JPH0728395A - Map display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a map display device capable of displaying the present location on a high definition map using the arbitrary number of colors and with a low cost and easy to transport. CONSTITUTION:This device is the map display device equipped with a bendable liquid crystal display 12 to be superimposed on a map sheet 10, a display housing cylinder 14 in which the liquid crystal display 12 can be housed and from which it can be drawn out, and a display control means which finds the present location based on a signal from a GPS satellite received by a GPS antenna 16, and displays the present location on the display 12, and also, makes the present location coincide with a corresponding position on the map, and it can be transported by housing the display 12 when it is not used in the housing cylinder 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a map display device, and more particularly to a map display device.
The present invention relates to a map display device which is convenient for carrying, in which map information printed on a map sheet can be displayed on a liquid crystal screen and a current position can be displayed on a map by a liquid crystal shutter mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a map display used in a navigation system, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-98287.
According to the information such as the place name and the like input from the operation panel, disclosed in JP-A No. 2003-242242, desired map information is searched and read from the map information storage medium and displayed on the screen.

[0003]

However, in the conventional map display device, the access time is short because the CD-ROM or the IC card is used as the map information storage medium for displaying the map information. Although there are merits, since the storage capacity is always restricted, the vividness of the displayed content and the number of colors that can be used are limited.
There is a problem that the storage medium is expensive, the map display device itself is expensive, and it is inconvenient to carry.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. It is possible to display the present location on a high-definition map (map information) using an arbitrary number of colors, and at a low cost. An object is to provide a map display device which is convenient for carrying.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a bendable liquid crystal display that is placed on a map sheet, a display housing that can house the liquid crystal display and that can be pulled out, and a current location are detected to generate position information. By providing the position measuring means and the display control means for displaying the current position on the display based on the position information from the position measuring means and for matching the current position with the corresponding position on the map, It has achieved the task.

According to the present invention, in the map display device, the display accommodating portion includes a winding means for winding the liquid crystal display.

According to the present invention, in the map display device, the display accommodating portion is provided with a display supporting means for supporting the pulled out liquid crystal display.

The present invention further comprises, in the map display device, correlation calculating means for calculating the correlation between the latitude and longitude on the map and the coordinates on the display in a state where the liquid crystal display is placed on the map sheet. Is.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the display of the map display device is composed of a bendable liquid crystal display so that the liquid crystal display can be housed in the display housing, and the liquid crystal display pulled out from the housing is printed. In the state where it is overlaid on the map sheet in which the map information is recorded, etc., the current position acquired by the position measuring means is made to coincide with the position on the display corresponding to the current position on the map sheet so that it can be overlaid and displayed. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily cause the map display device to function as an inexpensive navigation system capable of displaying high-definition map information on the display, and further, since the liquid crystal display can be stored in the display storage portion when not in use, The map display device can be carried very easily.

Further, in the present invention, when the display accommodating portion is provided with the winding means for winding the liquid crystal display, the liquid crystal display can be stored very easily.

Further, in the present invention, when the display accommodating portion is provided with the display supporting means for supporting the pulled out liquid crystal display, even the liquid crystal display which is easily deformed because it is bendable is surely secured. Since it can be supported and fixed, the map display device can be used in a stable state.

Further, in the present invention, when a correlation calculation means for calculating the correlation between the latitude and longitude on the map and the coordinates on the display is provided in the state where the liquid crystal display is overlaid on the map sheet, both of these are provided. Since it is possible to obtain the correlation of, the map information (map) recorded on the map sheet and the position information such as the current location displayed on the display can be accurately matched.

In the present invention, as the position measuring means for detecting the present position and generating the position information, for example, a Global Positioning System (GP) is used.
S) can be used, and the present location can be displayed on the display by detecting the present location by this GPS and displaying it on the display.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the external appearance of a map display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention in use, and FIG.
It is a schematic plan view which shows the state which abbreviate | omitted the display from FIG.

The map display device of this embodiment is a map sheet 1.
0, a bendable liquid crystal display 12 capable of displaying map information recorded on the map sheet 10 and position information such as the present location at a corresponding position on the map.
And a cylindrical display storage unit 14 for accommodating the display 12 when not in use and pulling it out when in use, and for receiving GPS signals from GPS satellites for measuring the current position displayed on the display 12. The GPS antenna 16 and the transparent cover film 18 for closely fixing the map sheet 10 to the display 12 are provided.

FIG. 3 shows the display 1 in use.
It is the schematic sectional drawing which expanded and showed the structure of the thickness direction containing 2 in the same direction.

This display 12 is a diffusion film 1.
2A, a polarizing film 12B, a film liquid crystal 12C, and a polarizing film 12D are laminated in this order, and the whole is bendable (flexible). When the map display device is used, the map sheet 10 is placed on the display 12, and the map sheet 10 is covered with the cover film 18. A display using film liquid crystal is described in J. W. DO
A report by ANE et al "Polymer Dispersed Liq
uid Crystals for Display Application ”Mol. C
ryst. Liq. Crst., Vol. 165, 511 (198
8).

As shown in FIG. 2, the map display device of the present embodiment has two display fixing frames (display support) for supporting and fixing the display 12 pulled out from the display housing 14 through the display outlet 20. Means) 22. This fixed frame 22
Has one end rotatably fixed to the storage cylinder 14 and, although not shown, is folded into four when not in use.
It fits in and can be stored. Therefore, at the time of use, the fixed frame 22 is taken out in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG.
Can be brought into the usage state shown in FIG.

Further, in the map display device, as shown in FIG.
There is provided a winding mechanism for automatically winding the display 12 when the display 12 is stored.

That is, a hoisting spring 24 is attached to one end of the display 12. When the map display device is used, the display 12 can be pulled out and fixed by a stopper 24A with a predetermined length, and a spring 24B is attached when the map 12 is stored. The display 12 can be automatically wound by the hoisting spring 24 by pushing the biased release button 24C to release the stopper 24A, and can be stored in the storage cylinder 14. In the figure, 26 is a display wiring contact.

Although not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the map display device includes a key input section for inputting various data such as a reference point on the map sheet 10 and a current location. Is provided with a pointing device such as a trackball for moving the cursor C used for displaying, etc., and controls for causing the map display device to function as a navigation system based on the received GPS signal and input data. A controllable part for performing is provided in the storage cylinder 14.

The map sheet 10 used in this embodiment is
The map information is recorded by printing on a transparent film made of polyester or the like. This transparent map sheet 1
By arranging 0 at the position shown in FIG. 3, the diffused light from the light diffusing film 12A is used as the backlight,
The shutter mechanism included in the display 12 makes it possible to display the current location and the like on the display 12 in association with the map information on the map sheet 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, the GPS antenna 1 has a main configuration of a control function unit in the map display device of this embodiment.
When position information or the like is input from 6 as a satellite signal, the signal is amplified by the amplifier 30, the current position data is calculated by the GPS signal processing unit (position measuring unit) 32, and the current position data is output to the navigation processing unit 34. It is supposed to do.

Scheduled course data is transmitted / received to / from the scheduled course storage section 36 and the pointed data is input to the navigation processing section 34 by designating a point on the map with the pointing device 28. The key sheet 27 can be used for the map sheet 10
It is possible to input data such as reference points and scales of.

The navigation processing unit 34 includes the key input unit 27, the GPS signal processing unit 32, the planned course storage unit 3
6 and the pointing device 28, the correlation calculation between the coordinates of the display 12 and the latitude and longitude on the map sheet 10, which will be described in detail later, is executed, and the position information such as the current location and the planned course is obtained. , And has a function of outputting to the display control unit 38. This display control unit 38
Has a function of displaying the position information on the map sheet 10 displayed on the display 12 in an overlapping manner based on the input correlation calculation result and position information.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS.

First, the map sheet 10 and the display 12
After superposing (step 110) and positioning, the correlation calculation of the latitude and longitude on the map sheet 10 and the coordinates on the display 12 is performed, and the processing for matching the two is performed (step 112).

In this embodiment, the correlation calculation is performed based on the two reference points A and B on the map sheet 10 and the latitude and longitude of these reference points A and B input by the key input unit 27. The map sheet 10 to be used has a road similar to a normal map,
As shown in FIG. 8, reference points A and B are described along with map information such as place names.

The matching process in step 112 is executed according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Step 210 corresponding to step 110
Then, after overlaying the map sheet 10 and the display 12, the latitude and longitude of the first reference point are input by the key input unit 27.
Key input (step 212), and the pointing device 28 is used to input the same reference point position on the display 12 with the cursor C aligned (step 21).
4).

Next, the same input is performed for the second reference point (steps 216 and 218).

FIG. 9 schematically shows the procedure up to this reference position input and the state in which the reference position has been input. In the figure, the X mark indicates the cursor C.

The X coordinate of the reference point position on the display 12 inputted for each of the two reference points A and B,
Using the Y coordinate, the scale of the map sheet 10 being used is calculated (step 220), the direction of the superimposed map is calculated (step 222), and the calculation results of these two steps are used to generate the map sheet. Latitude and longitude on 10
The correlation between the coordinates on the display 12 is calculated, and the map sheet 10 and the display 12 are matched (step 22).
4).

As described above, after the map sheet 10 and the display 14 are aligned, it is determined whether or not the planned passing point is displayed (step 114). In the case of Yes, the pointing device 28 is used to move the cursor. C is moved to the corresponding position, and the planned passing point is input and displayed (step 116).

After the processing of step 116 is completed,
Alternatively, in the case of No in step 114, the GPS signal is received by the GPS antenna 16 (step 120), the coordinate calculation for obtaining the coordinates on the display 12 corresponding to the current position is performed (step 122), and the obtained coordinate position The current position is displayed on the display 12 by aligning the cursor C with the point on the display 14 to be displayed and blinking it (step 124).

As a result of displaying the present location in step 124,
When it is necessary to change the map sheet 10 because the position is near the boundary of the map being used, the map is changed (step 126), the process returns to step 110, and the above processes are executed again. However, if the map sheet 10 is suitable and it is not necessary to change it, the processes of steps 120 to 126 described above are repeated to display the current position over time, thereby causing the map display device to function as a navigation system. If the use is to be stopped, the process ends (step 128).

According to the present embodiment described in detail above, the display 12 is composed of a bendable film liquid crystal display, and when the display 12 is not in use, the display 12 is stored in the storage tube 1.
Since it can be stored in 4 and formed into a substantially cylindrical shape, it becomes easy to carry the map display device, and it is possible to bring the map display device for hiking or mountain climbing and use it as a navigation system on the spot. .

Further, two reference points A on the map sheet 10,
The latitude and longitude on the map sheet 10 and the display 1 are calculated by calculating the scale and direction of the map sheet 10 on the basis of B and the latitude and longitude of the reference points A and B key-input.
Since the correlation with the coordinates on 2 can be calculated and the two can be matched, the map display device can be used as a highly accurate navigation system.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since it is possible to indicate the present location by dots on the map sheet 10, it is possible to easily perform the work of searching for the present location, which is the biggest problem in viewing a map. There is also an advantage.

Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described.

In this embodiment, the map sheet 10 is shown in FIG.
A reflective map sheet having a cross-sectional structure as shown in enlarged form to 0 is used, and for that purpose, a display 1
The map display device is substantially the same as the map display device of the first embodiment except that part of the configuration of FIG.

The reflective map sheet 10 comprises a polyester sheet 10A having a rough surface, a support 10C having an aluminum vapor deposition layer 10B formed thereon, and an ink layer 10D having map information printed thereon. And a protective layer (overprint) for protecting the ink layer 10D.
It has a structure in which 10E is laminated.

In this embodiment, the map sheet 10 is not placed at the position shown in FIG. 3 as in the first embodiment.
It is arranged and used under the polarizing film 12B (not shown).

Therefore, the light incident from above in FIG.
Since it is diffusely reflected by the aluminum layer 10B and becomes diffused light, the map information printed by the anti-diagonal light from the aluminum layer 10B is displayed on the display 12 in a bright place.
It is possible to display in. In this case, the light diffusion film 12A shown in FIG. 3 can be omitted. When the light diffusion film 12A is excluded, the cover film 18 may be arranged at the position of the light diffusion film 12A.

Although the present invention has been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the shape of the storage cylinder 14 for accommodating the display 12 is not limited to the cylinder shown in the above embodiment.

Further, the concrete constructions of the display winding mechanism, the stopper mechanism and the like are not limited to those shown in the above embodiment.

Further, the display is not limited to being rolled up, but may be folded and stored.

The process of matching the latitude and longitude on the map sheet with the coordinates of the display is not limited to the correlation calculation as in the above embodiment, and for example, one reference point on the map sheet can be used. The above correlation may be calculated based on latitude, longitude, map scale and map direction,
Further, the correlation may be similarly calculated based on the latitude and longitude of the current position, the scale of the map, and the direction of the map acquired from the GPS satellite.

At that time, the latitude and longitude values of the reference point are
It may be recorded in the margin of the map sheet with a bar code or the like, and by simply setting the map sheet, the recorded contents of the bar code may be read by a reading means such as a bar code reader provided on the display. Further, when the bar code or the like is recorded on the map sheet as described above, other information may be recorded therein.

Further, the map sheet is not limited to the one shown in the above embodiment, but may be a semi-transparent type or a sheet printed on paper.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a map display device that can display the current location on a high-definition map using an arbitrary number of colors and is inexpensive and convenient to carry.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a usage state of a map display device according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a state where the display is removed from the map display device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view conceptually showing the configuration in the thickness direction at the display position.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a display winding mechanism of the map display device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an outline of control functions as a navigation system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is another flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing the features of a map sheet.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic partial sectional view showing a reflective map sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Map sheet 12 ... Display 12A ... Light diffusion film 12B, 12D ... Polarizing film 12C ... Film liquid crystal 14 ... Display housing 16 ... GPS antenna 18 ... Cover film 20 ... Display outlet 22 ... Display fixing frame 24 ... Winding spring 24A ... Stopper 24B ... Spring 24C ... Release button

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G09F 9/00 362 7610-5G G09G 3/00 Z 9176-5G

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A bendable liquid crystal display that is placed on a map sheet, a display housing that can house the liquid crystal display and that can be pulled out, a position measuring unit that detects the current position and generates position information, and a position measuring unit. And a display control unit for displaying the current position on the display based on the position information from the display unit and matching the current position with the corresponding position on the map. 2. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the display housing portion includes a winding means for winding the liquid crystal display. 3. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the display housing portion is provided with a display support means for supporting the pulled out liquid crystal display. 4. The map calculation device according to claim 1, further comprising a correlation calculation means for calculating a correlation between latitude and longitude on the map and coordinates on the display in a state where the liquid crystal display is overlaid on the map sheet. Map display device.