Map display device, navigation device and map display method

Claim 2

The map display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the map constituent contains a mark having a two-dimensional shape or three-dimensional shape.

Claim 3

The map display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said map constituent specifying unit specifies a desired map constituent on the basis of a user's instruction which is input through an input device.

Claim 4

The map display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said projection mode changing means changes a projection mode for projecting onto the plane a desired map constituent specified by said map constituent specifying unit or another map constituent located nearer to the predetermined view point than the desired map constituent so that the desired constituent is displayed while seen through the other map constituent.

Claim 5

The map display device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the map constituent contains a mark having a two-dimensional shape or three-dimensional shape.

Claim 6

The map display device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said map constituent specifying unit specifies a desired map constituent on the basis of a user's instruction which is input through an input device.

Claim 7

The map display device as claimed claim 1, wherein said projection mode changing means changes a projection mode for projecting onto the plane a desired map constituent specified by said map constituent specifying unit so that the desired constituent is displayed in front of another map constituent which is nearer to the predetermined view point than the desired map constituent.

Claim 8

The map display device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the map constituent contains a mark having a two-dimensional shape or three-dimensional shape.

Claim 9

The map display device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said map constituent specifying unit specifies a desired map constituent on the basis of a user's instruction which is input through an input device.

Claim 10

The map display device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said projection mode changing means changes a display attribute of a desired map constituent specified by said map constituent specifying unit so that the map constituent is displayed with a predetermined pattern, color or line type,

Claim 11

The map display device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the map constituent contains a mark having a two-dimensional shape or three-dimensional shape.

Claim 12

The map display device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said map constituent specifying unit specifies a desired map constituent on the basis of a user's instruction which is input through an input device.

Claim 13

The map display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said projection mode changing means changes a projection mode for projecting onto the plane another map constituent located nearer to the predetermined view point than a desired map constituent which is specified by said map constituent specifying unit so that the other map constituent is not projected onto the plane.

Claim 14

The map display device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the map constituent contains a mark having a two-dimensional shape or three-dimensional shape.

Claim 15

The map display device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said map constituent specifying unit specifies a desired map constituent on the basis of a user's instruction which is input through an input device.

Claim 16

The map display device as claimed in claim 13, said projection mode changing means projects onto the plane the occupation area of the other map constituent on the ground plane in place of the projection of the other map constituent onto the plane.

Claim 17

The map display device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the map constituent contains a mark having a two-dimensional shape or three-dimensional shape.

Claim 18

The map display device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said map constituent specifying unit specifies a desired map constituent on the basis of a user's instruction which is input through an input device.

Claim 19

The map display device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said projection mode changing means displays the name of the other map constituent on the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map in place of the other map constituent.

Claim 20

The map display device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the map constituent contains a mark having a two-dimensional shape or three-dimensional shape.

Claim 21

The map display device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said map constituent specifying unit specifies a desired map constituent on the basis of a user's instruction which is input through an input device.

Claim 22

A map display device for display a map on a display frame, including: a map storage unit for storing three-dimensional data of plural map constituents which constitute a three-dimensional map; a map constituent specifying unit for specifying a desired map constituent; and a map display unit for projecting each map constituent specified by the three-dimensional data stored in said map storage unit onto a plane from a desired view point to form a three-dimensional bird's-eye view map, and displaying the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map on the display frame, wherein said map display unit includes view-point position changing means for changing the position of the predetermined view-point position to a position where a desired map constituent specified by said map constituent specifying unit is displayed on the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map when the desired map constituent is hidden by another map constituent nearer to the predetermined view point than the desired map constituent concerned and thus the desired map constituent is not displayed on the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map.

Claim 23

The map display device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the map constituent contains a mark having a two-dimensional shape or three-dimensional shape.

Claim 24

The map display device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said map constituent specifying unit specifies a desired map constituent on the basis of a user's instruction which is input through an input device.

Claim 25

A map display device for display a map on a display frame, including: a map storage unit for storing three-dimensional data of plural map constituents which constitute a three-dimensional map; a map constituent specifying unit for specifying a desired map constituent; and a map display unit for projecting each map constituent specified by the three-dimensional data stored in said map storage unit onto a plane from a desired view point to form a three-dimensional bird's-eye view map, and displaying the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map on the display frame, wherein said map display unit includes two-dimensional map display means for forming a two-dimensional map on the basis of the two-dimensional data of each map constituent and displaying the two-dimensional map on the display frame in place of the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map when a desired map constituent specified by said map constituent specifying unit is hidden by another map constituent nearer to the predetermined view point than the desired map constituent concerned and thus the desired map constituent is not displayed on the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map.

Claim 26

The map display device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the map constituent contains a mark having a two-dimensional shape or three-dimensional shape.

Claim 27

The map display device as claimed in claim 25, wherein said map constituent specifying unit specifies a desired map constituent on the basis of a user's instruction which is input through an input device.

Claim 28

A map display device for display a map on a display frame, including: a map storage unit for storing three-dimensional data of plural map constituents which constitute a three-dimensional map; a map constituent specifying unit for specifying a desired map constituent; and a map display unit for projecting each map constituent specified by the three-dimensional data stored in said map storage unit onto a plane from a desired view point to form a three-dimensional bird's-eye view map, and displaying the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map on the display frame, wherein said map display unit includes two-dimensional map bird's-eye view display means for forming on the basis of the two-dimensional data of each map constituent, a two-dimensional bird's-eye view map obtained by viewing a two-dimensional map from a predetermined view point, and displaying the two-dimensional bird's-eye view map on the display frame in place of the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map when a desired map constituent specified by said map constituent specifying unit is hidden by another map constituent nearer to the predetermined view point than the desired map constituent concerned and thus the desired map constituent is not displayed on the three-dimensional birds-eye view map.

Claim 29

The map display device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the map constituent contains a mark having a two-dimensional shape or three-dimensional shape.

Claim 30

The map display device as claimed in claim 28, wherein said map constituent specifying unit specifies a desired map constituent on the basis of a user's instruction which is input through an input device.

Claim 31

A map display device for display a map on a display frame, including: a map storage unit for storing three-dimensional data of plural map constituents which constitute a three-dimensional map; a map constituent specifying unit for specifying a desired map constituent; and a map display unit for projecting each map constituent specified by the three-dimensional data stored in said map storage unit onto a plane from a desired view point to form a three-dimensional bird's-eye view map, and displaying the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map on the display frame, wherein said map display unit includes duplicative display means for forming a two-dimensional map on the basis of the two-dimensional data of each map constituent and displaying the two-dimensional map on the display frame together with the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map when a desired map constituent specified by said map constituent specifying unit is hidden by another map constituent nearer to the predetermined view point than the desired map constituent concerned and thus the desired map constituent is not displayed on the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map.

Claim 32

The map display device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the map constituent contains a mark having a two-dimensional shape or three-dimensional shape.

Claim 33

The map display device as claimed in claim 31, wherein said map constituent specifying unit specifies a desired map constituent on the basis of a user's instruction which is input through an input device.

Claim 34

A map display device for display a map on a display frame, including: a map storage unit for storing three-dimensional data of plural map constituents which constitute a three-dimensional map; a map constituent specifying unit for specifying a desired map constituent; and a map display unit for projecting each map constituent specified by the three-dimensional data stored in said map storage unit onto a plane from a desired view point to form a three-dimensional bird's-eye view map, and displaying the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map on the display frame, wherein said map display unit includes duplicative display means for forming on the basis of the two-dimensional data of each map constituent, a two-dimensional bird's-eye view map obtained by viewing a two-dimensional map from a predetermined view point, and displaying the two-dimensional bird's-eye view map on the display frame together with the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map when a desired map constituent specified by said map constituent specifying unit is hidden by another map constituent nearer to the predetermined view point than the desired map constituent concerned and thus the desired map constituent is not displayed on the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map.

Claim 35

The map display device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the map constituent contains a mark having a two-dimensional shape or three-dimensional shape.

Claim 36

The map display device as claimed in claim 34, wherein said map constituent specifying unit specifies a desired map constituent on the basis of a user's instruction which is input through an input device.

Claim 37

A map display device for display a map on a display frame, including: a map storage unit for storing three-dimensional data of plural map constituents which constitute a three-dimensional map; a map constituent specifying unit for specifying a desired map constituent; and a map display unit for projecting each map constituent specified by the three-dimensional data stored in said map storage unit onto a plane from a desired view point to form a first three-dimensional bird's-eye view map, and displaying the first three-dimensional birds-eye view map on the display frame, wherein said map display unit includes duplicative display means for forming a second three-dimensional bird's-eye view map obtained by projecting each of the map constituents onto a plane from a view point at which a desired map constituent specified by said map constituent specifying unit can be viewed, and displaying the second three-dimensional birds-eye view map on the display frame together with the first three-dimensional birds-eye view map when the desired map constituent is hidden by another map constituent nearer to the desired view point than the desired map constituent concerned and thus the desired map constituent is not displayed on the first three-dimensional bird's-eye view map.

Claim 38

The map display device as claimed in claim 37, wherein the map constituent contains a mark having a two-dimensional shape or three-dimensional shape.

Claim 39

The map display device as claimed in claim 37, wherein said map constituent specifying unit specifies a desired map constituent on the basis of a user's instruction which is input through an input device.

Claim 40

A navigation device for displaying on a display frame a map and a vehicle position on the map, including: a map storing unit for storing three-dimensional data of plural map constituents constituting a three-dimensional map; a vehicle position detecting unit for detecting the vehicle position; and a map display unit for projecting each map constituent specified by the three-dimensional data stored in said map storage unit onto a plane from a desired view point to form a three-dimensional birds-eye view map, and displaying the three-dimensional birds-eye view map on the display frame, wherein said map display unit includes projection mode changing means for changing a projection mode for projecting onto the plane a vehicle position detected by said vehicle position detecting unit or another map constituent nearer to the predetermined view point than the vehicle position so that the vehicle position is displayed on the display frame even in such a case that the vehicle position is hidden by the other map constituent and thus the vehicle position is not displayed on the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map.

Claim 41

The navigation device as claimed in claim 40, further including: destination setting unit for setting a destination; and a route detecting unit for detecting a route connecting the vehicle position detected by said vehicle position detecting unit and the destination set by said destination setting unit, wherein said projection mode changing means changes a projection mode for projecting onto the plane a route detected by said route detecting unit or a map constituent nearer to the predetermined view point than the route so that the route is displayed on the display frame even in such a case that the route is hidden by the map constituent and thus the route is not displayed on the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map.

Claim 42

A navigation device for displaying on a display frame a map and a destination on the map, including: a map storing unit for storing three-dimensional data of plural map constituents constituting a three-dimensional map; a destination setting unit for setting a destination; and a map display unit for projecting each map constituent specified by the three-dimensional data stored in said map storage unit onto a plane from a desired view point to form a three-dimensional bird's-eye view map, and displaying the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map on the display frame, wherein said map display unit includes projection mode changing means for changing a projection mode for projecting onto the plane a destination set by said destination setting unit or a map constituent nearer to the predetermined view point than the destination so that the destination is displayed on the display frame even in such a case that the destination is hidden by the map constituent and thus the destination is not displayed on the three-dimensional bird's-eye view map.

Claim 43

A map display device for displaying on a display frame a map and appendant information of map constituents constituting the map, including: map information storing means of storing the three-dimensional information of the map constituents; appendant information storing means for storing the appendant information of the map constituents stored in said map information storing means; three-dimensional map forming means for forming a three-dimensional map, in which map constituents are arranged on a three-dimensional coordinate system, on the basis of the information stored in said map information storing means; view-point setting means for setting a view-point position to form a projection map of the three-dimensional map formed by said three-dimensional map forming means; projection map forming means for forming a projection map which is obtained by viewing the three-dimensional map formed by said three-dimensional map forming means from the view-pint position set by said view-point setting means; read-out means for reading out the appendant information corresponding to a map constituent displayed on the projection map formed by said projection map forming means; display area detection means for detecting the display area on the projection map of the map constituent which is displayed on the projection map formed by said projection map forming means; display area setting means for setting the display area on the projection map of the appendant information corresponding to the map constituent detected by said display area detection means on the basis of the display area of the map constituent; adding means for adding the appendant information onto the display area thereof which is set by said display area setting means; and display means for displaying on the display area the projection map which is added with the appendant information by said adding means.

Claim 44

The map display device as claimed in claim 43, wherein said adding means has layout setting means for setting a layout of the appendant information so that the appendant information is accommodated within the display area of the appendant information which is set by said display area setting means.

Claim 45

The map display device as claimed in claim 43, wherein said display area setting means sets the display area of the appendant information corresponding to a map constituent detected by said display area detection means within the display area of the map constituent.

Claim 46

The map display apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein when the position of the view point is changed by said view-point setting means so that the distance between the view point and any one of the map constituents on the three-dimensional map is substantially equal to a constant value, said display area setting means keeps the display area of the appendant information corresponding to said any one of the map constituents as it is, the display area being set before the view-point position is changed.

Claim 47

The map display device as claimed in claim 45, wherein when the view-point position is changed by said view-point setting means, if the display area of the appendant information set before the view-point position is changed is located within the display area of the map constituent corresponding to the appendant information detected by said display area detection means after the view-point position is changed, said display area setting means keeps the display area of the appendant information set before the change of the view-pint position as it is.

Claim 48

The map display device as claimed in claim 45, further including judgment means for judging whether the appendant information set by said display area setting means can be displayed in a predetermined or more size within the display area of the appendant information, wherein if it is judged by said judgment means that the appendant information cannot be displayed within the display area of the appendant information, said display area setting means resets the display area of the appendant information in the neighborhood of the display area of the map constituent corresponding to the appendant information.

Claim 49

The map display device as claimed in claim 48, further including overlap detection means for detecting the overlap between the appendant information concerned and appendant information other than the appendant information concerned or map constituents other than the map constituent corresponding to the appendant information concerned, wherein when said overlap detection means detects the overlap, said display area setting means resets the display area of the appendant information so that the appendant information is not overlapped with appendant information other than the appendant information concerned or map constituents other than the map constituent corresponding to the appendant information concerned.

Claim 50

The map display device as claimed in claim 48, further including: overlap detection means for detecting the overlap between the appendant information concerned and appendant information other than the appendant information concerned or map constituents other than the map constituent corresponding to the appendant information concerned on the projection map which is added with the appendant information by said adding means, and priority order determining means for determining the priority order for the display of the overlap-detected appendant information or map constituent on the display frame when the overlap is detected by said overlap detection means, wherein said display means displays on the display frame the appendant information or map constituent having the highest priority determined by said priority order determining means in the overlap-detected appendant information or map constituents.

Claim 51

The map display device as claimed in claim 50, wherein said priority order determining means determines the priority order on the display frame on the basis of the map constituent corresponding to the appendant information for which the overlap is detected by said overlap detection means or the arrangement position on the three-dimensional map of the map constituent for which the overlap is detected by said overlap detection means.

Claim 52

The map display device as claimed in claim 50, wherein said priority order determining means determines the priority order on the display frame on the basis of the map constituent corresponding to the appendant information for which the overlap is detected by said overlap detection means or the type of map constituent for which the overlap is detected by said overlap detection means.

Claim 53

The map display device as claimed in claim 43, wherein said display area setting means sets the display area of the appendant information corresponding to a map constituent in the neighborhood of the display area of the map constituent detected by said display area detection means .

Claim 54

The map display device as claimed in claim 53, further including detection means for detecting the overlap between the appendant information concerned and appendant information other than the appendant information concerned or map constituents other than the map constituent corresponding to the appendant information concerned on the projection map which is added with the appendant information by said adding means, wherein when the overlap is detected by said overlap detection means, said display area setting means resets the display area of the appendant information so that the appendant information is not overlapped with appendant information other than the appendant information concerned or map constituents other than the map constituent corresponding to the appendant information concerned.

Claim 55

The map display device as claimed in claim 53, further including: overlap detection means for detecting the overlap between the appendant information concerned and appendant information other than the appendant information concerned or map constituents other than the map constituent corresponding to the appendant information concerned on the projection map which is added with the appendant information by said adding means, and priority order determining means for determining the priority order for the display of the overlap-detected appendant information or map constituent on the display frame when the overlap is detected by said overlap detection means, wherein said display means displays on the display frame the appendant information or map constituent having the highest priority determined by said priority order determining means in the overlap-detected appendant information or map constituents.

Claim 56

The map display device as claimed in claim 55, wherein said priority order determining means determines the priority order on the display frame on the basis of the map constituent corresponding to the appendant information for which the overlap is detected by said overlap detection means or the arrangement position on the three-dimensional map of the map constituent for which the overlap is detected by said overlap detection means.

Claim 57

The map display device as claimed in claim 55, wherein said priority order determining means determines the priority order on the display frame on the basis of the map constituent corresponding to the appendant information for which the overlap is detected by said overlap detection means or the type of map constituent for which the overlap is detected by said overlap detection means.

Claim 58

A map display method for displaying on a display frame a map and the appendant information of map constituents constituting the map, comprising steps of: on the basis of map storing means for storing three-dimensional information of map constituents, forming a three-dimensional map in which the map constituent maps are arranged on the three-dimensional coordinate system, and forming a projection view which is obtained by viewing the three-dimensional map from a view-point position; reading out the appendant information corresponding to a map constituent displayed on the projection map from information storing means for storing the appendant information of the map constituents stored in the map storing means; detecting the display area on the projection map of the map constituent displayed on the projection map, and on the basis of the detected display area, setting the display area on the projection map of the appendant information corresponding to the map constituent concerned; and adding the set appendant information onto the display area of the appendant information concerned, and displaying the projection map added with the appendant information concerned on the display frame.