Method for displaying a map in a vehicle en-route guidance system

• US 6,272,431 B1
• Filed: 04/28/1998
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Christopher Thomas Grabowski, Thomas Zamojdo
• Original Assignee: Christopher Thomas Grabowski, Thomas Zamojdo
• Inventors: Zamojdo, Thomas, Grabowski, Christopher Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US09/067,789
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/208, 701/212, 348/115, 348/118, 348/116, 348/113, 340/995, 345/7
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself

Abstract

An apparatus and method for displaying a virtual map image slightly above the line of sight of a driver of a vehicle. The apparatus and method provide the virtual map image that is in a reflective relationship with the surrounding terrain thereby providing a map that is continuously in the same general azimuthal relationship to the driver as is the surrounding terrain. The virtual map may be scaled or distorted to provide information to a driver concerning distant objects and locations that would not ordinarily be available on heads-up map of the surrounding terrain.

Claims

1. An apparatus for displaying a map for use by a driver in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing and retrieving map information covering the area traveled by the vehicle;

means for determining the position and direction of movement of the vehicle; and

means for displaying a virtual map image in a reflective member substantially in front and above the horizontal line of sight of the driver of the vehicle, said virtual map image being focused substantially at infinity and extending toward infinity in the direction of the horizon and being oriented such that is appears to be substantially parallel to the ground and positioned above the ground in such a way that any feature represented on the map lies in substantially the same azimuth direction from the driver as it does on the ground; and

such that for features on the ground that are lying in substantially the same azimuthal direction but at different distances from the vehicle, those features closer to the vehicle are displayed higher on the virtual map image than those features farther from the vehicle; and

with the azimuthal direction of the features displayed on the virtual map image being in a generally reflective relationship with the azimuthal direction of those same features on the ground.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a switch that deactivates the virtual map image upon application of a braking mechanism.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising an override switch which will prevent deactivation of the virtual map image upon application of a braking mechanism.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said virtual map image differentiates the route traveled by the vehicle from other information presented on the virtual map image.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a virtual map image wherein those features displayed in the virtual map image that are closer to the vehicle appear larger than those features farther from the vehicle.

6. An apparatus for displaying a virtual map image for use by a driver in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing and retrieving map information covering the area traveled by the vehicle;

means for determining the position and direction of movement of the vehicle; and

means for displaying a virtual map image in a reflective member substantially in front and above the horizontal line of sight of the driver of the vehicle, said virtual map image being oriented in such a way that any feature represented on the map lies in substantially the same azimuth direction in the driver'"'"'s field of vision as it does on the ground; and

such that for features on the ground that are lying in substantially the same azimuthal direction but at different distances from the vehicle, those features closer to the vehicle are displayed higher on the virtual map image than those features farther from the vehicle thereby presenting the driver a vertical representation of a virtual map image that is a substantially reflective representation of the surrounding terrain.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a switch that deactivates the virtual map image upon application of a braking mechanism.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising an override switch which will prevent deactivation of the virtual map image upon application of a braking mechanism.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said virtual map image differentiates the route traveled by the vehicle from other information presented on the virtual map image.

10. An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a virtual map image wherein those features displayed in the virtual map image that are closer to the vehicle appear larger than those features farther from the vehicle.

11. A method for displaying a map in a vehicle, the method comprising:

storing and retrieving map information covering the area traveled by the vehicle;

determining the position and direction of movement of the vehicle; and

displaying a virtual map image in a reflective member substantially in front and above the horizontal line of sight of the driver of the vehicle, said virtual map image extending toward infinity in the direction of the horizon, said virtual map image being oriented such that it appears to be substantially parallel to the ground and positioned above the ground in such a way that any feature on the ground is represented on the map as being in substantially the same azimuth direction as it is perceived by the driver on the ground and such that for features on the ground that are lying in substantially the same azimuthal direction but at different distances from the vehicle, those features closer to the vehicle are displayed higher on the virtual map image than those features farther from the vehicle; and

with the azimuthal direction of the features displayed on the virtual map image being in a reflective image relationship with the azimuthal direction of those same features on the ground.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein as part of the step of displaying the virtual map image those features displayed in the virtual map image that are closer to the vehicle appear larger than those features farther from the vehicle.

13. A method for displaying a map in a vehicle, the method comprising:

storing and retrieving map information covering the area traveled by the vehicle;

determining the position and direction of movement of the vehicle; and

displaying a virtual map image in a reflective member substantially in front and above the horizontal line of sight of the driver of the vehicle, said virtual map image being oriented in such a way that any feature represented on the map lies in substantially the same azimuth direction in the driver'"'"'s field of vision as it does on the ground; and

such that for features on the ground that are lying in substantially the same azimuthal direction but at different distances from the vehicle, those features closer to the vehicle are displayed higher on the virtual map image than those features farther from the vehicle thereby presenting the driver a vertical representation of a virtual map image that is a substantially reflective representation of the surrounding terrain.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein as part of the step of displaying the virtual map image those features displayed in the virtual map image that are closer to the vehicle appear larger than those features farther from the vehicle.