Map display apparatus

• US 6,278,383 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1999
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Xanavi Informatics Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Xanavi Informatics Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Endo, Yoshinori, Aikawa, Tetsumori, Shojima, Hiroshi, Hirano, Motoki, Fujiwara, Toshio, Harada, Kaoru
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/320,556
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 340/995, 345/118, 345/119, 345/139, 343/69, 701/200, 701/202, 701/212
• US Class Current: 340/995.14
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3635 Guidance using 3D or perspective road maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3673 Labelling using text of road map data items, e.g. road names, POI names
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/005 Map projections or methods associated specifically therewith
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A navigation apparatus for displaying most appropriately information such as character strings, routes, etc., when a map is displayed by bird'"'"'s-eye view display. The navigation apparatus includes a portion for calculating the present position on the basis of information from sensors, a portion for executing perspective conversion operation for displaying a map by bird'"'"'s-eye view display, a portion for disposing the present position or the present position and a position representing a destination at the most suitable positions, a portion for controlling so that overlap of character strings can be eliminated, a portion for controlling the same character strings, a portion for displaying most appropriately a background such as lines and planes, a portion for controlling marks to be displayed, and a portion for executing graphic plotting by using the resulting map data.

Claims

1. A graphic display apparatus comprising:

character kind judgement means for judging whether or not one symbol or one character should be represented by a plurality of characters;

first character plotting means for plotting a character by a typeface not having decoration when the character kind judgement means judges that one symbol or one character should be represented by a plurality of characters; and

second character plotting means for plotting a character with decoration when the character kind judgement means judges that one symbol or one character should be represented by a plurality of characters.

2. A graphic display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the character kind judgement means judges whether or not one symbol or one character should be represented by a plurality of characters and character codes.

3. A graphic display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second character plotting means plots a fringed character.

4. A graphic display apparatus comprising:

character overlap judgement means for judging whether or not overlap of characters occurs between a plurality of characters;

first character plotting means for plotting a character by a typeface not having decoration; and

second character plotting means for plotting a character by a typeface having decoration when overlap of characters is not judged as occurring by the character overlap judgement means.

5. A graphic display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second character plotting means plots a fringed character.

6. A map display apparatus comprising:

symbol or letter kind judgement means for judging whether or not one symbol or letter should be represented by a plurality of characters;

first character plotting means for plotting one symbol or letter using a typeface not having decoration when the symbol or letter kind judgement means judges that one symbol or letter should be represented by a plurality of characters; and

second character plotting means for plotting one symbol or letter using a typeface having decoration when the symbol or letter kind judgement means judges that one symbol or letter should not be represented by a plurality of characters.

7. A map display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the symbol or letter kind judgement means judges whether or not one symbol or letter should be represented by a plurality of characters and character codes.

8. A map display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second character plotting means plots one symbol or letter using a fringed typeface.

9. A map display apparatus comprising:

letter overlap judgement means for judging whether or not overlap of letters occurs between a plurality of letters;

first character plotting means for plotting a letter using a typeface not having decoration when the letter overlap judgement means judges that overlap of letters occurs; and

second character plotting means for plotting a letter using a typeface having decoration when the letter overlap judgement means judges that overlap of letters does not occur.

10. A map display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second character plotting means plots a letter using a fringed typeface.