Navigation apparatus having two processors, the first for outputting map data and the second for drawing and scrolling the map

• US 5,721,684 A
• Filed: 11/14/1995
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Takita, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): ZANELLI, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US08/558,693
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 364/449.2, 364/449.5, 364/449.6, 340/995, 345/123, 345/125, 345/190, 395/200.03, 395/474, 395/501, 395/507, 395/512
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A navigation apparatus has a main processor and a graphic processor. Drawing attribute data for drawing a map, and scroll attribute data for scrolling the map are sent from the main processor to the graphic processor. The graphic processor performs a map drawing process and a map scroll process, and the main processor performs other processes.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus which draws and displays a map on the basis of a stored map data, said apparatus comprising:

a first processor which outputs drawing attribute data for drawing the map, and scroll attribute data for scrolling the map; and

a second processor which receives the drawing attribute data and the scroll attribute data from said first processor, and performs a map drawing process and a map scroll process based on the drawing attribute data and the scroll attribute data.

2. A navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a map data memory which stores the map data, and which can be accessed by both of said first and second processors.

3. A navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drawing attribute data include present position information for specifying a present position, and map size information for specifying a size of the map to be drawn, and the scroll attribute data include screen display position information having information of a start position of a scroll, a direction of the scroll, and an amount of the scroll.

4. A navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drawing attribute data include present position information for specifying a present position, map size information for specifying a size of the map to be drawn, and information of a map which is to be drawn at a future time and the scroll attribute data include screen display position information having information of a start position of a scroll, a direction of the scroll, and an amount of the scroll.

5. A navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a serial communication line through which the drawing attribute data and the scroll attribute data are transmitted from said first processor to said second processor.

6. A navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first bus connected to said first processor; and

a second bus connected to said second processor.

7. A navigation apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a first main memory and a map data memory connected to said first bus.

8. A navigation apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a second main memory, a graphic controller and a map drawing memory connected to said second bus.

9. A navigation apparatus which draws and displays a map on the basis of stored map data, said apparatus comprising:

a map data memory which stores the map data;

a first processor which outputs map data read out from said map data memory, drawing attribute data for drawing the map, and scroll attribute data for scrolling the map;

a common memory which stores the outputted map data, drawing attribute data, and scroll attribute data; and

a second processor which performs a map drawing process and a map scroll process on the basis of data stored in said common memory.

10. A navigation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the drawing attribute data include present position information for specifying a present position, map size information for specifying a size of the map to be drawn, and information of a map which is to be drawn at a future time, and the scroll attribute data include screen display position information having information of a start position of a scroll, a direction of the scroll, and an amount of the scroll.

11. A navigation apparatus which draws and displays a map on the basis of stored map data, said apparatus comprising:

a map data memory which stores the map data;

a first processor which outputs map data read out from said map data memory, drawing attribute data for drawing the map, and scroll attribute data for scrolling the map; and

a second processor which receives the outputted map data, drawing attribute data, and scroll attribute data, and performs a map drawing process and a map scroll process on the basis of the received data.

12. A navigation apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the drawing attribute data include present position information for specifying a present position, map size information for specifying a size of the map to be drawn, and information of a map which is to be drawn at a future time, and the scroll attribute data include screen display position information having information of a start position of a scroll, a direction of the scroll, and an amount of the scroll.

13. A navigation apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said apparatus further comprises a serial communication line through which the map data, the drawing attribute data, and the scroll attribute data are transmitted from said first processor to said second processor.