Map display apparatus

A map display apparatus comprising:

• a map data memory which stores map data necessary for drawing a map of a predetermined region;
• and
• a map display which reads map data out of the map data memory and draws a bird's-eye view display by projecting the map data read out from the map data memory onto a projection plane which makes a projection angle with a plane of the map data read out from the map data memory, the projection angle being greater than 0° and less than 90°;
• wherein the map display displays an artificial sky area in a portion of the bird's-eye view display.

A map display apparatus comprising:

• memory means for storing map data necessary for drawing a map of a predetermined region;
• map display means for displaying a bird's-eye view map by converting a perspective of map data read out from the memory means;
• and
• background display means for displaying an artificial background region including a horizontal line and a sky in an upper region of the bird's-eye view map;
• wherein the background display means changes at least one of a color and a pattern of the artificial background region in accordance with at least one ON/OFF state signal of equipment of a car.

A map display apparatus comprising:

• a memory which stores map data necessary for drawing a map of a predetermined region;
• a map display which displays a bird's-eye view map by converting a perspective of map data read out from the memory;
• and
• a background display which displays an artificial background region including a horizontal line and a sky in an upper region of the bird's-eye view map;
• wherein the background display changes at least one of a color and a pattern of the artificial background region in accordance with at least one ON/OFF state signal of equipment of a car.

A map display apparatus comprising:

• memory means for storing map data necessary for drawing a map of a predetermined region;
• map display means for displaying a bird's-eye view map by converting a perspective of map data read out from the memory means;
• and
• background display means for displaying an artificial background region including a horizontal line and a sky in an upper region of the bird's-eye view map;
• wherein the background display means changes at least one of a color and a pattern of the artificial background region in accordance with a signal inputted from a car having the map display apparatus mounted thereto or an internal condition of the car.

A map display apparatus comprising:

• a memory which stores map data necessary for drawing a map of a predetermined region;
• a map display which displays a bird's-eye view map by converting a perspective of map data read out from the memory;
• and
• a background display which displays an artificial background region including a horizontal line and a sky in an upper region of the bird's-eye view map;
• wherein the background display changes at least one of a color and a pattern of the artificial background region in accordance with a signal inputted from a car having the map display apparatus mounted thereto or an internal condition of the car.

A map display apparatus comprising:

• a memory which stores map data necessary for drawing a map of a predetermined region;
• a map display which displays a bird's-eye view map by converting a perspective of map data read out from the memory;
• and
• a background display which displays an artificial background region including a horizontal line and a sky in an upper region of the bird's-eye view map display;
• wherein the background display changes at least one of a color and a pattern of the artificial background region in accordance with real present time.

A map display apparatus comprising:

• a memory which stores map data necessary for drawing a map of a predetermined region;
• a map display which displays a bird's-eye view map by converting a perspective of map data read out from the memory;
• and
• a background display which displays an artificial background region including a horizontal line and a sky in an upper region of the bird's-eye view map;
• wherein the background display changes at least one of a color and a pattern of the artificial background region in accordance with received weather information about real present weather conditions.

A car navigation apparatus comprising:

• a map data memory which stores map data;
• a present position detector which detects a present position of a car;
• a map display which reads out map data for a region including the present position of the car from the map data memory and displays a bird's-eye view map by converting a perspective of the map data read out from the map data memory;
• a car position display controller which displays the present position of the car detected by the present position detector on the bird's-eye view map;
• and
• a background display which displays an artificial background including a sky in an upper region of the bird's-eye view map;
• wherein the background display displays the sky with at least one of a color and a pattern representative of environmental conditions around the car in accordance with operational information of equipment of the car.