# US 8,786,632 B2 · Map image display system, map image display device, map image display method, and computer program

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- Number: US 8,786,632 B2
- Document ID: US8786632B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/428,791
- Filed: 2012-03-23
- Published: 2012-10-18
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-04-14
- Assignees: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Diasuke Miwa
- Inventors: Diasuke Miwa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786632B2

## CPC

- G01C 21/367: {Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker}
- G01C 21/3635: {Guidance using 3D or perspective road maps}
- G01C 21/3878: {Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering}
- G01C 21/3889: {Transmission of selected map data, e.g. depending on route}
- G09B 29/005: {Map projections or methods associated specifically therewith}
- G09B 29/106: {using electronic means}
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)
- G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B)

## Abstract

Map image display systems, devices, methods, and programs divide a display target area into a plurality of division areas with parts of neighboring ones of the division areas overlapping each other, and generate a map image for each of the division areas, each map image being based on a different layer of stored map data. In an area where two or more of the generated map images overlap, a transmittance of a first one of the overlapped map images is gradually changed so that a transmittance of an outer portion becomes higher than a transmittance of an inner portion. The systems, devices, methods, and programs display a second one of the overlapped map images on the display device, and then display the first map image on the display device so that the first map image is overlapped on the displayed second map image.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A map image display system comprising:
a controller configured to:
acquire map data that is divided into a plurality of areas and hierarchically structured into a plurality of layers based on an amount of road network information;
define a display target area on a display device based on the acquired map data;
divide the display target area into a plurality of division areas with parts of neighboring ones of the division areas overlapping each other;
generate a map image for each of the division areas, each map image being based on a different layer of the map data;
in an area where two or more of the generated map images overlap, gradually change a transmittance of a first one of the overlapped map images so that a transmittance of an outer portion of the first overlapped map image becomes higher than a transmittance of an inner portion of the first overlapped map image;
display a second one of the overlapped map images on the display device; and
after the second map image is displayed on the display device, display the first map image on the display device so that the first map image is overlapped on the displayed second map image.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The map image display system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:
sets an area of a map in the display target area, the set area visually recognized when viewing the map downward obliquely from a virtual point-of-view above the map;
divide the display target area into the plurality of division areas according to a distance from the virtual point-of-view; and
generate the first map image based on a division area nearer the virtual point-of-view and a layer of the acquired map data having a larger amount of road network information.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The map image display system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:
gradually change the transmittance of the first map image.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The map image display system according to claim 1, wherein:
the first overlapped map image includes an image indicating a background and a road shape.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The map image display system claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:
display a route image superimposed on the first overlapped map image, the route image being an image indicating a shape of a navigation route to a destination; and
change a transmittance of the route image as well as the transmittance of the first map image.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The map image display system according to claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to:
display a congestion image superimposed on the first map image, the congestion image being an image indicating a congestion level of a road; and
change a transmittance of the congestion image as well as the transmittance of the map image.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A navigation device comprising the map image display system of claim 1.

### Claim 8

A map image display method comprising:
acquiring map data that is divided into a plurality of areas and hierarchically structured into a plurality of layers based on an amount of road network information;
defining a display target area on a display device based on the acquired map data;
dividing the display target area into a plurality of division areas with parts of neighboring ones of the division areas overlapping each other;
generating a map image for each of the division areas, each map image being based on a different layer of the map data;
in an area where two or more of the generated map images overlap, gradually changing a transmittance of a first one of the overlapped map images so that a transmittance of an outer portion of the first overlapped map image becomes higher than a transmittance of an inner portion of the first overlapped map image;
displaying a second one of the overlapped map images on the display device; and
after the second map image is displayed on the display device, displaying the first map image on the display device so that the first map image is overlapped on the displayed second map image.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The map image display method according to claim 8, further comprising:
setting an area of a map in the display target area, the set area visually recognized when viewing the map downward obliquely from a virtual point-of-view above the map;
dividing the display target area into the plurality of division areas according to a distance from the virtual point-of-view; and
generating the first map image based on a division area nearer the virtual point-of-view and a layer of the acquired map data having a larger amount of road network information.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The map image display method according to claim 8, further comprising:
gradually changing the transmittance of the first map image.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The map image display method according to claim 8, wherein:
the first overlapped map image includes an image indicating a background and a road shape.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The map image display method according to claim 8, further comprising:
displaying a route image superimposed on the first overlapped map image, the route image being an image indicating a shape of a navigation route to a destination; and
changing a transmittance of the route image as well as the transmittance of the first map image.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The map image display method according to claim 8, further comprising:
displaying a congestion image superimposed on the first map image, the congestion image being an image indicating a congestion level of a road; and
changing a transmittance of the congestion image as well as the transmittance of the map image.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The map image display method according to claim 8, wherein the method is executed by a controller.

### Claim 15

A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable image display program, the program comprising:
instructions for acquiring map data that is divided into a plurality of areas and hierarchically structured into a plurality of layers based on an amount of road network information;
instructions for defining a display target area on a display device based on the acquired map data;
instructions for dividing the display target area into a plurality of division areas with parts of neighboring ones of the division areas overlapping each other;
instructions for generating a map image for each of the division areas, each map image being based on a different layer of the map data;
instructions for, in an area where two or more of the generated map images overlap, gradually changing a transmittance of a first one of the overlapped map images so that a transmittance of an outer portion of the first overlapped map image becomes higher than a transmittance of an inner portion of the first overlapped map image; and
instructions for displaying a second one of the overlapped map images on the display device;
instructions for, after the second map image is displayed on the display device, displaying the first map image on the display device so that the first map image is overlapped on the displayed second map image.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, the program further comprising:
instructions for setting an area of a map in the display target area, the set area visually recognized when viewing the map downward obliquely from a virtual point-of-view above the map;
instructions for dividing the display target area into the plurality of division areas according to a distance from the virtual point-of-view; and
instructions for generating the first map image based on a division area nearer the virtual point-of-view and a layer of the acquired map data having a larger amount of road network information.