DE102004037233A1 - Navigation system with map display and method for adapting a map display in a navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for displaying a traffic route map on a display device of a vehicle navigation system, wherein a map scale and / or a level of detail of the map display are set, characterized in that a driving situation of the vehicle is determined and that the map scale and / or the level of detail of the map display in dependence DOLLAR A navigation system with a display device for displaying a traffic-route map and means for adjusting the map scale and / or the level of detail of map display, characterized by means for determining a current driving situation of the vehicle and a training of the fitting means, such that the map scale and / or the level of detail of the map display are set automatically depending on the driving situation. DOLLAR A The invention causes an improved adaptation of the information density of the representation of the respective driving situation-related information need of the driver. In particular, an excessive demand of the driver is avoided by an unmanageable flood of information.

Description

It are navigation systems for use in vehicles known to be a route from one start or location to one calculate the target that can be specified by a user and then the user User with route guidance instructions lead along the calculated route to the destination. There are more navigation systems known about one Display device for supplementary or alternative representation of a map, in particular road map, feature, on which preferably a respective vehicle position and / or the destination and also the or a section of the route shown are.

• – Linien für Straßen, Eisenbahnstrecken usw.,
• – Flächen für Orte, Wälder, Seen usw.,
• – Punkte und Icons für sogenannte Points Of Interest, also beispielsweise Tankstellen, Werkstätten usw.

in unterschiedlichen Stärken, Farben und Texturen ausgedünnt für verschiedene Maßstäbe (i.a. von 50m bis 500km Maßstab) dargestellt. Die Maßstäbe können vom Benutzer manuell eingestellt werden und zeigen dann je nach Maßstab eine mehr oder weniger detailreiche Darstellung.In such conventional map representations, for example

• - lines for roads, railways, etc.,
• - areas for places, forests, lakes etc.,
• - Points and Icons for so-called Points Of Interest, for example petrol stations, workshops etc.

thinned in different thicknesses, colors and textures for different scales (generally from 50m to 500km scale). The scales can be set manually by the user and then show a more or less detailed representation depending on the scale.

Further map maps are known that react to certain events, For example, an intersection zoom representation approaching the Vehicle to an intersection or an "auto zoom" representation, which is the scale of Map display scaled so that both the current vehicle position as well as a next one Decision point, for example a turn-off point at an intersection, are visible. In all these representations become fixed yardsticks with always the same amount of content used.

With Exception of the described intersection and auto-zoom have map representations no dynamics. In certain driving situations, e.g. on the highway, becomes the benchmark mostly set by the user of the system who has map display then the scale-dependent information.

Advantages of invention

The Invention with the features of the independent claims causes an automatic driving situation-dependent adjustment of the scale and / or the level of detail of a map display of a vehicle navigation system. In order to there is an improved adaptation of the information density of the presentation to the respective driving situation-related information need of Driver. In particular, an excessive demand of the driver through an unmanageable Information overload avoided. The invention thus contributes to a reduced Distraction from traffic and thus to improved traffic safety at. Furthermore, the invention facilitates the driver the Orientation based on the map display.

to Determining the driving situation will advantageously be a vehicle speed and / or the street class or the state of development of a busy road and / or information about an environment the current vehicle condition taken into account.

The for the Map display changeable parameters, in particular map scale and level of detail will be advantageous in the form of at least one Profiles stored in the car navigation system. The above Driving situation parameters form the input variables of the Profils, so depending this parameter the presentation parameters can be determined.

Advantageous can the at least one profile of the navigation system by the Manufacturer specified, by a vehicle manufacturer, such a Navigation system installed in his vehicles changeable or specifiable and / or by the end user, so the driver prescribable and / or changeable be educated.

drawings

embodiments The invention is illustrated in the figures and will be described below explained in more detail. Same Reference numerals in the figures designate the same or comparable Elements.

Show it 1 a block diagram of the invention essential part of a navigation system according to the invention,

2 by way of example, a profile by means of which according to the invention the map representation in the navigation system according to the invention is adapted,

3 a flow chart of the method according to the invention.

description the embodiments

1 shows a block diagram of the invention essential part of a navigation system according to the invention 10 , This includes in itself known manner signal generator 14 which generate signals that generate suitable signals for determining a current vehicle location and a current state of motion. In particular, these are for example a satellite receiver 11 , which is designed to receive signals from GPS satellites, from which GPS signals can be determined in a manner known per se, an absolute position. Next is, for example, a rotation rate sensor l2 provided that detects a change in a direction of travel of the vehicle by a change in the rotation rate and outputs a corresponding direction change signal. Finally, a speedometer signal generator 13 provided that generates a current vehicle speed indicative signal. The signals of the two last-mentioned signal generators 12 and 13 are integrated, with each current position information is obtained in a conventional manner by superposition of the integrated signals on an existing position information.

The navigation system 10 further has a controller 15 which is preferably implemented in the form of a processor and an operating program executed by the processor. The control 15 Among other things, it is designed to be the signal supplied to the signal generator 14 to link resulting position information for the current vehicle location. This is similar to the controller 15 the relative position determined from the position signals, that is, the rate of rotation change and the speed, and the absolute position determined from the GPS signals in a memory 16 , For example, a CD or DVD-ROM or a comparable other mass storage, stored map data. In this way, on the one hand, a potential tolerance-sensitive position or position sequence calculated from the signals is checked for plausibility, on the other hand a statement is obtained on which road the vehicle is currently located and, for example, which road class or which state of development, for example number of lanes, the currently traveled Road has. In addition, if appropriate map data are available, information about the surroundings of the current vehicle location can be obtained, such as a forest area, special buildings within a village development, special landmarks or other so-called POIs such as gas stations, workshops, train stations, etc ,

The vehicle navigation system 10 also has an output device 18 on, on the guidance notices, in particular turn-by-turn instructions or indications of other maneuvers required to track the route predicted by the user specified by the user. For example, when approaching an intersection at which the route deviates from the currently traveled road, a reference in the manner "turn right at the next intersection!" Is output as a spoken remark.

In addition, the vehicle navigation system points 10 a display device 17 in the form of a display, for example LC monochrome or color displays 17 on. This display is provided for displaying a road map or sections of a road map, on which preferably the respective current vehicle location and a next decision point on the calculated route are shown.

Finally, the navigation system points 10 another memory 19 in which profiles for controlling or adapting the map display to the display 17 are stored.

A simplistic example of such a profile is in 2 shown. In 2 are the curves above the current vehicle speed 21 and 22 plotted, the first curve 21 the scale of the map display on the display 17 , the second turn 22 indicates the content of the map representation in relation to a maximum possible detailing.

This and / or different or complementary Profiles are in accordance with a first advantageous embodiment by the device manufacturer, optionally specified according to customer specifications in the device.

Alternatively or additionally, the navigation device 10 have a user interface, via which a vehicle manufacturer in the context of eg a so-called end-of-band programming and / or an end user of the navigation system can specify the profile or modify an existing profile.

The control 15 of the navigation system 10 is trained to display the map on the display 17 of the navigation device 10 depending on the driving situation, in the example of the profile according to 2 So the vehicle speed, adapt.

This adaptation of the map display is described below on the basis of the schedule of the 3 explained in more detail.

In step 50 First, the signals of the signal generator 14 , so the GPS receiver 11 , the rotation rate sensor 12 and the tachometer signal generator 13 from the controller 15 read. This is calculated based on these signals in step 52 a current vehicle location. In step 54 he follows a comparison of this vehicle location with those in the store 16 , So on the map CD or DVD stored data on roads or roads.

If this match results in a vehicle position on a road represented in the digital maps, which is in step 56 is checked, the information describing this road, so here in particular information on the road class of the road, ie highway, main road, highway, Ortsdurchfahrtstraße, residential road, etc. and / or information about a state of development, ie in particular the number of lanes of the road, from the store 16 read (step 58 ). This information and / or from the signals of the speed signal generator 13 derived vehicle speed and, according to a further development if necessary, additional information describing the surroundings of the location, such as information about building, POIs, etc. serve as control variables in the adaptation of the map display. This will be done in step 60 the profile data from the further memory 19 used and the display parameters associated with said control variables from the profile data determined (step 60 ).

In case of the simplified profile according to 2 For example, at a current vehicle speed of 130 km / h, the display parameters map scale 1: 1000 and level of detail 35% would be determined from the profile. Consequently, the map display would be in step 62 with the given scale 1: 1000 and a detailing of 35% of the maximum possible detailing.

Of the The level of detail has a particular effect on the presentation of roads lower street classes, especially residential streets, the for a through traffic without meaning, to the effect that These are increasingly neglected as the level of detail becomes smaller. The same applies, for example, when determining a highway ride. Again, there are residential streets or also Ortsdurchfahrungen on county or country roads without Interest that these streets of the highway may be off can not be reached anyway.

An opposing control of the degree of detail and possibly also of the map scale can be of interest, for example, if a stoppage of the vehicle on a motorway is detected. In this case, the navigation system 10 or its control 15 assume a dust-related standstill. Although the vehicle location on the highway now would suggest a large scale and a low level of detail, but this is irrelevant when the vehicle is stationary, as a distraction of the driver does not entail adverse consequences. Thus, in this case, for example, information about the surroundings of the current vehicle location, for example the location of sights visible from the current location, possibly supplemented by a textual description, could be displayed 17 being represented.

These both cases are exemplary for one a much greater variety potential Profiles and combinations of control parameters for map display dependent on the mentioned input variables.

In the event that the controller in step 56 determines that a comparison of the position information with the map data still does not give a clear vehicle location, further positions are calculated and then the sequence of calculated from the sensor signals supposed vehicle positions compared with the course of the stored in the digital maps streets (step 56 ). If necessary, this is repeated until a traffic route is identified as the actual vehicle position, whereupon the procedure in step 58 will continue.

Is the map scale as well as the level of detail of map display in step 62 adjusted, the process starts again in step 50 ,

This means the driving situation of the vehicle in which the navigation system is operated, constantly monitored and therefore change the driving situation immediately any necessary re-adjustment of the map display he follows. To a frequent Change in particular of the map scale and one under circumstances To prevent confusion of the driver, can here additionally a hysteresis may be provided such that a quick succession following jumping the map scale is prevented.

Claims (9)

A method for displaying a traffic-route map on a display device of a vehicle navigation system, wherein a map scale and / or a level of detail of the map display are set, characterized in that a driving situation of the vehicle is determined, and that the map scale and / or the level of detail of the map representation depending the driving situation are set automatically. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the driving situation depending on egg ner vehicle speed is determined. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the driving situation alternatively or additionally in Dependence of road class or the state of development of a busy road is determined. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the driving situation alternatively or additionally in Dependence on the circumstances surrounding the current vehicle position is determined. Navigation system with a display device for Representation of a route indicating map and means for Adjustment of the map scale and / or the level of detail of the map display by means for determining a current driving situation of the vehicle and a configuration of the matching means such that the map scale and / or the level of detail of map display depending on the driving situation are set automatically. Navigation system according to claim 5, characterized in that in that means for determining a current vehicle speed, Means for determining the road class and / or the state of completion of a currently traveled road and / or means to determine environmental information about a current vehicle position are provided and that the Fahrsiutationsermittlungsmittel trained are the driving situation on the basis of the above-mentioned means of determination determine the information obtained. Navigation system according to one of the preceding claims comprising a memory in which a profile is stored, which Profile an assignment of level of detail and / or map scale for a map display to driving situations, in particular to vehicle speeds and Environmental conditions have. Navigation system according to claim 7, characterized in that that the assignment is predetermined. Navigation system according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a user interface is provided via which a vehicle manufacturer and / or an end user of the navigation system Specify a profile or change an existing profile.