Patent ID: 6714861
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: G01C,G09B

Abstract:
A map display apparatus for displaying a map on a moving display device, comprising:a data reading-out portion for reading out map data representing a mesh area comprising a first point corresponding to a positional information inputted from outside, from a map database that stores at least one of a first map data representing a three-dimensional map within said mesh area and a second map data representing a two-dimensional map within said mesh area; a viewpoint setting portion for determining a viewpoint at an objective height with respect to a second point, based on a height of the first point and a height of the second point located a predetermined distance from the first point, when the data reading-out portion reads out a first map data, and for determining a viewpoint at a predetermined height with respect to a third point located a predetermined distance from the first point, when the data reading-out portion reads out a second map data; and a display processing portion for performing a perspective transformation on the map data, which is read out by the data reading-out portion from the viewpoint determined by said viewpoint setting portion, and for displaying graphics data generated by the perspective transformation on the display device; wherein a mode of a mark representing said moving display device is switched in accordance with a result whether the data reading-out portion reads out a first map data or a second map data, the mark being displayed on the display apparatus superposing the graphics data.