Map display device and map display method

• US 20070067103A1
• Filed: 08/22/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, SEGA Corporation (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, SEGA Corporation (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Hayashida, Yasuhiro, Fukumoto, Motohiro, Fujiwara, Akihito
• Granted Patent: US 7,630,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3638 including 3D objects and buildings three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects G06T17/00; geographic models G06T17/05

Abstract

In a map display device, a viewing angle for a three-dimensional road map can be changed horizontally on a screen so that the three-dimensional road map is generated at a standard viewing angle (45°) up to a wide viewing angle (90°). At this time, the viewing angle is changed based on a reference line passing through a current position of a subject vehicle where the map display device is mounted.

Claims

1. A map display device comprising:

displayable range determination means for determining a displayable range of a road map based on a reference point settled on the road map;

display control means for displaying a three-dimensional road map on a screen, the three-dimensional road map being generated by applying a coordinate conversion process to a road map belonging to the displayable range; and

viewing angle change means for changing a viewing angle for a three-dimensional road map displayed on the screen based on the reference point.

2. The map display device according to claim 1,

wherein the reference point is settled on or near a certain road, which is at least one of (i) a road for a mobile object to be positioned and (ii) a road included in a route to a destination.

3. The map display device according to claim 2,

wherein the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle depending on a road attribute of the certain road.

4. The map display device according to claim 3,

wherein the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle depending on a road type of the certain road, and

a viewing angle for an expressway is smaller than a viewing angle for a general road.

5. The map display device according to claim 3,

wherein the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle depending on a road width of the certain road, and

a viewing angle is increased as the road width increases.

6. The map display device according to claim 3,

wherein the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle depending on a number of lanes included in the certain road, and

a viewing angle is increased as the number of lanes increases.

7. The map display device according to claim 1, comprising:

input means for supplying a viewing angle,

wherein the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle as specified from the input means.

8. The map display device according to claim 1,

wherein the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle according to at least one of (i) a road type of a certain road assigned with the reference point, (ii) a road width of the certain road, (iii) a number of lanes of the certain road, and (iv) outside information acquired through communication means for communication with an outside of a mobile object having the map display device.

9. The map display device according to claim 1,

wherein, when the screen displays display information including at least one of (i) character display information to be displayed on the road map and (ii) mark display information to indicate a position of a facility on the road map, the display control means overlays the display information on a three-dimensional road map generated by the coordinate conversion process.

10. The map display device according to claim 1,

wherein the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle at least one of vertically and horizontally on the screen.

11. The map display device according to claim 1,

wherein the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle horizontally on the screen, and

the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle for a three-dimensional road map positioned to at least one of left and right of a reference line, which is drawn vertically on the screen and passes through the reference point.

12. The map display device according to claim 1,

wherein the viewing angle change means has a reference point change means for changing a settled position of the reference point to any direction on the screen.

13. The map display device according to claim 1,

wherein the displayable range determination means determines the displayable range so that the screen displays a three-dimensional road map corresponding to a viewing angle changed by the viewing angle change means.

14. A map display method comprising:

settling a reference point in a road map;

acquiring information for determining a viewing angle of a three-dimensional road map based on the reference point;

determining a displayable range corresponding to the determined viewing angle;

applying a coordinate conversion process to a road map corresponding to the determined displayable range; and

displaying a three-dimensional road map generated based on the coordinate conversion process.

15. A computer program product in a computer-readable media used for displaying a three-dimensional road map, the product comprising:

instructions for settling a reference point in a road map;

instructions for acquiring information for determining a viewing angle of a three-dimensional road map based on the reference point;

instructions for determining a displayable range corresponding to the determined viewing angle;

instructions for applying a coordinate conversion process to a road map corresponding to the determined displayable range; and

instructions for displaying a three-dimensional road map generated based on the coordinate conversion process.

16. A map display device comprising:

a displayable range determination unit that determines a displayable range of a road map based on a reference point settled on the road map;

a display control unit that displays a three-dimensional road map on a screen, the three-dimensional road map being generated by applying a coordinate conversion process to a road map belonging to the displayable range; and

a viewing angle change unit that changes a viewing angle for a three-dimensional road map displayed on the screen based on the reference point.

17. A map display device provided in a mobile object, the device comprising:

displayable range determination means for determining a displayable range of a road map based on a reference point settled on or near a certain road, which is at least one of (i) a road for the mobile object to be positioned and (ii) a road included in a route to a destination;

display control means for displaying a three-dimensional road map on a screen, the three-dimensional road map being generated by applying a coordinate conversion process to a road map belonging to the displayable range; and

viewing angle change means for changing, for a three-dimensional road map, a viewing angle horizontally on the screen based on the reference point.

18. The map display device according to claim 17,

wherein the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle depending on a road attribute of the certain road.

19. The map display device according to claim 18,

wherein the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle depending on a road type of the certain road, and

a viewing angle for an expressway is smaller than a viewing angle for a general road.

20. The map display device according to claim 18,

wherein the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle depending on a road width of the certain road, and

a viewing angle is increased as the road width increases.

21. The map display device according to claim 18,

wherein the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle depending on a number of lanes included in the certain road, and

a viewing angle is increased as the number of lanes increases.

22. The map display device according to claim 17, comprising:

input means for supplying a viewing angle,

wherein the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle as specified from the input means.

23. The map display device according to claim 17,

wherein the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle according to at least one of (i) a road type of a certain road assigned with the reference point, (ii) a road width of the certain road, (iii) a number of lanes of the certain road, and (iv) outside information acquired through communication means for communication with an outside of a mobile object.

24. The map display device according to claim 17,

wherein, when the screen displays display information including at least one of (i) character display information to be displayed on the road map and (ii) mark display information to indicate a position of a facility on the road map, the display control means overlays the display information on a three-dimensional road map generated by the coordinate conversion process.

25. The map display device according to claim 17,

wherein the viewing angle change means further changes a viewing angle vertically on the screen.

26. The map display device according to claim 17,

wherein the viewing angle change means changes a viewing angle for a three-dimensional road map positioned to at least one of left and right of a reference line, which is drawn vertically on the screen and passes through the reference point.

27. The map display device according to claim 17,

wherein the viewing angle change means has a reference point change means for changing a settled position of the reference point to any direction on the screen.

28. The map display device according to claim 17,

wherein the displayable range determination means determines the displayable range so that the screen displays a three-dimensional road map corresponding to a viewing angle changed by the viewing angle change means.