Vehicle Navigation Mark Display Unit with Dial Selector

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mark display units for ship navigation face issues with visibility and operability when the number of marks increases, as they can cover essential charts and radar images, making it difficult to recognize individual marks.

Innovation Solution

A mark display unit with a dial selector that allows users to select categories and items through push and rotational operations, switching display modes to manage the visibility of marks, thereby improving usability and reducing clutter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the number of marks stored in the mark display unit is increased, then more information can be displayed, but the chart and radar image on the display screen are covered by the marks and cannot be seen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of marksVSAvoidvisibility of chart and radar image
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the display of marks by introducing category-based filtering. Marks are divided into different categories (e.g., fishing spots, navigation points, danger zones), and users can selectively display marks from specific categories. This segmentation prevents all marks from being displayed simultaneously, ensuring the chart and radar image remain visible while still allowing access to large numbers of marks through selective category display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If the number of marks stored in the mark display unit is increased, then more information can be displayed, but the marks are displayed densely and the individual marks are difficult to visually be recognized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of marksVSAvoidrecognizability of individual marks
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting marks into categories and allowing selective display, the patent reduces the density of marks on the screen. Instead of displaying all marks simultaneously which causes overcrowding, users can choose to display only relevant categories, making individual marks more distinguishable and recognizable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic control over mark display through user interaction with the dial selector. Users can dynamically adjust which categories are displayed and switch between different mark sets based on operational needs. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt to different situations, preventing static overcrowding and improving individual mark recognizability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of information

If conventional mark display units display all marks, then complete information is provided, but the operability and visibility of the display screen deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of informationVSAvoidoperability of display screen
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the information display into manageable categories, allowing users to access complete information through selective category viewing rather than displaying everything at once. This segmentation maintains information completeness while improving operability by allowing users to focus on relevant categories and reducing visual clutter on the display screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides dynamic control mechanisms through the dial selector, enabling users to easily switch between different mark categories and adjust display settings. This dynamic interaction improves operability by making it simple to navigate and select relevant information, while the underlying system maintains access to complete information across all categories.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3064900B1Fishing spot display unit
Publication Date: 2020.01.08 FURUNO ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3064900B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3064900B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3064900B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mark display unit (1) for vehicle navigation is provided, which displays marks on a display screen (11). The mark display unit (1) includes a dial selector (13) with a push function, a push operation thereof being associated with selecting one of categories corresponding to the number of push operations, and a rotational operation thereof being associated with selecting one of items regarding a selected category corresponding to the rotational position, and a controller (15) configured to display on the display screen (11) one or more of the marks according to a combination of the number of push operations and the rotational position. As the selected item is switched among the items in association with the rotational operation, the controller (15) displays one or more of the marks assigned with the selected item, by switching a display mode of each of the marks between displayed and not-displayed modes.