Position display apparatus

• US 5,113,178 A
• Filed: 01/30/1989
• Issued: 05/12/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Murakami, Yuichi, Yasuda, Tomio
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Application Number:
  US07/302,879
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 340/990, 340/995, 340/706, 340/709, 340/795, 340/810, 340/815.31, 364/424.02, 364/449
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/22 Plotting boards
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 Electronic book with display

Abstract

A position display apparatus comprises a frame having a space for setting a map book; a memory for storing date on the map book; a position detector for detecting a position; a display provided on or in the vicinity of the frame; and a control means for selecting a page of the map book in accordance with map data stored in the memory and position information detected by the position detector, and for giving an instruction to the display to enable the display to display the data concerning the number of the selected page. The control gives an instruction to the display for displaying the number of the selected page. Alternatively, the control gives an instruction to the display for displaying coordinate data on the basis of the position detected by said position detector and the selected page.

Claims

1. A position display apparatus comprising:

a frame having a space for setting a map book;

memory means for storing data on said map book;

position detecting means for detecting a position;

display means provided on said frame; and

control means for selecting a page of said map book in accordance with map data stored in said memory means and position information detected by said position detecting means, and for giving an instruction to said display means to enable said display means to display the data concerning number of the selected page;

wherein said display means includes character display means capable of displaying a map book changing instruction, said control means being capable of judging, on the basis of the position information detected by said position detecting means and the data stored in said memory means, whether the detected position is covered by the maps in said map book and, upon judging that the detected position is not covered by said maps, giving an instruction to said character display means to enable said character display means to display said map book changing instruction,

wherein said display means includes a first group of optical fibers arranged in said frame in the longitudinal direction, a second group of optical fibers arranged in said frame transversely so as to orthogonally cross said optical fibers of said first group, and first and second groups of light-emitting diodes mounted on said frame adjacent respective ends of said first and second groups of optical fibers.

2. A position display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory means is demountable from said position display apparatus.

3. A position display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said memory means includes a plurality of storage means each of which can store data concerning at least one map book.

4. A position display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display means is capable of displaying a warning information, and said control means is capable of giving an instruction to said display means to enable said display means to display said warning instruction when said position detecting means is unable to detect the position.

5. A position display apparatus comprising:

a frame having a space for setting a map book;

memory means for storing data on said map book;

position detecting means for detecting a position;

display means provided on said frame; and

control means for selecting a page of said map book in accordance with map data stored in said memory means and position information detected by said position detecting means, and for giving an instruction to said display means to enable said display means to display coordinate data of said position on the basis of the position detected by said position detecting means and the selected page;

wherein said display means includes a first group of optical fibers arranged in said frame in the longitudinal direction, a second group of optical fibers arranged in said frame transversely so as to orthogonally cross said optical fibers of said first group, and first and second groups of light-emitting diodes mounted on said frame adjacent respective ends of said first and second groups of optical fibers.

6. A position display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said display means includes a character display means capable of displaying characters, and wherein said control means gives an instruction to said display means to enable said display means to display the coordinate values of the position detected by said position detecting means.

7. A position display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said display means includes a character display means capable of displaying a map book changing instruction, said control means being capable of judging, on the basis of the position information detected by said position detecting means and the data stored in said memory means, whether the detected position is covered by the maps in said map book and, upon judging that the detected position is not covered by said maps, giving an instruction to said character display means to enable said character display means to display said map book changing instruction.

8. A position display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said memory means is demountable from said position display apparatus.

9. A position display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said memory means includes a plurality of storage means each of which can store data concerning at least one map book.

10. A position display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said display means is capable of displaying a warning information, and said control means is capable of giving an instruction to said display means to enable said display means to display said warning instruction when said position detecting means is unable to detect the position.