Patent ID: 6519528
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
A navigation apparatus which displays a guidance picture for navigating a vehicle to a destination, said navigation apparatus comprising:a map database storing road network data and map data for a first predetermined area; a detector which detects the vehicle position and whether the vehicle is traveling on any road in the road network data or is traveling in a second area off any road in the road network data, wherein said second area is included in said first predetermined area; a guidance control section coupled to the map database and to the detector and which searches a route from a present vehicle position to a destination on the basis of the road network data and which provides the guidance picture based upon the detected vehicle position on the searched route; and a display control means coupled to the detector and to the map database for displaying the guidance picture based on the vehicle position on the route when the vehicle is detected traveling on a road in the road network data, and for changing the display of the guidance picture to a map picture showing a map image and the vehicle position on the map when the vehicle is detected entering said second area off any road in the road network data.