Navigation apparatus with shape change display function

• US 5,999,879 A
• Filed: 04/18/1997
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Yano, Kenichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US08/839,823
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/207, 701/200, 701/201, 701/209, 701/213, 701/117, 701/118, 701/210, 701/211, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 345/438, 345/428, 345/439, 345/429, 345/433, 345/443, 345/133, 345/139
• US Class Current: 701/208
• 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: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

A navigation apparatus which can preferentially recognize important information on a map hidden by buildings, mountains, etc. Which were stereoscopically displayed and enables a set route or a present position of a vehicle to be easily recognized. A navigation apparatus has: a recording medium on which at least map data having a road and shape data which is included in the map data and serves as a main landmark object to recognize a feature of a map have been recorded; an image forming unit for forming image information when the map data is seen from a desired sight point position on the basis of the map data and the shape data; a display unit for displaying on the basis of the image information formed by the image forming unit; and a control unit for controlling the recording medium, image forming unit, and display unit. The control unit controls a shape data changing unit to change at least a part of the shape data on the basis of at least the map data and also controls the image forming unit to form the image information on the basis of the map data, the shape data, and shape data changed by the shape data changing unit.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus comprising:

a recording medium having recorded therein at least map data including road data, and shape data characterizing at least an object which is included in said map data and serves as a main object for recognizing a feature of a map;

an image forming unit for forming image information for generating a perspective image obtained when a map segment is seen from a desired viewing point, based on said map data and said shape data;

a display unit for displaying the image information formed by said image forming unit; and

a control unit for controlling said recording medium, said image forming unit, and said display unit; and

a shape data changing unit;

wherein said control unit controls said shape data changing unit to change at least a part of said shape data based on at least said map data, and also controls said image forming unit to form the perspective image based on said map data, said shape data, and shape data changed by said shape data changing unit.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said image information contains an overlapped portion of the main object and the road, said control unit controls said shape data changing unit to change the shape data of said main object in an area of said overlapped portion.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said image information contains overlapped portions of a plurality of main objects, said control unit controls said shape data changing unit to change shape data of at least one of said main objects that is closer to said viewing point position, in an area of said overlapped portion.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control unit controls said shape data changing unit to change shape data of main objects situated within a selected range from the present position of the vehicle.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control unit controls said shape data changing unit to change the shape data in or out of a predetermined range relative to a route which has been preset through an operating means.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control unit controls said shape data changing unit to change the shape data of main objects in or out of a predetermined range in the image information to be displayed by said display unit which was designated through an operating means.

7. A method of displaying navigation data for a vehicle, comprising:

providing a memory having stored therein map data including road information, and shape data for at least an object situated within the area represented by said map data;

determining a location of said vehicle;

forming image information for displaying perspective image corresponding to a view from a desired viewing point based on said map data, said shape data and location of said vehicle;

detecting areas of overlap of said shape data and said road information in said image information;

selectively modifying said shape data in said areas of overlap; and

displaying said perspective image based on said map data said shape data and selectively modified shape data.

8. A method of displaying navigation data according to claim 7, wherein said shape data includes data for a plurality of objects situated within the area represented by said map data, and further comprising:

identifying additional areas of overlap of said shape data for respective objects in said image information.

9. Apparatus of displaying navigation data for a vehicle, comprising:

a memory having stored therein map data including road information, and shape data for at least an object situated within an area represented by said map data;

means for determining a location of said vehicle;

means for forming image information for displaying perspective image corresponding to a view from a desired viewing point based on said map data, said shape data and location of said vehicle;

means for detecting areas of overlap of said shape data and said road information in said image information;

means for selectively modifying said shape data in said areas of overlap; and

a display unit for displaying said perspective image based on said map data, said shape data and selectively modified shape data.

10. Apparatus of displaying navigation data according to claim 9, wherein said shape data includes data for a plurality of objects situated within the area represented by said map data, and further comprising:

means for identifying additional areas of overlap of said shape data for respective objects in said image information.