Moving body track indicator system

• US 4,400,780 A
• Filed: 04/22/1980
• Issued: 08/23/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1979
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Furuno Electric Co, Ltd
• Original Assignee: Furuno Electric Co, Ltd
• Inventors: Yamauchi, Kazuo, Nakai, Ryoichi, Nagao, Syuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US06/142,793
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 364/443, 364/449, 364/450, 364/452, 364/460, 364/461, 364/521, 343/112 C, 343/112 R, 343/5 EM, 343/5 MM, 343/112 PT, 340/24, 340/27 NA, 340/731, 73/178 R
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/047 Displays or indicators G01S1/06 takes precedence

Abstract

A moving body track indicating system for displaying the track of a moving body along with latitude and longitude line markers and cursors on an indicating device such as a cathode-ray tube. The displayed pattern can be automatically magnified or reduced and shifted to a desired position. Cursor markers are displayed parallel to the latitude and longitude line markers with identifying symbols displayed along with the cursor markers. A reference point is automatically readjusted wherein the moving body, a ship in the preferred embodiment, moves beyond the edge of the display surface.

Claims

1. A moving body track indicating system which indicates the track of a moving body on the indicating surface of an indicator in response to information supplied from means for measuring the position of the moving body comprising:

(i) transforming means for producing first and second signals respectively indicating the longitude and the latitude of the position of the moving body in response to the information supplied from said means for measuring the position of the moving body;

(ii) line markers signal generating means for producing signals corresponding to longitude line and the latitude line markers based on the first and second signals from said transforming means;

(iii) first storing means for storing signals corresponding to each of the track of the moving body and the longitude and the latitude line markers;

(iv) second storing means for storing the first and second signals from said transforming means;

(v) body position signal generating means for generating signals corresponding to the position marks of the moving body constituting the track thereof in response to the first and second signals from said second storing means;

(vi) writing means for writing the signals produced in response to signals from said body position signal generating means and from said line markers signal generating means into said first storing means;

(vii) indicating means for displaying on said indicating surface the track of the moving body and the longitude line and the latitude line markers; and

(viii) controlling means for reading signals from said first storing means and supplying them to said indicating means.

2. A moving body track indicating system as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for producing control signals in accordance with the scale of the pattern displayed upon said indicating surface, said body position signal generating means and said line markers signal generating means being controlled by said control signal producing means.

3. A moving body track indicating system as defined in claim 1 wherein said body position signal generating means comprises:

(i) first body position signal generating means for generating said signals corresponding to the moving body'"'"'s position in response to said first signal from said transforming means; and

(ii) second body position signal generating means for generating said signals corresponding to the moving body'"'"'s position in response to said second signal from said transforming means.

4. A moving body track indicating system as defined in claim 1 wherein said line markers signal generating means comprises:

(i) reference point storing means for storing a pair of said first and second signals from said transforming means;

(ii) first line marker signal generating means for producing said signals corresponding to the longitude line markers in response to said first signal; and

(iii) second line marker signal generating means for producing said signals corresponding to said latitude line markers in response to said second signal.

5. A moving body track indicating system as defined in claim 3 wherein said first body position signal generating means comprises:

(i) reference point storing means for storing a pair of said first and second signals from said storing means;

(ii) subtracting means for performing a subtraction operation between the first signal from said reference point storing means and the first signal from said transforming means; and

(iii) means for operationally multiplying the output signals from said subtracting means by a numerical value determined in accordance with the scale of the pattern upon said indicating surface.

6. A moving body track indicating system as defined in claim 3 wherein said second body position signal generating means comprises:

(i) reference point storing means for storing a pair of said first and second signals from said storing means;

(ii) subtracting means for performing a subtraction operation between said second signal from said reference point storing means and said second signal from said transforming means; and

(iii) means for operationally multiplying the output signals from said subtracting means by a numerical value determined in accordance with the scale of the pattern upon said indicating surface.

7. A moving body track indicating system as defined in claim 4 wherein said first line marker signal generating means comprises:

(i) longitude line signal generating means for producing the longitude numerical value of a longitude line marker positioned in the vicinity of a reference point upon said indicating surface in response to said first signal from said reference point storing means;

(ii) means for operationally adding the distance numerical value between two adjacent longitude line markers upon said indicating surface and the longitude numerical value from said longitude line signal generating means; and

(iii) means for operationally multiplying the output signals from said means for operationally adding by a numerical value determined in accordance with the scale of the pattern upon said indicating surface.

8. A moving body tract indicating system as defined in claim 4 wherein said second line marker signal generating means comprises:

(i) latitude line signal generating means for producing the latitude numerical value of a latitude line marker positioned in the vicinity of a reference point upon said indicating surface of an indicator in response to said second signal from said reference point storing means;

(ii) means for operationally adding the distance numerical value between two adjacent latitude line markers upon said indicating surface and the latitude numerical value from said latitude line signal generating means; and

(iii) means for operationally multiplying the output signals from said means for operationally adding by a numerical value determined in accordance with the scale of the pattern upon said indicating surface.

9. A moving body track indicating system as defined in any of claims 5, 6, 7 and 8 wherein the magnitudes of said first and second signals from the reference point storing means are separately variable.

10. A moving body track indicating system as defined in any of claims 5, 6, 7 and 8 wherein said numerical value determined in accordance with the scale of the pattern upon said indicating surface is variable.

11. A moving body track indicating system as defined in any of claims 5, 6, 7 and 8 further comprising:

(i) means for detecting that the body'"'"'s position has reached the edge of said indicating surface; and

(ii) means for varying the magnitudes of said first and second signals from said reference storing means automatically in accordance with the output signals from said detecting means.

12. A moving body track indicating system which indicates the track of a moving body on the indicating surface of an indicator in response to information supplied from means for measuring the position of the moving body comprising:

(i) transforming means for producing first and second signals respectively indicating the longitude and the latitude of the position of the moving body in response to the information supplied from said means for measuring the position of the moving body;

(ii) line markers signals generating means for producing signals corresponding to longitude and latitude line markers in response to the first and second signals from said transforming means;

(iii) cursor line markers signal generating means for producing signals corresponding to cursor line markers parallel to the latitude and the longitude line markers;

(iv) first storing means for storing signals corresponding to each of the track of the moving body, the longitude line and the latitude line markers, and the cursor line markers;

(v) writing means for writing signals produced in response to signals from said body position signal generating means, said line markers signal generating means, and said cursor line markers signal generating means into said first storing means;

(vi) second storing means for storing the first and second signals from said transforming means;

(vii) body position signal generating means for producing signals corresponding to the position marks of the moving body constituting the track thereof in response to the first and second signals from said second storing means;

(viii) indicating means for displaying on said indicating surface the track of the moving body, the longitude and the latitude line markers, and the cursor line markers, and;

(ix) controlling means for reading signals from said first storing means and supplying them to said indicating means.

13. A moving body track indicating system comprising:

(i) means for measuring the position of a moving body;

(ii) transforming means for producing first and second signals respectively indicating the longitude and the latitude of the position of the moving body in response to information supplied from said means for measuring the position of a moving body;

(iii) line markers signal generating means for producing said signals corresponding to the longitude line and latitude line markers based on said first and second signals from said transforming means;

(iv) first storing means for storing signals corresponding to each of the track of the moving body and the longitude and latitude line markers;

(v) second storing means for storing said first and second signals from said transforming means;

(vi) body position signal generating means for generating signals corresponding to the position of the moving body in response to said first and second signals from said second storing means;

(vii) writing means for writing said signals produced by said body position signal generating means and from said line markers signal generating means into said first storing means;

(viii) indicating means for displaying on an indicating surface thereof the track of the moving body and the longitude line and the latitude line markers; and

(ix) controlling means for reading signals from said first storing means and supplying them to said indicating means.

14. A moving body track indicating system comprising:

(i) means for measuring the position of a moving body;

(ii) transforming means for producing first and second signals respectively indicating the longitude and the latitude of the position of the moving body in response to information supplied from said means for measuring the position of a moving body;

(iii) line markers signal generating means for producing signals corresponding to said longitude and latitude line markers in response to said first and second signals from said transforming means;

(iv) cursor line markers signal generating means for producing signals corresponding to cursor line markers parallel to said latitude and said longitude line markers;

(v) first storing means for storing signals corresponding to said position of the moving body, said longitude and latitude line markers, and said cursor line markers;

(vi) writing means for writing said signals produced by said body position signal generating means, said line markers signal generating means, and said cursor line markers signal generating means directly into said first storing means;

(vii) second storing means for storing said first and second signals from said transforming means;

(viii) body position signal generating means for producing said signals corresponding to the position of the moving body in response to said first and second signals from said second storing means;

(ix) indicating means for displaying on an indicating surface thereof the track of the position of the moving body, the longitude and the latitude line markers, and the cursor line markers; and

(x) controlling means for reading from said first storing means and supplying said signals to said indicating means.

15. A moving body track indicating system which indicates the track of a moving body on the indicating surface of an indicator in response to information supplied from means for measuring the position of the moving body, comprising:

(i) transforming means for producing first and second signals respectively indicating the longitude and latitude of the position of the moving body in response to the information supplied from said means for measuring the position of the moving body;

(ii) body position signal generating means for producing signals corresponding to a position mark of the moving body in response to the first and second signals from said transforming means;

(iii) line markers signal generating means for producing signals corresponding to longitude line and latitude line markers in response to the first and second signals from said transforming means, said line markers signal generating means comprising;

(a) reference point storing means for storing a pair of the first and second signals from the transforming means;

(b) first line marker signal generating means for producing the signals corresponding to the longitude line markers in response to the first signal comprising;

(1) longitude line signal generating means for producing the longitude numerical value of the longitude line marker in the vicinity of a reference point upon said indicating surface;

(2) means for operationally adding a distance numerical value between the adjacent longitude line markers upon said indicating surface and the longitude numerical value from said longitude line signal generating means; and

(3) means for operationally multiplying the output signals from said means for operationally adding by a numerical value determined in accordance with the scale of the pattern upon said indicating surface;

(c) second line maker signal generating means for producing the signals corresponding to the latitude line markers in response to the second signal;

(iv) storing means for storing signals corresponding to the position marks of the moving body constituting the track thereof and the longitude and latitude line markers;

(v) writing means for writing the signals produced in response to signals from said body position signal generating means and said line markers signal generating means into said storing means;

(vi) indicating means for indicating on said indicating surface the track of the moving body and the longitude line and the latitude line markers; and

(vii) controlling means for reading signals from said storing means and supplying them to said indicating means.

16. A moving body track indicating system which indicates the track of a moving body on the indicating surface of an indicator in response to information supplied from means for measuring the position of the moving body, comprising:

(i) transforming means for producing first and second signals respectively indicating the longitude and latitude of the position of the moving body in response to the information supplied from the said means for measuring the position of the moving body;

(ii) body position signal generating means for producing signals corresponding to a position mark of the moving body in response to the first and second signals from said transforming means;

(iii) line marker signal generating means for producing signals corresponding to longitude line and latitude line markers in response to the first and second signals from said transforming means, said line markers signal generating means comprising;

(a) reference point storing means for storing a pair of the first and second signals from the transforming means;

(b) first line markers signal generating means for producing the signals corresponding to the longitude line markers in response to the first signal; and

(c) second line markers signal generating means for producing the signals corresponding to the latitude line markers in response to the second signal, said second line markers signal generating means comprising;

(1) latitude line signal generating means for producing the latitude numerical value of sid latitude line maker in the vicinity of reference point upon said indicating surface;

(2) means for operationally adding the distance numerical value between two adjacent latitude line markers upon said indicating surface and the latitude numerical value from said latitude line signal generating means; and

(3) means for operationally multiplying the output signals from said means for operationally adding by a numerical value determine in accordance with the scale of the pattern upon said indicating surface;

(iv) storing means for storing signals corresponding to the position marks of the moving body constituting the track thereof and the longitude and latitude line markers;

(v) writing means for writing the signals produced in response to signals from said body position signal generating means and said line markers signal generating means into said storing means;

(vi) indicating means for indicating on said indicating surface the track of the moving body and the longitude line and the latitude line markers; and

(vii) controlling means for reading signals from said storing means and supplying them to said indicating means.