JP3985300B2 - Image display device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a display device that displays various image data on a screen such as a liquid crystal display or a cathode ray tube.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  As an example of such a map display device, FIG. 5 shows a block configuration diagram of the vehicle navigation device 2. As shown in the figure, the in-vehicle navigation device 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as the navigation device 2) includes a GPS receiver 6 that detects the position of the navigation device 2 based on a signal from an artificial satellite received by an antenna 4. The navigation device 2 by the userInput operationOperation switches 8 for accepting an operation, a vehicle speed sensor 10 for detecting the speed of the automobile on which the navigation device 2 is mounted, an orientation sensor 12 for detecting the direction in which the automobile is traveling, and a map data input device 13 The input / output device 14 for inputting detection signals from these sensors and the like and outputting signals to devices such as the map data input device 13 and various programs executed in the navigation device 2 A CPU 16 to be executed, a ROM 18 in which a program executed by the CPU 16 is stored, a RAM 20 having a backup function capable of temporarily storing data processed by the CPU 16 and retaining stored contents even when the power is turned off, and a map A drawing RAM 22 in which image data is created, and a ground created in the drawing RAM 22 A display controller 26 which performs control for displaying the display device 24, a is configured as a main unit.
[0003]
The map data input device 13 is a device for taking in various data including map data recorded on a CD-ROM. The map data input device 13 may be replaced with a device that reads map data or the like from a storage medium (for example, a DVD or a memory card) other than the CD-ROM. The display device 24 is a liquid crystal display device, but may be replaced with any device having a screen capable of displaying a map (for example, a cathode ray tube or a plasma display). In this case, the display controller 26 is replaced with a controller corresponding to these display devices.
[0004]
In this navigation device 2, the outline of the process of displaying a map is as follows. That is, the GPS receiver 6 detects the current position of the navigation device 2, reads a wide range of map data including the position from the CD-ROM, and creates it in the drawing RAM 22 using this map data. Then, the display controller 26 extracts a range that can be displayed on the screen of the display device 24 from the drawing RAM 22 and outputs the range to the display device 24. As is well known, in addition to the map, the display device 24 often displays a mark indicating a direction, a mark indicating the vehicle position, and the like. This series of processing is realized mainly by the CPU 16 executing a required program stored in the ROM 18.
[0005]
The state of this process is illustrated in FIG. FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram schematically showing image data created in the drawing RAM 22 and an image created by the display controller 26 based on the image data. As shown in the figure, the drawing RAM 22 is divided into a storage area P1 for creating the above-mentioned orientation mark 62, scale 64, and the like, and a holding area P2 for creating a map. What is actually displayed on the display device 24 is the area indicated by the frame 66 in the storage area P1, and only the area indicated by the frame 68 in the holding area P2. Then, the display controller 26 combines the image data of the frames 66 and 68 to create a display image 90.
[0006]
The reason why the holding area P2 is set to be an area much larger than the frame 68 is to scroll the map shown on the display device 24 at high speed. Not only the navigation device 2 but usually in such a device, the displayed map is scrolled in the direction opposite to the traveling direction as the vehicle travels. In many cases, scrolling in a desired direction is also possible in accordance with user instructions input via the operation switches 8. Note that the scrolling can be said to be a kind of screen switching process in which at least a part of the map displayed on the screen remains in the screen and a new map continuous with the part is displayed. The larger the remaining part and the faster the switching, the smoother the map moves.
[0007]
When such a scroll is performed, if only the map 68 has been created, each time a new map is displayed, the map data corresponding to that map is read from the map data input device 13, and the holding area P2 is displayed. Need to create above. In this regard, if a map larger than the frame 68 is created in advance in the holding area P2 as described above, the position to be read as the frame 68 from the holding area P2 is changed from frame 68 → frame 68 ′ → frame 68 ″. Thus, scrolling is realized, and map data is not read out by the map data input device 13, so that scrolling can be performed at high speed. If the requested scroll amount is extremely large and the map is projected on the holding area P2, the map data is read from the map data input device 13 and a new map is created. It takes time. In other words, scrolling at high speed can be performed unless scrolling is performed in such a large amount.
[0008]
Further, since the orientation mark 62 and the scale 64 are displayed at almost fixed positions on the screen of the display device 24, scrolling processing is unnecessary, but for other marks (not shown) displayed as necessary. The storage area P1 is also secured wider than the frame 66. By the way, in such a navigation device, it is very convenient if a plurality of maps can be displayed on the screen. For example, if the screen is divided into left and right, the left screen displays a map in the vicinity of a car equipped with a navigation device, and the right screen displays a wider map than the map displayed on the left screen. Detailed information about the vicinity of the car and terrain information in the distance can be understood at the same time.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if a plurality of maps are to be displayed on the screen by the same display process as that performed by the navigation device 2, it is extremely difficult to scroll. This is due to the following reason.
[0010]
As described above, in order to divide the screen into left and right and display two types of maps at the same time, the holding area P2 is divided in substantially the same manner as the screen, for example, as shown in FIG. Is created, and the range 68 '' 'to be displayed on the screen is taken out. Then, a map A is displayed on the left side of the screen and a map B is displayed on the right side of the screen. If you want to scroll both maps A and B displayed in this way in either the top or bottom direction of the screen and by the same amount on the screen, you can change the range 68 '' 'to that direction. You can scroll at almost the same speed as displaying a single map. However, in the case of scrolling other than this, for example, when scrolling to the left, simply moving the position of the range 68 ′ ″ to the right reduces the area where the map A is displayed on the screen. To scroll the two maps to the left correctly, delete the portion near the right edge that is no longer displayed in the left map created in the holding area P2, and replace it with the portion of the right map that should be displayed in this portion. It is necessary to read out the corresponding data from the map data input device 13 and create it. Therefore, scrolling cannot be performed at high speed.
[0011]
If it is desired to scroll only the map A in any direction, map data must be read out from the map data input device 13 at least for the left half of the range 68 '' 'to create a new map. . Accordingly, the scroll speed is extremely slow.
[0012]
In addition, a process of displaying the current position detected by the GPS receiver 6 at a predetermined position (for example, the center) on the screen is often performed, but in this case, a map with a different scale is displayed as described above. Therefore, even if the vehicle moves up or down on the screen, the amount to be scrolled differs between map A and map B. Become slow. Although the scrolling has been described above, the same problem occurs when switching to another range without leaving any common part with the previous screen in the map created in the holding area P2.
[0013]
And this subject is not only the map display device applied to the vehicle-mounted navigation device, but if it is a map display device that can display a plurality of maps at the same time, only one map is switched or a plurality of maps are displayed at different speeds. It is a problem encountered in the same way to enable scrolling.
[0014]
  The present invention has been made in view of this problem,Claim 1An object of the present invention is to enable high-speed scrolling (change of display range) even when a plurality of maps are displayed.Also,It is an object to further reduce the processing when displaying a large number of maps and switching screens.Another object of the present invention is to easily display each map with a desired hue and brightness.
[0015]
  Claim2It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to easily change the displayed hue and brightness for each displayed map. Claim3The invention as described is from claim 12The present invention proposes a mode when the map display device described in any of the above is configured as a so-called navigation device.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention]
In the first aspect of the present invention, the map creation means reads map data from the map data storage means and creates a plurality of maps. The map data storage means corresponds to the map data input device 13, and the map creation means is typically realized as a CPU and a program on a ROM executed by the CPU. The plurality of maps created in this way are temporarily held in the map holding unit. The map holding unit corresponds to the drawing RAM 22 described above, and includes a plurality of holding areas for holding a plurality of maps, respectively.
[0017]
The display control means takes out the range input via the input means from each of the two or more holding areas, and can simultaneously display the range on the screen of the image display means (corresponding to the display device 24 described above). Yes.
The changing means can change the range displayed on the image display means by changing the range extracted from the holding area by the display control means for each holding area. If there is a common part between the previously extracted range already displayed on the screen and the next extracted range, the above-described scrolling occurs, and if there is no common part, the screen is simply switched. In any case, since the extraction position can be changed for each range displayed on the image display means, even if one map is switched, there is no influence on the holding area corresponding to the other map.
[0018]
  In other words, unlike the case of performing the two-screen display using the above-described conventional technology, it is not necessary to re-create the other map in accordance with the scrolling of one map, so that a plurality of maps can be displayed. Nevertheless, screen switching and scrolling can be performed at high speed.
  In the present invention, the display control means extracts only the range actually displayed on the image display means from the ranges input via the input means from the two or more holding areas, respectively, and the screen of the image display means Are set at the same time at the locations where the respective ranges extracted from the plurality of holding areas are displayed. In this way, the process for extracting the range is minimized.
[0019]
  It should be noted that the range input by the input means may be common to all the holding area maps or may be different for each map. The display mode of the screen is claimed.1As described in the above, the image display means may be set to have two positions on the screen, each displaying a range taken out from the plurality of holding areas, arranged side by side in advance.However, the screen display mode is divided into left and right splitsEven if it is divided into upper and lower parts, it may be further divided into an arbitrary number and an arbitrary shape. If the number of holding areas equal to or greater than the number to be displayed is prepared in advance and the number of maps can be created, displayed, and the range can be changed, similarly, the screen can be switched at high speed.
[0020]
“The display control means has been made displayable from two or more holding areas, respectively” does not mean that only one map cannot be displayed. In this case, a range to be displayed may be taken out from only one of the holding areas and displayed at a predetermined position (if necessary, the entire screen) of the image display means.
[0024]
  AndIn the present invention,The map creation means reads the map data from the map data storage means, and creates the two maps whose other map is a wider map than the one map, and the map holding unit has two maps with different scales. Are each provided with two holding areas. In addition, the hue and / or brightness for each pixel when the map is displayed on the screen in each holding area (in the case of a single hue, monochrome is displayed. The color control means outputs the actual color on the screen based on the relationship between the color information and the color information stored in the correspondence storage means.
[0025]
  Since the correspondence relationship is stored in the correspondence storage means for each holding area, the displayed hue and brightness can be easily changed for each map of different scales displayed on the screen.
  Claims2As described above, the correction unit corrects the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage unit, changes the map pixel displayed on the screen without re-creating the map in the holding area,The hue and brightness may be changed in either one of the two maps.
[0026]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, if it is configured as an on-vehicle position detection device, scrolling that frequently occurs as the vehicle moves can be performed at high speed.
[0027]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to an in-vehicle navigation device will be described as an embodiment of the present invention. The basic configuration of the in-vehicle navigation device is the same as that of the in-vehicle navigation device 2 shown in FIG. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the configurations having the same names as the in-vehicle navigation device 2.
[0028]
First, FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing only a part related to processing for displaying a map on the display device 24 in the in-vehicle navigation device 2. The display controller 26 of the in-vehicle navigation device 2 is created in the drawing RAM 22 through the address bus 32 and the control bus 34, and in the drawing RAM 22 for designating the address and instructing reading / writing to the address. The data map 40 that receives the map or the like via the data bus 38, synthesizes the map, and creates an image for display on the display device 24, the display size information instructed by the CPU 16, the memory control device 36, A display size control device 42 for instructing the data composition device 40 and a palette changing device 44 for changing the color of the map created in the drawing RAM 22 are provided. The data composition device 40 also stores the map created by the CPU 16 in the drawing RAM 22 based on the map data read from the map data input device 13.
[0029]
The drawing RAM 22 includes a first holding area 52a for holding a map, a first storage area 52b for holding marks for display on the map held in the first holding area 52a, and a first storage area 52b. Similar to the first holding area 52a, a second holding area 54a for holding a map, and a second storage area 54b for holding marks for display on the map held in the second holding area 54a. Secured in advance.
[0030]
The manner in which an image to be displayed on the display device 24 is created by the display controller 26 will be described with reference to FIG. To create the image 90 shown in FIG. 2, the orientation mark 62 and scale 64 for display on the map A in the left half are stored in the first storage area 52b, and a wide range map including the map A is stored in the first holding area 52a. In addition, an orientation mark 62 and a scale 64 for display on the map B are created in the second storage area 54b, and a wide range map including the map B is created in the second holding area 54a. These marks and data necessary for creating the map are read from the map data input device 13. Of these four areas, where the map (or marks) is created is determined by the memory controller 36 by designating an address. In addition, a map (or marks) is created by putting color information (to be described later) and data representing attributes as reference colors for display colors at the RAM addresses forming the areas 52a, 52b, 54a, 54b. The For example, in the frame 66 of the first storage area 52b, an attribute “transparent” is given to portions other than the orientation mark 62 and the scale 64. In the in-vehicle navigation device 2, the map is expressed in 32 different colors.
[0031]
For the marks created in the first storage area 52b, the portion indicated by the frame 66 is extracted, and for the map created in the first holding area 52a, the range indicated by the frame 68 is extracted, and the second For the marks created in the storage area 54b, the portion indicated by the frame 70 is extracted, and for the map created in the second holding area 54a, the range indicated by the frame 72 is extracted. The frames 66 and 68 have a size corresponding to half of the image 90, and the frames 70 and 72 have a size corresponding to the entire image 90. In this way, the part to be extracted from each area is designated by an address designated from the memory control device 36. For example, although the frame 70 and the frame 72 appear to be shifted in this figure, the data composition device 40 synthesizes the image data in the frame extracted from each region, so that the display device 24 accurately Displayed in a superimposed state. Further, the frame 66 and the frame 68 are overlapped and displayed on the left half of the image 90.
[0032]
The frames 66, 68, 70, 72 thus taken out are combined in the priority order of the areas 52b, 52a, 54b, 54a in which they are held. That is, if attention is paid only to the frames 70 and 72, the map in the frame 72 is created in the second holding area 54a having a lower priority than the orientation mark 62 and the scale 64 created in the second storage area 54b. Therefore, the portion where the azimuth mark 62 and the scale 64 are displayed is not displayed, and the azimuth mark 62 and the scale 64 are superimposed on the map in the frame 72 as in the right half of the image 90. Since the portion other than the orientation mark 62 and the scale 64 in the frame 70 is given the “transparent” attribute as described above, this portion is in a state where the map in the frame 72 can be seen. Then, a map in the frame 68 created in the first holding area 52a having a higher priority than the second storage area 54b and a mark in the frame 68 created in the first storage area 52b having a higher priority are combined. Therefore, the left half of the image 90 is displayed as if the map in the frame 72 is hidden by the map in the frame 68, and further the marks in the frame 66 are superimposed on this map. Is done.
[0033]
When only the map A is scrolled in the image 90 thus created, the address for reading the frame 68 from the first holding area 52a is changed. As a result, the position of the frame 68 is changed, and a map newly entered in the frame 68 is displayed on the left half of the image 90. At this time, there is no need to delete or recreate the image data held in the first storage area 52b, the second storage area 54b, and the second holding area 54a. The map of the first holding area 52a does not need to be recreated unless the frame 68 protrudes outside the first holding area 52a. Therefore, it can be scrolled at high speed.
[0034]
Similarly, when scrolling only the map B, the address for reading the frame 72 from the second holding area 54a may be changed and held in the first storage area 52b, the first holding area 52a, and the second storage area 54b. There is no need to delete or recreate existing image data. Therefore, it can be scrolled at high speed.
[0035]
The same applies to the case where both the maps A and B are scrolled, such as when the vehicle on which the in-vehicle navigation device 2 is mounted moves and the map displayed on the display device 24 is scrolled in conjunction with this. Although it takes a little time compared to the case of scrolling only the screen, it can be scrolled extremely fast compared to the case where the conventional in-vehicle navigation device 2 performs the two-screen display.
[0036]
Next, the palette changing device 44 and the color information will be described with reference to FIG. The pallet changing device 44 includes a pallet RAM 82 corresponding to the correspondence storing means of the present invention, a changing portion 84 corresponding to the correcting means, and a coloring control portion 86 corresponding to the coloring control means. The color information is represented by numerical values of 0 to 31 corresponding to the 32 colors displayed on the display device 24, and the palette RAM 82 has a first information indicating which color each numerical value of the color information corresponds to. They are stored independently in the area 52a and the second holding area 54a. That is, the first holding area 52a is stored at addresses 0 to 31, and the second holding area 54a is stored at addresses H to (H + 31). In the initial state (when the vehicle-mounted navigation device 2 is turned on), data representing green is stored at addresses 0 and H, and data representing black is stored at addresses 31 and (H + 31). ing. The changing unit 84 updates the contents of the pallet RAM 82 based on a command from the CPU 16. The coloring control unit 86 reads the corresponding color from the palette RAM 82 based on the difference between the areas 52 a and 54 a and the color information stored at the address corresponding to the pixel G forming the image 90. For example, if the pixel G is in the first holding area 52a and the color information is 0, green is displayed on the display device 24. If the color information is 31 and the pixel G is in the second holding area 54a, black is displayed on the display device 24. .
[0037]
Now, temporarily, zero is stored in the address of the first holding area 52a corresponding to the upper left pixel G of the map A, and zero is also stored in the address of the second holding area 54a corresponding to the upper left pixel G of the map B. If so, any pixel G is displayed in green on the display device 24. Here, when the changing unit receives from the CPU 16 a command to change the color information of the map B represented by zero to red, the data representing the green of the address H is changed to data representing the red, and the map The portion shown in green in B (more precisely, the portion corresponding to the pixel in which zero is stored as color information) is changed to red at once.
[0038]
By doing so, for example, the road shown in green in one of the maps A and B affects the color even if a road of the same color is displayed on the other map. Can be changed to another color. It can also be erased by changing to the same color as the background.
[0039]
[Embodiment 2]
In the aspect shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the frame 72 is taken out of the entire screen even though only the right half is displayed in the image 90. If this is improved as shown in FIG. 4, the amount of processing can be further reduced.
[0040]
That is, in FIG. 4, the address F corresponding to the first pixel E of the part actually displayed on the display device 24 is designated, and only the frame 74 corresponding to the part actually displayed is taken out from the second holding area 54a. .
For example, as indicated by an arrow X, when the data synthesis device 40 synthesizes pixels, image data in the frames 66, 68, and 70 are read and synthesized from the pixel C to immediately before the pixel E. When the pixel E is reached, the image data in the frame 70 or 72 is read out and synthesized. In this way, since only a necessary portion is captured from the map created in the second holding area 54a, the processing amount can be further reduced, and the image 90 can be combined and scrolled at high speed.
[0041]
[Others]
The in-vehicle navigation device 2 can display two maps by dividing the screen of the display device 24 into left and right, but can further increase the holding area and further divide the screen to display many maps. You may comprise.
[0042]
As described above, the present invention can be implemented in all aspects without departing from the gist thereof.
Further, in each of the above embodiments, a technique for switching and scrolling each map appropriately when a plurality of map displays are displayed on one screen in the vehicle-mounted navigation device has been described. It is not limited to this.
[0043]
For example, when the size of image data to be displayed such as Internet information is larger than the actual display screen, it is not possible to display all information on the display screen at once. In particular, in a display device for a vehicle, the screen size cannot be increased so much due to the mounting space and the like. Therefore, when the display information corresponding to the entire image data is to be confirmed, it is necessary to scroll the screen. If the display screen is divided into a plurality of display areas, one information display area becomes smaller, and the need for scrolling increases.
[0044]
Even in such a case, as described in each of the above embodiments, when scrolling a single display screen alone or a plurality of display screens simultaneously at different speeds, it is faster than the conventional case. Since the plurality of display screens are independently scrolled, the screen can be switched at a higher speed than in the prior art as in the above embodiments.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing a characteristic part of an in-vehicle navigation device 2 to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing how an image to be displayed on the display device 24 is created in the in-vehicle navigation device 2 to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing processing of the palette changing device 44;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block configuration diagram showing a basic configuration of the in-vehicle navigation device 2;
6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing image data created in the drawing RAM 22 and an image created by the display controller 26 based on the image data in the vehicle-mounted navigation device 2. FIG. .
[Explanation of symbols]
2 ... Car navigation system 4 ... Antenna
6 ... GPS receiver 8 ... Operating switches
10 ... Vehicle speed sensor 12 ... Direction sensor
13 ... Map data input device 14 ... Input / output device
22 ... Drawing RAM 24 ... Display device 26 ... Display controller
36 ... Memory control device 40 ... Data composition device
42 ... Display size control device 44 ... Pallet changing device
52a: first holding area 52b: first storage area
54a ... second holding area 54b ... second storage area
62 ... Direction mark 64 ... Scale
A ... Map B ... Map

Claims (3)

Image display means having at least a screen for displaying a map;
Map data storage means for storing map data in advance;
Map creation means for reading out the map data from the map data storage means and creating a map;
At least a map holding unit for holding the map created by the map creating means;
Input means for receiving an input of a range to be displayed on the image display means;
Display control means for taking out the range input through the input means from the map holding unit and displaying it on the screen of the image display means;
A map display device comprising: changing means for changing a range displayed on the image display means by changing a range taken out from the map holding unit by the display control means;
The map creating means
The map data is read from the map data storage means to create a plurality of maps,
The map holding unit
A plurality of holding areas each holding the plurality of maps;
The display control means is
Of the ranges input from the two or more holding regions, respectively, via the input unit, only the range that is actually displayed by the image display unit is taken out, and preset on the screen of the image display unit, It is possible to display at the same time at the location where the range taken out from each of the plurality of holding areas is displayed,
The changing means is
The range displayed on the image display means can be changed by changing the range extracted from the holding area by the display control means for each holding area ,
The image display means
In the screen, two locations for displaying the ranges respectively taken out from the plurality of holding areas are set in a state where they are arranged in advance on the left and right,
The map creating means
The map data is read out from the map data storage means, and the other map creates two maps that are wider than one map,
The map holding unit
The two holding areas each holding the two maps are provided, and the map held in each holding area has a hue and / or brightness of each pixel when the map is displayed on the screen. It is expressed with color information that represents the difference,
The display control means is
Correspondence storage means in which correspondence between the color information and the hue and / or brightness when actually displayed on the screen according to the color information is stored in advance for each of the holding areas;
Color development control means for displaying pixels on the image display means with a hue and / or brightness determined based on the color information of the map held in each holding area and the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage means,
The map display apparatus characterized by being. The map display device according to claim 1,
A correction means for correcting the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage means so that the color information corresponds to another hue and / or brightness,
A map display device, wherein hue or brightness is changed in any one of the two maps. The map display device is installed in a vehicle, and further comprises a position detection means for detecting the position of the vehicle,
The input means accepts at least the periphery of the position of the vehicle detected by the position detection means as the range;
The changing means changing at least a range to be taken out from each holding area in accordance with a change in the position of the vehicle detected by the position detecting means;
The map display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

Images