Boots – shoes – and leggings
Patent
1994-04-28
1996-09-03
Chin, Gary
Boots, shoes, and leggings
364449, 340990, 340995, G06F16500
Patent
active
055529895
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lightweight and self-contained appliance enabling digital maps to be read and enabling local information to be associated therewith, in particular to replace paper guidebooks, and paper geographical maps, topographical maps or road maps.
Paper maps suffer from numerous drawbacks and limitations, and in particular: territory); unreadable) thus making it impossible, in particular, to gain access to additional local information (a map needs to be used in association with a guidebook);
Systems for navigation and for providing assistance in car driving are known that calculate the position of a vehicle relative to a digital road map background. However, such systems are typically complex, e.g. relying on special road infrastructure, or they are expensive, and not self-contained, thus corresponding to a limited part of the use to which a geographical map or town plan on paper can be put.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In contrast, the present invention seeks to provide self-contained apparatus that is easy to use and cheap, and that enables digital road maps or geographical maps to be consulted in any location, such consultation being facilitated by the orientation of the displayed map being constant, as a function of user displacement.
Another object of the invention is to enable all kinds of display processing to be performed: updating, printing, storage, and topographical calculation, all of which are at present impossible using a map on paper.
These objects are achieved by an appliance for reading digital geographical maps, in particular topographical or road maps, recorded on magnetic or optical media, the appliance comprising in conventional manner a central processor unit, means for reading magnetic or optical media, at least one display screen, control means, and electrical power supply means, the appliance being characterized in that it further includes a compass adapted to measure the angle between the orientation of the appliance and magnetic north, and to send corresponding information to the central unit, said central unit responding to said information by issuing a corresponding order to the screen display process to cause the displayed image to be oriented as a function of said information.
This orientation of the map thus enables users to position themselves automatically in three dimensions and observe the topography of the places in front of them without any risk of confusion on the display screen when the apparatus is held in the hand in front of them.
Advantageously, it includes two display screens suitable respectively for displaying a portion of a digital map, and for any other information such as a map, text, a picture, or an icon.
It is thus possible to associate certain places displayed on the first screen with multimedia information (sound, text, images) visible on the second screen and of use to a walker, a tourist (display and description of a view, of sites, of monuments, providing a list of hotels, of restaurants, of facilities, etc. . . . ), to a professional (addresses, resources, etc. . . . ), or to a visitor (exhibitions, museums, etc. . . . ).
Advantageously, the device of the invention is powered in self-contained manner by batteries that are rechargeable or otherwise, and it is portable. On-board a vehicle, the power supply may be obtained directly from the vehicle battery.
Preferably, it includes means enabling local multimedia information to be recorded and played back, together with means enabling a planned or a performed itinerary to be recorded and displayed, in particular with its characteristic times, distances, and changes in altitude.
In a professional version, it may include means for displaying and recording information of any kind on the described map and in association with a directory or a diary.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention appear more clearly on reading the following description which is made with reference to the accompanying draw
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Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 4, No. 163 (P-36)(645), 13 Nov. 1980.
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