CA2222300A1 - Navigation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A navigation apparatus has a position measuring device to determine a current position. The device stores a map as image data and displays a map image on a display. Coordinates are assigned to at least one reference location on the map.Either coordinates are assigned for a second reference location, or the map image is aligned with a reference direction, to establish a coordinate latitude longitude system for the map image. The current position in then displayed on the map image.

Description

P16083.S01 NAVIGArrXON AP~ARATUS

BA~Cl~ OUNl~ OF ~. lM~F~TION
1. FieldoftheInvention The present invention rel~tes to a nav~gation ~ppalPlus which displays ~e cur~ent loca~on of th~ ~pp~h~s using a positio~ ~lete~ n system, such as ~he global positiIlg s~ e (GPS) network. ~ore par~cularly, ~e present ~nvention relates to a ~aviga~don ap~ ls which can displ~y the ~ t loca~ion of ~e ~p~r&lu~ orl a displayed image of a m~p.

2. R~k~rolL~d~ndM~t~lIn~orn~tion 0 Prior art naYigation devices stors each p~s~on on a map as mlmorieql coordinates ~n a pre loaded s~ge n)~i~lln su~ch a CD-ROl~ or ~ d. When ~e device ~CU~ ,5 ~oord;~l~ fo~ its cu~rent posi~on based on the G~S sigllal, a appro~riate map is retrieved ~om the storage medium, wh~n ~e map~ and ~e c.ullci~ position on ~he map, a:re displayed o~ a screen.
A d~ai~&ck of ~e ~bo~ ior a~ igation ~eviGe is ~e na~re of ~e storage ...~Ji~ ile Cr)~OMs can store a cQ~ d~bl~ amoullt of ma~ e~ use in po~table ~ts is llm;t~A by lhe rela~vely l~e size and hi~ powe~ c~.Y~"~tion of ~e CI) reade~. IC card based ~its are Cnl~ r and use less elec~ici~, bu~ nly store much smaller maps due to limited stor~ge capac~ty.
~0 A fiJrdler drawback ofthe above n~rigation de~ices is that ~e regio~al maps stored ~n ~e CD or IC cald may not ha~re s~ nt detail c~-y ~rCd wi~ local p~ed maps. This can pro~e especially difficult i~ a us~r reduces ~e display scale or is looking for a local l~ nark.
Another t~pe of prior a~ navigation a~para~s works in co~bin~t;on with a 2!~i prin~ed map. Thi~ device obtains ~e GPS coordinates of 1 he curr~t positio4 ~nd P16083.~01 display ~he same along with ref~e~ and Inn~ldin~l lines on a ~spa,~nt display. A ~ physic~lly holds ~e tl~&~ t d~spla~ over the rrinte~ n~ap to det~e t~e current position on ~e map.
Since ~e above navigation dev~ce relies upon a prirlted map prov~ded by ~e 5 user~ a lo~a~ map u~h super~orTe~ional detail c~n be used as ~,..y~ret wit~h the maps stored and sold ul a CD or rc gta~ge n~ rn However, si~ce the kal~spa~ t display mu~t be ph~i~ally ~ o~ed ovel~ ~e printed map, ~e use~ must cont;ml~lly ~pread out ~ ma~ and align ~e l~nn~ ~t displ~ to dehl~le C~f~lt location. This proces~ bersome, e~peci~ly when ~at an~or d~ s~ ee-c ale 0 u~a~ailable to la~ ~e ~ted map on.

SUM~ OF THP ~V~T~ON
It is a~ordingly an object of ~e p~c~5c~ vention ~o overcome ~he a~ove drawbacks of t~e p~ior a~t.
It is ~no~ o'cject of ~e inven'don to p~ride a naviga~ion a~a~ s which 5 c~ scan or i~put ~ sp ~i~e mAp into memory, and th~ ~ispl~y ~at m~ and the cu~ent position of the device.
Accordingto an embodimerlt of ~e ~n~ ion1 t~ere is provided a na~rigati~
apparatus in~ dil~g meas~g device which measu~es ~e la~tude ~d longitude of ~ cU~reotpocition An ima~e ~t de~ce ~ iv~ ~nap da~ associated wi~ ~ map.
2 o A di~p1ay device display~ the m~p dlat~ as a m~p ima~e. A dat~ ~nput device ~bles en~y of map inforrn~tion, An ~s~i~meJlt device ~ t;hl~e and lon~itude coor~ tes to ~t least one pOil~t on ~e m~p b~sed on at least one of the map i~fu..~ io~ ~d a Ie~erenoe on he ma~ to es~blish a cuordinate system. A co~ol device ~u~ poses the c~rent positior~ o~ the map ~ e o~ the displ~y de~ice based o~ ~e coo~dina~ ~ystem.

P16083.S01 Accordi~lg to a fieature of the above embo~l;ment, ~e data input device inclu~l~ s a conlrol panel, ant the ma~ n Lncludes coord~l~tes of at least one refe~ence pogi~on o~ ~e map image input ~ia ~e control panel According to ~n~ r featule ofthe above ~nborlim~nt, i~e data input device includes ~e tn~ dev~ce, and ~ t ;on includes coaTdinates ~or ~e loca~on, received by the n.~.~,.ri~,g de~rice, when ~e c~ loc~tio~ is a cc position on the ma~ ge.
AcGonlillg to yet aIlotheI~ fe~ e of ~e ab~ve embodim~.nt, ~e map hlf~ tion includes a scale o~t~e map.
0 Accordi~ yet a~o~er fea~e of the above embo~lim~t~ ~e raap infn~n~tion incltl~S co~d~ ds of a~ least tvvo ~f~ e points, inp~t by a user~ onthe map.
Accordin~ to s~ll yet ano~er fean~re of ~e above emboriim~nt~ ~e map in~orma~ion incl~des ~he cuIrent location when ~he dev~ce is at a fi~st reference positioII on ~e map imag~, and t~e cur~e~t lo~a~on when the devi~ is at a second r~e.~uc6 position on l~e rnap image, Accordirlg to ano~er fea~e of ~e above embo~limeJ~t~ a de~i~e r~cog1~i7~s rer~ ,ce l~s on a ~ .~d map. The ~ i~m~n~ device assigns ~ de ~nd IQ~h~ coo~d~n~tes to poLnts on ~e map image ba~0d Ol~ the refe~ence l~nes.
Accord~Il~2 to yet Pnoth~ ~eature o~the abo~e embo~imeI t ~e image input devi~e inrJ.llJde~ a ma~ reading s~c~ion, and a sectio~ ~at only ~eads ~e ref~e~ce lines fiom ~e ptinted map.
Accord~g to yet another f~ature of ~e above embod;mPn~ ~he image i~pu~
device leceives ~e ~ i~ segm~t~ d the contr~l de~ire di~plaSrs multiple map images as a single map by join~g ~e se~ents toge~e~ ~rough ~e refe~ence lines on each of ~e se~n~nts~

P16083.S01 Accordi~g to yet ~r~oth~ fea~ure of ~e ~bove embo~ nt, ~e data inpnt de~ice itlrlud~~ an input d~e which inputs a be~rin~ of ~he map image.
Accordillg to still ye$ allother featu~e of the above embotliment~ ~he control device i cludes a calc~ tioTl seCtiO~I ~hich calc~lates a bear~ng of ~e map image i~om ~oordinates of ~e first ~nd secondreference pC~itiC~nc ~ccordi~,g to still yet a fillth~ feahlre ofthe above embo~im~t, ~e ~lig"" .e ~
device inr~ludes an ~ rle ~t device which ~ligns mqg~letic IlOrthC~ e ~ap image ~th the upward tirection of ~e display device.
Acco~ g ~o stil~ ~ret a fu~ featuTe of the abo~e embo~ e ~t ~le image mput device is t~ h~le firom ~he ~isplay dence Acoordin,~ to a i~er fea~ure of ~e above em~odim~nf the image ~nput device ~ optical S~.~nn~.
Acco~di~g to ~ s~ll fi~ff ~ea~re ofthe ~bove embo~im~nt~ the ~age input ~e~ce is a telephone conn~tion ~ rc~;Y,ng ~e map d~ta as a f~;mile ~ s~
According to a stil} filr~er fea~re ofthe abo~e embo~im~t, the imaPe inpu~
device is a re~i~r whi~h receives one of radi~ wa~es arld ~nf~ed data ~ ~n~
Accord~g to a~o~er fea~e of ~e inven~n7 ~e irnage ~nput de~ice is a ~ ~ ~ CO~l~U~ t~ for cnnn~ct;~ ~ a digi~ CO~ Cl.
According ~o yet ano~e~ feature of ~he above embo~ ~e image i~put dence is a~ IC c~rd re~der, where ~e con~ol device in~ d~s a m~ ry ~vhich caIl store map data fi~m a plurality of IC ~rds, and ~e con~ol de~e c~n conlbine ~e m~p da~ f~om ~e plurality of IC ~ds to display a m~p baset an c~mhirled data ~om~e plurality of I~ card~.
~5 Accol-ling to a~o~er embodime~t of t~e inven:~on, there i~ provid¢d a na~igation appsrarus, ~ncluding a de~7ice which detf ~ .r..nes coordinates of a c~

. CA 02222300 1997-11-26 P16083.S01 posi~on of ~e na~igation a~ aL~s. A map readerreceives map data associated v~
a m~p. ~ memary stores ~he ~nap d~ta. A display displays a m~p ~e i~ accord~nce wi~ ~e ma~ data. A corl~oller assigns fi~st coordinates to a first reference position on ~e map based on one o~ a user i.~ ~g ~ known position of ~e f;~st reference 5 pos~tion and ~ ou~ut of ~e detf ~inil~,p de~7ice when ~e c~entposition is the fi~st refesence pos~tion. The con~oller assignR seco~d coordinates to a second ref~ ceposition on ~e map based on one of a user input~ng a ~ou~ posi~ oft~e second ~vfG~nce position ~d arl oulput o~e ~ g d~ce whe~ the c~entposition is ~he secondlef~ cc pocitio~ ~e con~roller displays, o~ the display, ~e c~
lo yo~ilion on ~he ma~ e based ~pon firs~ and second coorflin~te~.
Accordin~ to a fea~e of ~e above embotiiment~ ~e con~oller di~plays ~he curre~posidon by e~ hin~ ~ coor~ e system based upo~ ~e ~Irst and second coordinates, and displ~ing ~he current po~iti~n is the coord~na~e system.
~ccord~g t~ another feaPure of ~e above e~T)bo~im~nt ~e map reader is opti~al sca~l t-~ vrhich op~cally sca~s the map.
~ l~g to yet ~notller featuP of ~e above e~bodiment ~ map reader ~s a t~ e conn~c~ n which can receive ~he map data by ~r~si~ile tr~ inn of ~ ~e map.
~ccord~g to still yet an~er fea~re of ~e above embo~im~t~ ~e map re~der 2 o ~S integral ~h ~e navig~tion appara~s.
Accordi~g to a ~r~er ~ea~ure of the above embo~lim~nt, ~e map ~eader is cQ~-nec~ to the conllol by a eable, which is one of det~h~le a~d perm~t~tly conn~
Acco~din~; to yet a filrfher fea~e of ~e above e~bo~ t onee ~e first and second coo~ at~s are assiglled, ~e cont~ol aligns anor&em direction ofthe map ~mage ~vi~ a~ ~.l d~ection of ~he display.

.~ .

PlbO83.SOl Accor~to s~ll a fi~ther fiea~re of ~e above embOtli~eI~t~ ~he d~ .)..i.~;"~
de~ice is a global sa~llite posiL-n~ eeeiver ~nd an ~ e~
A :cordi~g to a still yet a ~r~er fea~ure of ~e above embo~im~t, ~e merno~y stores m~p data7 ~om a pluralit~ of so~es~ d ~he c~n~olle~ ~omb~nes the ~ap da~a~o display a co~l.billed map.
According ~o ano~er e~bo~iment of the inve~tion7 ~ere is p~o~ided a r~ ara~Us~ inClu~in~ a ~elL ~ in~ device w~ich d~ coor~;n~tes of a current posi~on of ~e ~a~ga~o~ a~p&allls. A map reader recei~ves m~p data assoei~t~ wi~ a map, A memory s~ore~ ~e ma~ data. A display displays a map o umage in acc~tance wi~ ~e map data. A colltroller which ~s~ coord~nates for a fi~t r~r~",ce poi~t on the map b~sed on oIIe of a u5er inp~Uing a krlown posi~on o~e ~st reference point a~d a~ output of dle ll~t~ de~rice when ~e cu~ t position is the first referen~e po~nt. The co~ollel mo~es the map image un~il a r~relc~ce d~ec~io", as it ~c~ on ~e map ~a~ge, aligus u i~ a desired direction of ~e d~lay. Ihe ~or.troller ~isplays, o~ ~e display~ the ~er~t po~itio~ e map ima~e b~ed upon ~e coo~ .A~ q, a map scale and ~e ~~r~uce d~e~on.
According to a feature of ~e abov embo~ çrlt~ ~e controlle~ display~
c~ent po~i~on by establi~hing a coordi~at~ s~stem ba~ed upon ~he coor~ te~ the referen~e d;~ecllo~ d ~he map scale.
2 c ~ccording to ~n~t~er feature of ~e sbove embod;m~t the map reade~ LS an optical ~c~nn~r wbich o~pti~ally scans tt~e m~.
Accordi.lgt~yet ano~eI~ featu~e of ~e above emb~ nt, ~e map reader is a tcl~ e c~----c~1;ol~ which c~ reCeiYe t~e map data by fP~ simile ~n~mi~.qlnn O~
~e map.
~s Acc~r~ gto s~ll yet ~rlotl-~r fea~are of ~e above embo~in~ ~e map reader is integral with the display.

.

P16083.S01 According to a fi~er feanlre of the abo~e embod~nent, the map reader ~s con~ected to the con~ol by a cable, w~;ch i~ one of ~le~ch~le and pern~nen'dy According to a stilI fi~er fean~re c)f the above emboclim~nt~ once ~e coor~e system is est~ h~ the controller ~ligrls to a pre~ d ~re~ion o~
~e ma~ ima~e with a;n ~pward direc~on of ~he display.
Acco~&g to a to a y~t till filr~er ~e~e of tbe abo~e embo~ he ~ete~nining de~ce is to a global satellite positio~g recelvel and an ~n~nn~
~ ccordi~g to a ano~er feature ~f ~e above embo~iment~ the map ~ea~e~
0 icc~ es m~p data ~o~ to a plura~ity of sources cor~es~onding to a d~ l m~p~.
The con~oller join~ ~;he map data to a display ~ a comhi-~e~ map.
Ac~ordin~g to a yet ~tnt~er feature of the ~bove embo~m~t the rer.~nce dire~tio~ is one ofto a p~nted symbol on ~he map, ~d a~ edge ofthe map.
~ ccording ~ a anothe~ embodime~t of the in~ion, ~e~e is provided to a me~od for displaying to a cu~ren~ po~;t;cml ~vhich inputs d4tacoll ~s~o~din~ to a to ~ map ~nto an image mem~ry, displaying, orl to a display, to a map image C~ E to a ~e data7 esta~ Lil,g to a coord~nate system for to a region ~bord~e~ by the map using ~oord~a~es ~or to a f~rst re~re~ce positi~n on ~he m;qlp, and a~ least one of coordinates ofto a secon~ refe~ce posi~o~ o~ the map, to a ~eference ~o direc~on on ~e rnap, and to a msp scale~ and displaying ~e cu~ent posi~on on ~he m~p image in ~e coor~linate system.
A~cording to a, to a fea~re o~e above emborlime~t, the in~ portion of ~e p~ess inel~ s op~cally sc~nni~ the m~.

P16083.S01 BRTF.F ~F~CRIP~ION ~F D~ NGS
Fig. 1 is a block ~t drawing of one e.x~mrJe of an embod~ment of the cu~ent ~n~e~tion, Fig. 2 is a ~ontvievv of ~.~ above embo~in~
~igs 3~ - 3(e) are eYrlAI~Aln~/ views of one me~hod for ente~g map da~ for one lo~ on based on l~ m coo~ e~;
Figs. 4(a) - 4(e) a~ e~ nQt~y~iews of another me~od for ~r~ ;ne map da~a fo~ one loc~tion based on GPS coo~ te~;
Figs. ~(a~ ~ ~(e) are e~n~1u~ ~evvs of ~norhp~me~od for ent~-~m~p data lC fortwo lo~ations usi~g hww~ coor~n~tP.~, Figs. 6(a~ - 6(g) are exFl~n~toIy views of a~ Lhel method for ~nt~nng m~p da~a for ~ro loç~fionc using GPS coor~in~t~
~igs. 7(a) ~nd 7~ re ~r~ n~ ews of a m~o~ for e.ltf..ir~ ta of a bea~ing of ~e map;
~ig. 8 is a~ e~ n~ory view of a method by whicb ~he devioe aligns ~e map with a rer~ nce directia~;
Fig. ~ is an e~pl~ato~ ~rie~ de~ice util~zed to align ~e map with m~ tic ~north) Fig. 10 is ~ ~ont ~7iew of a ma~ vvith reference lille~, 2 o Fig. 11 LS a block d;~r~m view of allo~er embodiment of ~e map scanner, Fig. 12 is a ~ont VlEW of a seGond çmho~jmP.nt of the invention;
Fig. 13 is a ~ontview of a ~ird embodi~,cnt of ~e i~vention;
Fig. 14 is an ç~l~n~tQ~y view of map seg.~ P-.L~;
Fi . lS is a~ont~rieu~ofafour~ embodimentof~heinven~on;
Fig. 16 is a bloclc circuit tii~ m of ~ fifth emho~lm~ t of ~e invention;
Fi~. 17 is a block ~i~cuit di~ m of a sixth e~bodimen~ of the inven~ion;
g CA 02222300 l997-ll-26 P16083 .S0 1 ~ig. 18 is a block circiut diagr~:n of a seventh embodiment of ~e inve~ion;
~ig. 1~ is a block circuit diagram of an ei~h~ embodiment of the ~nvention, a~d Fig. 20 is ~ block circui~ m ~f a ~inth emboclim~nt ofthe ~vention.

DETATT Pn DESCRTPTION OF T:~P. PREFPRl~ED F.l~ OD~l~T~
~çf~in~ now to Figs. 1 ~d 2, a main bo~y 1 cQnnectc wi~ an map Sc.~nnF!r 2. Ma~n body 1 iIlclu~es a con~ol c~ vhich ;n~ des a CPU 60 and a memory c~n~ol c~cuit 61 with an i~ ge ~e . Co~ol circui:t 6 receives use~ c~mm~n~l.c fi~om ~ con~l pa~el ~ f~d GPS po~on ~;ta ~om a GPS recei~el 3 and ~ 3~.
1 o a di~pl~ circuit 40 coInmllni~tes wi~ corlt:rol c~r'~t 6 ~o ~ e ~ displ~y 4 ~ig. 27).
A po~er CilC~it 64 pow~rs conn~t tihe de~rice. Optionally, a compass 7 m~y a~so provide d~ta ta contt4~ circui~ 6; ~e ~hed l~ne ~ Nee~ ~n,~.l.h~s 7 a~d con~ol circu~t 6 m Fig 1 r~le~e~t~ ~at co~ cs 7 may be ei~er an indepenrlert unit or connert~ eret~.
la ~ap sc~ 2 col~necls to mam body 1 tllr~u~l a cable 29. Map sc~r 2 inr.l-ldes a li~ht sou~ 0 for ill~ to ~ a map ~, a li~t ~d~ 21 (e.g., a fib~ optie cable~ wbich L~ ~reS arld gui~es lig~t reflec~d ~am map 9 to a line sensor 2~ (e.g., only a ray of CCD~s,) ~at reads light c~E~lg ~m l~ht gui~e 21, and a guide r~ller enco~er 2~ ~t measu~ he ~ist~llce by which map scanner 2 moves aloIlg map ~.
2 o Con~ol arcuit 6 ~eeei~s ~e dstasignal~ ~om li~e sensor 22 a~d ~de roller e~coder 23 and ~tores the same as se~e~t;al ~a~e data ~n the ~e m~nl~ry of memory circuit 61, ~)isplay 4 displays an im~ge of map 9 ('~e map image~ es~onding ~o ~e ~ge d~ be maI) ~nage di~played by disp~a,y 4 has ~e same sc~le as map 9 (~lt~o~h ~e sGale rnay 1ater be ch~ng~d), ho~ever, since display 4 is usually sm~lla ~an the m~p! ~e displ~ye~ ~ap image is ty~ically o~ly a porti~n of map g P160~3.S01 a llser ~an cha~ he map imag~ to o~erpo~tiox~s of map 9 by use of'con~ol paIlel . .
~ tthi9 pomt, the map ~age in memory con~ol circu~t ~ ~erely re~resents image d~ta. The map i~nage mus~ ~L~ef~.~ be altgned tn tl:le existi~g ~ de aIld s ]on~ de coordinate system to pso~de a refer~ce for GPS data. As a first step, ~e latitu~e and lo~ de coordinates for one l~own pannt on ~e map aDd ~e scale of the map i~age are ~ltc~.,d. This operation is ill~strated ~igs. 3(a~3(e) The map~ge LS shif~ed using co~trol pa~el ~ il a refere~e position a, for which l~ti~lde and lot~ le values are slready known~ is displa~red on di~pla~ 4. a user ~e~ i~puts o ~e scale of map 9 (e.g., 1 inch = 1 n~ile) and ~e latitude and ~ gihl~P coordiDates forrefe~ence posi~on a (liigs. 3(a)~3(d)). When ~his data iBL~ r~d~ display 4 displays c~oss hairs 44. T~e user alig~s cross hairs 44 wi~b ~efe~ence point a ~Fig. 3 (e)) aIlt loeks ~e same thOEeto ~u~h as by pressi~g a~ ro~le key on co~ol pa~el 5.
C~o~kol c~t 6 the~ ~si~ hose coo.~ ates to ~he ref~rence po~nt a ~ the m~p.
~ si~in~ coar~.ates to ~ k~wn ref~ ce poi~t i~ pardcularl~ ~sefill whe~
~e device is not located at ~G~rc~ce point A. H~7..o ~, if the de~ce is located at rer~re.lcc point ~, ~e coor~ ates can be simply qs~i~ed ~om ~e GPS si~
~lic~ l~se~l ~n E; igs. 4(a) - 4(e~. By u~ ~he control panel 5 a user shif~ ~he map image to di~play refe,~ce point a, at w~ich ~he device ls loc~f d Con~ol clrcuit 6 displa~s 2 o cro~s ha~ 44 ~ollowin~ input of ~e m~p scale. The use~ aligns cross ha~rs 44 wit~
r, L,r~ue point a using control pa~el ~. Once ~1i~, b~ using ~he con~ol pa;nel 5, ~e use~ requ~4fq the GPS l~ de aIld longi~de coolJ;.~t~ or ~e cu~rent posi~Lion,and con~ol cwuit 6 assigns ~ese coo~dl,lates to rcfo~ ce pom:t a. Sillce GPS
coordin~t~-s are accurace to ~i~in ~everal fee~ hly acc~,.~e coord;n~t~.s are 25 ~ ned for ~f.,~enc~ po~nt a, P16083.S01 If map g is dowr l~ade~ in per~ li~mRnt with the norfkern direc~on of map 9, ~en ~e inpu~ of ~e map s~ale ~d coordi~ates of referencepQ~ a is SUf~iGieIlt to e~Pbli~h ~e l~t;tu~e aIId lon~nltk coord~te sy~tern for the en~re map im~ge.
H~wGver~ when s~ ~- "; ~ ~e image, it is unlilcely ~at 3 user will scan map 9 m~ml~1 Iy 5 ~ such pOEfec~ ~li~Tn~ wi~ tihe nor~em direction of map 9. Addi~o~al data may ~cr~for~ be nece r to e~tablish a coor~i,~le s~rste~.
I~ this s;~ tiPn~ ~he map image can be alig~ed u~ two reference points a and B ~ sl~own in Figs. ~a3-5(g~. In Fi~. 5~a), ~e m~p iIIIa~e is sbi~ed no~r to di3play .,f,.~ce poi~ts a aIld B. ~ Figs. ~b}5(d), ~e coo~di~l~ o~refe.erlce po~nt a are0 i~put ~d mAtt~ n~ ~ similarto ~e process desrnbe~ f~,rel~ce to Fi~ss.3(a~3(e). (~t ~s nated tha~ cross hair 44 caIl be positioned over ~e ~eference po~nt before coordinates are e~hl~.d, ~d vice ~ersa ) In Figs. S(e)-5~g), lhe process iç
repeated f~r r~ ce po~t B. Of course, if points a ~d B are too ~ apart to be displayed toge~ n ~e sc~ he ~a~ scale ~ be adjusted, o~ ~e user c~ move the displayed image to refe~ence point B a~er ~eference poi~t a is e~t~icd.
If the ls~tit ld~ a~d lan~ de cool~li"ate~ ~ refe~e~ce positinn~ a and B a~ not know~, ~e~ a user can load t~e coordin~es ~ e C3PS sig~l by tlaveling to bo~
~loc~ nc. ~e~e~n~ to Figs. 6(a)-6(c), ~e user ~st b~ s the device to l~f~,r~
point a, do~vnloads the GPS coo~ or refereT~ce po~on a~ and align~ ~e o coordina~e cross hai~s 44 w~ ~ce p~i~t a on the map image. In ~igs. 6(d)~6(f),the u~er ~avels to reference p~int B ~d re~e~ts ~e lJlOCC.51\. I~e cross hairs ~ould also be aligned wh~ the rcf~~"~e po~t before ~e GPS dat~ is received.
Of course, ~e user ~ay combi~e tlle abo~e processes by ll~pullillg ~e known coo..L~es for either reference point a ~r B, ~nd using the GPS ~oordina,tes for thR
2s o~e~ ,eL.~ce point.

P16~83.S01 Once ~e coo~di~ate data ~s e~te~ bave, con~ol circuit ~ establishes a P and lon~de ~ a~e system fior ~e map image based on refere~ce points a aIId B. Fur~er, si~ce CPU 60 can de~e~;ne the scale ~f ~e map ~om ~e coordinates of reference poi~ts a and B, ~e user need ~ot enter the ~ap ~cale.
Coordinate ~y~t~lls ma~ be established in several ways. In one method, tihe co~r.l;"~t~ syst~ LS set u~mg latitude and l~n~ de ~or ~he area ~overed ~y ~c ma~;
cu~e~ o~iliO~ hus displayed based on ~e l~ti~ and lhn~ e ~f ~e syslem itselfas the ref~ noth~ me~od, points on t~le map ~é ~ 1 cool lu IAtes, and c~ent position ~s disp1ayed us~g one or r~ore of ~e ~omts as ~e l~r~
It is ptcf~le t~at the ~o,~ border of ~e m~p ~lign ~vit~ ~e upper po~on of ti$play 4. ~Iowe~er, al~ough the map ~ge is now ?li~l in the l~tihlrle and lon~itude coordina~e system, ~he ima8e i~elf may sti~l be displayed at an amgle o~
display 4. As ~hown ~n Fig. 8, con~ol circ~it 6 <~et~ n~s the dif3~erence 0l betwee~
an angle r~ de2ived ~om the a~ual cow~ es of reference po~itione a and B, and ~nangle ,B, de.ived ~om ~eir poC;~jQnc ~s ~hey appear on ~e map image. Co~trol cirG~
theD rotates ~e map ~ge -~ about re~ere~ce po~nt a such ~ e northel:4 direction of ~e map is aligned u~ e ~w~rd direction ~f d~splay 4. Irl the att~rn?*ve, conlrol circuit ~ ~an simply re display thG map in ~e des~red ~ Pl~the abov~ e~nbo~lim~ au~er must ei~er know~he co~di~tes of r~ ,.ce pointE~, or o~se be st~n-lin~ oferen~e point B to o~tain coordina,t~s ~om tbe GPS sigr~ f ~e user does not bave t~e coordinates and ca~not reach re~e~e p~t B~ the ma~ image can be oriented us~ng ~nly ~e coordin~es o~re~rence point a, ~he map ~cale, and bea~ course ir~fnrm~t;o~ (cour~e data) ~om ma~ 9.
Spe~ifically, ~e ov~whelming n~ajonty of maps are pr~nted ~ith some ~:ype of 2 5 ex~ss i~dication o~ a re~erence direction (~pically "Nt " fo~ nor~, or ~the~unse '_ P1608~.S01 have a bor~er of 1~e ma~ ~li~ed with ~is refaence directio~, ei~¢r o~these may be used to onent t~e ma~ imsge.
Spe~;fic~lly, ~e ~ap s~le and coor.lil~ates for ~ ce p~int a are entered as shown in ei~er Figs. 3(a~3(e) o~ 4(a)-(e~. If ~e image is ~ dy p~ rl uri~ ~e n~, ~ the user ca~ so in~ te~ ~he coo~ ,atc system is ~en e~h~ erl ~rou~h the coordi,~ate ~f ref~ence po~itinn a~ and ~e map scale. ~f t~e map ~age is not~li~e~ con~ol cir.cuit 6 pro~ides a bea~nglcourse a~ow 45 supc~s,~osed on the map ~m~ge as shown in Fi~. 7(a), Th~ use~ ca~ ~e~ rota~e the be~rin~/course arrow 45 to align wit~ ~e ~re.~llGe direc~ion on the map image (e.g., a pri~ted o '~Nt"directio~orthe ed~e o~map 9; if not in~he displ~y, ~e user can move ~e map image~ con~ol panel 5). Once ~e user indica~es ti~at ~row 4~ is ~ti~n~l w~th ~e r~felc~ce direction~ control ci~cuit 6 moves tbe displa~ of ~e map image (or re-di~ay ~e image) such that re~erence direction is ~ l wi~ the u~ ud d~rection of ~ y 4. For eY~ple~ if ~user ro~es arrow 45 1j~ clocsL~e as show~ in ~igs.
7(a) and 7(b) and locks this course in (by use o~e co~'aol panel ~), ~en co~ol circwt 6 will rotate the m~p image 1~~ counterclockwise (i.e., -15~). Since the ref~nce direc~ion is ~ ,~ly north, ~is ali~ ~e ~OI~I~,.1L direction ~fthe map -~n~ ~e top of display 4.
If ~e map does notpro~ide ~ny usefi~ f~ ce directian, ~a~ a user can rel~
upon m~ tie no~ as displayed by compass 7 (or ano~er c~ is). Optionally, co~ol ~t 6 ~nay be pro~ided wi~h a ~ode to correct for a~y di~rc~lial bet~een t ~ ~orth and lrue ~or~ ~sed on ~e known di~ ce fo~ lcf~~~ce p~t a.
If col~r~C~ 7 is ~ çh~d such ~t it prov~des d~ta to con~ol c~rcuit 6, a user can align m~ tic nor~ on ~e map smage wi~ ~e uy~d ~irec~o~ of ~he display 2 5 4 based on ~e an~le ~ betwe~ rue north Nt of ~he map inlage (tet~ine~ ~rhen ~e cool-l,nate system is establisbed~ and m~n~iG nor~ Nm (Fig. 9). T~ 1ion on t~e ' P16083.SO1 angl~ ~ is storea by con~ol c~it 6. :By e"t~ing a ma~nP~;c north display mode, ~e ~ap image will ~otate by an angle ~ lign witb rn~lic ~o~th.
Arlo~her me~od for ~tPnng coo.Ji~ datais shou~ igs. 10 arld 11. ~ap ~ can be pro~ided wi~ pr~nted l~t;tllcle a~d lon~i~de r~erellce line~ which are s~nn~d and reco~ed ~y co~ol circu~t 6. Prefesably, ~e embodiment of Pigs. 1 and 2 can differentiate ~e ref~rence li~es ~om ~e rest of ~ map.
In ~e ~It~m~;ve, the ~ re~cc lines are provided in a di~,~nt co~ om rern~in~er of map ~. Usmg a seco~d light ~uide 21a and ~ second Isne ~e~so~ 22~ in co~nhin~ion ~it~ an ~p~cal filter 24 tuned to ~e color of the refe~ence lines, ~e co~rd~nate li~es and ~SSOG~ ~te~l vah~es c~n be reco~ed as separate a~d distiIlCt ~om o~ elen~ents of map 9. T~ ma~ image and coo,~ ~ystem are ~ltom~tic~lly set ug~g the pre-p~inted referen~e lines, Once ~e m&p is set in the coo¢d~ate system accordi~g to a~y of ~e above proe~ s, contr~l c~t 6 select~ p~4~ia~ p~on of map 9 as ~e map image, and displ~ys tbe cu~e~t poltion on the ma~ ~mage~
e prer~".ed embodim~t of ~e inv~ on, map sce~ e~ 2 conn~cts pormA.~. J-~ly to IIlaill body 1 via a cable 29 (~ig. 2~. As shown in Fig. 13, c~ble 29 may be detachable~ such ~at a user nee~ ~ot lransport map scanner 2 ~nce ~e desi~ed map 9 ~ scanned ~to memoIy, 2 o The use of a separate ~ body 1 and scan~er 2 allows for s~nn-~, 2 to be as w~de as possible to ~ ~ze ~e ~i~e ofthe map w~ich may be sc~nn~d in a single pass. Ho~ever, if ease of portabili~7 is a pnoritg, a c~ a~ co~fi~-ation in which ma~ body 1 ~nd sc~ 2 a~e arl i-tte~l U~l~t iS sho~n in Fig. 12. ~ ~is c~se, it ma~
~e several passes of sc~ arious se~tion of a larg~r map, ~ll~u~.o~
co~trol 6 j~ns the m~ xection as ap~ iate. For example, Lef~. ~ ,~g to Fig. 14, a use~ c~uld first s~n se~tion M1 of ~nap ~ ~d~en overlappi~g sec~o~ M2 of m~p ~.
1~

P16083.S01 Control circu~t 6 then joins l~em toge~er b~sed Oll COInn~AOn re~erence li~es a~d~or positions ~o fom ~e combined ~a~ of Fig. 10 using the reference lines. In ~e ~hP~l~ti~7e~ e~ch m~ .~ osl ~ould be aligne~ dividually, wh~c~on control 6 ~ill them usi~g ~e coordma~e systenL
~ s can be se~ by the abo~e~ the ~ t inYention pro~ded mlmerous advantageous over the prior art. Sinee ~ere is no Cr) dri~re to oper~te~ ~e preserlt inverl~on is ~m:~ll~, lighter, and use~ less power ~a~ ~av~ga~ian de~ices whi~h u~lize CD's. The ~tet maps are less e~v~i.fe ~ s~olldil.g maps on ei~r CD's or IC cards. The level o~ detail of the desired map can be saperior to that 10 cQmm~cially a~ailable o~ ei~e~ CD's or IC cards. F~ally, ~e priuted Inap is only used d~g setup, and thus ~e use~ ~eed not spread out a map every t~me to check the cu~rent position.
~ ano~er ~n~bodin~t ofthe invention show~ in Pig~. 15 8nd 16, m2p S~.~nner2 is re~l~Ged ~ a data c~...,K~ n interface 8. Da~a co.~-n~ .icati~n in~rf~
~ ca~ recei~e map ~age da~a ~lrou~h a fa~ mo~em 80 o~er a standard telephoIIe 1~ne 81 by pluggLng in~ any t~ hntle jack. In'~ may ~Iso o~ on radio ~raves ~ing a wil~less receiver 84 wi~ an A.~ R 85 as in Fig. 17~ or i~ .rcd~ncmi.c.~ion using a photoele~iG convert~ 86, a luminous cl~ (i.e., light ~ource) 88, and photo se~sot 87 as m ~ig. 18.
As shown in Fi~. 19, a digital int~rf~ce 82 for c~n~ction to a co~nputer or COlll~Ut~ per~phe~al ap~&~us caIl also be used. Map image dat~ stored in t~e c~m,o.-l~. is do~loade~l throu~h ~is dig~tal interface 82 to read map image datastored an a CD-~OM connected to ~e comp~.,~.
In ~e embofl ( of Fig. 20, map image d~ta can ~lso be read ~m an IC card using an IC ca~d ~nte~face 83. Ma~ ge data sto~ed on ~e I~ card is not ~ir~ly ' ' P1~083.S01 used, ~a~er ~p image data stored on multiple IC ~a~ds is combined in memo~y circuit ~1 .
W~ile ~e ulven~don has beell desc~ibed with ~e~eDce ~o several ex~npl~y embot~;., .F,nL., it is lln~ood ~ha~ ~e wo~ds which ~ve bee~ used here~ OEe ~o~ds ~f d~c~i~ion arld ilhlskation, ~a~er ~an words of l~tations. Charlges may be mate, w~in ~e pu~iew of ~e pend,~g clair~s, as w~out affect~ng t~e scope and sp~rit of ~e invention and it~ aspects. While ~e in~entio~ has been descrlbed here ~i~ reference to p~ic~lar means~ m~teri~l~ and embo~im~nh~ l~e in~ention is not inf~nd~d to be lirni~ed to ~he p~cular c~ osed herein, ra~er, ~he invention ~t~nds 0 to ~11 r,~ ly equ~valent s ru~res, met~ is and uses, such at all w~ ~e ~cope o~e appended cl~s.
By w~y of non-limit;n~ eY~nlrle, as woul~ be a~ to o~e of or~iDaIy skill, control panel 5 and ~e orde~ of steps may be modified wi~out d~pn~l.g l~om ~he scope or spiri:t of tl~e ~rention.
Fore~ le, controlpa~el 5 pleferably includes four dire~ollke~s (up, do~, ieft and right), a stsrt key, an end key, a re~lced s&ale key~ a c~ tposi~ion key, a bearing key, and a nlvn~ key pad. Pressm~ the s~rt lcey enters a mode in which ~e user enter~ ~e coo~dinate data for the reference poin~ wi~ ~e mlme~ir~l key pad.
Press~ng~e b~n~ key L$~1ay~ row 45 a~ in Figs. 7(a) a;nd 7~b). Press~glhe end 2~ ke~r~s~ed~taand/orclose~ em~de. Pressin~ eIeducedsealekeyadjust~
~e scale of the map image. Press~g ~e c~ent posi~oIl key causes ~e de~ice to retrieve ~e ~PS coordinates a~d displa~ tbe curreot posi~o~ on the dis~la~
su~e~ o~cd ~ ~e map im~ge~
Ho~.~Y r, although ~he present inve~tion ~ izes su~ ke~s, t3:e prese~t inve~o~ coul~ be ~eplaced wi~ a mouse buttan~ ~ngerpad, joystick, keypad~ rotarydial, ~r simila~ ~evice. Similarly, data could be entered m~ml~lly ~rough dif~ t P16083.S01 modes, o~ seq~lenti~ly under co~ on~ ;n~ Further~ t~e order i~ which data is entered i~L ~e p~ d embo-limPnt may be ea~ily a~lls~ed.
~ } yet ~n~t~r e~.ample, display 4 of ~e present ~nven~on is preferably an LCD
di~lay. Ho~.cY~, ~e invention is not so limite~ and a~y ap~,oprlate ckclr~ ic 5 displa,y ma~ be used.
The ~ l ap~ tion r~lates to subject matter cont~ine~ in J~p~nese Patent Applic~;ons 8-314,380, filed Navember 26, 19~6, ~d 9-106,503, filed April 23, 1~7, both of whic~ a~ ez~pressIy ~nco~or~ted by r~f~ ce herein in ~eir entireties.

Claims (40)

1. a navigation apparatus including measuring means for measuring the latitude and longitude of a current position, said apparatus comprising:
image input means for receiving map data associated with a map;
display means for displaying said map data as a map image;
data input means for enabling entry of map information;
assignment means for assigning latitude and longitude coordinates to at least one point on said map based on at least one of said map information and a reference on said map to establish a coordinate system; and control means which superimposes said current position on said map image on said display means based on said coordinate system.

2. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said data input means includes a control panel, and said map information includes coordinates of at least one reference position on said map image input via said control panel.

3. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said data input means includes said measuring means, and said map information includes coordinates forsaid current location, received by said measuring means, when said current location is a reference position on said map image.

4. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said map information includes a scale of said map.

5. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said map information includes coordinates of at least two reference points, input by a user, on said map.

6. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said map information includes said current location when said device is at a first reference position on said map image, and said current location when said device is at a second reference position on said map image.

7. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
means for recognizing reference lines on a printed map, wherein said assignment means assigns latitude longitude coordinates to points on said map image based on said reference lines.

8. The navigation apparatus of claim 7 wherein the image input means includes a map reading section, and a section that only reads said reference lines from said printed map.

9. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image input means receives said map in segments, and said control means displays multiple map images as a single map by joining the segments together.

10. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said data input means includes means for inputting a being of the map image.

11. The navigation apparatus of claim 6, said control means further comprising a calculation section which calculates a bearing of said image from coordinates of said first and second reference positions.

12. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said alignment means includes means for aligning magnetic north on the map image with the upward direction of said display means.

13. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image input means is detachable from said display means.

14. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image input means comprises an optical scanner.

15. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image input means comprises a telephone connection for receiving said map data as a facsimile transmission.

16. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image input means comprises a receiver which receives one of radio waves and infrared data transmission.

17. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image input means comprises a digital computer terminal for connection with a digital computer.

18. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image input means comprises an IC card reader, wherein said control means includes a memory which can store map data from plurality of IC cards, and said control means can combine said map data from said plurality of IC cards to display a map based on combined data from said plurality of IC cards.

19. a navigation apparatus, comprising:
means for determining coordinates of a current position of said navigation apparatus;
a map reader which receives map data associated with a map;
a memory which stores said map data;
a display which displays a map image in accordance with said map data;
a controller which assigns first coordinates to a first reference position said map based on one of a user inputting a known position of said first reference position and an output of said determining means when said current position is said firstreference position;
said controller assigning second coordinates to a second reference position said map based on one of a user inputting a known position of said second reference position and an output of said determining means when said current position is said second reference position; and said controller displaying on said display, said current position on said map image based upon first and second coordinates.

20. The navigation apparatus of claim l9, wherein said controller displays said current position by establishing a coordinate system based upon said first and second coordinates, and displaying said current position is said coordinate system.

21. The navigation apparatus of claim 19, wherein said map reader comprises an optical scanner which optically scans said map.

22. The navigation apparatus of claim 19, wherein said map reader comprises a telephone connection which can receive said map data by facsimile transmission of said map.

23. The navigation apparatus of claim 19, wherein said map reader is integral with said navigation apparatus.

24. The navigation apparatus of claim 19, wherein said map reader connected to said control by a cable, which is one of detachable and permanentlyconnected.

25. The navigation apparatus of claim 19, wherein, once said first and second coordinates are assigned, said control aligns a northern direction of said map image with an upward direction of said display.

26. The navigation apparatus of claim 19, wherein said determining means comprises a global satellite positioning receiver and an antenna.

27. The navigation apparatus of claim 19, wherein said memory stores map data, from a plurality of sources, and said controller combines said map data todisplay a combined map.

28. a navigation apparatus, comprising:
means for determining coordinates of a current position of said navigation apparatus;
a map reader which receives map data associated with a map;

a memory which stores said map data;
a display which displays a map image is accordance with said map data;
a controller which assigns coordinates for a first reference point on said map based on one of a user inputting a known position of said first reference point and an output of said determining means when said current position is said first reference point;
said controller moving said map image until a reference direction, as it appearson said map image, aligns with a desired direction of said display;
said controller displaying, on said display, said current position on said map image based upon said coordinates, a map scale and said reference direction.

29. The navigation apparatus of claim 28, wherein said controller displays said current position by establishing a coordinate system based upon said coordinates, said reference direction, and said map scale.

30. The navigation apparatus of claim 28, wherein said map reader comprises an optical scanner which optionally scans said map.

31. The navigation apparatus of claim 28, wherein said map reader comprises a telephone connection which can receive said map data by facsimile transmission of said map.

32. The navigation apparatus of claim 28, wherein said map reader is integral with said display.

33. The navigation apparatus of claim 28, wherein said map reader is connected to said control by a cable, which is one of detachable and not detachable.

34. The navigation apparatus of claim 28, wherein, once said coordinate system is established, said controller aligns a predetermined direction of said map image with an upward direction of said display.

35. The navigation apparatus of claim 28, wherein said determining means comprises a global satellite positioning receiver and an antenna.

36. The navigation apparatus of claim 28, wherein said map reader receives map data from a plurality of sources corresponding to different maps, said controller joining said map data to display a combined map.

37. The navigation apparatus of claim 28, wherein said reference direction comprises one of a printed symbol on said map, and an edge of said map.

38. a method for displaying a current position, comprising:
inputting data corresponding to a map into an image memory;
displaying, on a display, a map image corresponding to the data;
establishing a coordinate system for a region bordered by the map using coordinates for a first reference position on the map, and at least one of coordinates of a second reference position on the map, a reference direction on the map, and a map scale; and displaying the current position on the map image is the coordinate system.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said inputting comprises optically scanning the map.

40. The navigation apparatus of claim 5, said control means further comprising a calculation section which calculates a bearing of said map image from coordinates of said first and second reference positions.