Abstract:
A navigation device includes a display, a positioning system to receive geographical information, a storage unit for storing the received geographical information and a plurality of applications, and a processor. The processor acquires parameter of the navigation device, and switches the navigation device between a two-dimensional navigation mode and a three-dimensional navigation mode based on a comparison result between the acquired parameters and a preset parameter in the navigation device. A related navigation mode switch method is also provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to navigation devices and, particularly, to a navigation device capable of switching between a two-dimensional navigation mode and a three-dimensional navigation mode and a navigation mode switch method. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Some navigation devices, for example, Global Position System (GPS) navigation devices, can display geographical information for navigation in a two-dimensional navigation mode or in a three-dimensional navigation mode. However, these navigation devices cannot automatically switch navigation modes between the two-dimensional navigation mode and the three-dimensional navigation mode. This lack of an automatic function needs to be addressed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The components of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of a navigation device and a navigation mode switch method. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a navigation device capable of switching between a two-dimensional navigation mode and a three-dimensional navigation mode, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing the navigation device of  FIG. 1  arranged in a vehicle. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a navigation mode switch method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , a navigation device  100  capable of selectively displaying geographical information for navigation in a two-dimensional (2D) navigation mode or a three-dimensional (3D) navigation mode is provided. The device  100  includes a processor  10 , a storage unit  20 , a display  30 , and a positioning system  40 , for instance, a GPS unit. The processor  10  executes various software components in the storage unit  20  to perform various functions of the navigation device  100 . The positioning system  40  receives geographical information. The processor  30  stores the received geographical information in the storage unit  20 . The processor  30  processes the received geographical information to display a navigation map on the display  30  in the 2D navigation mode or in the 3D navigation mode. The navigation device  100  may be installed in a vehicle  200  or a handheld device, such as a car, or a smart phone. In the 2D navigation mode, the navigation map is displayed in a 2D mode. In the 3D navigation mode, the navigation map is displayed in a 3D mode. In this embodiment, the navigation device  100  provides an image navigation mode in the 3D navigation mode. In the image navigation mode, geographical information for navigation is displayed on the display  30  as the real environment. The navigation device  100  further includes a communication unit  50  communicating with an image data server  60  to acquire the geographical information for image navigation from the image data server  60 . 
         [0010]    The storage unit  20  further stores an acquiring application  201  and a mode controlling application  202 . The acquiring application  201  includes various software components which may be implemented by the processor  10  to acquire a parameter for switching between the 2D navigation mode and the 3D navigation mode. The acquiring application  201  may be implemented to acquire the parameter continuously or at a preset time interval. The parameter may be a velocity of the device  100 , or a distance L between the device  100  and a preset destination A. The preset destination A may be a place where a user of the device  100  wants to go. The mode controlling application  202  includes various software components which may be implemented by the processor  10  to switch the navigation device  100  between the 2D navigation mode and the 3D navigation mode based on a comparison result between the acquired parameter and a preset parameter in the navigation device  100 . The preset parameter may be a preset velocity or a preset distance 
         [0011]    In a first embodiment, the acquiring application  201  may be a detection application which may be implemented by the processor  10  to detect the velocity of the device  100 . The acquiring application  201  may be implemented by the processor  10  to detect the velocity in real time or at a preset time interval. The mode controlling application  202  is implemented by the processor  10  to control the navigation device  100  to operate in the 2D navigation mode if the detected velocity is equal to or greater than the preset velocity, and control the navigation device  100  to operate in the 3D navigation mode if the detected velocity is less than the preset velocity. For example, assuming the preset velocity is 30 KM/H, the mode controlling application  202  controls the device  100  to operate in the 2D navigation mode if the detected velocity is equal to or greater than 30 KM/H, and controls the device  100  to operate in the 3D navigation mode if the detected velocity is less than 30 KM/H. When the device  100  moves at a lower speed, the vehicle  200  including the device  100  may be at a corner of a street, a undefined place, or near the destination A, the 3D navigation mode may be needed to provide a better navigation. 
         [0012]    In a second embodiment, the acquiring application  201  may be a calculation application which may be implemented by the processor  10  to calculate the distance L between the device  100  and the preset destination A according to the geographical information. The acquiring application  201  may be implemented by the processor  10  to calculate the distance L in real time or at a preset time interval. The mode controlling application  202  is implemented by the processor  10  to control the navigation device  100  to operate in the 2D navigation mode if the calculated distance L is equal to or greater than the preset distance, and control the navigation device  100  to operate in the 3D navigation mode if the calculated distance L is less than the preset distance. 
         [0013]    The storage unit  20  further includes a setting application  203 . The setting application  203  includes various software components, which may be implemented by the processor  10  to set the preset velocity, or the destination A and the preset distance in response to input from the user. 
         [0014]    In this embodiment, the navigation device  100  further includes a switch  70  to manually switch the navigation modes of the device  100  between the two-dimensional navigation mode and the three-dimensional navigation mode. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a flowchart of a navigation mode switch method implemented by the navigation device  100  of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is illustrated. 
         [0016]    In step S 301 , the acquiring application  201  is implemented by the processor  10  to acquire the parameter of the navigation device  100  (e.g., the velocity of the navigation device  100  or the distance L between the navigation device  100  and the preset destination A) for switching between the 2D navigation mode and the 3D navigation mode. 
         [0017]    In step S 302 , the mode controlling application  202  is implemented by the processor  10  to compare the acquired parameter with a preset parameter in the navigation device  100 . For example, in the first embodiment, the mode controlling application  202  is controlled by the processor  10  to compare the acquired velocity with the preset velocity; and in the second embodiment, the mode controlling application  202  is implemented by the processor  10  to compare the acquired distance with the preset distance. 
         [0018]    In step S 303 , the mode controlling application  202  is further implemented by the processor  10  to switch the navigation device  100  between the 2D navigation mode and the 3D navigation mode based on the comparison result. For example, in the first embodiment, if the acquired velocity is equal to or greater than the preset velocity, the mode controlling application  202  is implemented by the processor  10  to control the navigation device  100  to operate in the 2D navigation mode, otherwise, controls the navigation device  100  to operate in the 3D navigation mod. In the second embodiment, if the acquired distance is equal to or greater than the preset distance, the mode controlling application  202  is implemented by the processor  10  to control the navigation device  100  to operate in the 2D navigation mode, otherwise, controls the navigation device  100  to operate in the 3D navigation mode. 
         [0019]    Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of the exemplary embodiment thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.