Abstract: A speech processing unit assigns priority either to voice guidance processing or to speech recognition processing to be carried out previously, when a speech input requesting for the speech recognition processing is accepted while the voice guidance processing is being carried out. It can solve a problem of a conventional speech processing unit in that when a user operates a speech input button requesting for the speech recognition processing, the currently output voice guidance is interrupted, or the voice guidance scheduled to be output is not produced, thereby hindering the user from obtaining truly necessary information.

Abstract: In a navigation apparatus, operating function control means of system control means infers a operation, which a user is expected to set next time on a screen of display means by operating means, from a set situation of each item selected on a map screen based on map data read from map data storage means, and when a destination has not been set, for example, presents a setting switch for the destination as a function switch, or when an en route location has not been set by route setting means, presents a setting switch for the en route location as a function switch. The operating function control means also presents a switch for retrieving surrounding establishments, which the user is expected to be desirous of looking for, based on the time of day or the duration of driving. The navigation apparatus enables the user to perform desired setting operations and retrieval of establishments without the need for complicated operations.

Abstract: A speech processing unit assigns priority either to voice guidance processing or to speech recognition processing to be carried out previously, when a speech input requesting for the speech recognition processing is accepted while the voice guidance processing is being carried out. It can solve a problem of a conventional speech processing unit in that when a user operates a speech input button requesting for the speech recognition processing, the currently output voice guidance is interrupted, or the voice guidance scheduled to be output is not produced, thereby hindering the user from obtaining truly necessary information.

Abstract: In a navigation apparatus, operating function control means of system control means infers a operation, which a user is expected to set next time on a screen of display means by operating means, from a set situation of each item selected on a map screen based on map data read from map data storage means, and when a destination has not been set, for example, presents a setting switch for the destination as a function switch, or when an en route location has not been set by route setting means, presents a setting switch for the en route location as a function switch. The operating function control means also presents a switch for retrieving surrounding establishments, which the user is expected to be desirous of looking for, based on the time of day or the duration of driving. The navigation apparatus enables the user to perform desired setting operations and retrieval of establishments without the need for complicated operations.

Abstract: A navigation device comprises a traffic information receiving means (103) for receiving traffic information, and a display form controlling unit (107) for displaying a traffic-jam indicating line along a road in a traffic jam on a road map displayed on a display device (106), and for changing display forms, such as the colors or widths, of either roads or traffic-jam indicating lines on the road map on-screen when the display form controlling unit determines from the traffic information received that a number of links each of which are respectively connecting two nodes such as intersections and includes a congested road section is equal to or more than a predetermined number or when the scale of the road map displayed on the display device is smaller than a predetermined scale.

Abstract: A map displaying apparatus for displaying a map and a destination on a display screen. A map memory stores a map data to be displayed on a displayer. A telephone number, an area code, or postal code is inputted through an inputting panel. A second memory stores information on telephone numbers and the coordinates of positions on a map corresponding to the respective telephone numbers, information on area codes and the coordinates of positions on a map corresponding to the respective area codes, and information on postal codes and the coordinates of positions on a map corresponding to the respective postal codes. A position retrieval section reads from the second memory the coordinate of a position on a map corresponding to the telephone number inputted through the inputting panel, the coordinate of positions on a map corresponding to the area code inputted through the inputting panel, the coordinate of positions on a map corresponding to the postal code inputted through the inputting panel.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A vehicle-carried navigation system wherein a current position is judged rapidly even when setting or extensive correction of a current position is executed and displaying of a map is updated rapidly in a current position displaying mode even when a vehicle moves at a high speed and a map around a current position is displayed rapidly even when the display mode is changed over from a map displaying mode to a current position displaying mode. When one of a current position detecting apparatus and a picture drawing apparatus tries to read out map data from a map data storage apparatus, a judging device judges whether or not such map data have been read into and are held in the other apparatus, and if such map data are already held in the other apparatus, then the map data are not read out from the map data storage apparatus but are transferred from the other apparatus to the one apparatus by map data transfer device.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A navigation system for a motor vehicle serves to guide the motor vehicle along an optimum route which includes bypass roads and side destinations desired by a driver but no road of high traffic congestion. When the motor vehicle deviates from the guidance route, an optimum route is again determined, starting from the current position of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: In a global positioning system (GPS)/self-contained combination type navigation system for a vehicle, the GPS navigation data are received by the GPS antenna of the navigation system which are simultaneously transmitted from more than 3 pieces of satellites inclusively. From the GPS navigation data, GPS type velocity data is calculated, whereas self-contained type velocity data is calculated from self-contained type navigation data such as azimuth data and drive-distance data of the vehicle. Only when a difference between the self-contained type velocity data and the GPS type velocity data exceeds a threshold velocity, the GPS type velocity data is voided so as to determine the present position of the vehicle.

Abstract: A high-speed current limiting circuit breaker comprises a self-recovery type current limiting element for limiting a fault current, a parallel resistance connected in parallel with the self-recovery type current limiting element and a circuit breaker connected in series with the self-recovery type current limiting element, a fault voltage detector for detecting the voltage generated on the parallel resistance and thereby driving an electromagnetic repulsion coil for breaking the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A power transmission system with current-limiting devices having a plurality of power transmission stations for transmitting power from a power-receiving line to respective loads wherein each current-limiting device includes a series circuit constructed of current-limiting elements and a bypass switch connected in parallel thereto. The terminals at one end of the limiting devices are connected to corresponding buses of the transmission stations while the terminals at the other end are connected to each other.