Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-21
2001-07-03
Louis-Jacques, Jacques H. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
C701S002000, C701S036000, C340S532000, C340S529000, C340S870030, C340S870030, C340S870030, C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256558
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present invention is related to and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application Hei. 10-7876, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to vehicle display systems, and more particularly to a vehicle display system that prevents the vehicle driver from inputting data while driving the vehicle, but that permits a person seated in the front passenger seat to input data while the vehicle is being driven.
2. Description of Related Art
Present vehicle display systems provide a useful and convenient means for displaying information such as navigation information, television information, telephone information and the like. A typical display unit is installed at or around the center of a vehicle instrument panel to permit a driver or a passenger seated in the front passenger seat to easily operate it.
As a safety measure, such a typical unit is designed so as not to permit complex input operations, such as retrieving a map, setting a destination or inputting a telephone number, during vehicle operation.
Meanwhile, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei. 5-164565 discloses a system that provides a releasing switch on the edge of an instrument panel that enables a person seated in the front passenger seat to perform system input operations as the vehicle is being driven.
However, in the above system, the person seated in the front passenger seat has to perform input operations while simultaneously pressing the release switch located at the edge of the instrument panel, thereby causing system operation to be difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle display for a navigation system or the like that enables a person seated in the front passenger seat to input data with good operability while at the same time prevents the driver from inputting data while he or she drives the vehicle.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, a vehicular display system is provided with first and second switches on the left and right sides of a steering wheel, respectively. When a vehicle driver simultaneously releases both switches, the driver is prevented from inputting data into the system while the vehicle is being driven. When the switches are both depressed, the system is released from the prohibited, or drive enforcement, state. As both hands of the driver are fully occupied, the driver cannot perform an input operation. However, the passenger seated in the front passenger seat can easily perform an input operation without the need to correspondingly operate a prohibited state release switch.
According to a second embodiment, the display system includes a steering wheel switch located on a side of the steering wheel corresponding to the location of the display. The switch releases the prohibited state when depressed. In this embodiment, due to the switch location, the driver cannot perform an input operation with the hand not manipulating the switch, and thus the same effect as with the first embodiment is obtained.
In the above embodiments, an input operation may be inhibited even in a situation such as when a left or right turn is being made, as the prohibited state may be maintained for a predetermined period after the switch or switches was/were last manipulated.
The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4485375 (1984-11-01), Hershberger
patent: 5235217 (1993-08-01), Kirton
patent: 5341036 (1994-08-01), Wheeler et al.
patent: 5453929 (1995-09-01), Stove
patent: 5471389 (1995-11-01), Hahlganss
patent: 5781872 (1998-07-01), Konishi et al.
patent: 6029110 (2000-02-01), Zuber et al.
patent: 5-38986 (1993-02-01), None
patent: 5-164565 (1993-06-01), None
Kikuchi Takehiro
Sugiura Wataru
Broadhead Brian J.
Denso Corporation
Louis-Jacques Jacques H.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
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