed (step B10). Then, a preview display process is performed (step B11). When the user decides to make a change (step B12: Yes)
The user selects whether or not to end the common display information group setting process (step B15).
.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step B12 that the user does not change (step B12:
No), the CPU 63 cancels the update of the display control table 8 (step B13), performs the original image display process, and returns to the original image (step B14). Then, it progresses to step B15. Even when the display setting is not changed in step B9 (step B9: not changed),
Proceed to step B15. When the process is terminated as it is (step B15: Yes), the process returns to the display information group display setting process shown in FIG. When continuing (step B15: No), it progresses to the setting of the following common display information group.

Thereafter, the same processing is performed for the remaining common display information group, that is, the display information group (including the sub display information group) to which the numbers 3 to 6 are attached in the display control table 8. When the display setting process for “road” with the numeral 6 is completed, the display information group display setting process shown in FIG. 4 is resumed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the intermediate display information group setting process executed in steps A5 and A7 of FIG. The intermediate display information group setting process is basically the same as the common display information group setting process shown in FIG. 5 except that the display information group type is different. As shown in FIG. 6, when the setting process of the intermediate display information group is started, first, the user selects whether or not to change the display setting of “railway” numbered 7 (step). C1). From this point on, FIG.
Steps B3 to B8 are the same.

That is, when the user selects change (step C1: change), the CPU 63
The display control table 8 is updated, that is, the value of the “railway” flag at the display level being set in the display control table 8 is inverted (step C2). Then, a preview display process is performed (step C3). When the user decides to make a change (step C4: Ye
s), the user selects whether or not to end the intermediate display information group setting process (step C).
7).

On the other hand, when the user decides not to change in step C4 (step C4: No)
The CPU 63 cancels the update of the display control table 8 (step C5), performs the original image display process, and returns to the original image (step C6). Thereafter, the process proceeds to Step C7. Even if the display setting is not changed in step C1, the process proceeds to step C7. When the process is finished as it is (step C7: Yes), the display information group display setting process shown in FIG. When continuing (step C7: No), it progresses to the setting of the following display information group for intermediate | middle.

The user selects whether or not to change the display setting of “scale display” with the numeral 8 (step C8). Thereafter, the processes of steps C9 to C14 in FIG. 6 are performed. Steps C9 to C14 are the same as steps B3 to B8 in FIG. The same processing is performed for the remaining intermediate display information group, that is, the display information group to which numerals 9 to 14 are attached in the display control table 8. Then, when the display setting process of “time” with the number 14 is completed, FIG.
The display information group display setting process shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the maximum display information group setting process executed in step A8 of FIG. The maximum display information group setting process is basically the same as the common display information group setting process shown in FIG. 5 except that the type of the display information group is different. As shown in FIG. 7, when the setting processing for the maximum display information group is started, first, the user selects whether or not to change the display setting of “estimated arrival time” numbered 15. (Step D1). From this point onward, FIG.
Steps D2 to D7 are performed. Steps D2 to D7 are the same as steps B3 to B8 in FIG.
It is the same.

When the setting processing of the maximum display information group is finished in Step D7 (Step D7: Yes)
) Returns to the display information group display setting process shown in FIG. When continuing (step D7: N
In o), the process proceeds to the setting of the next maximum display information group. The user selects whether or not to change the display setting of “distance to destination” to which a number of 16 is attached (step D8). From this point on,
Processing of steps D9 to D14 in FIG. 7 is performed. Steps D9 to D14 are the same as Step B in FIG.
3 to B8. The same processing is performed for the remaining maximum display information group, that is, the display information group to which the numbers 17 to 26 are assigned in the display control table 8. When the “seasonal information” display setting process with the numeral 26 is completed, the process returns to the display information group display setting process shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the preview display process executed in steps B4, B11, C3, C10, D3 and D10 of FIGS. When the preview display process is started, first, the CPU 63 displays an image (original image) displayed on the display 35.
Is gradually erased (step E1). Further, the CPU 63 reads the display control table 8 from the RAM 65 (step E2), and generates a preview image based on the read display control table 8 (step E3). Then, the preview image is displayed on the display 35.
Is gradually displayed (step E4). That is, the original image is faded out and the preview image is faded in.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the original image display process executed in steps B7, B14, C6, C13, D6 and D13 of FIGS. When the original image display process is started, first, the CPU 63 gradually erases the preview image displayed on the display 35 (step F1). The CPU 63 reads the display control table 8 from the RAM 65 (step F2), and generates an original image before preview display based on the read display control table 8 (step F3). Then, the original image is gradually displayed on the display 35 (step F4). That is, the preview image is faded out and the original image is faded in.

Next, a procedure when the user changes the display level when an image of any display level is displayed on the display 35 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the display level changing process. 11, 12 and 1
3 is a diagram showing display images at the maximum display level, the intermediate display level, and the minimum display level, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 10, first, the user operates the input device 11 to select whether to increase or decrease the display level (step G1). Here, to increase the display level is to make the display level one level higher than the current display level. In addition, lowering the display level is to make the display level one level lower than the current display level.

If it is selected to increase the display level (step G2: 1 rank up), if the selected display level is the maximum display level (step G3: Yes), the display level cannot be increased any more. The display level change process ends. When the selected display level is not the maximum display level (step G3: No), the CPU 63 increases the current display level stored in the nonvolatile memory unit of the RAM 65 by one level (step G4).
. Then, a preview display process is performed (step G7).

Accordingly, when the intermediate display level image shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the display 35, the maximum display level image shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. When the minimum display level image shown in FIG. 13 is displayed, an intermediate display level image is displayed. Although not particularly limited, in the display example shown in FIG. 13, the display range of the road at the minimum display level is limited to the periphery of the guide route.

In the preview display process, the CPU 63 gradually erases the image (original image) before the display level change (FIG. 8, step E1). Further, the display control table 8 and the updated value of the display level are read from the RAM 65 (FIG. 8, step E2), and a preview image is generated (FIG. 8, step E3). Then, the preview image is gradually displayed on the display 35 (FIG. 8, step E4). The user can determine whether or not to change the display level while viewing the displayed preview image (step G8). The user inputs the input device 11
When it is determined that the change is to be performed (step G8: Yes), the display level change process is terminated.

On the other hand, when the user decides not to change in step G8 (step G8: No)
The CPU 63 restores the display level value updated for preview display in step G7, and performs the original image display process (step G9). In the original image display process, the CPU 63
Gradually erases the preview image (FIG. 9, step F1). In addition, the display control table 8 and the value for which the update of the display level is canceled are read from the RAM 65 (FIG. 9, step F2
) To generate the original image (FIG. 9, Step F3). Then, the original image is gradually displayed on the display 35 (FIG. 9, step F4). When the original image is displayed, the display level changing process is terminated.

If it is selected in step G2 to lower the display level (step G2: 1 rank lower), if the selected display level is the minimum display level (step G5: Yes),
Since the display level cannot be lowered any more, the display level changing process is terminated. When the selected display level is not the minimum display level (step G5: No), the CPU 63
Lowers the current display level stored in the nonvolatile memory unit of the RAM 65 by one level (step G6). Then, the process proceeds to step G7, and a preview display process is performed.

Thereby, when the image of the maximum display level shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the display 35, the image of the intermediate display level shown in FIG. 12 is displayed. When the intermediate display level image is displayed, the minimum display level image shown in FIG. 13 is displayed.

If the user operates the input device 11 while viewing the displayed preview image and decides to make a change (step G8: Yes), the display level changing process is terminated. When it is determined in step G8 that the user does not change (step G8: No), the CPU
63 returns the display level value updated for preview display in step G7, performs the original image display process in step G9, and ends the display level change process.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the amount of information displayed on the display 35 is large and difficult to see, the user can change the display level to a level with a smaller amount of information, thereby making the image easy to see on the display 35. Is displayed. Accordingly, the user can display the display 35.
The image displayed on can be easily read. Further, since the information displayed on the display 35 can be selected according to the user's preference, the user's favorite image can be displayed at various display levels. Note that the same effect can be obtained when the present invention is applied to a navigation device using a mobile phone or other portable information terminal, as well as the in-vehicle navigation device.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus of embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus of an Example. It is a figure which shows the structure of a display control table. It is a flowchart which shows the display setting process of a display information group. It is a flowchart which shows the setting process of a common display information group. It is a flowchart which shows the setting process of the display information group for intermediate | middle. It is a flowchart which shows the setting process of the display information group for maximum. It is a flowchart which shows a preview display process. It is a flowchart which shows an original image display process. It is a flowchart which shows a display level change process. It is a figure which shows the display image of a maximum display level. It is a figure which shows the display image of an intermediate display level. It is a figure which shows the display image of the minimum display level.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Input means 2 Positioning means 3 Image display means 4 Information provision means 5 Storage means 6 Control means 51 Display control table

Claims (3)

Storage means for storing a plurality of display information groups each including one or more pieces of information;
Display control means for adjusting the amount of information displayed on the screen according to the display level by determining whether to display or hide each of the display information groups for each of two or more display levels;
An input means for inputting an operation command to select one of the two or more display levels;
With
When the display control means adjusts the amount of information according to the one display level selected by the input operation command, the display control unit is configured to display the other information displayed on the screen immediately before the one display level is selected. An information display device that adjusts increase / decrease in the amount of information by hiding some information for a display level or displaying some other information in addition to the information.   2. The information display device according to claim 1, further comprising display setting means for enabling a user to set display or non-display of each of the display information groups for each of the two or more display levels. . The information is read from the storage means for storing a plurality of display information groups each including one or more pieces of information and displayed on the screen, and each display information group is displayed or not displayed for each of two or more display levels. A display control method for adjusting an information amount of information displayed on a screen according to a display level by determining a display,
An input step for inputting an operation command to select one of the two or more display levels;
When adjusting the amount of information according to one display level selected by the input operation command, with respect to the other display level displayed on the screen immediately before the one display level is selected A display control step of adjusting the increase / decrease in the amount of information by hiding some of the information or displaying some other information in addition to the information,
A display control method comprising:

Images