JP2621220B2 - In-vehicle map display device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a map display device in a vehicle navigation system and the like, and in particular, to a three-dimensional map display in which altitude information of a region is displayed as a sectional view. It concerns the device.

[Conventional technology]

In a vehicle navigation system, the topography of an area including a destination or a progress point is displayed as a map on a display surface of a CRT (cathode ray tube) display, a liquid crystal display, or the like, so that selection of a course, distance, and the like can be performed. 2. Description of the Related Art A map display device that facilitates understanding of an azimuth or the like is used.

As a method of displaying a map in such a map display device, a method of displaying a two-dimensionally projected figure on a plane has conventionally been exclusively used.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the case of an area that includes terrain with undulations and altitude differences, it is inconvenient because altitude information cannot be obtained with a map that is simply displayed in a plane.

On the other hand, a map in which contour lines are displayed on a plane display map has a problem that a figure becomes complicated and is difficult to read. In a vehicle navigation system, since there are many opportunities to read a map on a display device during traveling, it is necessary that the display of the map be as simple and easy to read as possible, but the contour display is contrary to this requirement. .

[Object of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to solve such a problem of the related art, and provides a map display device capable of displaying topographical information including altitude without complicating display in map display. It is intended to be.

[Means for solving the problem]

Therefore, in the present invention, a storage unit that stores map information in advance, a display unit that displays the map information stored in the storage unit, a controller that reads the map information from the storage unit and controls the display on the display unit It has.
In addition, the storage means stores the altitude information as a three-dimensional map corresponding to the position of each point along the virtual contour on the map. Further, a two-point position setting means for setting a position of two points on the display means on the controller,
A sectional switch for displaying a sectional view is also provided.

Then, the controller obtains a straight line connecting the two points set by the two-point position setting means when the cross-section switch is turned on, and based on altitude information of the plurality of virtual contour lines intersecting the straight line. And a function of generating a cross-sectional view between the two points.

(Example of the invention)

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of a three-dimensional map display device according to the present invention, wherein reference numeral 1 denotes a memory containing three-dimensional map information, and reference numeral 2 denotes a map display based on the information in the memory 1. A controller 3 is a display means such as a CRT, and 4 is a power switch for supplying power to these devices.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a setting switch for setting both end points to be displayed at an altitude, 6 denotes a sectional switch for displaying a sectional view, and 7 to 10 denote cursor movement switches.

In FIG. 1, when the power switch 4 is turned on, the three-dimensional map display means 3 is activated, and the controller 2 reads out the map information stored in the memory 1 and displays the required display on the display surface in the display means 3. Do.

The map information stored in the memory 1 is three-dimensional, and in addition to the information on the planar terrain, information on the position and altitude of a contour line virtually drawn thereon is stored for each point. Have. When the power switch 4 is turned on, the controller 2 reads out only planar map information that does not include altitude information from the memory 1 and displays it on the display unit 3. The map display in this case is a flat display similar to the conventional device. On the other hand, when the cross-section switch 6 is turned on, a cross-sectional view is displayed instead of a planar map display, and the setting of the cross-section display position at this time is performed as follows.

First, use the cursor movement switches 7 to 10 to move the cursor to one end point where a cross-sectional view should be displayed on the display surface.
Turn on the setting switch 5 in accordance with 11. As a result, the controller 2 stores the position of the point.

Next, using the cursor movement switches 7 to 10 again,
The cursor 11 is moved to the other end point where the sectional view is to be displayed, and the setting switch 5 is turned on. This makes controller 2
Stores the position of that point. Next, when the cross-section switch 6 is turned on, the height information of the contours along the line segment connecting the set both end points is read out and displayed on the display surface as a cross-sectional view between the both end points. To return to the plane display, the section switch 6 may be turned on again.

FIG. 2 shows the operation of the three-dimensional map display device of the present invention by a specific example. In the figure, a indicates when the power switch 4 is first turned on, a normal planar map display is performed, and a cursor 11 appears on the display surface. In this case, the contour lines are not displayed on the map. Now, when looking at the height of the terrain between the shrine A and the school B on the map, the cursor movement switches 7 to 10 are used.
By moving the cursor rightward, leftward, upward, and downward respectively, the setting switch 5 is turned on in accordance with the shrine A as shown in FIG. 2B. Thus, the coordinate value of the shrine A on the map is stored. Next, by moving the cursor 11 again and turning on the setting switch 5 in accordance with the school B as shown in FIG.
The coordinates of school B are stored. When the cross-section switch 6 is turned on after the above preparations are completed, a cross-sectional view along the line C connecting the shrine A and the school B is displayed on the display means 3 as shown in FIG. By turning on the cross-section switch 6 again, it is possible to return to the map display of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the three-dimensional map display device of the present invention, in which the position operation in the present invention described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 is collectively displayed.

FIG. 4 illustrates the altitude information in the memory. FIG. 4A shows the altitude information on the map, and the position coordinates (x, x) of the location where the contour lines (10 m, 20 m,..., 50 m) pass on the map. , y). FIG. 4 (b) shows information stored in the memory, and the contour data (x, y, h) is mapped into a three-dimensional map by associating the contour information (h) of the point with each position (x, y). In the memory 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process for obtaining a sectional view. Now, when two points P1 and P2 are given on the CRT display surface of the display means 3, the coordinates of the point P on the line segment connecting the two points are (x,
If y), the equation of a straight line passing through two points including P is expressed as follows.

y = ax + b… From this equation and the above-mentioned contour data (x, y, h), a contour that intersects this straight line can be obtained.

Now, P1 (x1, y1) and P2 (x
2, y2), the contour line data on the cross-sectional view can be obtained as follows.

Find a coordinate value y that satisfies y1 ≧ y ≧ y2.

. For each of the found coordinate positions y, a coordinate axis x and an altitude h of a point intersecting with the contour line are found from a three-dimensional map.

In FIG. 5, P3 (x3, y3, h3), P4 (x4, y4, h4), P5
(X5, y5, h5) and P6 (x6, y6, h6) are the contour line data thus found.

. The distance between the points "P1-P3-P4-P5-P6-P2" is obtained.

. From the obtained distances and the altitude h of each point, a sectional view is obtained and displayed.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the sectional view obtained in this manner.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, altitude data along a line segment between two points on the display unit can be displayed as a cross-sectional view with a simple operation, so that display is not complicated. It is possible to provide an unprecedented and excellent in-vehicle map display device that can display terrain altitude information and thus can further improve the information display function of the map display device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2a to 2d are diagrams each showing a specific operation of the three-dimensional map display device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional map of the present invention. FIG. 4 ab is a flow chart showing the operation of the display device, FIG. 4 ab is a diagram for explaining altitude information in the memory, FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining processing for obtaining a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a cross-sectional view. . 1 ... Memory, 2 ... Controller, 3 ... Display means such as CRT, 5 ... Setting switch, 6 ... Section switch, 7
~ 10 ... Cursor movement switch, 11 ... Cursor.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A storage means for storing map information of a plane in advance, a display means for displaying the map information stored in the storage means, and a controller for reading the map information from the storage means and controlling the display on the display means. Wherein the storage unit stores altitude information as a three-dimensional map corresponding to the position of each point along a virtual contour on the map, A two-point position setting means for setting two-point positions on the display means, and a cross-section switch for displaying a cross-sectional view, wherein the controller is configured to perform the operation when the cross-section switch is turned on. A straight line connecting the two points set by the two-point position setting means is obtained, and a cross-sectional view between the two points is generated based on altitude information of the plurality of virtual contour lines intersecting the straight line. Vehicle map display apparatus characterized by having a function.