Navigation apparatus

Abstract

A map screen is displayed in a left half area of a display panel and an real image such as a satellite photograph depicting a surface of an earth and an aerial photograph is displayed in the remaining right half area thereof based on real image data. The real images on different scales (the image as the wide area display and the image as the detailed display) can be displayed in the right half area on the display panel. A default condition of two-screen display is set to display the real image as the wide area display in the right half-area.

Description

The present disclosure relates to the subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-137430 filed on May 13, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a navigation apparatus and, more particularly, a navigation apparatus employing real image data that correspond to images such as a satellite photograph depicting the surface of the earth and an aerial photograph. 2. Description of the Related Art In the related art, a navigation apparatus displays a map on a screen of a display device based on roadmap data recorded in the DVD-ROM, etc., displays own location on the map based on own location data, and guides a user onto routes to a destination. However, in the navigation apparatus in the related art, the map screen to be displayed is formed by using map data. Therefore, there is such a problem that it is difficult to understand own current location and grasp th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the invention to provide a navigation apparatus, which can enhance a degree of user's satisfaction using properly both a display of a real image such as an aerial photograph screen and a map screen prepared by using the map data.

Also, as described above, since the real images having different scales can be displayed in the second area, essentially the display control unit must receive from the user an instruction that instructs which scale should be selected to display the real image. However, in the navigation apparatus, since a default condition of display is set in the first display control section, the user is not requested to issue the instruction every time. Therefore, the navigation apparatus becomes very convenient in use for the user.

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, there is such a problem that it is difficult to understand own current location and grasp the actual situation around own current location through the map screen.

This is because it is difficult to display the vertical positional relationship such as roads in a solid crossing, on the map screen and because actually a large number of roads, buildings, and the like that are not displayed on the map screen are present.

However, the aerial photograph screen (prepared by using the aerial photograph data) does not in all cases make it possible to understand own current location more easily and grasp the situation around own current location more easily in contrast to the map screen (prepared by using the map data).

Also, the aerial photograph data employed to prepare the real image such as the aerial photograph screen need a large quantity of data.

For example, it takes almost several seconds to display a sheet of the aerial photograph screen on the screen of the display device.

Therefore, there is such a problem that, unlike the map screen in the related art, the screen cannot be continuously updated so as to respond to the moving of own location.

In this manner, the aerial photograph screen is not superior in all respects to the map screen.

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