Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. will launch three models of "F class" car navigation system, the company's highest-end models available commercially from June or July 2007. The system is provided with four new features as follows. (1) The effective sensitivity to receive digital terrestrial broadcasting is enhanced to 1.8 times that of the company's current model; (2) Driving routes can be set on a personal computer or TV for use on the system; (3) The volume of the chassis incorporating tuners, a graphic processor, etc. has been reduced by 38%; and (4) The system has an improved user interface.
Panasonic boasts that reception sensitivity (coverage distance) regarding the feature (1) has been improved to the quality appropriate for the highest class product. "The digital terrestrial broadcasting (referred to as "12 segu (segments)" in Japan) with much higher resolution than that of the mobile digital broadcasting (called "one segu") has a problem of small coverage area. Although the existing models have to depend on the mobile digital broadcasting in many use situations, the new models enable users to enjoy the digital terrestrial broadcasting almost in all situations," a Panasonic demonstrator said.
In order to enhance reception sensitivity, the new models have four sets of tuner and antenna for the digital terrestrial broadcasting, whereas the existing models have only two sets. According to Panasonic, the intensities of electric field received by the four sets are synthesized after being evaluated. Although sensitivity has been doubled to 6 dB, it is rated 1.8 times that of the current model because, the demonstrator said, "installation positions of antennas vary depending on the vehicle type." In regard to the problem of image distortion that tends to occur when the car is moving, Panasonic claims that it has confirmed "stable reception at up to 150 km/h."
For the device cooperation, which is listed above as the feature (2), the system utilizes a website called "Odekake (outing) Strada." Panasonic will build the site in collaboration with advertising agencies to provide users with various driving information. Driving route data can be generated on this site and stored into an SD memory card. The company explains that users can map out a route with ease by inputting information stored on the memory card to the system.
PC and mobile versions of the site are slated for launch in June 2007, and TV version (offered by the acTVilla TV portal service) will start in August 2007. Meanwhile, a car navigation system that utilizes infrared communication for device cooperation was released from Fujitsu Ten Ltd. on May 14, 2007.
Size reduction, mentioned above as the feature (3), was achieved by integrating tuners with an OFDM demodulation circuit. The company reports that "the system can be easily installed under the seat," since the height of the chassis is reduced from the current model's 38 to 28 mm. Improvements in user interface, described above as the feature (4), mainly relate to the program selection of digital terrestrial broadcasting and driving route setting. For example, users can tune in the desired station just by touching the electronic program guide. Also, users can easily set the degree of priority given to the express ways when searching a route.
The F series comes in three models including: CN-HDS965TD with a retractable LCD monitor at an expected retail price of 354,900 yen; CN-HDS945TD with an integral monitor at 344,400 yen; and CN-HDS915TD with a separate monitor at 344,400 yen. The monthly productions of these models in the order above targeting the Japanese domestic market are 6,000, 4,000 and 2,000 units, respectively. All models can be combined with the CY-BT200D Bluetooth unit available at an expected retail price of 21,000 yen.
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