Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-03
2004-08-24
Luu, Sy D. (Department: 2174)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S473000, C340S990000, C340S995190, C340S014630
Reexamination Certificate
active
06781610
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a motor vehicle multimedia system having a display apparatus, actuated by a control unit, and a selection apparatus for first selection areas displayed on the display apparatus, where selecting a selection area using the selection apparatus is sued to retrieve a submenu linked to the selected selection area. The invention also relates to a method for arranging selection areas on a display apparatus in a motor vehicle multimedia system.
2. Background of the Related Art
Apart from car radios, which have been known for a long time, further entertainment options and communication functions are increasingly being made available in motor vehicles. In this case, in particular, a plurality of functions are arranged in an individual multimedia system. Such a multimedia system generally has a central control device which is linked to a display apparatus and to a control apparatus and also to the various functional modules. The functions which such a motor vehicle multimedia system may include may comprise, by way of example, the functions of a car radio, a CD player, a CD changer, a navigation system, a telephone and Internet access. Owing to the wide range of functions which can be carried out, user-friendly operation of the multimedia system is of particular importance in motor vehicle applications.
WO 99/35008 discloses a graphical user interface for use in motor vehicles. In this user interface, the various functions which can be selected are represented on a display apparatus by symbols, which are frequently also referred to as “icons”. A specific icon is in this case selected by “scrolling” or rolling, by which means all the icons on the display apparatus are moved past the viewed in one direction, in this case from right to left or vice versa, and only some of the icons can be seen at any time. According to WO 99/35008, a selected screen position is provided for activating a function linked to an icon. After such activation, settings appropriate to this function can be made. One particular drawback of this embodiment is that, once a function has been selected, the icons disappear from the display apparatus, which means that it is necessary to return to the main menu before a new function can be selected by selecting a new icon.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,704 discloses a further display apparatus for motor vehicles, on which different displays can be produced. However, in the system described there, the individual functions are not selected by selecting icons or the like on the display apparatus, but rather by separate control buttons. Each system function is assigned such a control button. This means that the system requires a large number of control buttons. The display apparatus itself can display different information items, with a distinction being made between information which is required to drive the vehicle and additional information or additional functions. The former group includes, by way of example, the speed display, while the additional functions include the air conditioning or a telephone function. Speed and the like should always be displayed, irrespective of the display of additional information. Thus, if the control buttons are used to select the display of additional functions, the speed display is pushed to the edge area of the display apparatus and is displayed in a rotated form. In this way, display space is gained for displaying the additional functions in the central area of the display apparatus. A drawback of this embodiment is that a large number of control buttons are required. In addition, there are no details as to how the display can be changed in a user-friendly manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of embodiments of the invention to specify a motor vehicle multimedia system having a user-friendly display, in particular when retrieving submenus. Furthermore, in one specific object, the aim is to ensure a rapid change to a new function without a large number of selection buttons being required. A further object is to specify a method for user-friendly arrangement of selection areas on a display apparatus.
For one embodiment of a generic motor vehicle multimedia system, the first-mentioned object is achieved in that, after selection of a selection area, the display apparatus is actuated by the control unit in the form of an animation running on the display unit, the size and/or position of at least some of the displayed first selection areas being continuously altered in order to create display space for displaying further selection areas for a submenu for the selected selection area, and the selection areas of the submenu being produced in an animation on the display apparatus.
The transition between different displays on the display apparatus after a particular function has been selected therefore does not take place abruptly, but rather, by means of the animation, in a sequence of pictures which result in a sequential movement for the user. In this case, not only are/is the size and/or position of at least some of the first selection areas continuously altered by means of an animation, but also the additional selection areas of the submenu are produced continuously on the screen by means of an animation. For this purpose, the display apparatus is actuated in an appropriate manner, known per se, by the control unit, with, by way of example, a sequence of pictures being produced by the control unit. In particular, the brightness of the displays to be displayed in the submenu can be continuously increased for a prescribed time period as part of the animation of the submenus to be displayed for the first time.
A further aspect of embodiment of the invention is that at least some of the selection areas preferably contain symbols in a three-dimensional (3D) display for identifying the selection areas. These symbols, which are frequently also referred to as icons, are intended to make it easier for the user to use the overall system intuitively, in particular, in that the symbols indicate the function linked to the selection area. In particular, the three-dimensional symbols can be put into rotary motion during the animation, which gives the viewer an altering view of the 3D symbol. This impression is likewise produced by a sequence of different views of the 3D symbols which are passed on from the control unit to the display apparatus.
In one particular embodiment, the animation is effected such that the unselected first selection areas are moved out of a display area on the display apparatus by the selected selection area. This results in a smooth transition between the display of submenus for a selected selection area. This type of display is particularly suitable when a large display area is required for displaying the submenu for the selected selection area. This can be done, in particular, by virtue of the selected selection area being first enlarged in a first phase of the animation in order to move the unselected selection areas out of the display area on the display apparatus, and being reduced in size in a second phase of the animation in order to create the display space for displaying the selection areas of the submenu.
In another embodiment, the animation is effected such that the size of the unselected first selection areas is reduced, but the selection areas continue to be selectable using the selection apparatus. In this embodiment, the appropriate display space is likewise created on the display apparatus by reducing the size of the unselected first selection areas and by altering their position. In contrast to the embodiment described above, the unselected selection areas and by altering their position. In contrast to the embodiment described above, the unselected selection areas continue to remain visible, however, and can thus also be selected. This refinement has the particular advantage that it is a particularly easy matter to select a new selection area, since all the first selection areas can always still be selected.
Combination of said embodiments
Os Marcel Van
Verbeek Peter
Luu Sy D.
Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw LLP
Siemens AG
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