Map viewer and method

• US 9,824,482 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2013
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kunath, Peter, Ivanov, Vladimir, Samokhin, Viktor, Pryakhin, Alexey, Strassenburg-Kleciak, Marek
• Primary Examiner(s): Merouan, Abderrahim
• Application Number:
  US14/064,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20140125655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• 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: G01C 21/3815 Road data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3826 Terrain data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3867 Geometry of map features, e.g. shape points, polygons or for simplified maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/005 General purpose rendering architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/04 Texture mapping
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/10 Geometric effects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/20 Finite element generation, e.g. wire-frame surface description, tesselation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

Techniques for displaying a 3d map view of a 3d geographical map are provided. A database stores data which defines the 3d geographical map in a layered hierarchy comprising data layers which can be individually rendered for the 3d map view. The database comprises a data layer of a digital terrain model which is modelling a terrain surface and a data layer of a 3d road network comprising 3d road elements. A processor is configured for selecting specific data layers of the database in response to a resolution setting of the 3d map view and to render the 3d map view using the selected specific data layer.

Claims

1. A map viewer for displaying a three-dimensional, 3d, map view of a 3d geographical map, the map viewer comprising:

a database storing data which defines the 3d geographical map, wherein said data comprises at least one of 3d elements, 3d polygons, or wireframes, wherein the database stores the data in a layered hierarchy comprising data layers which can be individually rendered for the 3d map view, wherein the database comprises at least the following data layers;

a data layer of a digital terrain model which is modelling a terrain surface, and

a data layer of a 3d road network comprising 3d road elements;

a processor for rendering the 3d map view and coupled to the database, the processor being configured to;

select specific data layers of the database in response to a resolution setting of the 3d map view, wherein the resolution setting of the 3d map view and the selection of the specific data layers of the database are based on a current position of a vehicle in which the map viewer is located, and

render the 3d map view using the selected specific data layers of the database; and

an optical output device, configured for displaying the rendered 3d map view.

2. The map viewer of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to individually render the data of the selected specific data layers and to subsequently overlay the individually rendered data to obtain the 3d map view.

3. The map viewer of claim 1, wherein the 3d road elements of the data layer of the 3d road network model a road surface and a height difference between the road surface and the terrain surface of the digital terrain model.

4. The map viewer of claim 3, wherein the 3d road elements model the road surface such that the road surface has smoother height variations when compared to the underlying terrain surface of the digital terrain model.

5. The map viewer of claim 3, wherein the data layer of the 3d road network includes indicators indicating faces of the 3d road elements corresponding to the road surface,

wherein the processor is further configured to render the 3d map view using predefined textures for the road surface based on the indicators.

6. The map viewer of claim 3, wherein the 3d road elements further comprise elements selected from the group comprising:

ramps connecting the road surface of a particular 3d road element elevated above the terrain surface of the digital terrain model with the terrain surface of the digital terrain model;

bridges; and

street sidewalks.

7. The map viewer of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to render the 3d map view such that it includes a graphical representation of a planned route obtained from a navigation unit, the graphical representation of the planned route being indicated for the road surfaces of the road elements.

8. The map viewer of claim 1, wherein the data further includes two-dimensional, 2d, textures at least for the data layers of the digital terrain model and the 3d road network,

wherein the processor is configured to select particular 2d textures for at least one of the terrain surface and the 3d road elements depending on a mode of operation and to render the 3d map view using the selected at least one of 2d textures for the respective terrain surface and the respective 3d road elements.

9. The map viewer of claim 1, wherein the digital terrain model further includes road tunnels.

10. The map viewer of claim 9, wherein the data layer of the digital terrain model includes indicators indicating faces of at least one of:

a side wall of the tunnel;

a ceiling of the tunnel;

a floor of the tunnel;

a terrain surface located above the ceiling of the tunnel;

a tunnel portal;

wherein a 3d road element of the 3d road network data layer is located on the floor of the tunnel.

11. The map viewer of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to select particular faces of the digital terrain model based on the indicators and to exclude the selected particular faces from the rendering of the 3d map view.

12. The map viewer of claim 1, wherein the data further comprises separate data layers selected from the group comprising:

a data layer of at least one of buildings and landmarks modelled by 3d models;

a data layer of at least one of traffic lights and traffic signs;

a data layer of public transportation; and

a data layer of vegetation.

13. The map viewer of claim 1, wherein rendering the 3d map view using the selected specific data layers of the database further comprises:

selecting at least one 2d pixel from each of the selected specific data layers; and

overlaying the 2d pixels from the selected specific data layers to render the 3d map view.

14. A method of displaying a three-dimensional, 3d, map view of a 3d geographical map on a map viewer, the method comprising:

retrieving data which defines the 3d geographical map from a database, wherein said data comprises at least one of 3d elements, 3d polygons, or wireframes, wherein the retrieved data is stored in the database in a layered hierarchy comprising data layers which can be individually rendered for the 3d map view, wherein the retrieved data comprises at least the following data layers;

a data layer of a digital terrain model which is modelling a terrain surface; and

a data layer of a 3d road network comprising 3d road elements;

selecting, using one or more computer processing, specific data layers of the retrieved data in response to a resolution setting of the 3d map view, wherein the resolution setting of the 3d map view and the selection of the specific data layers of the database are based on a current position of a vehicle in which the map viewer is located;

rendering the 3d map view using the selected specific data layers of the retrieved data; and

transmitting for display the rendered 3d map view on an optical output device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein rendering the 3d map view using the selected specific data layers of the database further comprises:

selecting at least one 2d pixel from each of the selected specific data layers; and

overlaying the 2d pixels from the selected specific data layers to render the 3d map view.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the 3d road elements of the data layer of the 3d road network model a road surface and a height difference between the road surface and the terrain surface of the digital terrain model.

17. A method of generating a database on a map viewer for storing data which defines a three-dimensional, 3d, geographical map, the method comprising:

receiving digital map data, the digital map data comprising a digital terrain model which is modelling a terrain surface and a 3d road network comprising 3d road elements,

storing in the database in a first data layer the data of the digital terrain model; and

storing in the database in a second data layer the data of the 3d road network, wherein said data which defines the 3d geographical map comprises at least one of 3d elements, 3d polygons, or wireframes, wherein the data layers can be individually rendered in a 3d map view, wherein specific data layers are selected for rendering and displaying in response to a resolution setting of the 3d map view, wherein the resolution setting of the 3d map view and the selection of the specific data layers of the database are based on a current position of a vehicle in which the map viewer is located.

18. The method of generating a database of claim 17, wherein the generated database is employed for executing the method of displaying the 3d geographical map.