Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha

Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Mazda Motor Corporation

Haruto Yano

Toshimichi Tokunaga

Yoshiaki Hirasa

Kazuhiro Yokouchi

Hirofumi Goto

Chisato Yoshida

Osamu Shimizu

Norihiro Naito

Katsuaki Matsumoto

Katsuro Hayami

Masako Ohta

Takanori Hara

Teruki Akamatsu

Makoto Yoshinaga

Noriyasu Matumura

A touch panel device for navigation of a vehicle for example an automobile. There is a display unit with a screen, and information display for visually representing desired information on the screen. A switch superimposes a switch pattern over the information on the screen and executing a predetermined control action when an operator's finger approaches the switch pattern. To remove the switch pattern after the lapse of a preset time form the visual representation of the switch pattern, erasing is used. The erasing can be accomplished for example by the actuation of a timer to remove the switch pattern. With the switch pattern removed, the entire information on the screen can be seen wholly without being concealed by the switch pattern.

Touch device panel

A channel display device for a receiver which receives television or radio broadcast waves and detects field intensity levels of individual channels to thereby detect receivable stations. A switch pattern for selection of the receivable stations is visually represented on a display screen. A touch switch overlay is provided for outputting a desired-channel switching signal in response to an operator's actuating touch on the switch pattern. Due to such visual representation of the switch pattern and the provision of the touch switch function, switchover to a desired channel can be performed with facility to ensure high operational efficiency.

Channel display device for receiver using a touch sensitive overlay

A display device for visually representing selected characters in dot patterns includes a circuit for determining the number of characters to be visually represented and a circuit for outputting, in response to the result of the determination, a dot pattern signal of a size rendered relatively greater in accordance with a reduction in the number of such characters. Since the displayed character size is enlarged as the number of the characters is reduced, the visual representation can be easily seen on the display screen.

Display system

A system allowing both map data and service-related data to be displayed on request for users' reference. Locations of candidate service-offering establishments are displayed in the map covering a specific geographical region. When one of these establishments is selected, detailed service-related information on that establishment is provided on the display screen. This allows the users to quickly obtain and process necessary service-related information wherever they are and to take action accordingly.

Electronic map combined with user service information

A navigation system for a movable body wherein a moving locus of the movable body displayed on a screen of display means can be identified readily and clearly from a map displayed on the screen to prevent misunderstanding of the map. The system comprises a map storage device in which a map is stored, a current position detecting device for detecting a current position of the movable body, a locus storage memory for storing therein a locus of the movable body provided by successively detected ones of the current position, a display unit having a screen, and a switching device for the switching between a mode in which the map from the map storage device, a current position and a locus of the movable body from the current position detecting device and the locus storage device are displayed on the screen and a second mode in which the map and the current position are displayed on the screen but the locus is not displayed on the screen. The navigation system further has a function of causing a locus to be displayed on the screen in accordance with a scale of a map displayed on the screen.

Navigation system for movable body

A navigation system for a movable body wherein a map to be displayed on a screen can be selected freely in accordance with a request of an operator and, when an initial map displayed is restored, the operator can find out a current position of the movable body readily. The navigation system comprises a memory in which map data are stored, a position detector for detecting a current position of the movable body, and a display unit having a screen on which a map based on part of the map data and a current position mark based on a current position from the position detector are normally displayed on the screen. When an operator wants to see an adjacent portion contiguous to the map displayed, one of four scroll key patterns displayed on the screen is selectively touched to cause the map and current position mark on the screen to be scrolled. If a map returning pattern displayed on the screen is touched, the initial map is restored and the current position mark is displayed in position on the map. If the current position mark is out of position then, a correction pattern on the screen is touched to cause the current position mark to be displayed in position on the map.

An automobile electric system including an electrically operated device such as an air conditioning device which is controlled by a control switch and light devices such as head lights which are controlled by a light switch. The control switch is provided with an illuminating lamp which is adapted to indicate the switch positions and the location of the switch. A control circuit for the illuminating lamp is provided so that the lamp illuminates the control switch when the switch is actuated, with a sufficient brightness in day time to show that the switch is actuated, but with a moderate brightness in night time wherein the light switch is actuated. Further, in night time, the control switch is illuminated with a weak light when the control switch is not actuated only to indicate the location of the control switch.

Switch position indicating means for automobiles

An automobile headlight lighting apparatus which has a light unit, including a headlight lamp, adapted to be selectively concealed and exposed relative to a light chamber, and further has a light switch for energizing the headlight lamp with electric power supplied thereto. The apparatus further has a drive unit operable to cause the light unit to be selectively concealed and exposed. The drive unit is operated in response to the switching on of the light switch. For enabling the drive unit to be operated independently of the light switch, an additional electric circuit is provided for operating the drive unit to cause the light unit to be selectively concealed and exposed.

Growing community of inventors

Hiroshima, Japan

Haruto Yano