WO2007105542A1

WO2007105542A1 - Map display device and map display method

Info

Publication number: WO2007105542A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/054320
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takahito Ogawa
Original assignee: Pioneer Corporation
Priority date: 2006-03-10
Filing date: 2007-03-06
Publication date: 2007-09-20

Abstract

A map display device having improved operability of displaying map information. The map display device is suitably used for a navigation device of a mobile body, such as a vehicle, and includes display means, input means, and control means. The display means displays map information on a display screen. The input means is a touch panel provided on the display screen. The control means displays, on the display screen, enlarged map information for a predetermined area on a map, where the predetermined area is determined based on that position of the touch panel which is touched by the user. The user can scroll the map information and allow it to be displayed enlarged without operating built-in switches, so that operability of the device is increased.

Description

Specification

Map display device and map display method

Technical field

The present invention relates to a map display device that displays map information on a display screen.

Background art

[0002] Generally, a navigation device displays a predetermined range of map information on a display device centering on the current position of a moving body such as a vehicle. The user can know the current position of the vehicle by viewing the displayed map information.

[0003] When the user approaches the destination, for example, in order to obtain more detailed map information, the user wants to display enlarged map information about the vicinity of the destination in the currently displayed map information. There is a case. Conventionally, in such a case, the user operates a button arranged on the navigation device to scroll the displayed map information to a position near the destination, and then enlarges the predetermined range. Map information was displayed. However, as the number of navigation devices has increased, the number of buttons arranged has increased, making it difficult for the user to reliably operate a number of buttons while driving. Patent Document 1 describes a technique for executing a command assigned in accordance with the movement direction of a finger in accordance with the movement of the finger on a display screen.

[0004] However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is used only when a predetermined command is executed.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-165733

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0006] Examples of problems to be solved by the present invention include the above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a map display device with improved operability when displaying map information.

[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, a map display device displays a table for displaying map information on a display screen. Display means, input means by a touch panel provided on the display screen, and a predetermined range on the map determined based on the position touched by the user of the touch panel, enlarged map information is displayed on the display screen And a control means for displaying.

[0008] The map display device described above is suitably applied to a navigation device for a moving body such as a vehicle, and includes a display means, an input means, and a control means. The display means displays map information on a display screen. The input means is a touch panel provided on the display screen. The control means displays enlarged map information on the display screen for a predetermined range on the map determined based on the position touched by the user of the touch panel. As a result, the user can scroll and enlarge the map information that is to be operated one by one with the provided buttons, thereby improving the operability.

[0009] In one aspect of the map display device, the control means is surrounded by a rectangle having a diagonal line connecting a position where the user of the touch panel first touches and a position where the user of the touch panel stops the touch. For the range on the map, the enlarged map information is displayed on the display screen. As a result, the user can freely change the range to be enlarged while viewing the display screen.

[0010] In another aspect of the map display device described above, the control means may include a range on the map surrounded by a rectangle having a diagonal line connecting two points touched by a user of the touch panel. The enlarged map information is displayed on the display screen. As a result, the user can perform the enlarged display only by specifying two points on the display screen, and thus can quickly perform the enlarged display of the map information.

[0011] In another aspect of the above map display device, the control means is an enlarged map of a range on a map surrounded by a rectangle defined by four points touched by a user of the touch panel. Information is displayed on the display screen. As a result, the user can designate four points on the display screen, so that the enlarged display and range can be determined with great care.

[0012] In another aspect of the map display device, the control means obtains a minimum circumscribed circle circumscribing a closed curved path traced by the user of the touch panel while touching, and the circumscribed circle described above. The map area bounded by the smallest square that circumscribes Map information is displayed on the display screen. As a result, the user can specify the part on the map to be enlarged and displayed more intuitively by touching with a finger or the like and tracing it with a closed curve. it can.

[0013] In another aspect of the present invention, a map display method includes a display step of displaying map information on a display screen, an input step using a touch panel provided on the display screen, and a user of the touch panel. And a control step of displaying enlarged map information on the display screen for a predetermined range on the map determined based on the position. According to this, the user can scroll and enlarge the map information without operating the provided buttons one by one, so that the operability can be improved.

[0014] In still another aspect of the present invention, a map display program executed by a navigation device including a computer includes display means for displaying map information on a display screen, and input by a touch panel provided on the display screen. And a control means for displaying enlarged map information on the display screen for a predetermined range on the map determined based on the position touched by the user of the touch panel. The above map display device can be realized by causing the computer in the navigation device to execute this map display program. The map display program can be handled in a state stored in a storage medium.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a navigation device.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of map display processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an example of displaying map information in the map display processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows an example of display of map information in the map display process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of map display processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows an example of display of map information in the map display process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows an example of displaying map information in the map display processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of map display processing according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows an example of displaying map information in the map display process according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows an example of displaying map information in the map display processing according to the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of map display processing according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 shows an example of displaying map information in the map display process according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows an example of displaying map information in the map display processing according to the fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

[0016] 1. · Navigation device

22 · ·-CPU

23 ·--ROM

24 ·--RAM

36 · · · Data storage unit

44 · “Display

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following description shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a vehicle navigation apparatus.

[0018] (Navigation device)

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the navigation device 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 includes a self-supporting positioning device 10, a GPS receiver 18, a system controller 20, a disk drive 3 1, a data storage unit 36, a communication interface 37, a communication device 38, a display unit 40, An audio output unit 50 and an input device 60 are provided.

The independent positioning device 10 includes an acceleration sensor 11, an angular velocity sensor 12, and a distance sensor 13. The acceleration sensor 11 is made of, for example, a piezoelectric element, detects the acceleration of the vehicle, and outputs acceleration data. The angular velocity sensor 12 is composed of, for example, a vibrating gyroscope, detects the angular velocity of the vehicle when the direction of the vehicle is changed, and outputs angular velocity data and relative azimuth data. The distance sensor 13 measures a vehicle speed pulse consisting of a pulse signal generated with the rotation of the vehicle wheel.

[0020] The GPS receiver 18 receives radio waves 19 carrying downlink data including positioning data from a plurality of GPS satellites. The positioning data is used to detect the absolute position of the vehicle from latitude and longitude information.

[0021] The system controller 20 includes an interface 21, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 22, It includes Γ and controls the entire navigation device 1.

The interface 21 performs an interface operation with the acceleration sensor 11, the angular velocity sensor 12, the distance sensor 13 and the GPS receiver 18. From these, vehicle speed pulses, acceleration data, relative bearing data, angular velocity data, GPS positioning data, absolute bearing data, and the like are input to the system controller 20. The CPU 22 controls the entire system controller 20. The ROM 23 includes a nonvolatile memory (not shown) in which a control program for controlling the system controller 20 is stored. The RAM 24 stores various data such as route data set in advance by the user via the input device 60 so as to be readable, and provides a working area to the CPU 22.

[0023] The system controller 20, a disk drive 31 such as a CD-ROM drive or a DVD-ROM drive, a data storage unit 36, a communication interface 37, a display unit 40, an audio output unit 50, and an input device 60 are a bus line 30 Are connected to each other via

The disk drive 31 reads and outputs content data such as music data and video data from a disk 33 such as a CD or DVD under the control of the system controller 20. The disk drive 31 may be either a CD-ROM drive or a DVD-ROM drive, or may be a CD and DVD compatible drive.

[0025] The data storage unit 36 is configured by, for example, an HDD, and stores various data used for navigation processing such as map data and facility data. Details of the map data will be described later.

[0026] The communication device 38 includes, for example, an FM tuner, a beacon receiver, a mobile phone, a dedicated communication card, and the like, and is distributed from a VICS (Vehicle Information Communication System) center via the communication interface 37. Receive road traffic information such as traffic jams and traffic information, and other information.

[0027] The display unit 40 displays various display data on a display device such as a display under the control of the system controller 20. Specifically, the system controller 20 Read map data from memory unit 36. The display unit 40 displays the map data read from the data storage unit 36 by the system controller 20 on a display screen such as a display. The display unit 40 includes a graphic controller 41 that controls the entire display unit 40 based on control data sent from the CPU 22 via the bus line 30 and image information that can be displayed immediately, such as a VRAM (Video RAM). A buffer memory 42 that temporarily stores, a display controller 43 that controls display of a display 44 such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) based on image data output from the graphic controller 41, and a display 44 Prepare. The display 44 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device having a diagonal angle of about 5 to 10 inches and is mounted near the front panel in the vehicle.

[0028] The audio output unit 50 controls the DZA (Digital to Digital) of audio digital data sent via the bus line 30 under the control of the system controller 20 under the control of the CD-ROM drive 31 or DVD_R0M32 or RAM24. Analog) D / A converter 51, amplifier (AMP) 52 that amplifies the audio analog signal output from D / A converter 51, and the amplified audio analog signal is converted into audio and output to the vehicle And a speaker 53 to be configured.

[0029] The input device 60 includes keys, switches, buttons, a remote controller, a voice input device, and the like for inputting various commands and data. The input device 60 is arranged around the front panel and the display 44 of the main body of the in-vehicle electronic system mounted in the vehicle. When the display 44 is a touch panel system, the touch panel provided on the display screen of the display 44 also functions as the input device 60.

In the map display device of the present invention, the display 44 functions as a display unit, and a touch panel provided on the screen of the display 44 functions as an input unit. Therefore, in the following description, touching the display screen of the display 44 means touching the touch panel.

[0031] The map display device of the present invention is realized by the CPU 22 of the navigation device 1 executing a program stored in advance in the ROM 23 or the like. Therefore, the CPU 22 functions as a control means in the present invention.

[0032] [First embodiment] The map display process performed by the map display device according to the first embodiment will be specifically described. 2 is a flowchart of the map display process according to the first embodiment, and FIGS. 3 to 4 are examples of the map information shown on the display screen of the display 44 in each step of the map display process according to the first embodiment. Show.

First, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the display screen of the display 44 has been touched (step Sl l). This operation is an input waiting operation, and the CPU 22 continues this operation until it determines that the display screen of the display 44 is touched (step S11: No).

[0034] If the CPU 22 determines that the display screen of the display 44 has been touched (step S11: Yes), the CPU 22 determines whether or not the display mode of the map information is the enlarged mode (step S12). The CPU 22 performs an enlarged display of the map information when in the enlarged mode, and performs a simple scroll display when not in the enlarged mode. Whether or not the enlargement mode is set is determined by the user operating a button attached to the navigation device 1 or a button displayed on the display screen in advance. That is, whether or not the enlargement mode is set is determined in advance by the user and stored in the RAM 24 or the like. If the CPU 22 determines that the display mode of the map information is not the enlarged mode (step S12: No), the map information centered on the position coordinates on the map information is changed to the currently displayed map information. After displaying at the same scale, ie, scrolling (step S19), the process is terminated.

[0035] When the CPU 22 determines that the map information display mode is the enlargement mode (step S12: Yes), as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the point A first touched by the user A The position coordinates ( _α , β) on the map are stored in the RAM 24 or the like (step S13).

[0036] Next, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the display screen of the display 44 is touched for a predetermined time or more (step S14), and determines that the touched time is shorter than the predetermined time. In such a case (step S14: No), it is determined that the pressing is wrong and the process returns to step S13. On the other hand, if the CPU 22 determines that the display screen of the display 44 is touched for a predetermined time or longer (step S14: Yes), it complements the points C and D as shown in Fig. 3 (b). Then, a rectangle Sq having a diagonal line connecting the currently touched point B and the first touched point A is drawn (step S15). In other words, the user touches the display screen with a finger etc. Tracing from A to point B, in step S14, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the time for the user to trace while touching the display screen exceeds a predetermined time. That is, the point B that is currently touched is the current position on the display screen that the user is tracing while touching. The map information power display screen in the range enclosed by the drawn rectangle Sq is enlarged and displayed.

[0037] Then, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the display screen of the display 44 is touched.

If it is determined that the touch has been made (step S16) (step S16: Yes), the process returns to step S15. That is, the user can change the size of the rectangle Sq by tapping the display screen with a finger or the like, and can freely determine the range to be enlarged while viewing the display screen. The predetermined time is stored in advance in the ROM 23 or the like.

[0038] If the CPU 22 determines that the touch has not been made (step S16: No), that is, if the user stops touching the display screen by releasing his / her finger or the like, as shown in FIG. In this way, the coordinates of the point on the map where the user stopped touching (γ ', 5 is stored in RAM24, etc., and a rectangle Sq with the line connecting the point and the point 点 that was first touched as a diagonal line It is determined that the enclosed range is the range that the user wants to enlarge.

Next, after determining the scale for enlarging and displaying the map information in the range surrounded by the rectangle Sq based on the size of the rectangle Sq, the CPU 22 (step S 17), FIG. 4 (b) As shown, the map information in the area surrounded by the rectangle Sq is enlarged (step S18).

[0040] As a specific method for performing this enlarged display, first, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the CPU 22 enlarges and displays the map information in the range surrounded by the rectangle Sq on the entire display screen. In this way, the scale of the map information in the range surrounded by the rectangle Sq is determined. That is, the CPU 22 determines the scale of the map information in the range surrounded by the rectangle Sq based on the enlargement ratio when the size of the rectangle Sq is enlarged to the size of the display screen. In practice, the rectangle Sq does not often resemble the display screen, so the enlargement ratio is similar to the enlargement of the rectangle Sq to the limit of the display screen, that is, the vertical dimension of the rectangle Sq. When the length is expanded to the vertical dimension of the display screen, or when the horizontal length of the rectangle Sq is expanded to the horizontal dimension of the display screen One of the enlargement rates is the enlargement rate. Next, the CPU 22 obtains the map data of the map information in the range surrounded by the rectangle Sq of the scale determined in this way from the map data stored in the data storage unit 36 and displays it on the display screen. To do. Thereafter, the CPU 22 ends the process.

[0041] As can be seen from the above, in the map display device according to the first embodiment, the CPU 22 connects the position where the user of the touch panel first touched and the position where the user of the touch panel stopped touching. The expanded map information is displayed on the display screen for the area on the map surrounded by the rectangle with the line as the diagonal line. In the map display device according to the first embodiment, the user can scroll and enlarge and display the map information without operating the provided buttons one by one, so that the operability can be improved. In addition, the user can freely change the range to be enlarged while viewing the display screen.

[0042] [Second Embodiment]

Next, the map display process performed by the map display device according to the second embodiment will be specifically described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the map display process according to the second embodiment, and FIGS. 6 to 7 show examples of map information shown on the display screen of the display 44 in each step of the map display process according to the second embodiment. .

[0043] The operation of CPU 22 in step S21, step S22, and step S28 is the same as the operation of CPU 22 in step S11, step S12, and step S19 in the first embodiment.

[0044] In step S22, if the CPU 22 determines that the display mode of the map information is the enlarged mode (step S22: Yes), the user touches as shown in Fig. 6 (a). The position coordinates (a, b) of the point A on the map information are stored in the RAM 24 and drawn on the display screen (step S23).

Next, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the display screen has been touched by the user by one more point, that is, a total of two points (step S24). If the CPU 22 determines that the two-point touch has not been made (step S24: No), the CPU 22 returns to step S23 and continues the operations in steps S23 to S24 until one more point is touched.

As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the CPU 22 further touches the position of the point B by the user, If it is determined that the display screen has been touched at 2 points (step S24: Yes), the location coordinates (c, d) of the point B touched by the user on the map information are stored in the RAM 24 etc. Draw on the display screen. Then, as shown in FIG. 7A, the CPU 22 draws a rectangle Sq2 having a diagonal line connecting the point A touched first by the user and the point B touched next (step S25).

Next, the CPU 22 determines that the range surrounded by the rectangle Sq2 is a range that the user wants to enlarge and displays, based on the size of the rectangle Sq2, the map information of the range surrounded by the rectangle Sq2. After determining the scale ratio for enlarged display (step S26), as shown in FIG. 7 (b), the map information in the range surrounded by the rectangle Sq2 is enlarged (step S27). The CPU 22 determines the scale ratio of the map information and displays the enlarged image in the same manner as the specific method for performing the enlarged display described in the first embodiment. Thereafter, the CPU 22 ends the process.

[0048] As can be seen from the above, in the map display device according to the second embodiment, the CPU 22 has a range on the map surrounded by a rectangle having a diagonal line connecting two points touched by the user of the touch panel. The enlarged map information is displayed on the display screen. Also in the map display device according to the second embodiment, the user can scroll and enlarge the map information without operating the provided buttons one by one, so that the operability can be improved. In addition, the user can perform enlarged display simply by specifying two points on the display screen, so that the map information can be enlarged and displayed quickly.

[0049] [Third embodiment]

Next, the map display process performed by the map display device according to the third embodiment will be specifically described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the map display process according to the third embodiment, and FIGS. 9 to 10 are examples of map information shown on the display screen of the display 44 in each step of the map display process according to the third embodiment. Show.

[0050] The operation of the CPU 22 in steps S32 and S38 from step S31 is the same as the operation of the CPU 22 in steps S11 to S12 and S19 in the first embodiment.

[0051] In step S32, the CPU 22 sets the map information display mode to the enlargement mode. If it is determined that it is determined (step S32: Yes), the CPU 22 determines the position coordinates (a, b) on the map information of the point A touched by the user as shown in FIG. 9 (a). Is stored in the RAM 24 or the like and drawn (step S33).

[0052] Next, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the display screen has been touched by a total of four points (step S34). If the CPU 22 determines that the four-point touch has not been made (step S34: No), it returns to step S33 and continues the operations of step S33 to step S34 until a total of four points are touched. In step 33, each time the CPU 22 is touched by the user, the position coordinates of the touched point are stored in the RAM 24 and drawn on the display screen.

[0053] When the CPU 22 determines that the positions of points B, C, and D are further touched by the user and the display screen is touched in total, as shown in FIG. 9 (b). (Step S34: Y es), find the minimum and maximum values of the X coordinate and the minimum and maximum values of the Y coordinate in the position coordinates of the four points. Next, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), the CPU 22 uses the minimum value a of the X coordinate a, the minimum value b of the Y coordinate b as coordinates, the maximum value c of the AX coordinate c, and the minimum value b of the Y coordinate as coordinates. Points to be drawn Cx coordinate maximum value c, Y coordinate maximum value h Coordinate point BX coordinate minimum value a, Y coordinate maximum value h Draw a rectangle Sq3 with ΕΤ as a vertex (Step S35). Here, a rectangle with a diagonal line connecting the point with the minimum value of the X coordinate and the minimum value of the Y coordinate and the point with the maximum value of the X coordinate and the maximum value of the Y coordinate as a coordinate is displayed. It's fine to draw on the screen. This also draws the rectangle Sq3 on the display screen.

Next, the CPU 22 determines that the range surrounded by the rectangle Sq3 is a range that the user wants to enlarge and displays, based on the size of the rectangle Sq3, the map information of the range surrounded by the rectangle Sq3. After determining the scale ratio for the enlarged display (step S36), as shown in FIG. 10 (b), the map information in the range surrounded by the rectangle Sq3 is enlarged and displayed (step S37). The CPU 22 determines the scale ratio of the map information and displays the enlarged image in the same manner as the specific method for performing the enlarged display described in the first embodiment.

[0055] As can be seen from the above, in the map display device according to the third embodiment, the CPU 22 enlarges the range on the map surrounded by the rectangle defined by the four points touched by the user of the touch panel. The map information is displayed on the display screen. Map display according to the third embodiment Also in the device, the user can scroll and enlarge the map information without operating the provided buttons one by one, so that the operability can be improved. In addition, the user can specify the four points on the display screen to determine the range to be enlarged in detail.

[0056] [Fourth embodiment]

Next, the map display process performed by the map display device according to the fourth embodiment will be specifically described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the map display process according to the fourth embodiment, and FIGS. 12 to 13 show examples of the map information displayed on the display screen of the display 44 in each step of the map display process according to the fourth embodiment. .

The operation of CPU 22 in steps S 42 and S 50 from step S 41 is the same as the operation of CPU 22 in steps S 11 to S 12 and step S 19 in the first embodiment.

[0058] In step S42, if the CPU 22 determines that the map information display mode is in the enlargement mode (step S42: Yes), the CPU 22 is indicated by an arrow in FIG. In this way, the position coordinates of the trajectory traced while being touched by the user are stored in the RAM 24 or the like and drawn on the display screen (step S43).

[0059] Next, the CPU 22 determines whether or not it is touched (step S44). If it is determined that it is touched (step S44: Yes), the process returns to step S43. That is, the CPU 22 stores the position coordinates of the trace traced by the user in the RAM 24 or the like and draws it on the display screen until the user stops touching the display screen.

[0060] When the CPU 22 determines that the touch has not been reached (step S44: No), the CPU 22 determines whether or not the trajectory traced by the user becomes a closed section (step S45). ). If the CPU 22 determines that the trace traced while being touched by the user is not a closed section (step S45: No), the CPU 22 returns to step S43. That is, the CPU 22 repeats the operations from step S43 to step S45 until the trajectory traced while being touched by the user becomes a closed section.

[0061] If the CPU 22 determines that the trajectory traced by the user is a closed section (step S45: Yes), it is a closed section as shown in Fig. 12 (b). Trajectory A minimum circumscribed circle Crl circumscribing Trc is obtained (step S46). Next, as shown in FIG. 13A, the CPU 22 obtains the smallest square Sq4 circumscribing the circumscribed circle Crl (step S47).

[0062] Next, the CPU 22 determines that the range surrounded by the square Sq4 is a range that the user wants to enlarge and displays, based on the size of the square Sq4, a map of the range surrounded by the square Sq4. After determining the scale factor for displaying the information in an enlarged manner (step S48), as shown in FIG. 13 (b), the map information in the area surrounded by the square Sq4 is enlarged (step S49). Note that the CPU 22 determines the scale of the map information and performs enlarged display in the same manner as the specific method for performing enlarged display described in the first embodiment. That is, as shown in FIG. 13 (b), the CPU 22 reduces the scale of the map information in the area surrounded by the square Sq4 so that the map information in the area surrounded by the square Sq4 is enlarged and displayed on the entire display screen. To decide. That is, the CPU 22 determines the scale of the map information in the area surrounded by the square Sq4 based on the enlargement ratio when the size of the square Sq4 is enlarged to the size of the display screen, and then stores it in the data storage unit 36. From the determined map data, map data of the map information in the range surrounded by the determined scale square Sq4 is acquired and displayed on the display screen.

[0063] As can be seen from the above, in the map display device according to the fourth embodiment, the CPU 22 obtains the smallest circumscribed circle circumscribing the closed curved path traced while the user of the touch panel touched, The enlarged map information is displayed on the display screen for the area on the map surrounded by the smallest square that circumscribes the circumscribed circle. Also in the map display apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, the user can scroll and enlarge the map information without operating the provided buttons one by one, so that the operability can be improved. In addition, the user can specify the part on the map to be enlarged and displayed more intuitively by touching with a finger or the like and tracing it with a closed curve. .

[0064] As described in the first to fourth embodiments, the map display device of the present invention includes display means for displaying map information on a display screen, and a touch panel provided on the display screen. The display means displays on the display screen enlarged map information for a predetermined range on the map determined based on the input means by the screen and the position touched by the user of the touch panel. And means. Thus, the user can scroll and enlarge the map information without operating the provided buttons one by one, so that the operability can be improved.

[0065] [Modification]

Note that the map display device of the present invention may be realized by starting the program of the present invention on a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) or a personal computer on a desk instead of using only a car navigation device. Needless to say, no. In this case, the user can determine the range to be enlarged on the map as described in the first to fourth embodiments by using an input pen or a mouse.

Industrial applicability

[0066] The present invention can be used in a navigation apparatus for a moving body represented by a vehicle or the like.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] Display means for displaying map information on a display screen;

Input means by a touch panel provided on the display screen;

A map display device comprising: control means for displaying enlarged map information on the display screen for a predetermined range on the map determined based on a position touched by a user of the touch panel.

[2] The control means, for a range on the map surrounded by a rectangle with a diagonal line connecting a position where the user of the touch panel first touched and a position where the user of the touch panel stopped the touch, 2. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the enlarged map information is displayed on the display screen.

[3] The control means displays enlarged map information on the display screen for a range on a map surrounded by a rectangle having a diagonal line connecting two points touched by a user of the touch panel. The map display device according to claim 1.

[4] The control means may display enlarged map information on the display screen for a range on a map surrounded by a rectangle defined by four points touched by a user of the touch panel. The map display device according to claim 1.

[5] The control means obtains a minimum circumscribed circle circumscribing the locus of the closed curve traced while the user of the touch panel touches, and determines a range on the map surrounded by the smallest square circumscribed by the circumscribed circle. 2. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the enlarged map information is displayed on the display screen.

[6] A display process for displaying map information on the display screen;

An input step by a touch panel provided on the display screen;

And a control step of displaying enlarged map information on the display screen for a predetermined range determined on the basis of a position touched by a user of the touch panel.

[7] A map display program executed by a navigation device equipped with a computer,

Display means for displaying map information on a display screen, and a touch panel provided on the display screen The computer is caused to function as input means by a channel and control means for displaying enlarged map information on the display screen for a predetermined range on the map determined based on the position touched by the user of the touch panel. A map display program characterized by 8. A recording medium on which the map display program according to claim 7 is recorded.