Method for changing dynamic display mode and apparatus thereof in car navigation system

• US 8,325,180 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2007
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Thinkware Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Kim, Hak-Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): Yang, Ryan R
• Application Number:
  US12/513,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20100045704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968

Abstract

A method of changing a display mode in a car navigation system, the method including: acquiring distance information from a current vehicle location to a guide point; and gradually changing the display mode into any one of a two-dimensional display mode and a three-dimensional display mode based on the distance information.

Claims

1. A method of changing a display mode in a car navigation system, the method comprising:

acquiring distance information from a current vehicle location to a guide point; and

gradually changing the display mode into any one of a two-dimensional display mode and a three-dimensional display mode based on the distance information, wherein the changing comprises

calculating a vertical view angle and a map magnification for changing the current display mode into the two-dimensional display mode when the current display mode is the three-dimensional display mode; and

gradually changing the current display mode into the two-dimensional display mode based on the vertical view angle and the map magnification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing comprises:

calculating the vertical view angle and the map magnification for changing the current display mode into the three-dimensional display mode when the current display mode is the two-dimensional display mode; and

gradually changing the current display mode into the three-dimensional display mode based on the calculated vertical view angle and the map magnification.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing comprises:

calculating the vertical view angle and the map magnification for changing the display mode into the two-dimensional display mode based on a distance and a time when starting a guide when the current display mode is the three-dimensional display mode; and

gradually changing the three-dimensional display mode into the two-dimensional display mode by applying the vertical view angle and the map magnification to a display engine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing comprises:

determining whether a vehicle is located within a predetermined distance of the guide point based on the distance information; and

gradually changing the display mode into any one of the two-dimensional display mode and the three-dimensional display mode based on a result of the determination.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the changing of the display mode into any one of the two-dimensional display mode and the three-dimensional display mode based on a result of the determination comprises:

gradually changing the three-dimensional display mode into the two-dimensional display mode when the vehicle is located within the predetermined distance of the guide point; and

gradually changing the two-dimensional display mode into the three-dimensional display mode when the vehicle is located outside the predetermined distance of the guide point.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for implenting the method according to claim 4.

7. An apparatus for changing a display mode in a car navigation system, the apparatus comprising:

a distance information acquisition unit to acquire distance information from a current vehicle location to a guide point;

a determination unit to determine whether a vehicle is located within a predetermined distance of the guide point based on the distance information, and determine whether a current display mode of the vehicle is any one of a two-dimensional display mode and a three-dimensional display mode; and

a display mode change unit to gradually change the display mode into any one of the two-dimensional display mode and the three-dimensional display mode based on a result of the determinations,

wherein the display mode change unit comprises

a calculation unit to calculate a vertical view angle and a map magnification for changing current display mode into the two-dimensional display mode when the current display mode is the three-dimensional display mode; and

a mode change unit to gradually change the current display mode into the two-dimensional display mode based on the vertical view angle and the map magnification.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the display mode change unit comprises:

a calculation unit to gradually change the three-dimensional display mode into the two- dimensional display mode when the vehicle is located within the predetermined distance of the guide point; and

a mode change unit to gradually change the two-dimensional display mode into the three-dimensional display mode when the vehicle is located outside the predetermined distance of the guide point.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the display mode change unit comprises:

a calculation unit to calculate the vertical view angle and the map magnification for changing the current display mode into the three-dimensional display mode when the current display mode is the two-dimensional display mode; and

a mode change unit to gradually change the two-dimensional display mode into the three-dimensional display mode based on the calculated vertical view angle and the map magnification.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the display mode change unit comprises:

a calculation unit to calculate the vertical view angle and the map magnification for changing the display mode into the two-dimensional display mode based on a distance and a time when starting a guide when the current display mode is the three-dimensional display mode; and

a mode change unit to gradually change the three-dimensional display mode into the two-dimensional display mode by applying the vertical view angle and the map magnification to a display engine.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the display mode change unit comprises:

a calculation unit to calculate the vertical view angle and the map magnification for changing the display mode into the three-dimensional display mode based on a distance and a time when completing a guide when the current display mode is the two-dimensional display mode; and

a mode change unit to gradually change the current display mode into the three-dimensional display mode by applying the vertical view angle and the map magnification to a display engine.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the two-dimensional display mode changes the vertical view angle of the guide point in a change section from a point in time of starting a conversion, which is convertible from the three-dimensional display mode into the two-dimensional display mode, to a point in time of completing the conversion from the three-dimensional display mode into the two-dimensional display mode.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the two-dimensional display mode changes the vertical view angle of the guide point according to any one of a map magnification and a display area based on the distance information.