Motor vehicle navigation system with enhanced map selection

• US 20030120423A1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2001
• 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: Wagner, Oliver, Cochlovius, Elmar
• Granted Patent: US 6,898,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/212
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3614 through interaction with a road map, e.g. selecting a POI icon on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

To facilitate the operation of an in-vehicle navigation system and to shorten the time required for the otherwise time-consuming entering of the destination by crosshairs by reducing the operating steps required, a general map and an enlarged portion of the general map are displayed simultaneously on a screen. A navigation computer calculates the routes. Map data from general maps and detail maps are stored in a memory. A main computer calculates the portion selectable for example by crosshairs and shown on an enlarged scale, from the data stored in the memory. The general map and the enlarged portion can be moved synchronously with one another on the screen by a graphic control unit.

Claims

1. Method for navigation using a navigation system that includes (i) a memory for storing map data, (ii) a navigation computer to calculate routes, (iii) an operating unit for entering a starting point and a destination, (iv) a screen for scrolling maps, (v) crosshairs for selecting a destination or destination area, and (vi) a zoom function for displaying a section of an enlarged-scale map selectable by the crosshairs,

characterized in that map data from larger—

and smaller-scale maps are stored in the memory, are selected by the crosshairs on a smaller-scale general map displayed on the screen, and are displayed on the screen on an enlarged scale at the same time as the general map.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the enlarged section is superimposed in position on the general map on screen.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the enlarged section is displayed in a help window beside, above, or below the general map on screen.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that a screen control unit comprises a memory, a main computer, and a graphic control unit, in that the main computer calculates the area of the general map to be displayed on the screen and then the selected section, in that the calculated area of the general map and the section are displayed simultaneously on screen, and in that the calculated area of the general map and the section can be moved synchronously with each other on screen by means of graphic control unit.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that a screen memory is provided, which is divided into two levels, with map data for the area of the general map to be displayed being stored in one level and the map data for the enlarged section being stored in the other level, and in that the graphic control unit generates the images on the screen from the map data stored in screen memory.

6. A navigation system with a memory for storing map data, with a navigation computer for calculating routes, with an operating unit for entering a starting point and a destination, with a screen for scrolling maps, with crosshairs for selecting a destination or destination area, and with a zoom function for enlarging a selectable portion of a map on a larger scale,

characterized in that map data from larger- and smaller-scale maps are stored in the memory, and in that a section is selectable by the crosshairs from a smaller-scale general map displayed on the screen, and can be displayed on the screen on an enlarged scale at the same time as the general map.

7. Navigation system according to claim 6, characterized in that the enlarged section can be superimposed in position on the general map on screen.

8. Navigation system according to claim 6, characterized in that the enlarged section can be displayed in a help window beside, above, or below the general map on screen.

9. Navigation system according to claim 8, characterized in that a screen control unit is provided with a memory, a main computer, and a graphic control unit, in that the area of the general map to be displayed on screen followed by the selected selection can be calculated by the main computer, and in that the calculated area of the general map and the selectable section can be displayed simultaneously on the screen and the calculated area of the general map and the selectable section can be moved synchronously with each another on the screen by means of graphic control unit.

10. Navigation system according to claim 9, characterized in that a screen memory is provided, which is divided into two levels, with map data for the area of the general map to be displayed being stored in one level and the maps for the enlarged section being stored in the other level, and in that the images on the screen can be generated from the map data stored in screen memory by means of the graphic control unit.

11. Navigation system according to claim 10, characterized in that the screen control unit is connected to the screen and operating unit and in that the screen control unit is connected via a data bus with a navigation unit that is equipped with navigation computer.