Map display device

A map display device for three-dimensionally displaying a map of facilities including at least one of a building and a road on a screen, the map display device comprising display control means for three-dimensionally displaying, by using a polygon, a design that represents traffic regulation information at a predetermined height above ground on the map on the screen and road information receiver means for receiving road traffic information, wherein:

• the display control means displays the design in a form that corresponds to a view of the design seen from a viewing point on the map displayed on the screen;
• the display control means three-dimensionally displays at least part of a guidance line on the map;
• and
• the display control means three-dimensionally displays information such as traffic jam, congestion or vacancy on the road or along the road based upon traffic information received by the road information receiver means.

A map display device for three-dimensionally displaying a map of facilities including at least one of a building and a road on a screen, the map display device comprising display control means for three-dimensionally displaying, by using a polygon, a design that represents traffic regulation information at a predetermined height above ground on the map on the screen, wherein:

• the display control means displays the design in a form that corresponds to a view of the design seen from a viewing point on the map displayed on the screen;
• the display control means three-dimensionally displays at least part of a guidance line on the map;
• the display control means three-dimensionally displays each corresponding one of the facilities together with a facility identification mark on a surface of the facility;
• and
• the display control means displays an entrance/exit of each corresponding one of the three-dimensionally displayed facilities on a corresponding surface of the facility at a position that corresponds to a position of an entrance/exit of a corresponding real facility.

A map display device comprising:

• map data storage means for storing map data;
• display means for three-dimensionally displaying facilities on a map based upon the map data;
• and
• selecting means for selecting one of:
• a first display mode for displaying each of the facilities together with at least one character that represents a name of the facility on the map displayed on the display means;
• and
• a second display mode for displaying each of the facilities without displaying any character that represents a name of the facility, wherein when the selecting means selects the first display mode, each of the facilities is displayed in one of a three-dimensional form with a reduced height and a plane form.

A map display device comprising:

• map data storage means for storing map data;
• display means for three-dimensionally displaying facilities on a map based upon the map data;
• and
• selecting means for selecting one of:
• a first display mode for displaying each of facilities in a three-dimensional form without modifying a height of the facility together with at least one character that represents a name of the facility on the map displayed on the display means;
• and
• a second display mode for displaying each of the facilities in one of:
• a three-dimensional form, which has a reduced height, together with at least one character that represents a name of the facility on the map displayed on the display means;
• and
• a plane form together with at least one character that represents a name of the facility on the map displayed on the display means.

A map display device for a vehicle, wherein the map display device displays a three-dimensional map on a screen and also displays a cursor, which indicates a present position of the vehicle, on the three-dimensional map, the map display device comprising:

• input means for inputting an altitude-changing instruction for changing an altitude of a viewing point on the three-dimensional map;
• and
• screen control means for:
• setting an altitude of the viewing point on the three-dimensional map based on the altitude-changing instruction, which is inputted through the input means;
• and
• adjusting an angle of depression of a viewing direction from the viewing point on the three-dimensional map based on the set altitude of the viewing point, wherein:
• the angle of depression of the viewing direction is adjusted such that when the altitude of the viewing point is increased to show a greater area on the three-dimensional map through operation of the input means toward an altitude-increasing side, a ratio of change in the angle of depression of the viewing direction on the three-dimensional map increases;
• when the altitude of the viewing point is increased, a position of the cursor on the three-dimensional map moves toward an upper side of the three-dimensional map displayed on the screen and is displayed on the three-dimensional map as viewed from the viewing point;
• the angle of depression of the viewing direction is also adjusted such that when the altitude of the viewing point is decreased to show a less area in greater detail on the three-dimensional map through operation of the input means toward an altitude-decreasing side, the ratio of change in the angle of depression of the viewing direction on the three-dimensional map decreases;
• when the altitude of the viewing point is decreased, the position of the cursor on the three-dimensional map moves toward a lower side of the three-dimensional map displayed on the screen and is displayed on the three-dimensional map as viewed from the viewing point;
• and
• when the viewing point substantially coincides with the present position of the vehicle through operation of the input means, the three-dimensional map is displayed on the screen as a driver's view, and the cursor is not displayed on the three-dimensional map.

A map display device that displays a three-dimensional map on a screen, the map display device comprising:

• input means for inputting an altitude-changing instruction for changing an altitude of a viewing point on the three-dimensional map;
• and
• screen control means for:
• setting an altitude of the viewing point on the three-dimensional map based on the altitude-changing instruction, which is inputted through the input means;
• and
• adjusting an angle of depression of a viewing direction from the viewing point on the three-dimensional map based on the set altitude of the viewing point in such a manner that a ratio of change in the angle of depression of the viewing direction on the three-dimensional map is varied depending on the set altitude of the viewing point.

A map display device that displays a three-dimensional map on a screen, the map display device comprising:

• input means for inputting an altitude-changing instruction for changing an altitude of a viewing point on the three-dimensional map;
• and
• screen control means for:
• setting an altitude of the viewing point on the three-dimensional map based on the altitude-changing instruction, which is inputted through the input means;
• and
• adjusting an angle of depression of a viewing direction from the viewing point on the three-dimensional map based on the set altitude of the viewing point, wherein:
• the angle of depression of the viewing direction is adjusted such that when the altitude of the viewing point is increased through operation of the input means toward an altitude-increasing side, a ratio of change in the angle of depression of the viewing direction on the three-dimensional map increases;
• when the altitude of the viewing point is increased, the three-dimensional map is displayed as viewed from the viewing point at the increased altitude;
• the angle of depression of the viewing direction is also adjusted such that when the altitude of the viewing point is decreased through operation of the input means toward an altitude-decreasing side, the ratio of change in the angle of depression of the viewing direction on the three-dimensional map decreases;
• and
• when the altitude of the viewing point is decreased, the three-dimensional map is displayed as viewed from the viewing point at the decreased altitude.

A map display device for a vehicle, wherein the map display device displays a three-dimensional map on a screen and also displays a cursor, which indicates a present position of the vehicle, on the three-dimensional map, the map display device comprising:

• input means for inputting an altitude-changing instruction for changing an altitude of a viewing point on the three-dimensional map;
• and
• screen control means for:
• setting an altitude of the viewing point on the three-dimensional map based on the altitude-changing instruction, which is inputted through the input means;
• and
• adjusting an angle of depression of a viewing direction from the viewing point on the three-dimensional map based on the set altitude of the viewing point, wherein:
• the angle of depression of the viewing direction is adjusted such that when the altitude of the viewing point is increased to show a greater area on the three-dimensional map through operation of the input means toward an altitude-increasing side, a ratio of change in the angle of depression of the viewing direction on the three-dimensional map increases;
• when the altitude of the viewing point is increased, a position of the cursor on the three-dimensional map moves toward an upper side of the three-dimensional map displayed on the screen and is displayed on the three-dimensional map as viewed from the viewing point;
• the angle of depression of the viewing direction is also adjusted such that when the altitude of the viewing point is decreased to show a less area in greater detail on the three-dimensional map through operation of the input means toward an altitude-decreasing side, the ratio of change in the angle of depression of the viewing direction on the three-dimensional map decreases;
• and
• when the altitude of the viewing point is decreased, the position of the cursor on the three-dimensional map moves toward a lower side of the three-dimensional map displayed on the screen and is displayed on the three-dimensional map as viewed from the viewing point.