Map displaying device

• US 8,086,402 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2011
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kindo, Tsuyoshi, Kudoh, Takahiro, Akita, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US13/088,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20110196604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 701/66, 701/206, 701/208, 701/209, 701/211, 701/212, 340/995.14, 340/995.15, 340/995.16, 340/995.17, 340/995.26, 340/995.27
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/00 Maps; Plans; Charts; Diagrams, e.g. route diagram star maps G09B27/04; devices for holding or supporting maps A47B97/02; for computing purposes G06G1/14, G09B1/16; display boards G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A map displaying device for displaying an accessible range in an arbitrary display form determined in accordance with the scale of a displayed map and/or with the running state of a vehicle is provided. The map displaying device includes: a display unit for displaying map information stored in a map database; a search unit for calculating travel time information regarding a travel time to an arbitrary point accessible from a reference point; and a time information drawing unit for displaying the travel time information in a superimposed manner on the display unit by varying a display form in accordance with the scale of a map and/or with the running state of a user'"'"'s vehicle.

Claims

1. A map displaying device comprising:

a display means for displaying map information stored in a map database;

a search means for calculating travel time information regarding a travel time to an arbitrary point accessible from a reference point; and

a time information drawing means for displaying, in a superimposed manner on a map displayed on the display means, the travel time information by varying a display form in accordance with a scale of the map and/or with a running state of a user'"'"'s vehicle,

wherein the time information drawing means displays, as a zone, the travel time information indicating a range accessible within a certain travel time or within a certain travel time period.

2. The map displaying device according to claim 1,

wherein the time information drawing means displays, when displaying a plurality of the zones, the plurality of the zones by a gradation.

3. The map displaying device according to claim 1,

wherein the time information drawing means displays the travel time information by drawing a road and/or an intersection in various display forms in accordance with the travel time or a travel time period.

4. The map displaying device according to claim 1,

wherein the time information drawing means displays the travel time information by changing an interval between displayed travel times such that the interval becomes longer as the scale of the map becomes wider.

5. The map displaying device according to claim 1,

wherein the time information drawing means displays the travel time information by sequentially drawing, in a radiating manner, travel times or travel time periods in accordance with large/small relationships among the travel times or among the travel time periods, respectively.

6. The map displaying device according to claim 1,

wherein the time information drawing means displays the travel time information by performing drawing effects different between an inside and an outside of a line indicating a predetermined travel time or of a zone indicating a predetermined travel time period.