Automatic adjustment of a camera view for a three-dimensional navigation system

• US 8,626,434 B1
• Filed: 03/01/2012
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Birch, Peter, Kornmann, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, YUEN H
• Application Number:
  US13/410,217
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 345/625, 701/412, 701/400
• US Class Current: 701/400
• 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

Abstract

Methods and systems for automatically adjusting a three-dimensional navigation system are provided. A method for automatically adjusting a display viewpoint for a three-dimensional navigation system may include receiving a velocity of a vehicle and a look-ahead distance between the vehicle and a look-ahead point, determining a range distance between the vehicle and the display viewpoint, determining the first position of the display viewpoint, displaying a three-dimensional view of a navigation route for the vehicle from the first position, receiving a change in the look-ahead distance, determining a new range distance, determining a second position of the display viewpoint, and automatically moving the position of the display viewpoint to the second position on a curvilinear swoop path located above and behind the vehicle. A corresponding system may include a navigation information collector, a range determiner and a display viewpoint adjuster.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for automatically adjusting a virtual camera display viewpoint of a three-dimensional navigation system for a vehicle comprising:

receiving a velocity of the vehicle and a look-ahead distance between the vehicle and a look-ahead point;

determining a range distance between the vehicle and the virtual camera display viewpoint based on the velocity and the look-ahead distance;

determining, by a processor-based device, a first position of the virtual camera display viewpoint based on the range distance;

displaying a three-dimensional view of a navigation route for the vehicle from the first position;

receiving a change in the look-ahead distance;

determining a new range distance based on the velocity and the change in the look-ahead distance;

determining a second position of the virtual camera display viewpoint based on the updated range distance; and

automatically adjusting a tilt of the virtual camera display viewpoint and moving the position of the virtual camera display viewpoint to the second position, wherein the virtual camera display viewpoint moves to the second position along a curvilinear swoop path located above and behind a representation of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the new range distance is based on a second received velocity and the change in the look-ahead distance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the new range distance is based on an anticipated velocity and the change in the look-ahead distance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the position of the virtual camera display viewpoint and the tilt of the virtual camera display viewpoint are made such that the location of the vehicle and the location of the look-ahead point on a three-dimensional navigation system display remain constant.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the second position of the virtual camera display viewpoint is made to provide an unobstructed display viewpoint to the driver.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a temporary alternative display viewpoint position and tilt based on a condition; and

automatically readjusting the three-dimensional view of the navigation route for the vehicle to reflect the temporary alternative display viewpoint position and tilt.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the temporary alternative display viewpoint position and tilt are based on sudden movement of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the temporary alternative display viewpoint position and tilt are based on a reverse direction of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein use of a temporary alternative display viewpoint is based on a condition existing further along the navigation route in front of the vehicle.

10. The method old claim 6, wherein the determination of the temporary alternative display viewpoint position and tilt is based on avoidance of an obstruction to the three-dimensional navigation viewpoint.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

automatically returning the three-dimensional view of the navigation route to a previously displayed viewpoint and tilt.

12. A system for automatically adjusting a virtual camera display viewpoint of a three-dimensional navigation system for a vehicle comprising:

a navigation information collector configured to receive a velocity of the vehicle and a look-ahead distance between the vehicle and a look-ahead point;

a range determiner implemented by a processor-based device and configured to determine a range distance between the vehicle and the virtual camera display viewpoint based on the velocity and the look-ahead distance; and

a virtual camera display viewpoint adjuster implemented by a processor-based device and configured to;

determine a first position of the virtual camera display viewpoint based on the range distance,

display a three-dimensional view of a navigation route for the vehicle from the first position,

receive a change in the look-ahead distance,

determine a new range distance based on the velocity and the change in the look-ahead distance,

determine a second position of the virtual camera display viewpoint based on the updated range distance, and

automatically adjust a tilt of the virtual camera display viewpoint and move the position of the virtual camera display viewpoint to the second position, wherein the virtual camera display viewpoint moves to the second position along a curvilineal swoop path located above and behind a representation of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the determination of the new range distance is based on a second received velocity and the change in the look-ahead distance.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the determination of the new range distance is based on an anticipated velocity and the change in the look-ahead distance.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the determination of the position of the virtual camera display viewpoint and the tilt of the virtual camera display viewpoint are made in part based on the vehicle'"'"'s proximity to a final destination point.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the determination of the second position of the virtual camera display viewpoint is made to provide an unobstructed display viewpoint to the driver.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a temporary alternative display viewpoint position and tilt based on a condition; and

automatically readjusting the three-dimensional view of the navigation route for the vehicle to reflect the temporary alternative display viewpoint position and tilt.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the temporary alternative display viewpoint position and tilt are based on sudden movement of the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the temporary alternative display viewpoint position and tilt arc based on a reverse direction of the vehicle.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the determination of the temporary alternative display viewpoint position and tilt is based on avoidance of an obstruction to the three-dimensional navigation viewpoint.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

automatically returning the three-dimensional view of the navigation route to a previously displayed viewpoint and tilt.

22. A computer-readable storage device having control logic recorded thereon that when executed by a processor, causes the processor to automatically adjust a virtual camera display viewpoint of a three-dimensional navigation system for a vehicle, the control logic comprising:

a first computer-readable program code to cause the processor to receive a velocity of the vehicle and a look-ahead distance between the vehicle and a look-ahead point;

a second computer-readable program code to cause the processor to determine a range distance between the vehicle and the virtual camera display viewpoint based on the velocity and the look-ahead distance; and

a third computer-readable program code to cause the processor to;

determine a first position of the virtual camera display viewpoint based on the range distance,

display a three-dimensional view of a navigation route for the vehicle from the first position,

receive a change in the look-ahead distance,

determine a new range distance based on the velocity and the change in the look-ahead distance,

determine a second position of the virtual camera display viewpoint based on the updated range distance, and

automatically adjust a tilt of the virtual camera display viewpoint and move the position of the virtual camera display viewpoint to the second position, wherein the virtual camera display viewpoint moves to the second position along a curvilinear swoop path located above and behind a representation of the vehicle.