Road Name Character Orientation on Curved Segments

Solution Overview

Problem

Displaying road names along curved road portions poses challenges due to significant directional differences between characters, affecting appearance and readability.

Innovation Solution

A map display system and program that arrange characters along a road line by connecting road line segments using a reference line, such as a link curve part of a circle or ellipse, to minimize directional differences between characters, thereby improving appearance and readability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If road names are displayed along greatly curved road portions with characters following the road direction, then the road name can be displayed along the entire road, but the directional differences between consecutive characters become large causing poor appearance and readability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad name display coverageVSAvoidcharacter arrangement quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The road line is divided into multiple road line segments, and characters are arranged on different segments with each character's direction determined by its specific segment's orientation. This segmentation allows the character string to follow the road's curvature while maintaining reasonable directional consistency within each segment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each character in the road name is assigned a specific arrangement direction based on the local orientation of the road line segment it is placed on. This local quality approach ensures that characters are oriented appropriately for their specific position along the curved road, improving both coverage and readability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Shape

If characters are arranged to follow the road line direction on curved portions, then the road name aligns with the road shape, but the large directional differences between characters deteriorate the appearance and readability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharacter alignment with road shapeVSAvoidcharacter directional consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The road line is divided into multiple road line segments, and characters are arranged on different segments with each character's direction determined by its specific segment's orientation. This segmentation allows the character string to follow the road's curvature while maintaining reasonable directional consistency within each segment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each character in the road name is assigned a specific arrangement direction based on the local orientation of the road line segment it is placed on. This local quality approach ensures that characters are oriented appropriately for their specific position along the curved road, improving both coverage and readability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10621889B2Map display system and map display program

Publication Date: 2020.04.14 AISIN AW CO LTD

AI summary

There is provided a technique for arranging characters along a road to improve appearance and readability. A map display system arranges a plurality of characters along a road line which is a polyline representing a road shape, and includes an arranging part that arranges, at a connecting portion where a first road line segment and a second road line segment forming the road line are connected, a third character in a third direction between a first character arranged in a first direction and a second character arranged in a second direction, the first direction being a direction for the first road line segment, the second direction being a direction for the second road line segment, and the third direction being a direction between the first direction and the second direction; and a display control part that displays the road line and the plurality of characters on a display part.