3D NAVIGATION METHODS USING NONPHOTOREALISTIC (NPR) 3D MAPS

• US 20110090221A1
• Filed: 10/20/2009
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Ren, Liu
• Granted Patent: US 9,390,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/420
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/02 Non-photorealistic rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

A method of displaying a navigation map includes automatically determining a location of a vehicle. Three-dimensional or 2D data associated with buildings surrounding the vehicle is identified. A nonphotorealistic image of 3D objects around the vehicle is rendered based on the data. The nonphotorealistic image is electronically displayed to a user.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a navigation map, comprising the steps of:

automatically determining a location of a vehicle;

identifying three-dimensional data associated with buildings surrounding the vehicle;

rendering a nonphotorealistic image based on the data; and

electronically displaying the nonphotorealistic image to a user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the nonphotorealistic image is rendered in at least one of a cartoon style, a pen-and-ink style, and a pencil style.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying step includes finding three-dimensional data associated with the location of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the identifying step includes wirelessly receiving the data from a central repository of three-dimensional data.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of modifying a viewing angle of the nonphotorealistic image based on feedback from the user.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the data describes shapes, dimensions, colors and windows of the buildings.

7. An in-vehicle electronic navigation map arrangement, comprising:

a source of map data, the data being associated with a location of a vehicle;

a nonphotorealistic three-dimensional map rendering engine communicatively coupled to the source of map data, the engine being configured to render a nonphotorealistic three-dimensional image based on the data; and

a user interface communicatively coupled to the engine, the interface including a display screen configured to electronically display the nonphotorealistic three-dimensional image.

8. The arrangement of claim 7 wherein the engine is configured to render the nonphotorealistic three-dimensional image in at least one of a cartoon style, a pen-and-ink style, and a pencil style.

9. The arrangement of claim 7 wherein the source of map data comprises a source of three-dimensional map data.

10. The arrangement of claim 7 wherein the map data includes a two-dimensional footprint of a building, a type of the building, and a height of the building.

11. The arrangement of claim 10 wherein the engine is configured to generate a three-dimensional structure of the building, and to generate a nonphotorealistic rendering of the building.

12. The arrangement of claim 7 wherein the data source is configured to wirelessly receive the data from a central repository of three-dimensional data.

13. The arrangement of claim 7 wherein the rendering engine is configured to modify a viewing angle of the nonphotorealistic image based on feedback from the user.

14. The arrangement of claim 7 wherein the data describes shapes, dimensions, colors and windows of buildings surrounding the vehicle.

15. A method of displaying a navigation map, comprising the steps of:

automatically determining a location of a vehicle;

identifying three-dimensional data associated with buildings surrounding the vehicle;

receiving an input from a user, the input being indicative of a nonphotorealistic image style requested by the user;

rendering a nonphotorealistic image based on the data and based on the input; and

electronically displaying the nonphotorealistic image to the user.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the nonphotorealistic image style comprises one of a cartoon style, a pen-and-ink style, and a pencil style.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the identifying step includes finding three-dimensional data associated with the location of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the identifying step includes retrieving the data from a compact disc disposed within the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the identifying step includes wirelessly receiving the data from a central repository of three-dimensional data.

20. The method of claim 15 comprising the further step of modifying a viewing angle of the nonphotorealistic image based on feedback from the user, the data describing shapes, dimensions, colors and windows of the buildings.