ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160065890 | Broadcast Receiving Apparatus - An in-vehicle apparatus includes an FM radio tuner that receives FM broadcast waves of a reception frequency that is set; a FM radio controller; an LCD unit that is capable of changing a horizontal synchronous frequency corresponding to each horizontal line by varying a horizontal blanking period along the horizontal direction, without changing the numbers of effective pixels in horizontal display and vertical display, and an effective display period; a horizontal synchronous frequency setter that sets the horizontal synchronous frequency so that a minimum value of the differences between the reception frequency of the FM broadcast waves and multiplied frequencies that are integral multiples of the horizontal synchronous frequency is higher than or equal to a certain value; and a video processor that generates a video signal necessary to display at least one of a working screen and an operation screen in the LCD unit. | 03-03-2016 |
20150379782 | METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING TOLL COLLECTION INFORMATION BASED ON A NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS IN A VEHICLE - A method of communicating information regarding a number of occupants in a vehicle for an electronic toll collection system having an antenna at a toll lane entrance, the vehicle and a transponder in the vehicle, includes detecting occupancy in the vehicle by at least one sensor in the vehicle, computing a number of one or more occupants based on the detected occupancy by the at least one sensor, setting one of a plurality of toll configurations based on the number of one or more occupants, transmitting the one of the plurality of toll configurations and account information associated with the transponder to the antenna, receiving the one of the plurality of toll configurations and the account information from the transponder, and charging a predetermined toll amount on an account corresponding to the received account information based on the one of the plurality of toll configurations from the transponder. | 12-31-2015 |
20150353088 | VEHICLE DRIVING ASSISTANCE APPARATUS AND VEHICLE DRIVING ASSISTANCE METHOD - An in-vehicle system includes a vehicle position detection unit and a vehicle position calculation unit that detect a vehicle position, a road condition prediction unit that predicts a road condition at a position in front of the detected vehicle position, an automatic driving continuation determination unit that determines whether or not the vehicle automatic driving can be continued at the position in front of the vehicle based on the road condition predicted by the road condition prediction unit, and an automatic driving cancellation warning unit that warns of cancellation of the vehicle automatic driving when the automatic driving continuation determination unit determines that it is difficult to continue the vehicle automatic driving. | 12-10-2015 |
20150348412 | VEHICLE TO VEHICLE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION APPARATUS WITH POTENTIAL CRASH WARNING - A wireless communication device for vehicle-to-vehicle communication includes a vehicle positioning module that uses sensors and detects a current position and a direction of the vehicle. In a map matching, pre-calculated route information and road network information based on the current position are retrieved from map data and a current link of the vehicle is identified and a potential signal pattern is determined regarding a position of next intersection and the road network information based on the current position, the direction of the vehicle and the current link. Based on the potential signal pattern, radio characteristics including a level of intensity, a frequency, and a direction are assigned. A transmitter produces a radio signal of the radio characteristics carrying the current position, the speed and the direction of the vehicle. An antenna module converts the radio signal from the transmitter into radio waves and radiates the radio waves. | 12-03-2015 |
20150301684 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INPUTTING INFORMATION - An information input device that obtains information based on a touch position of an operation member on a touch panel includes a pressing-force detecting unit that detects pressing force of the operation member applied to the touch panel; an information acquisition unit that obtains information based on the touch position of the operation member on the touch panel when the pressing force of the operation member applied to the touch panel detected by the pressing-force detecting unit is equal to or greater than a determination reference value; and a determination-reference-value changing unit that changes the determination reference value from a first value to a second value smaller than the first value when the pressing force of the operation member applied to the touch panel detected by the pressing-force detecting unit becomes equal to or greater than the first value set as the determination reference value. | 10-22-2015 |
20150203059 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE, MOBILE TERMINAL CONNECTION CONTROL METHOD, AND POWER CONTROL PROGRAM - A power control program (mobile terminal connection program) | 07-23-2015 |
20150039219 | NAVIGATION DEVICE - A navigation device, when a vehicle travels through an area in which the use of an ETC device provided in the vehicle is not possible, can prevent that vehicle from being guided along an ETC device utilization rout. The navigation device sets, for each area, whether or not the use of the ETC device is possible; performs a first route search using a first cost condition regarding the route cost of an ETC device utilization route; performs a second route search using a second cost condition regarding a route cost for which the route cost of an ETC device utilization route is higher than with the first cost condition; and, on the basis of a setting status for whether or not the use of the ETC device in each area is possible, controls whether to perform the first route search or the second route search. | 02-05-2015 |
20150029012 | VEHICLE REAR LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE WARNING APPARATUS, VEHICLE REAR LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE WARNING METHOD, AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT DETECTING DEVICE - A 3D object detecting device includes a driving-lane detecting unit that detects a driving lane of a vehicle; a 3D-object detecting unit that detects, by using pattern recognition technology, a type of 3D object with respect to images captured by side cameras; and a recognition-priority setting unit that varies and sets a recognition priority for the detected type of 3D object, based on the detected driving lane. In accordance with the driving lane of the vehicle, the recognition-priority setting unit sets the priority for pattern recognition lower for a type of 3D object that is less likely to exist in rear left and right sides of the vehicle, to thereby reduce the possibility that a 3D object that should not be regarded as a warning target is erroneously detected from the images as a warning subject. | 01-29-2015 |
20150026561 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING WEB PAGE - A system and method for displaying a web page prevents an operation error when the contents of display of the web page change. A vehicle-mounted device includes a touch panel and an input processor for performing an input operation corresponding to a position of contact of an indicator with a display screen. A proximity sensor and an indicator detector detects that the indicator has a predetermined positional relationship relative to the screen. A web browser obtains data on the web page, and a rendering engine performs web page display processing, including web page analysis processing and screen layout calculation for the data obtained. A display processor and a display device for displaying the web page subjected to the web page display processing are included. When the indicator has the predetermined positional relationship relative to the display screen, the web page display processing is stopped. | 01-22-2015 |
20140358542 | CANDIDATE SELECTION APPARATUS AND CANDIDATE SELECTION METHOD UTILIZING VOICE RECOGNITION - A candidate selection apparatus utilizing voice recognition includes an association unit that associates target candidates with candidate numbers so that numerals of the target candidates coincide with numerals of the candidate numbers when the target candidates to be displayed in list form are character strings representing the numerals of the candidate numbers, and a display control unit that displays the target candidates and the candidate numbers in list form in accordance with the associations made between the target candidates and the candidate numbers. | 12-04-2014 |
20140355235 | DISPLAY DEVICE - A display device includes a display unit having a display screen on a front side, a driving mechanism configured to move the display unit, a holder configured to support the display unit and reciprocally move the display unit relative to the holder in a linear trajectory parallel to the display screen, a rotation guiding mechanism in the driving mechanism configured to rotate the holder, and a movement guiding mechanism in the driving mechanism configured to move the display unit relative to the holder after the holder is rotated to a predetermined position. | 12-04-2014 |
20140354696 | NAVIGATION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DRAWING MAP - A navigation apparatus includes a map data storage apparatus which obtains map data needed for drawing an object; a map buffer; a map drawing unit which generates image information corresponding to an object included in a background image on the basis of the map data, and stores the image information in a frame buffer; and a display processing unit which reads out the image information stored in the frame buffer and displays a map image on a display apparatus. The map drawing unit generates shadow image information for a shadow region of the object which is a region sandwiched between an outline of the object and an outline of the object after the object has been moved in a predetermined direction. | 12-04-2014 |
20140347288 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND OPERATION INPUT METHOD - An in-vehicle device includes an operation screen display unit that displays a specific operation screen containing an operation key for causing the in-vehicle device to perform a specific action, an operation key moving unit that moves the operation key in a predetermined direction, a camera and a movement recognition unit that detect a movement of part of a body of a user or a movement of an operation member held by the user, and an operation selection unit that, when a movement direction of the operation key matches a direction of the detected movement of the user, selects the operation key moved by the operation key moving unit. | 11-27-2014 |
20140320430 | INPUT DEVICE - An input device includes a controller which determines if a user unintentionally touches a touch panel during a hover operation and recognized the hover operation instead of the touch operation when the user's hand or finger moves at a constant distance from the touch panel in time periods before and after the touch period, respectively regardless of detection of a touch on the touch panel. | 10-30-2014 |
20140292828 | VEHICLE-MOUNTED DISPLAY SYSTEM - In one embodiment, left and right frame elements are provided in such a manner as to be movable in a horizontal direction. The left frame element has a shape of the left half of a circular ring and the right frame element has a shape of the right half of the circular ring. The frame elements are horizontally positioned away from each other such that the left frame element surrounds the left side of a circular meter image displayed on a display and the right frame element surrounds the right side of another circular meter image displayed on the display. Two frame interpolation part images are arranged and displayed on the display in a form that the two frame interpolation part images couple upper edges of the left and right frame elements to each other and couple lower edges of the left and right frame elements to each other, respectively. | 10-02-2014 |
20140278022 | POWER SUPPLY DEVICE, ON-VEHICLE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING BOOSTING CIRCUIT - A power supply device is mounted in a vehicle capable of starting an engine with power supplied from a battery, and includes a booster configured to boost voltage supplied from the battery, a detecting unit configured to detect an engine start, a counting unit configured to count an engine start count based on the detecting unit, and a control unit configured to control the booster. The control unit outputs a control signal to permit the booster to boost the voltage in response to the engine start when the engine start count counted by the counting unit within a timer period does not exceed an allowable number of times. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270270 | LOUDSPEAKER UNIT - A loudspeaker unit includes a voice coil, a diaphragm, a damper, a frame supporting an outer edge of the diaphragm and an outer edge of the damper, and a duct projecting from an outer surface of the frame, with air moved by vibration of the diaphragm flowing into and out of the loudspeaker unit through the duct. The frame has an aperture that communicates with a space inside the frame. The duct, serving as a separate member, is attached to the frame so as to cover the aperture. The frame further includes a support tab that projects into the aperture. Link terminals are attached to the support tab. Before the duct is attached to the frame, lead wires extending from the voice coil are formed into a predetermined shape and are then connected to the link terminals in a space within the aperture. | 09-18-2014 |
20140214786 | INTERNET SEARCH APPARATUS - An Internet search apparatus includes a current location detection unit configured to detect a current location, an administrative district name acquisition unit configured to acquire a name of an administrative district to which the current location belongs, and an information search unit configured to perform an Internet search and display a search result in the form of a list such that a web page that does not include the administrative district name is excluded. | 07-31-2014 |
20140200803 | GUIDANCE SYSTEM, SERVER, TERMINAL DEVICE, AND GUIDANCE METHOD - A guidance system includes an SNS server that distributes guidance information, e.g., to a smartphone. The SNS server includes a post information DB, a map DB, and a guidance information DB. Pieces of post information and selected guidance information are transmitted to the smartphone via a communication unit. The smartphone displays the pieces of post information, and includes a setting unit that sets, as a destination, a location contained in a piece of post information among the displayed pieces of post information, and a guidance unit that provides, by using the guidance information, guidance on a guidance route to the destination. | 07-17-2014 |
20140188483 | AUDIO DEVICE AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An audio device transfers voice data which requests playback, generated by a user to a portable player. The portable player performs voice recognition of the transferred voice data. Control for playback start is started in accordance with the content as the result of the voice recognition. The audio device starts monitoring for a playback state of the portable player. If the start of the playback operation is detected within a predetermined period, an output source of sound to be output is changed to the portable player. | 07-03-2014 |
20140184946 | Touch Screen Device - In a touch screen device, a second space is secured between a peripheral edge of an opening of an exterior case and a panel surface of a touch panel; an elastic body is provided on the back surface of an easily deformable portion extending along the peripheral edge of the opening; and a third space that is narrower than the second space is secured between the elastic body and the panel surface of the touch panel. When the easily deformable portion is pressed and bent by the input operation, the elastic body is brought into contact with the panel surface and displaces the touch panel backward so that the vibrating touch panel does not come into direct contact with the peripheral edge of the opening. | 07-03-2014 |
20140173664 | INFORMATION TERMINAL SYSTEM - When a user selects a topic tag included in a posted article on a display of a timeline obtained from an SNS server, an SNS client looks up an information channel related word table registering correspondence between a TV channel and a term related to the TV channel, searches a TV channel registering correspondence with a term and the topic tag, and causes the TV control to receive the searched TV channel and display and output the received program. | 06-19-2014 |
20140163878 | IN-VEHICLE NAVIGATION APPARATUS - An in-vehicle navigation apparatus that provides guidance to a lane on which a user's vehicle should travel, among driving lanes on a route, includes a landmark information acquiring unit and a lane guide unit. The landmark information acquiring unit acquires landmark information representing an object which serves as a landmark existing along the route within a landmark acquisition range that is set between a certain point on a near side of a specific point and the specific point. The lane on which the user's vehicle should travel on the route is restricted at the specific point. The lane guide unit provides guidance to the lane on which the user's vehicle should travel in association with the object represented by the landmark information acquired by the landmark information acquiring unit. | 06-12-2014 |
20140153774 | GESTURE RECOGNITION APPARATUS, GESTURE RECOGNITION METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - A gesture recognition apparatus for recognizing a gesture of a predetermined operating body includes a storage unit, having stored therein, correspondence relationships between a plurality of coordinate ranges in relation to the operating body and to a plurality of operation target apparatuses, each of the plurality of coordinate ranges further corresponding to each operation target apparatus of the plurality of operation target apparatuses. An image capturing unit captures one or more images of the operating body, a coordinate detecting detects coordinates of the operating body based on the one or more captured images, and an operation target apparatus specifying unit selects an operation target apparatus corresponding to the detected coordinates of the operating body and the stored correspondence relationships. A gesture recognition processing unit recognizes a gesture associated with the operating body based on one or more captured images and corresponding to the selected operation target apparatus. | 06-05-2014 |
20140139983 | DISPLAY APPARATUS INCLUDING VIBRATION GENERATING SECTION - A light-transmitting panel is disposed in front of a display panel, and an elastic frame surrounding a display screen is disposed between the display panel and the light-transmitting panel. The elastic frame includes a high-density frame region with an increased compression and a low-density frame region with a compression lower than that of the high-density frame region. Most of the portions of the light-transmitting panel are supported by a low-density frame region. | 05-22-2014 |
20140125914 | DISPLAY DEVICE - In a display device to be mounted in a vehicle, a space is secured between a cover with which a first opening of a case main body is sealed and a liquid crystal panel of a display unit mounted on the backside of the case main body, ventilation openings (spaces around protrusions and through holes) that communicate with an external space are formed in portions of a casing, which is a component member of the display unit, except for the front surface of the casing, and protruding portions each partially supporting the outer edge portion of the front surface of the liquid crystal panel are formed on the inner surface of the front wall of the casing. Thus, a long and complicated air flow path is secured around the liquid crystal panel by the protruding portions, and the space and the external space communicates with each other via the path. | 05-08-2014 |
20140118133 | On-Board Display Control Device and On-Board Display Control Method - On-board display control methods and systems are provided. In one implementation for displaying speedometer information and miscellaneous information on an instrument panel display, a nonuse region determination unit of an on-board display control device determines a nonuse speed region in a speedometer in accordance with a traveling status of a vehicle. A display control unit of the on-board display control device then exercises control such that an enlarged view of the miscellaneous information is displayed over the nonuse speed region when the nonuse region determination unit determines that there is the nonuse speech region. | 05-01-2014 |
20140115202 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE, COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND INFORMATION TERMINAL DEVICE - An electronic device includes a connection unit that enables a USB connection to a smartphone, a normal communication mode in which communication is performed by using a device class prepared in advance in the smartphone, a request unit that makes a request for switching to a unique communication mode, a search unit that searches for a device class usable in the normal communication mode after the request for switching to the unique communication mode has been made, a determination unit that determines, on the basis of a search result, whether or not a disadvantageous change has occurred in the normal communication mode, and a reset unit that resets the USB connection when it is determined that a disadvantageous change has occurred. | 04-24-2014 |
20140107917 | NAVIGATION DEVICE, METHOD FOR DISPLAYING ICON, AND NAVIGATION PROGRAM - A navigation device includes an icon display unit for displaying icons representing predetermined display objects located on a predetermined road ahead of the current location in an elongated display area of a display unit in a linear fashion along a length direction of the display area preferentially in order of proximity to the current location and a predefined distance display unit for displaying an image indicating the predefined distance from the current location in the display area when the icons are displayed. The icon display unit stationarily displays the icons representing display objects located farther than the predefined distance from the current location and movably displays an icon representing a display object located within the predefined distance so that the icon moves towards the current location in accordance with the movement of the current location. | 04-17-2014 |
20140104682 | MULTILAYER DISPLAY APPARATUS - A multilayer display apparatus included in an in-vehicle system includes a stereoscopic vision display device formed by a 3D display unit and a 3D display control unit that display a three-dimensional image utilizing the principle of binocular disparity, a two-dimensional display device formed by a 2D display unit and a 2D display control unit that display a two-dimensional image on a two-dimensional display face, and a half-silvered mirror. The position of the two-dimensional display face is set within a predetermine range of the position of the screen of the stereoscopic vision display device by using the half-silvered mirror. | 04-17-2014 |
20140085787 | ON-VEHICLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A first drive arm and a second drive arm are rotatably coupled. A tip portion of the first drive arm and a device main body are connected to each other through a first connection link, and a tip portion of a second drive arm and the device main body are connected to each other through a second connection link. Because each of the drive arms and the device main body are connected to each other through an axial rotational portion, the device main body is moves smoothly between an extended position and a retracted position, and vibration and rattling are suppressed. | 03-27-2014 |
20140063718 | IN-VEHICLE DISPLAY APPARATUS - An in-vehicle display apparatus includes a display panel including a rectangular display screen; a pair of semicircular decorative rings (frames) obtained by dividing an annular member into two parts along a line extending in a lateral direction of the display screen; and a driving mechanism that drives the decorative rings to reciprocate toward and away from each other in a longitudinal direction of the display screen. The decorative rings are rotatable around axes extending in the lateral direction of the display screen. The driving mechanism moves the decorative rings while the decorative rings are in front of the display panel and in parallel positions in relation to the display screen. The decorative rings are rotated on sides of the display panel in a longitudinal direction of the display panel and stored in storage spaces. | 03-06-2014 |
20140062858 | INFORMATION SYSTEM - An information system includes a camera located at a central position in a horizontal direction in front of two users who face the camera and who are aligned side by side, a gesture recognizing unit configured to recognize a gesture of a hand of a user based on a target image captured by the camera, a determining unit that determines whether a central point in a width direction of an arm in the target image is at a right side or at a left side with respect to a center of the hand in the target image, and an operation user configured to determine that a performer of the gesture is a right side or a left side user | 03-06-2014 |
20140058671 | Navigation Device and Control Method for Displaying Detour - The navigation device includes a detour exploring portion configured to explore a detour to avoid a section in which a traffic hazard occurs using map data at a level lower than a predetermined level when a traffic hazard determining portion determines that the traffic hazard occurs on the guidance route, and a display control portion configured to zoom the detour to match a scale of the detour to a currently designated scale, and synthesize and display the detour on a map image. The navigation device maintains the display of the wide area map and synthesizes and additionally displays a detour, for example, to pass through a road such as a narrow street included in a detailed map on the map image such that the user can receive, at a glance, a detour to easily bypass the section in which a traffic hazard occurs. | 02-27-2014 |
20140013261 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR DISPLAYING NAME OF SEARCH OBJECT CANDIDATE - An electronic device including a navigation function, includes a display unit configured to display road map data on a display screen, a scroll unit configured to scroll a road map screen display on the display screen in response to a user input, a determination unit configured to determine if the scrolling has stopped, an identification unit configured to identify, when it is determined that the scrolling has stopped, a search object candidate specified by a position at which the scrolling has stopped, a selection unit configured to select a search object candidate, an acquisition unit configured to acquire name data of the search object candidate, and a synthesis and display unit configured to synthesize and display the name data onto the road map data. | 01-09-2014 |
20130307757 | DISPLAY DEVICE - A display device includes movable members arranged to face a display screen of a liquid crystal display panel, a movable member driving mechanism, a display controller that controls the display of an image in a first display area and controls the display of a predetermined mark in a second display area on the liquid crystal display panel, and a drive controller that controls the movable member driving mechanism to move the movable members in accordance with a movement of the mark displayed. The display of an image object in the first display area and the display of the mark in the second display area are controlled so that the position of the image object displayed in the first display area corresponds to the position of the mark displayed in the second display area. | 11-21-2013 |
20130284536 | SPEAKER DEVICE - A speaker device includes a cabinet from which a duct for adjusting the back pressure protrudes, a speaker unit mounted in the cabinet, and an intermediate hollow member including first and second connection portions. A cabin space in which the cabinet is installed is separated from a non-cabin space by a partition wall. If there is a subframe facing the partition wall, the duct cannot be directly connected to the opening formed in the partition wall. The intermediate hollow member is disposed in a small space between the subframe and the partition wall, the second connection portion is connected to the opening, and the duct is connected to the first connection portion. | 10-31-2013 |
20130282843 | ON-VEHICLE APPARATUS, TERMINAL DEVICE, AND INFORMATION TRANSMISSION CONTROL METHOD - An on-vehicle apparatus system and a terminal device protect personal information and location information readable from message information viewed by others. The on-vehicle apparatus, which is included in a vehicle and which is connected to the terminal device, includes an application for transmitting location information representing a position of the terminal device along with message information, to a message management system, and includes a first area determination unit which determines whether the position of the terminal device represented by the location information is included in a predetermined first area, and a posting controller, which bans assignment of the location information performed before the message information is transmitted to the message management system by the application, when the first area determination unit determines that the position of the terminal device is included in the first area. | 10-24-2013 |
20130272537 | SPEAKER - A speaker includes a magnetic circuit, a voice coil, and a diaphragm which are disposed in a case. The case is placed in an engine compartment of an automobile. Reproduced sound is emitted through a duct protruding outward from the case. A partition wall, which is a metal body frame of the automobile, is present between the engine compartment and the cabin space. The duct is inserted into a hole formed in the partition wall so that a sound port faces and protrudes into the cabin space. A heat dissipation port is formed in the case, and an end surface the magnetic circuit facing the partition wall is exposed in the heat dissipation port. An elastically deformable thermal conductive sheet is sandwiched between the partition wall and the end surface of the magnetic circuit. | 10-17-2013 |
20130265248 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An electronic device includes a display and a proximity sensor arranged near a display surface of the display and configured to provide an output signal corresponding to a degree of proximity of an object to the display surface, and provides a position of the approaching object in a direction horizontal to the display surface. A user interface control unit has a first operational mode and a second operational mode, where in the first operation mode, the proximity of a user's hand from the display surface is monitored based on the output signal of the proximity sensor. In the second operational mode, a position of the user's hand in a direction horizontal to the display surface is detected within a detection target range and a user's operation is accepted according to the detected position of the user's hand. | 10-10-2013 |
20130241849 | TOUCH SCREEN DEVICE - A touch screen device includes a motor attached to a movable chassis to support the touch panel, a rotor fixed to the motor shaft, a driven rotor meshing with the rotor, a cam mechanism that converts the rotational driving force of the motor into a driving force in the thrust direction and transmits the driving force to the movable chassis, and a leaf spring elastically urging the touch panel moved by the cam mechanism toward the original position. The cam mechanism includes two wave cam portions that each have a cam surface having a series of wave-like recesses and protrusions arranged along a circumference and, and cam engaging portions that are provided at the axial ends of the rotors and that are in sliding contact with the cam surfaces. | 09-19-2013 |
20130240717 | OPTICAL SENSOR - A monitor-light-emitting device and multiple light-emitting devices are mounted on a board, and a light-guiding member is disposed in front of these devices. Monitor light emitted from the monitor-light-emitting device is directly supplied to a light receiving device. Part of light emitted from the multiple light-emitting devices is incident on the light-guiding member and is used as reference light. The reference light is received by the light receiving device. Reflected detection light that has been reflected off a target object located in front of the optical sensor is transmitted through the light-guiding member and is received by the light receiving device. A condenser is disposed in front of the light receiving device and the reference light or the reflected detection light is efficiently supplied to the light receiving device. | 09-19-2013 |
20130229368 | METHOD FOR DISPLAYING SCALE FOR ENLARGEMENT AND REDUCTION OPERATION, AND DEVICE THEREFOR - A method for displaying a scale for an enlargement and reduction operation on a touch screen includes detecting, using a multi-touch detection sensor, a plurality of touches by a user on the touch screen, and detecting an enlarging operation or a reducing operation caused by the user applying two operating fingers to the touch screen. An enlargement factor or a reduction factor is displayed on the touch screen at a position near the two operating fingers of the user. | 09-05-2013 |
20130188806 | STRUCTURE FOR INSTALLING LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM IN VEHICLE - Disclosed is an installation structure for a loudspeaker system in a vehicle, the loudspeaker system being installed in a vehicle front space separated from a vehicle interior by a partition, the vehicle front space being anterior to the vehicle interior, the installation structure including a sound guide port extending through the partition. The sound guide port allows a sound output space of a diaphragm in the loudspeaker system to communicate with front part of the vehicle interior. | 07-25-2013 |
20130186324 | VEHICLE DISPLAY APPARATUS - A vehicle display apparatus includes a first partition member and a second partition member disposed in front of a display screen of a display panel. Each of the first and second partition members includes a window portion. The first and second partition members may be set in separated positions or in overlapping positions. In the separated positions, the first and second partition members are spaced apart from each other along the display screen. In the overlapping positions, the first partition member is separated forward from the display screen, the second partition member is located between the first partition member and the display screen, and the window portions of the first and second partition members overlap. | 07-25-2013 |
20130151029 | VEHICLE TRAVEL AMOUNT ESTIMATION DEVICE AND OBSTACLE DETECTION DEVICE - A vehicle travel amount estimation device includes a camera, a taken image storing unit, a compensated image storing unit, a travel amount calculation unit, a vehicle speed and gyro sensor, and a travel amount determination unit. The taken image storing unit and the compensated image storing unit store images taken by the camera. The travel amount calculation unit calculates the amount of travel based on two stored images. The sensors detect the amount of travel of the vehicle. The travel amount determination unit is configured to compare a first amount of travel calculated by the travel amount calculation unit with a second amount of travel detected by the vehicle speed sensor or the like in order to determine the first amount of travel to be the amount of travel of the vehicle when the difference between the first amount and the second amount is smaller than a predetermined value. | 06-13-2013 |
20130147734 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS - An in-vehicle apparatus includes an LCD that displays an operation screen, an operation position detector that detects a position that is part of the operation screen displayed on the LCD and that is touched by a user with an operation force larger than or equal to an operation determination threshold value with a touch panel on a certain detection cycle, a connection determiner that determines whether a mobile terminal apparatus is connected to the in-vehicle apparatus, and an operation determination threshold value changer that changes the operation determination threshold value to a value corresponding to the connected mobile terminal apparatus if the connection determiner determines that the mobile terminal apparatus is connected to the in-vehicle apparatus. | 06-13-2013 |
20130142380 | SPEAKER - In a speaker, a space surrounded by a frame on one side of a diaphragm is separated by a damper into a first internal space and a second internal space. The first internal space and the second internal space are caused to face one part and another part of an opening provided in the frame. A duct protrudes from the frame, and the opening is an open end of the duct on the base end side thereof. The speaker is installed, for example, outside a vehicle cabin with the duct inserted into an opening in a vehicle cabin wall, and the first and second internal spaces are caused to communicate with a space in the vehicle cabin through the duct. Therefore, reproduced sound in the bass range having a high sound pressure can be discharged through the duct to the space in the vehicle cabin. | 06-06-2013 |
20130131978 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING THREE-DIMENSIONAL TERRAIN AND ROUTE GUIDANCE - A display method and apparatus for displaying three-dimensional terrains and route guidance achieves a flexible and high detail three-dimensional display operation by enabling to change parameters, such as a viewing angle of a selected three-dimensional object, a height of a selected three-dimensional object, and a level of details (LOD) of a selected part of the image. The display method and apparatus also enables to compensate discontinuity, if any, at a border portion of two or more images where such parameters have been changed. Since such a change is made only a selected portion or object on the three-dimensional image, a computation power, memory space or other resources of the navigation system may not be overburdened by such operations. | 05-23-2013 |
20130093958 | ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM - An electronic apparatus is connected to an information terminal for receiving image data and audio data relating to an application executed in the portable information terminal and outputting the image data and audio data. The electronic apparatus includes an identification information detecting unit which detects identification information added to the audio data received from the information terminal, an interrupt determining unit which determines the presence of an interrupt event in the information terminal on the basis of the detected identification information, and an output control unit which transmits, when it is determined that an interrupt event has occurred, a control signal for transferring image data relating to an application in which the interrupt event has occurred to the information terminal. | 04-18-2013 |
20130066550 | MAP DISPLAY APPARATUS USING DIRECTION/DISTANCE MARK - A direction/distance mark is displayed on a map, wherein the direction/distance mark shows a direction line indicating a direction, with a reference point of a map screen being located in a center, a plurality of equidistant circles with the reference point being located in the center, and a distance from the reference point indicated by each equidistant circle. An instructed point on the screen that is touched by a user is detected as a point indicating a direction on the direction/distance mark and a distance from the reference point, and a map including the point is displayed. Accordingly, with one-touch, the currently displayed map can be scrolled to a desired map. Using the same direction/distance mark, it is also possible to display an equidistant range specifying map, a configured range specifying map, and a POI display map. | 03-14-2013 |
20130031287 | INTERRUPT CONTROL APPARATUS AND INTERRUPT CONTROL METHOD - An interrupt control apparatus and interrupt control method reduce situations in which the output of interrupt information is suspended and thus reduce stress caused in a user, without missing the appropriate output timing for interrupt information having a high priority level. A priority level setting unit raises the value of a priority level for an interrupt voice message during a period in which the interrupt voice message is being outputted, and a voice output control unit, when interrupts from two or more overlapping interrupt voice messages occurs, carries out control in accordance with priority levels set for each of the two or more interrupt voice messages so that the interrupt voice message having the higher priority level value is preferentially outputted. | 01-31-2013 |
20130009759 | IN-VEHICLE SYSTEM - An in-vehicle system includes a instrument cluster display arranged in an instrument cluster and a heads-up display that projects an image in an area on a front window above the instrument cluster. When a user continues viewing a display screen of the instrument cluster display for a predetermined period of time or longer, the display of the instrument cluster display is stopped, and content displayed on the display of the instrument cluster display is displayed on the heads-up display. | 01-10-2013 |
20120207448 | Audio Device, Video Device and Computer Program - A portable audio player holds a current playback list in which audio files which are playback targets are registered. An audio device holds a creation condition of a current playback list specified by the audio device last in a state where the portable audio player was connected, and a title which was a last playback target, and, when the portable audio player is connected, if information about the current playback list can be acquired from the portable audio player, makes the portable audio player resume playing back the current playback list and, if information cannot be acquired, makes the portable audio player create the current playback list under the held condition and start playing back the held title. | 08-16-2012 |
20120207245 | DIGITAL BROADCAST APPARATUS AND DIGITAL BROADCAST RECEIVING METHOD - A digital broadcast receiving apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive a digital broadcast signal in which predetermined data is transmitted repeatedly. A transmission time estimating unit estimates a transmission time for transmitting data per transmission unit, by analyzing separation information contained in the digital broadcast signal where the separation information describes a time for the transmission unit of data corresponding to the predetermined data. A determining unit determines whether content of the predetermined data has been updated for each data reception starting time after the transmission time has been estimated. If the content has not been updated, the control unit inhibits reception processing by the receiving unit for a predetermined period of time based on the estimated transmission time, and if the content has been updated, the control unit permits the reception processing by the receiving unit. | 08-16-2012 |
20120198035 | INSTALL SYSTEM AND INSTALL METHOD - An install system includes a host device, a portable device configured to connect with the host device, and a host device application providing system to which the host device is accessible via a network. The host device includes a host device application execution unit configured to execute host device applications as applications for host devices and an automatic install unit. The portable device includes a portable device application execution unit configured to execute portable device applications as applications for portable devices. The host device application providing system includes a host device application database for storing install data on host device applications contained therein and a host device application download server for transferring the install data on the host device applications stored in the host device application database, to the host device. | 08-02-2012 |
20120191344 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING LANE COMPLEXITY INFORMATION FOR NAVIGATION SYSTEM - A display method and apparatus in a navigation system to provide lane complexity information is disclosed. In one embodiment, the navigation system provides guidance information by displaying one or more color indicators on each lane to indicate lane complexity thereon. The lane complexity can be determined by the number of freeways connected at an interchange or how many lane changes the driver has to make before approaching the maneuver point. In another embodiment, each lane on the map is highlighted with the same color as each color indicator which is located on or above the lane. In a further embodiment, a lane and an exit may be highlighted to differentiate from the lane which the vehicle is currently is travelling on to remind the driver of the exit. | 07-26-2012 |
20120160974 | IN-VEHICLE DEVICE MOUNTING STRUCTURE - An in-vehicle device mounting structure includes a plurality of brackets through which the in-vehicle device is mounted to an installation member of a vehicle. Each bracket includes a device mounting portion to be fixed to a surface of the in-vehicle device, a vehicle attachment portion to be fixed to the installation member under the in-vehicle device, a drawn bent portion that is curved to smoothly connect the device mounting portion to the vehicle attachment portion, and a plurality of slits that extend across the drawn bent portion such that the device mounting portion is notched and the slits are arranged in parallel substantially in the front and rear directions of the bracket. | 06-28-2012 |
20120157065 | ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - An electronic apparatus is configured to display screen information supplied from a portable information terminal, and includes a connection unit configured to confirm if the portable information terminal is connected to the electronic apparatus. Also included is a notification unit configured to notify the portable information terminal of setting information concerning setting of the screen information supplied from the portable information terminal. A receiving unit is configured to receive the screen information that is set on the basis of the setting information from the portable information terminal, and a display unit is configured to display the screen information received by the receiving unit. | 06-21-2012 |
20120148086 | COMPOSITE SPEAKER - A composite speaker is disclosed that can more easily be made thin and small, and is configured so that the assembly process of the speaker is easy. A first space that opens to the rear is formed in a main yoke that forms a magnetic field emitter, and a magnetic gap is formed in the first space. A first voice coil, connected to an inner peripheral end of a first diaphragm whose surface area is large, is inserted into the first magnetic gap toward the front direction. A second space that passes through from front to back is provided in the main yoke, a second magnetic field emitter is mounted therein, and a second diaphragm whose surface area is small is provided in front thereof. Because of the structure in which the second magnetic field emitter is housed within the first magnetic field emitter, the front-to-back dimension of the speaker can be reduced. | 06-14-2012 |
20120130518 | MUSIC DATA REPRODUCTION APPARATUS - A music data reproduction apparatus can reproduce music data stored in a hierarchical folder with a simpler operation, and the reproduction can be started in a shorter time. An audio system for reproducing music data stored in a hierarchical format in one or more folders recorded on a memory includes a folder specifying unit for specifying one of the folders, a music data extracting unit for extracting music data stored in a lower-level folder under the folder that is specified by the folder specifying unit, and an audio processing unit for reproducing the music data that is extracted by the music data extracting unit. | 05-24-2012 |
20110307784 | AV APPARATUS - A scrollable list of AV contents to be displayed in an AV apparatus which outputs AV contents is provided. If the scrolling on an artwork list stops, the album attribute text of albums included in an artwork list is read from a portable music player. After that, the artworks of the albums are read from the portable music player from the album having its artwork at the center of the artwork list in the increasing order of the distances of display positions of the artworks to the artwork at the center. If the scrolling on the artwork list starts, the album attribute text of albums is read from the portable music player from the album having its artwork at the center of the artwork list in ascending order of the album numbers. | 12-15-2011 |
20110292577 | FRONT PANEL APPARATUS - A front panel apparatus improves aesthetic qualities while avoiding interference between a display panel and a surrounding member. The front panel apparatus includes a display panel capable of pivoting in opening and closing directions, power transmission mechanisms that operate in tandem with the opening and closing operations of the display panel, and a lock mechanism that locks the display panel in a closed state and unlocks the display panel. Each power transmission mechanism includes a biasing lever linked to the rear surface of the display panel and capable of advancing and withdrawing, a driving gear, a pivot lever provided on a driving gear and linked to the biasing lever, an intermediate gear that interlocks with the driving gear, and a rack member that interlocks with the intermediate gear and is capable of ascending and descending. The rack members support corresponding pivot support shafts of the display panel. When the driving gears rotate in tandem with the opening and closing operations of the display panel, the intermediate gears rotate and drive the rack members, and the pivot support shafts ascend and descend as a result. | 12-01-2011 |
20110288763 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING THREE-DIMENSIONAL ROUTE GUIDANCE - This invention relates to a route displaying method and apparatus in a navigation system. More specifically, this invention relates to a navigation-based apparatus and method to display a complete route presented in three-dimension. The navigation system may include a map adjusting unit to adjust visual ground of the map for the user. In one embodiment, the map adjusting unit can adjust the visual ground area convexly, so that the user can view the full route including the destination. In another embodiment, the map adjusting unit may adjust the visual ground area concavely to present more surrounding details of the vehicle to the user. The navigation system may also include a wireless communication device to retrieve the most current map and traffic information from a remote server, and communicatively couple with the map adjusting unit and a route generating unit to provide the most updated information with full route view to the user. The navigation system may also be integrated into a portable device such as a smartphone. | 11-24-2011 |
20110251783 | NAVIGATION DEVICE AND GUIDE ROUTE SEARCH METHOD - A navigation device and a guide route search method prevents searching for a detour route, and shortens the time required for setting an eventual guide route. A first partial route is extracted from a first guide route found in accordance with map data divided into three hierarchical levels, based on information about a road network. The first guide route is the route from the current location to a destination. A second partial route is obtained by performing a route search between the nodes at opposite ends of the first partial route, based on the map data containing the lowest level. A second guide route is obtained by replacing the first partial route in the first guide route with the second partial route, and is set as the eventual guide route. Accordingly, a subsequent search operation is performed on a partial detour route in the first guide route, based on the map data containing the lowest level. | 10-13-2011 |
20110246056 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENTLY USING A BATTERY IN A SMARTPHONE HAVING A NAVIGATION SYSTEM - This invention relates to a method and apparatus to optimize energy consumption in a mobile phone having a navigation system. More specifically, this invention relates to a navigation-based method and apparatus to efficiently use a smartphone battery to deliver the highest possible location accuracy to the driver. In one embodiment, when the driver is travelling from a complex route segment to a less complex route segment, a current location sensor is switched to another location sensor with lower location accuracy which consumes less battery power. In another embodiment, when the driver is travelling from a less complex route segment to a complex route segment, the navigation system continues to use a location sensor with lower accuracy until the navigation system determines that switching to higher accuracy location sensor is necessary to conserve more battery power. The navigation system can determine a best timing to switch according to the driver's familiarity with the route segment or geographical area. | 10-06-2011 |
20110243527 | VIDEO PLAYBACK APPARATUS AND RESUME PLAYBACK METHOD - In response to a power-off operation occurring during playback of a BD-J Title by a video playback apparatus, data of a resume Movie Object is created and stored for playing an AV data interval between a current playback position of the AV data and a position that is a predetermined time after the current playback position. If the video playback apparatus is turned on again thereafter, the resume Movie Object is played based on the stored data of the resume Movie Object and then playback and output of the BD-J Title having been ready to be played during playback of the resume Movie Object are started from the end position of the AV data interval. | 10-06-2011 |
20110213548 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING GUIDANCE FOR NAVIGATION SYSTEM - This invention relates to a display method and apparatus in a navigation system. More specifically, this invention relates to a navigation-based method and apparatus to provide guidance information to a driver without repeatedly performing route recalculation when the driver makes slight deviation from the road he or she is travelling on. In one embodiment of the present invention, guidance information is displayed on a user interface without generating a route. For example, when a vehicle is travelling either on a freeway or a surface road, a distance indicator provides distance information to nearby freeway junctions or streets. In another embodiment, when the vehicle is deviated from a calculated route, a route deviation detecting unit may detect whether the vehicle is deviating from the calculated route to a predetermined extent. If not, the original calculated route will not be recalculated. | 09-01-2011 |
20110163829 | SUBSTRATE ATTENUATOR CIRCUIT - Disclosed is a substrate attenuator circuit having a thin, long conductive pattern with a plurality of bends on a substrate, with heat generation per unit area reduced to a small amount even at a low attenuation level. A linear conductive pattern configured to have a plurality of bends on a substrate is provided with output terminals at n portions thereof. The conductive pattern has a larger line width at a first stage conductive pattern portion defined in a portion from an input terminal to m output terminals (m07-07-2011 | |
20110143726 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ENHANCE NAVIGATION USER EXPERIENCE FOR A SMART PHONE DEVICE - This invention relates to a smart phone device integrated with a navigation system. More specifically, this invention is related to an apparatus and method to divert navigation guidance provided by the smart phone when an incoming call occurs to provide the user uninterrupted route guidance. In one aspect of the present invention, a communication system is integrated with the smart phone to divert the route guidance to a vehicle audio system or display screen when there is an incoming call. The communication system can also be integrated with a cradle, a haptic commander or a radio head unit, which can be communicatively connected with the smart phone and the vehicle, such that when the incoming call occurs, the route guidance can be transmitted from the smart phone to the vehicle audio system or display screen through the cradle, the haptic commander or the radio head unit. Furthermore, the communication system can continuously track the vehicle location, when the call is ended, a navigation system in the smart phone can be restarted to provide the driver the latest vehicle location and necessary route guidance. | 06-16-2011 |
20110135141 | SPEAKER DEVICE - A speaker device has a magnet, outer yokes, and inner yokes which are assembled so that a magnetic gap is formed between the outer yoke and inner yokes over which a magnetic flux which is generated from the magnet cuts across. A voice coil unit which is linked to a diaphragm is disposed within the magnetic gap, and positioning members determine the positions of the inner yokes and the outer yokes which attach magnetically to the magnet such that a magnetic gap is formed. The speaker device has a magnetic circuit of which the construction facilitates assembly, and recycling of various individual parts is relatively easy. | 06-09-2011 |
20110135140 | SPEAKER APPARATUS - A light weight and low profile speaker apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the speaker apparatus includes: a frame member; a magnetic circuit; a supporting member disposed on a bottom portion of the frame member for securing and supporting the magnetic circuit at an opposite circumferential end portion of a circumferential wall portion of a first yoke relative to a plate portion; a voice coil unit disposed inside a magnetic gap in the magnetic circuit; a coupling member disposed outward of the circumferential wall portion of the first yoke; and a diaphragm having an inner circumferential end portion coupled to the coupling member. The voice coil unit and the coupling member are joined by a joint member that extends in a direction transverse to the circumferential wall portion of the first yoke; and a space where the joint member joining the voice coil unit and the coupling member can move is formed in each of the circumferential wall portion of the first yoke and the supporting member. | 06-09-2011 |
20110135139 | SPEAKER DEVICE - A speaker device includes a voice coil unit and a diaphragm linked to the voice coil unit. A first supporting unit and a second supporting unit elastically support the end portions of the voice coil unit so that the voice coil portion of the voice coil unit can vibrate within the magnetic gap in the direction of the face thereof. Each of the first supporting unit and the second supporting unit has a configuration that is in a shape bent so as to extend up and bend down from an end that is fixed to a fixing position. Thus, a speaker device in which the voice coil unit can vibrate with a greater amplitude is provided. | 06-09-2011 |
20110107272 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AND DISPLAYING CONTENTS IN A USER INTERFACE - This invention relates to a display method and apparatus, and more particularly, this invention relates to a user interface with multiple applications which can be operated concurrently and/or independently by using simple finger gestures. Furthermore, the user is allowed to intuitively operate and control digital information, functions, applications, etc. to improve operability. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the user is able to use finger gesture to navigate the user interface via a virtual spindle metaphor to select different applications. The user can also split the user interface to at least two display segments which may contain different applications. Moreover, each display segment can be moved to a desirable location on the user interface to provide a seamless operation environment. This invention can also be used in vehicle navigation systems to reduce driver distraction when the display segments can be split and each application can be moved around, so that the passenger can operate the navigation system while the user is driving. | 05-05-2011 |
20110093195 | MAP DISPLAY DEVICE AND MAP DISPLAY METHOD - A map display device that displays a map image around a vehicle position includes a display unit; a first storage unit storing map data including road data of a road and road-related information related to the road; a second storage unit storing adjustment data based on a relationship between display positions of the road data and the road-related information; and a map display control unit for calculating the display position of the road-related information based on the adjustment data for the individual road, and displaying the road-related information on a screen of the display unit. A road width to be displayed o the screen may be determined in accordance with the number of lanes and a road type. The adjustment data may be a distance between the display positions of the road and the road-related information, and may be determined in accordance with the road type and the road width. | 04-21-2011 |
20110054778 | Method and Apparatus for Displaying Three-Dimensional Terrain and Route Guidance - According to one aspect of the present invention, an information display device for displaying three-dimensional route and terrain includes a plurality of databases for storing information; a display control unit to dynamically manage said information with different levels-of-detail (LODs); and a user interface communicatively coupled with the control unit to display said managed information with different levels of detail. In one embodiment, the control unit may include a terrain scaling unit which is configured to dynamically increase or decrease the height or “3D-ness” of the terrain based on the angle and height of the viewing. The control unit may also include an LOD control unit and a scene stitching unit. In addition, the information display device provides a three-dimensional real-time rendering environment including three-dimensional guidance information which allows the user to understand complex maneuvers without using two-dimensional overlays. | 03-03-2011 |
20110022299 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO SEARCH AND PROCESS POI INFORMATION - This invention relates to an information delivery system and method. More specifically, this invention relates to an apparatus and method to search and retrieve additional Points-of-interest (POI) information to a user when basic POI information such as POI name, address, phone number, etc. is provided. In one aspect, the system includes an information managing unit to search, display and transmit POI information, a communication interface and a plurality of information providers adapted to stream information to the communication interface, and a communication network adapted to connect the information managing unit and the communication interface. In one embodiment, the basic information and an additional POI information search request can be transmitted from the information managing unit to the communication interface, and the communication interface is programmed to search for the additional POI information in the information providers and transmit the additional POI information back to the information managing unit. In another embodiment, the additional POI information may be filtered and organized before presenting to the user. | 01-27-2011 |
20100317370 | CONTENT DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD - This invention relates to an apparatus and method to provide event notifications to a user. More specifically, this invention is related to a content delivery system which provides event notifications to the user according to the user's current location and the content in the user's electronic device. Since the content, such as play count, number of songs, etc., may indicate the user's preference about some specific artists, this invention is particularly related to an intelligent content delivery system adapted to provide event notification to the user according to the user's preference. The content delivery system includes an event searching unit, a playback information retrieving unit and an information processing unit which is configured to determine whether to provide and display at least a portion of said first content information by analyzing a plurality of factors and managing said first content and second content information. The factors include but not limited to, whether the event location is within a predetermined distance from the current location, future event occurrence, and event ticket availability. | 12-16-2010 |
20100305842 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FILTER AND DISPLAY ONLY POIs CLOSEST TO A ROUTE - This invention relates to an apparatus and a method to display Points-of-Interest (POIs) in a navigation system. More specifically, this invention relates to a navigation-based apparatus and method adapted to filter redundant POIs and display only the POIs closest to the route. In one aspect, the POI display apparatus in the navigation system includes a user interface to display maps and POI information, an information receiver adapted to receive a current location of a user, at least one database to store maps, road networks and POI information, a route generating unit to retrieve the map and road network data from the database and generate a calculated route, a POI searching unit to search POIs in a predetermined searching range and searching distance and a POI filtering unit to divide the POIs discovered by the searching unit into different categories, group the POIs with the same names in each category and sort the POIs in each group according to the distance from the calculated route. In one embodiment, the POI information can be transmitted to the navigation from a remote server or communication networks. | 12-02-2010 |
20100299143 | Voice Recognition Dictionary Generation Apparatus and Voice Recognition Dictionary Generation Method - A voice recognition dictionary generation apparatus and method for suppressing reduction of processing speed at the time of updating. The apparatus includes an input unit configured to receive a text subjected to voice recognition, a storage unit configured to store the text with respect to each file of a predetermined item, a reading data generation unit configured to analyze the text and generate a reading data, and a voice recognition dictionary configured to include content dictionaries that store therein the reading data of the text with respect to each file of the predetermined item. When the file of the predetermined item including the text stored in the storage unit is updated, a control unit detects a total number of the content dictionaries, and when the total number is smaller than a predetermined limit, the control unit generates the content dictionaries with respect to each updated predetermined item. | 11-25-2010 |
20100280819 | Dialog Design Apparatus and Method - This invention relates to a dialog design apparatus and method. More specifically, this invention relates to a state oriented dialog design apparatus and method to facilitate the creation of natural language dialogs and creating data structures for voice user interfaces. The dialog design apparatus may include inputting means for receiving a user's prompt; response generating means for the user to generating at least one response; dialog structure generating means for structurally managing the user's input and response; and output means for outputting and displaying at least one dialog structure. A state in the present invention may include at least one system prompt and at least one response, and a linking unit may link a first state to a second state related to the first state, link the second state to a third state, and so on until certain system actions are achieved. A loop detecting unit in the present invention detects and identifies loops in the dialog structure. | 11-04-2010 |
20100217513 | Navigation Apparatus and Route Search Method - A navigation apparatus and route search method by which a roundabout route is avoided even if there is a segment with a regulation such as “no left turn” or “no entrance” are disclosed. | 08-26-2010 |
20100142747 | Thermal management system for speaker system having vented frame for establishing air passages - A thermal management system improves thermal property of the speaker system by promoting air circulation to cool the speaker system. The thermal management system includes a speaker frame, an air guide formed on the speaker frame for guiding the air, a ventilation slit formed on the air guide which penetrates through the speaker frame for air communication, and a spider mounting ring for mounting a spider of the speaker system on the speaker frame. The spider mounting ring has a cut-out at its upper edge which positionally match the air guide. The cut-out is curved sharply at its upper surface while a lower edge of the spider mounting ring is gently curved, thereby creating an air passage of directional property. | 06-10-2010 |
20100100647 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND INFORMATION SELECTING METHOD - An information processing apparatus and an information selecting method are disclosed which can easily restore an original state after checking the result of executing predetermined processing based on different information. If an operator of an operation unit is pressed in an already processed state where a processing execution unit is executing predetermined processing using already selected information set in a selected information memory, information assigned to the operator is newly set in the selected information memory to execute the predetermined processing with the processing execution unit. After that, if the pressed operator is released, the processing execution unit is restored to the already processed state. With this operation, after checking a new processing state using different information from already selected information by pressing an operator, the already processed state can be restored simply by releasing the pressed operator. | 04-22-2010 |
20100057781 | MEDIA IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention relates to a media identification system and method. The system and method includes a media source, a signal controlling device, a communication device, a server and a user interface. The media source can be in various formats, such as audio, video and still frame. A medium signal is converted and processed in the signal controlling device to generate a server-recognizable code, which can be transmitted to the server through the communication device. The communication device can be a mobile phone, or other communication devices adapted to relay signals. A “short-long” range signal transmission is also disclosed in the present invention, wherein the “short range” signal transmission between the signal controlling device and the communication device may be achieved by a wireless radio or optical transmission-reception technology such as Bluetooth, while the “long range” signal transmission between the communication device and the server may be achieved by WiFi or regular mobile phone transmission. Upon receiving the server-recognizable code, the server can analyze and search for candidate matches in the database. Once the server identifies the media, the media identification information can be transmitted back to from the server and displayed on the user interface. | 03-04-2010 |
20100030471 | POSITION DETECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD USED IN NAVIGATION SYSTEM - A position detecting apparatus and method used in a navigation system, which can improve positional accuracy and bearing accuracy even in a system equipped with few sensors, are provided. A position detecting apparatus used in a navigation system for detecting a vehicle position includes: a sensor unit including a vehicle speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, and an angular velocity sensor; and a dead reckoning calculating unit for calculating state quantity inclusive of a current vehicle position, a vehicle speed, and a vehicle attitude angle based on a signal output from each of the sensors at a predetermined periodic interval. The dead reckoning calculating unit includes: a movement calculating unit for calculating a movement during a period from a previous state quantity calculation time up to a current state quantity calculation time; a change amount detecting unit for calculating an amount of change in vehicle attitude; a movement resolving unit for resolving the movement into a vehicle longitudinal component, a vehicle lateral component, and a vehicle vertical component based on the amount of change in vehicle attitude; and a state quantity calculating unit for determining, by calculation, a vehicle position at the current state quantity calculation time using each of the components. | 02-04-2010 |
20100002078 | PERIPHERY MONITORING APPARATUS - A vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus detects a three-dimensional object or obstacle even through a vehicle is stopped. When is stopping or parking, a processor controls operation to store a bird's-eye image obtained by viewpoint conversion unit of a captured image, which is captured by a rear camera immediately before the vehicle parks or stops. Thereafter, the obstacle is detected based on a difference between image portions corresponding to a same captured region in a bird's-eye image of a captured image obtained for each time period, and in the stored bird's-eye image. | 01-07-2010 |
20090295922 | IN-VEHICLE DEVICE - A process is repeated in which N state vectors each including, as elements, the position of a camera with respect to a vehicle, the posture of the camera, the width of a lane where the vehicle is driving, and the orientation of the vehicle with respect to the lane are changed according to a predetermined dynamics model, a reference state vector representing the positions of edges of lane marks included in an image captured by the camera is generated when each of the changed state vectors is true, considering the positions of edges of lane marks in the image as an observation vector, the degree of match between the reference state vector and the observation vector is calculated as the weight of the state vector, a weighted average vector of the state vectors is calculated, and N state vectors are resampled on the basis of the calculated weights. | 12-03-2009 |
20090265727 | DISC DEVICE - When a normal disk having the diameter of 12 cm is inserted into the disk device, first and second optical detecting elements detect the insertion, and transitions to a first detection state, which initiates transfer operation of first and second transfer rollers. If the disk is further moved to an inner portion of the device, thus pressing first and second detecting pins, first and second detecting switches are turned OFF, and the detecting elements enter a second detection state. Before the transition from the first detection state to the second detection state occurs, a rotating speed of the first and second transfer rollers is set low. After transition to the second detection state, the rotating speed is increased. As a result, a card or other such foreign objects can be removed and a monitoring period can be increased until detection of a normal disk is detected. | 10-22-2009 |
20090257734 | ON-VEHICLE VIDEO PLAYBACK APPARATUS - Provided is an on-vehicle video playback apparatus, which facilitates appropriate playback of contents on a WAN which have to be played back synchronously with contents recorded on a video disc. | 10-15-2009 |
20090249209 | CONTENT REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND CONTENT REPRODUCING METHOD - A content reproducing apparatus and a content reproducing method reproduce sound from image data or music data from the beginning, in a case where music data and image data is obtained from a content storage device and reproduced in succession. An input receiving unit receives a user's input, an external-output requesting unit requests a content storage device to externally output contents, and a reproducing unit reproduces the contents. The external-output requesting unit requests the content storage device to externally output the corresponding music data and the corresponding image data in analog format based on the input received by the input receiving unit, in order to cause the reproduction unit to reproduce music data and image data in succession. As a result, the content reproducing apparatus and method eliminate the necessity of switching reproduction of digital (or analog) information to the reproduction of analog (or digital) information, for reproducing the image (or music) data immediately after the music (or image) data. | 10-01-2009 |
20090231293 | TOUCH PANEL INPUT DEVICE AND PROCESSING EXECUTION METHOD - A touch panel input device and a processing execution method eliminates wasteful operations of a user and increases user convenience. If a state determination unit (multiple key press detection unit) detects that multiple operation keys displayed on a touch panel screen were multiply pressed, an operation control unit (first processing execution control unit) controls execution of processing corresponding to any one of the plural operation keys. A waiting unit sets a state, which causes processing to wait for a user to make a selection instruction to select and execute processing corresponding to the other operation key. If the selection instruction is accepted, the operation control unit (second processing execution control unit) controls execution of processing corresponding to the selection instruction so as to select and execute the processing corresponding to the other operation key, following the multiple key press. | 09-17-2009 |
20090216440 | NAVIGATION APPARATUS - A navigation apparatus includes a satellite positioning section for calculating a present position, and a route setting section for searching for a route to a destination based on map data, and sets a detected route as a recommended route. A satellite positioning disable time guiding section sets as a focus point, a candidate point through which a vehicle first passes when traveling along the recommended route, and displays point guide information for guiding the focus point among candidate points as a route change point, when the satellite positioning section is incapable of calculating the present position. | 08-27-2009 |
20090198443 | IN-VEHICLE NAVIGATION DEVICE AND PARKING SPACE GUIDING METHOD - An in-vehicle navigation device includes a display unit, a storage unit which stores detailed map data of a shopping mall, a position detection unit which detects the current position of a vehicle, and a control unit which, when the destination is set to a facility in the shopping mall, detects a parking section close to the facility as a recommended parking section, and which, when the vehicle is determined to have entered and left the recommended parking section, provides, via the display unit, guidance advising the return of the vehicle to the recommended parking section. When the vehicle is determined to have entered the shopping mall, the control unit may display a detailed map of the shopping mall on a display screen of the display unit, and may display the recommended parking section in a different manner from the manner in which the other parking sections are displayed. | 08-06-2009 |
20090182557 | SOUND/VOICE PROCESSING APPARATUS, SOUND/VOICE PROCESSING METHOD, AND SOUND/VOICE PROCESSING PROGRAM - If a delay occurs in execution of sound/voice processing application software, and, as a result, MIC data is stored in a plurality of buffers, then a CPU identifies, based on a buffer list, a buffer in which newest MIC data is stored. The CPU reads the newest MIC data from the identified buffer and adjusts an output sound/voice level depending on an external sound/voice level, using the newest MIC data. | 07-16-2009 |
20090160940 | IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD AND IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS - An image display method for displaying a combined image by capturing images at areas surrounding a vehicle includes a) calculating a plurality of displacement vectors for a plurality of points taken on images captured by a plurality of cameras upon the application of a load that changes the attitude of a camera on the vehicle, and b) determining each image borderline between two adjacent images such that a difference in the directions of displacement vectors in the neighborhood of each image borderline between two adjacent images does not exceed a predetermined angle. | 06-25-2009 |
20090121851 | Vehicle-Periphery Image Generating Apparatus and Method of Correcting Distortion of a Vehicle-Periphery Image - A vehicle-periphery image generating apparatus and a method of correcting distortion of vehicle-periphery image corrects distortion of the obstacle image appearing in the vehicle-periphery image after viewpoint conversion, so that visual discomfort experienced by the driver is reduced. Images around the vehicle are captured by a plurality of cameras, and an obstacle around the vehicle is detected by an ultrasonic sensor. When the obstacle is detected, a width of an image in the region positioned on the far side of the obstacle is compressed in the center direction of the images to generate the vehicle-periphery image. As a result, when a three-dimensional obstacle around the vehicle appears in an camera image, the camera image is viewpoint-converted so that enlargement or stretching of the obstacle image can be prevented. | 05-14-2009 |
20090119003 | NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND ROUTE GUIDANCE METHOD - A navigation system provides guidance for performing a U-turn. The navigation system includes a processing unit, which acquires guidance route information and road information to determine whether the guidance route requires a turning around in a divided two-lane road. If a turning around is required, the processing unit specifies an extension distance of a connection road of the divided two-lane road. U-turn guidance is provided if the extension distance is at or below a predetermined length, or otherwise, to guidance is provided to prompt a double turn. | 05-07-2009 |
20090037490 | MAP-UPDATING-DATA CREATING METHOD, AND MAP UPDATING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A map-updating-data creating apparatus performs, for each old map file, creating a map-updating file for rewriting the map file to a new map file, determining the serial number of each of the updated map files, creating a serial number management file in which marks are respectively written at positions corresponding to the serial numbers, and generating, as map-updating data, the map-updating file and the serial number management file. A navigation apparatus performs map-updating processing and determines, by referring to the serial number management file, whether a map file has already been updated. The navigation apparatus uses the map-updating file to execute navigation control if the map file has already been updated, and updates the map file and subsequently executes the navigation control if the map file has not been updated. | 02-05-2009 |
20090005971 | DELIVERY MAP CREATION METHOD AND DEVICE AND DIFFERENTIAL DATA CREATION METHOD AND DEVICE - In a new map, links not constituting a new road and connected to links constituting the new road, are set as boundary links. Further, in an old map, the same links as the boundary links of the new map are set as boundary links of the old map. Then, in the new map, links connecting between the boundary links are searched for as new road constituent links. Further, in the old map, links connecting between the boundary links are searched for as deletion links. Then, link information of the respective boundary links of the old map data is replaced with link information of the respective boundary links of the corresponding new map data. The link information of the deletion links is then deleted from the old map data, and link information of the new road constituent links is added to the old map data, to thereby create delivery map data. | 01-01-2009 |