Method of obtaining a three-dimensional map representation and navigation system

• US 7,002,578 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2000
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Ritter, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kimbinh T.
• Application Number:
  US09/959,727
• Time in Patent Office: 2,118 Days
• Field of Search: 345/427, 345/419, 345/441, 345/442, 345/586, 345/647, 701/209, 340/990
• US Class Current: 345/427
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

In a method for obtaining a three-dimensional map representation for a navigation system from digital, two-dimensional road map data, the road map data for a field of view that is to be represented and has a predetermined visual range are curved in a radially symmetric fashion about a virtual viewpoint by means of a polynomial transformation. A navigation system suitable for generating such a map representation is distinguished by a conversion unit with the aid of which two-dimensional road map data can be transferred into a view curved in a radially symmetric fashion.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining a three-dimensional map representation for a navigation system from two-dimensional road map data having a network of road segments, comprising:

obtaining a field of view from the two-dimensional road map data, wherein the field of view is determined by a plane in a form of a sector of a circle around a virtual viewpoint, and a radius of the circle corresponds to a predetermined visual range; and

transforming the plane into a third dimension using a polynomial function such that the plane is concave in shape the polynomial function being

z=Σ

_ia_i*rⁱ;

r=[(x−

x_p)+(y−

y_p)²]^1/2.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the virtual viewpoint is determined continuously by the navigation system, and the field of view is moved synchronously with the virtual viewpoint.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein objects are placed in the field of view as three-dimensional geometric bodies.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the objects are provided with a texture.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is represented in the field of view.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the field of view is illuminated as at least one of a function of the time of day and the curvature of the represented sections.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a meshed network is displayed.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein route segments of the road map data are provided with boundary lines, and the boundary lines are distorted into a curved course in the region of juxtaposed road segments.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filed of view is curved in the shape of a dish.

10. A navigation system, comprising:

a display device;

a position-determining unit;

a storage medium on which two-dimensional road map data is stored with the aid of a network of road segments; and

a conversion unit to convert from the two-dimensional road map data a field of view, which is determined by a plane in a form of a sector of a circle around a virtual viewpoint, wherein a radius of the circle corresponds to a predetermined visual range, into a three-dimensional view by using a polynomial function such that the plane is concave in shape, the polynomial function being

z=Σ

_ia_i*rⁱ;

r=[(x−

x_p)+(y−

y_p)²]^1/2.