JP2002131069A - Car navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a car navigation system previously informing a driver of burden received in the case that a car advances to a route gotten out of a recommended route in a branch point. SOLUTION: The car navigation system 1 displays a degree of recommendation S1 in the case that the car advances to the route W1 along at least the recommended route RG of routes W1, W2, W3 branched at the branch point on a navigation image NG2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car navigation apparatus for displaying a recommended route to a destination on a road map image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional car navigation device determines one recommended route to a set destination in advance and guides the driver to the destination according to the determined recommended route.

That is, when a vehicle approaches a junction such as an intersection to make a right or left turn, a route along a recommended route among the branched roads is displayed on a road map such as an enlarged image of an intersection displayed in the vehicle interior. Is displayed as an arrow or the like on the corresponding junction, and the driver can take a course according to this guidance display,
You will be guided to your destination without hesitation.

[0004]

In the car navigation system described above, since the driver is instructed and instructed on the course to be taken unilaterally without giving the driver any room to select a course, the course for the driver is exactly as it is. It may be a psychological burden to have to take it.

[0005] That is, the driver not only drives mechanically according to the guidance, but also considers the good scenery, the ease of running, the ease of turning right and left at an intersection and the like, and judges the course at the spot. You may want to choose

[0006] In response to such a driver's request, some conventional car navigation systems perform a route re-search when the vehicle deviates from the recommended route, and return to the original recommended route or from the spot. There is one that guides the driver by newly searching for a recommended route to the destination again.

However, the above-described route re-searching function eliminates the psychological burden of having to drive according to the guidance of the car navigation device. However, when a route is selected that deviates from the original recommended route. The route searched by the above-described re-searching may be significantly detoured compared to the original recommended route, or may have to perform troublesome driving such as U-Yuin, There may be a significantly greater driving burden than driving along the original recommended route.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a car navigation device in which a driver is informed in advance of a burden to be received when the vehicle travels on a route deviating from a recommended route at a branch point.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage device in which a road map image and road map information are stored, and wherein the road map image is displayed. A display device, a vehicle position detecting means for detecting a vehicle position, and a recommended route from the vehicle position to the destination, and when the vehicle approaches a branch point while traveling on the recommended route. Route search means for searching for other recommended routes from the respective routes deviating from the recommended route to the destination among the routes branched at the branch point, and branching at the branch point based on the road map information. A recommendation degree determining unit that determines a recommendation degree for a case of proceeding to a path along the recommended route among the paths, and a notification unit that notifies the recommendation degree determined by the recommendation degree determination unit. It is intended.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the recommendation degree judging means further includes a recommendation degree for a case where the vehicle travels to each of the routes deviating from the recommended route among the routes branched at the branch point based on the road map information. And the notifying means further notifies each of the recommended degrees determined by the recommended degree determining means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the recommendation degree judging means compares a road condition and an estimated travel time between the branch point and the destination of each of the recommended route and each of the other recommended routes. The degree of recommendation is determined.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the notifying means displays and notifies the recommendation degree on an enlarged image of the branch point displayed on the display device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the notifying unit includes a sound output unit, and notifies a route along the recommended route by outputting a sound in an expression considering the degree of recommendation.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a car navigation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display image of the car navigation device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display image at a branch point of the navigation device, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the car navigation device.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a car navigation device 1 according to this embodiment has a display device 3 such as an LCD installed in a vehicle cabin and a storage device in which a road map image and road map information are stored. A device 5, a vehicle position detecting section (vehicle position detecting means) 7 for detecting the current position (vehicle position) of the vehicle by combining GPS positioning and autonomous navigation positioning, and a destination at which a destination is set and input The setting input unit 9 and the route from the vehicle position P detected by the vehicle position detecting unit 7 to the destination set and input by the destination setting input unit 9 are all extracted from the road map information in the storage device 5. And the recommended route R
Search unit (route search means) 11 for searching, the own vehicle position P detected by the own vehicle position detection unit 7 on the road map image DG read from the storage device 5, and the recommended route R searched by the route search unit 11. The information editing unit 13 displays the edited information on the display device 3 as a navigation image NG1 while monitoring the progress of the own vehicle on the road by superimposing and editing the recommended degree of the searched recommended route. A recommendation degree judging unit (recommended degree judging means) 15 for judging, and an image synthesizing unit (notification) for synthesizing and displaying the recommendation degree judged by the recommendation degree judging unit 15 on the road map image displayed on the display device 3. Means 17).

In addition to the above, under the control of the information editing unit 13, when the vehicle approaches a branch point (for example, the branch point W), the route search unit 11 branches the routes W1, W2 branched at the branch point W. , W3, each route W deviating from the recommended route R
For each of W2 and W3, another recommended route from the branch point W to the destination via the courses W2 and W3 is searched.

Based on the road map information stored in the storage device 5, the recommendation degree judging unit 15 determines the above-mentioned object from the recommended route R searched by the route searching unit 11 and the branch point W of each of the other recommended routes. Evaluate the poor road conditions to the ground. Then, based on the evaluated bad road conditions, when traveling to the route W1 along the recommended route R among the routes branched at the branch point W, and when traveling to each of the routes W2 and W3 deviating from the recommended route R. Degree of recommendation S1,
S2 and S3 are determined respectively.

The poor road conditions at that time are determined not only by the expected traveling time from the branch point W to the destination, but also by the number of passing locations that impose a driving burden and the burden at each passing location. The degree is taken into account. For example, the number of places that require driving that is not performed in normal driving such as U-turn, the number of intersections and junctions that turn left and right, the narrowness of the width of the passing road, the degree of steepness of the slope, the curve The degree of the curvature of the portion where the light beam travels is taken into consideration (the information is stored in advance in the storage device 5 as road map information).

As a method of evaluating the poor road conditions, for example, a point that increases in accordance with the degree of burden of driving is assigned to the corresponding passing point, and the length of the estimated traveling time is also set to the above-mentioned estimated traveling time. Assign points that increase accordingly. Then, the total points of the above-mentioned points allocated to the above-mentioned passing points corresponding to the recommended route (the recommended route R and the other recommended routes) and the above-mentioned points allocated to the estimated traveling time of the recommended route Is the evaluation point of the poor road condition for the recommended route (that is, the higher the evaluation point, the higher the evaluation of the bad).

Then, the reciprocal of the evaluation point of the badness is used as the evaluation point of the good road condition from the branch point W of the recommended route to the destination, and the evaluation point of the good road condition is used as the total recommended route. The value converted into a percentage of the total of the evaluation points of the good road conditions of the (recommended route R and the other recommended routes) is calculated as the route W1, W2, W3 corresponding to the recommended route.
The degree of recommendation for the case of proceeding to In other words, the higher the degree of recommendation, the smaller the degree of driving burden received when traveling on the course.

When the information editing unit 13 detects that the vehicle has approached a branch point (for example, the branch point W), the information editing unit 13 causes the route searching unit 11 to search for each of the other recommended routes.
Then, until the vehicle passes the branch point W, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the display device 3 displays an enlarged guide image NG2 formed by superimposing the enlarged image KG of the branch point W read from the storage device 5 and the guide image RG of the recommended route R, and an image synthesizing unit. 17, the recommended degrees S1, S2, and S3 determined by the recommended degree determination unit 15 are respectively represented by the corresponding courses W1 and W on the enlarged guide image NG2.
2. The image is synthesized near W3 and displayed on the display device 3. The enlarged image KG of the branch point W and the guide image RG of the recommended route R are stored in the storage device 5 in advance as a road map image.

The information editing unit 13 determines that the vehicle is at the branch point W
When it is detected that the vehicle has traveled on a route deviating from the recommended route R (for example, the route W2), the route search unit 11 searches for the recommended route used for guiding the driver from the recommended route R first. The route is changed to another recommended route corresponding to the route (here, the route W2), and the above-described processing performed on the recommended route R is repeated for the changed recommended route.

Next, the operation of the car navigation device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S1, as shown in FIG. 2, the current position P of the own vehicle detected by the own vehicle position detecting unit 7 is displayed by the information editing unit 11 together with the recommended route R searched by the route searching unit 11 in advance. The navigation image NG edited over the road map image DG read from the storage device 3
1 is displayed on the display device 3. In this scene,
The driver is driving his own vehicle along the recommended route R,
The status is changed by the information editing unit 13 through the edited information.
Monitored by

Then, in step S2, the information editing unit 13
If it is detected that the vehicle has approached the junction, the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, the information editing unit 1 reports that the vehicle has approached a branch point (for example, the branch point W in FIG. 2).
3, the enlarged image KG of the branch point W and the guide image RG of the recommended route R read from the storage device 5 by the information editing unit 13 as shown in FIG.
, An enlarged guide image NG2 is formed, and the enlarged guide image NG2 is displayed on the display device 3 until the vehicle passes the branch point W, and a route search controlled by the information editing unit 13 is performed. By the unit 11, for each of the routes W2, W3 deviating from the recommended route R among the routes W1, W2, W3 branched at the branch point W, the above-mentioned object is obtained from the branch point W via the routes W2, W3. Other recommended routes to the ground are searched.

In step S 4, the recommended route R searched by the route search unit 11 by the recommended degree determination unit 15 based on the road map information stored in the storage device 5.
Then, poor road conditions between the branch point W of each of the other recommended routes and the destination are evaluated. Then, based on the evaluated bad road conditions, the branch point W
When the vehicle travels to the route W1 along the recommended route R among the routes branched in the above, and the routes W2, W3 deviated from the recommended route R
The degrees of recommendation S1, S2, S3 for the case of proceeding to are determined respectively.

Then, the recommended degrees S1, S2, S
3, the image synthesizing unit 1 controlled by the information editing unit 13 until the vehicle passes the branch point W, as shown in FIG.
7, the enlarged guide image NG2 displayed on the display device 3
Images are synthesized and displayed near the corresponding paths W1, W2, and W3.

Then, in step S5, the information editing unit 13
By this, when it is detected that the own vehicle has proceeded to the course W1 along the recommended route R at the branch point W, the process returns to step S2 as it is, and the above-described processing is repeated. When it is detected that the vehicle has proceeded to the routes W2 and W3 deviated from R, the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S6, the information editing unit 13 uses the recommendation that has been used for the driver's guidance in accordance with the fact that the own vehicle has proceeded on the route (for example, the route W2) deviating from the recommended route R at the branch point W. The route is changed from the recommended route R to another recommended route corresponding to the route (here, the route W2) searched by the route search unit 11 in step S3. Thereby, the changed recommended route is displayed on the display device 3 instead of the recommended route R, and the information editing unit 13 monitors the progress of the own vehicle under the changed recommended route. Then, returning to step S2, the processing performed on the recommended route R is repeated for the changed recommended route.

According to the car navigation system 1 configured as described above, when the own vehicle approaches a branch point (for example, W), the recommendation degree S1 for the case of proceeding to the course W1 along the recommended route R is determined. Since it is displayed, it is possible to inform the driver in advance of the degree of driving burden to be received when traveling on the routes W2 and W3 deviating from the recommended route R.

That is, guidance at a branch point where only a right-turn arrow is conventionally displayed is displayed together with the right-turn arrow together with a recommendation degree such as "60%". Is better, but there are many oncoming vehicles, so there is no turn, so you may go straight ahead. " On the other hand, at a turning point where a large turn or a U-turn is required unless entering the vehicle, such as when deviating to a side road or a high-speed entrance, for example, the recommendation degree is displayed as "100%", so that the vehicle turns slightly to the right. Even in difficult situations, it is possible to inform the driver that it is better to turn right.

As a result, the driver can be guided to the destination with maximum consideration of the driver's discretion without increasing the burden on the driver.

Further, when the own vehicle approaches a branch point (for example, the branch point W), each of the paths W2 and W3 deviating from the recommended route R among the paths branched at the branch point W is also provided with the path W2. , W3, the degree of recommendation for proceeding to W3
Since S3 is displayed, when there are a plurality of routes deviating from the recommended route, when trying to proceed to a route deviating from the recommended route, the driver is informed in advance which route is the least burdensome. I can let you know.

Since the recommendation levels S1, S2 and S3 are displayed on the enlarged image KG of the branch point, the recommendation level can be displayed without hindering the visibility of the navigation image at the branch point.

In this embodiment, the recommendation degree S
Although the case where 1, S2 and S3 are displayed as percentages has been described,
As shown in FIG. 5, especially when the recommendation degree (for example, the recommendation degree S2, S3) is “0%”, the courses W2, W3
"0%" to emphasize that you must not proceed to
May be represented by an “x” mark instead of.

Further, in this embodiment, at the branch point (for example, the branch point W), the recommended degree S1 is not displayed only on the course W1 along the recommended route R, but the recommended route R is displayed.
Although the recommended degrees S2 and S3 are also displayed for the routes W2 and W3 deviating from the recommended route R,
Recommended degrees S2, S3 for each of the routes W2, W3 deviating from
May be displayed, and the recommended degree S1 may be displayed only on the route W1 along the recommended route R.

In this embodiment, the case where the recommended route R and the degrees of recommendation S1, S2, and S3 are displayed as images has been described. The degrees S1, S2, and S3 may be displayed as images and output as sounds.

In this case, it is desirable to change the expression, such as "Make a right turn" or "Make a right turn if possible," and output the sound in accordance with the recommendation levels S1, S2, and S3. In this way, the driver can be informed of the recommended route and the recommended degree.

[0040]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the own vehicle approaches a branch point while traveling on the recommended route, the recommended route is selected by the route search means from the routes branched at the branch point. The other recommended routes from each of the routes deviating from the route to the destination are respectively searched, and the recommendation degree determination unit determines the degree of recommendation for the case of proceeding to the route along the recommended route among the routes branched at the branch point. Since the determined degree of recommendation is notified by the notification means when the own vehicle approaches the branch point, the driver is provided with the above-mentioned recommended route among the paths branched at the branch point. It is possible to inform the driver in advance of the degree of driving burden that is incurred when the vehicle travels on a route that deviates from the recommended route. As a result, the driver can be guided to the destination in consideration of the driver's discretion to the maximum without increasing the driving burden.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the own vehicle approaches a branch point, the degree of recommendation for the case where the vehicle deviates from the recommended route and the vehicle travels on that route is reported. , When there are multiple routes that deviate from the recommended route,
The driver can be informed in advance which route is the least burdensome.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the degree of recommendation is determined by comparing the road condition and the estimated travel time from the branch point of each of the recommended route and each of the other recommended routes to the destination. , An appropriate recommendation degree can be determined.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the recommendation degree is displayed on the enlarged image of the branch point displayed on the display device, the recommendation degree can be maintained without hindering the visibility of the guide image at the branch point. Can be displayed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the course along the recommended route is output as a voice in an expression considering the degree of recommendation, it is possible to inform the driver of the recommended route and the degree of recommendation. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a car navigation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display image of the car navigation device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display image at a branch point of the car navigation device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the car navigation device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a modification of the display image at the branch point in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 car navigation device 3 display device 5 storage device 7 own vehicle position detecting unit 11 route searching unit 13 information editing unit 15 recommendation degree determining unit 17 image combining unit DG road map image KG enlarged image of branch point R recommended route P own vehicle position W Junction point W1, W2, W3 Branched route S1, S2, S3 Recommended degree

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuaki Sada 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi F-term in Harness Research Institute, Inc. (reference) 2C032 HC31 HD03 HD07 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AC02 AC18 5H180 AA01 CC12 FF04 FF05 FF22 FF24 FF25 FF27 FF33

Claims (5)

[Claims] A storage device that stores a road map image and road map information; a display device that displays the road map image; a vehicle position detection unit that detects a vehicle position; While searching for a recommended route to the destination, and when the own vehicle approaches a branch point while traveling on the recommended route, from the routes that deviate from the recommended route among the routes branched at the branch point, the destination Route search means for respectively searching for other recommended routes to the vehicle; and a recommendation degree determination for judging a recommendation degree for a case of proceeding to a route along the recommended route among the routes branched at the branch point based on the road map information. And a notifying means for notifying the recommendation degree determined by the recommendation degree determining means. 2. The recommendation degree determining unit further determines each recommendation degree for a case where the vehicle travels to each of the routes that deviate from the recommended route among the routes branched at the branch point based on the road map information, 2. The car navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit further notifies each of the recommended degrees determined by the recommended degree determining unit. 3. 3. The recommended degree determining means determines the recommended degree by comparing a road condition and an expected travel time between the branch point and the destination of each of the recommended route and each of the other recommended routes. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
Or the car navigation device according to claim 2. 4. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit displays and notifies the recommendation degree on an enlarged image of the branch point displayed on the display device. Car navigation equipment. 5. The notifying unit includes an audio output unit,
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein a route along the recommended route is notified by voice output in an expression considering the degree of recommendation.
The car navigation device according to claim 4.