US5161886A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for the perspective display of a part of a topographic map, and device suitable for performing such a method
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1991-11-18
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Granted: 1992-11-10
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Expires: 2011-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A method and device for the perspective display of a portion of topographic coordinate information of points on the surface of the earth proximate to the current position of a vehicle travelling thereon, utilizes a coordinate transformation to generate a perspective image from an apparent point of view above and behind the vehicle in a viewing direction, which, with the direction of travel of the vehicle, defines an imaginary plane which is perpendicular to the surface of the earth.
Inventors
- 👤 Durk J. De Jong
- 👤 Timothy J. Everett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:28
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/34; G01C21/36; G01C21/3626; G01C21/3635; G01C21/3638; G06; G06T; G06T17/00; G06T17/05; G01C21/20; G01C21/22; G01C21/3667; G01C21/367; G06T15/00; G06T15/10; G09; G09B; G09B29/00; G09B29/10; G09B29/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for the perspective display of a portion of topographic information of the surface of the earth including a surface portion on which a vehicle is capable of travelling, comprising: maintaining a data structure of topographic information of coordinates of points on the surface of the earth; selecting from said data structure a portion of the topographic information for display dependent on a current position of the vehicle on said surface portion; determining a position of an apparent point of view and viewing direction for said display, said apparent point of view being outside of the vehicle and above the position of the vehicle; performing a coordinate transformation of said selected topographic information to represent said selected information as would be seen from said apparent point of view in said viewing direction, and displaying within said vehicle said selected transformed topographic information as a perspective image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for the perspective display of a portion of topographic information of the surface of the earth including a surface portion on which a vehicle is capable of travelling, comprising: maintaining a data structure of topographic information of coordinates of points on the surface of the earth; selecting from said data structure a portion of the topographic information for display dependent on a current position of the vehicle on said surface portion; determining a position of an apparent point of view and viewing direction for said display, said apparent point of view being outside of the vehicle and above the position of the vehicle; performing a coordinate transformation of said selected topographic information to represent said selected information as would be seen from said apparent point of view in said viewing direction, and displaying within said vehicle said selected transformed topographic information as a perspective image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising fixing the position of the apparent point of view relative to the current position of the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising situating the apparent point of view to the rear of the vehicle, the viewing direction and a direction of travel of the vehicle defining an imaginary plane extending perpendicularly to the surface of the earth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 comprising limiting the change of the angle a(t) between successive images in time to a predetermined value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising displaying the position of the vehicle on the map.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the coordinate transformation includes a rotation through an angle a(t) which makes a predetermined direction in the image permanently coincident at least substantially with a direction of travel of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising a further selection from the selected information items to be displayed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, in which the further selection is based how far the items are located from the current position of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, in which the further selection is based on an index of the items.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, comprising determining an optimum route or the vehicle by a route planner, and in which the further selection is based on the distance between the items and the optimum route.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, where the route planner generates a tree structure with feasible routes, and in which the further selection is based on the presence of the items in a predetermined part of the tree structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the altitude of the apparent point of view depends on the speed of the vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 12, comprising limiting the change of the altitude of the apparent point of view between successive images to a predetermined value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising determining the altitude of the apparent point of view based on an index which indicates a category of a route segment in which the vehicle is present.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising shifting an apparent point of view, occupying a relative position with respect to a current position of the vehicle, to a corresponding relative position with respect to a point which is situated at an adjustable geographic distance from the current position on a given route which departs from the current position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 15, comprising shifting the apparent point of view, in dependence on a fictitiously increased speed of travel of the vehicle along a given route from the current position of the vehicle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising adjusting a viewing direction from an apparent point of view.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
122 words
A device for perspective topographic display of successive images in relation to the position of a vehicle a surface comprising: a memory for the storage of topographic coordinate information of the surface, means for the determination of the position of the vehicle on the surface, first selection means for selecting, on the basis of the position of the vehicle, topographic sub-information from the topographic information by performing at least a first selection operation, transformation means for performing a coordinate transformation on the selected sub-information, in a projection from an apparent point of view, outside of the vehicle and above the current position of the vehicle, and display means for the display within the vehicle of a perspective image produced by the transformation.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
122 words
A device for perspective topographic display of successive images in relation to the position of a vehicle a surface comprising: a memory for the storage of topographic coordinate information of the surface, means for the determination of the position of the vehicle on the surface, first selection means for selecting, on the basis of the position of the vehicle, topographic sub-information from the topographic information by performing at least a first selection operation, transformation means for performing a coordinate transformation on the selected sub-information, in a projection from an apparent point of view, outside of the vehicle and above the current position of the vehicle, and display means for the display within the vehicle of a perspective image produced by the transformation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device as claimed in claim 18 comprising means for limiting the change, between successive images, of an angle a(t) wherethrough a rotation takes place during the coordinate transformation in order to make a predetermined viewing direction in the display permanently coincident at least substantially with a direction of travel of the vehicle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 18 comprising second selection means for performing a further selection operation on the sub-information selected by the first selection means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-11-10 | 1996-05-11 | 1996-11-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-10 | 2000-05-11 | 2000-11-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-10 | 2004-05-11 | 2004-11-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |