Road map

• US 20050143910A1
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kazuharu Seki
• Original Assignee: Kazuharu Seki
• Inventors: Seki, Kazuharu
• Granted Patent: US 8,050,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/00 Maps; Plans; Charts; Diagrams, e.g. route diagram star maps G09B27/04; devices for holding or supporting maps A47B97/02; for computing purposes G06G1/14, G09B1/16; display boards G09F

Abstract

A road map is provided which allows a determination to be intuitively rendered whether a course contains an increased number of upward slopes or downward slopes as viewed in the direction of the course. A direction of the course is set up across roads indicated on the map, and upward slopes and downward slopes located along the course are indicated in different colors. For example, the direction of the course is set up on the map by a starting point S and destinations. A gentle upward slope UP1 is indicated by a red color of a low thickness, a medium upward slope UP2 is indicated by a red color of a medium thickness and a sharp upward slope UP3 is indicated by a red color of a high thickness. On the other hand, a gentle downward slope DW1 is indicated by a blue color of a low thickness, a medium downward slope DW2 is indicated by a blue color of a medium thickness and a sharp downward slope DW3 is indicated by a blue color of a high thickness. Accordingly, a determination as to whether the course contains an increased number of upward slopes or downward slopes can be intuitively made.

Claims

1. A road map in which a direction of a course is set up on roads indicated on a map and in which upward slopes and downward slopes along the course are indicated in different colors.

2. A road map according to claim 1 in which for one or both of upward slopes and downward slopes, two or more colors are used in accordance with the magnitude of gradients including a sharp gradient and a gentle gradient.

3. A road map according claim 1 in which one or more starting points and destinations are set up on the roads.

4. A road map according to claim 1 in which for one or both of upward slopes and downward slopes, at least one of a difference in elevation and a distance are indicated in numerical figures.

5. A road map according to claim 1 in which the map is displayed on a monitor of a controller in which the direction of the course and a color sorting condition in accordance with the magnitude of the gradients can be set up.