Alpine Electronics, Inc.

Mike Iao

Andrew De Silva

Kenny Chen

Linh Doan

Hikaru P Wako

Jianning Zhuang

Hirofumi Onishi

Raymond Linn

Peachawat Peachavanish

An interface apparatus and method is disclosed for inputting information with a user's finger gesture while the user is driving with his two hands on a steering wheel. In one aspect, the interface apparatus includes a gesture sensor, a gesture processor, and a head-up display (HUD), where the gesture sensor and the gesture processor recognizes and interpret the information input by the user's finger gesture and such information is displayed on the HUD. In one embodiment, a plurality of point of interest (POI) icons are displayed on the HUD after the user inputs at least one letter into the system and the user can select the POI by his/her finger gesture. In another embodiment, the gesture sensor can recognize the user's finger gesture in non-alphabet characters.

Interface method and apparatus for inputting information with air finger gesture

A navigation method and apparatus is designed to efficiently retrieve the information on the scenic byways and to visit such scenic byways through calculated routes. The navigation method and system performs a scenic byway mode in which operations and screen displays are specially designed for efficiently retrieving and selecting a desired scenic byway and scenic places to visit. The navigation method and system allows the user to efficiently search the information and select the scenic byway and scenic places to visit. The navigation method and system stores the information on the scenic byways in the map database and facilitates retrieval thereof in response to the request by the user. Alternatively, the information on the scenic byways and scenic places can be retrieved from the remote data server through wireless communication.

Navigation method and system for selecting and visiting scenic places on selected scenic byway

A map display apparatus and method for a navigation changes a map scale dynamically to help the driver visualize the environment of the destination when the vehicle is approaching the destination. The map scale is changed dynamically to display the destination along with at least one map attribute near the destination to provide more information to the driver. The navigation system includes, among others, a searching unit and a scale changing unit to change the map scale to display the destination along with at least one map attribute when the vehicle is approaching the destination. The navigation system also includes a priority table to prioritize the map attributes and the searching unit searches the map attributes near the destination according to order in the priority table.

Dynamic destination map display for navigation system

A method and apparatus for entering an address for a navigation system allows a user to easily and quickly select a key indicating the next character of the address. At the start of operation, the navigation system shows a full alpha-numeric keyboard. Once the next candidate characters are narrowed down to a certain degree, the navigation system shows a simplified keyboard with a limited number of keys on the monitor screen and highlights the next candidate characters on the simplified keyboard. The navigation system displays both the simplified keyboard and a street name list on the same screen. Since the keys of the limited number are arranged within a small space such as in the three-by-three manner, the user can easily point a cursor or other pointing device to the desired key.

Method and apparatus for keyboard arrangement for efficient data entry for navigation system

A display method and apparatus for a navigation system promotes to quickly search a desired on a map image with respect to an order of distance from a current vehicle position or other reference position. On the screen of the navigation system, it displays a specially designed screen to implement the city search operation which includes a state selection box and a city selection box. The navigation system detects the search direction specified by the user and moves the cursor to the location of the candidate city in response to every operation of the input device in the order of distance in the specified direction. Thus, the user is able to find the city by its relative location to the current vehicle position or other reference location, thereby enabling to quickly and intuitively search the target city.

Display method and apparatus for navigation system for efficiently searching cities on map image

A method and apparatus for selecting a desired point of interest ('POI') for a navigation system displays matching brand icons associated with POIs to assist the user in finding an intended POI. When the user inputs characters indicating a POI name or a POI type, or selecting a POI type from a list, the navigation system displays brand icons of the POI name or POI type. When the user selects one of the brand icons, the navigation system lists the POIs associated with the brand icons in the predetermined order such as distance from the current vehicle position. Since the number of brand icons are limited, and each brand icon has a readily recognizable image, the user can quickly find a desired POI by selecting a brand icon.

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Torrance, CA, United States of America

Mike Iao