JP2004117266A - Navigation system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system and a method capable of realizing an excellent operability by supporting an operation of route scrolling other than a faculty of a sight. <P>SOLUTION: A scroll display part 45 realized by a main CPU and its periphery circuit 4 scroll displays a map along the route on a display part 10, depending on input to a jog device D. At this scroll display a restriction by a resistance depending on a tilting direction of a jog key makes the jog key easy to tilt in a direction of set route as a result of an action of a solenoid at an intersection or a branch at the time of the scroll display, and if the jog key K is tilted in another direction, a vibration or a sound announcement informs that the direction is incorrect. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device and a method for realizing excellent operability by supporting operations in route scrolling other than visual confirmation on a screen.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of automobiles and digital technologies, navigation technologies such as navigation devices and methods have been rapidly advanced. These search and set the optimal route to the specified destination based on the road data prepared in advance, detect the position of the vehicle in real time and display it on the screen with the surrounding map, It outputs guidance such as turning left or right at important places as a screen display or synthesized voice according to the progress of the vehicle.
[0003]
Such a navigation device has a function of scrolling a map displayed on the screen by sequentially tilting a direction switch such as a jog key provided on a remote controller in a direction along the route in order to confirm the route. Such a function or screen display is called a route scroll or the like.
[0004]
In addition, in the case of route scrolling, in order to eliminate the complexity of accurate operation along the route, scrolling is automatically performed, or the speed of scrolling is reduced at a key point such as a turning intersection (for example, see Patent Document 1). Has also been proposed.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-22470
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the related art, as a means for confirming a key point such as a turning point on a route, only visual confirmation on the display screen is used. There was inconvenience in operation, such as being unable to see in the middle of the process or being unable to stop at the desired position.
[0007]
Especially in the part where the route goes straight in one direction, it is considered that the operation in a completely different direction is often conscious.However, in the part where the route turns right and left at the intersection and the direction changes, the operation unit such as the jog key It is inconvenient that the display range is unexpectedly separated from the route in many cases when the vehicle is tilted in the advancing direction.
[0008]
In the automatic scrolling described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to avoid the inconvenience that the possibility of oversight is increased by scrolling the screen without permission.
[0009]
The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-described problems of the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an excellent operation by supporting the operation in route scrolling other than the visual confirmation on the screen. It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device and a method realizing the operability.
[0010]
A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device and method that realizes excellent operability by notifying key points of a route by vibration or sound of an operation unit such as a jog key during a route scroll operation. It is.
[0011]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device and a method for realizing excellent operability by notifying a sound of an operation to a direction outside the route at a key point of the route at the time of a route scroll operation. is there.
[0012]
Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a navigation system that realizes excellent operability by notifying an operation in a direction outside the route at a key point of the route by a resistance feeling in an operation unit such as a jog key at the time of a route scroll operation. It is to provide an apparatus and a method.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is a navigation device in which a computer searches for a route to a given destination and performs setting and guidance, wherein the computer receives an input of a direction. Unit, a display unit for displaying information, means for scrolling a map along the set route on the display unit in accordance with an input to the operation unit, and a notification sound or the operation unit. Notifying means for generating at least one of the vibrations, and detecting that key points which are preset points in the route are located in a predetermined range of the screen during the scroll display, And control means for operating.
[0014]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the invention of the first aspect is grasped from the viewpoint of a method, and an operation unit for receiving an input of a direction, a display unit for displaying information, and a notification sound or vibration of the operation unit are provided. And a notifying means for generating at least one of them. In a navigation method in which a computer that searches for a route to a given destination and performs setting and guidance is provided, the computer displays a map along the set route. A process of scrolling display on the display unit in response to an input to the operation unit, and key points which are preset points in the route are located in a predetermined range of a screen during the scroll display. And performing control processing for operating the notification means.
[0015]
In these modes, in addition to visual confirmation on the screen during route scrolling, information sounds and vibrations of the operation unit such as jog keys can be used to identify important points such as intersections where you should make a right or left turn, resulting in excellent operability. Is done.
[0016]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first aspect, the control means activates the notification means when a direction other than a route is input from the operation unit at the key point. I do.
[0017]
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the invention of the second aspect is grasped from the viewpoint of a method. In the navigation method according to the fifth aspect, in the control processing, a direction other than a route at the key point is input from the operation unit. When it is performed, the notifying means is operated.
[0018]
In these modes, when a direction other than the direction along the route is input at a key point, the user is notified that a common operation error such as turning the operation unit inadvertently without noticing a change in direction such as turning left or right is effective. Is prevented.
[0019]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation device in which a computer searches for a route to a given destination by performing search, setting, and guidance, wherein the computer receives an input of a direction by a mover; A display unit for displaying, a means for scrolling a map along the set route on the display unit in accordance with an input to the operation unit, and at least during the route at the time of the scroll display, When the mover of the operation unit is moved in a direction other than the route when the key points that are the set points are located in a predetermined range of the screen, the direction of the route is input more than when the direction is input. And a resistance generating means for generating a large push-back resistance force on the mover.
[0020]
In this aspect, when a direction other than the route is input, a resistance force that pushes back the mover of the operation unit is generated, so that the operation in the direction deviating from the route can be immediately corrected, and excellent operability is realized.
[0021]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the third aspect, the operation unit includes a movable member that is tiltable or movable about an axis, and the resistance generating unit sets the axis of the movable element from eight directions. It is characterized by including a solenoid provided so as to surround it.
[0022]
In this aspect, among the solenoids surrounding the axis of the mover from eight directions, a simple structure in which a resistance is generated by a solenoid other than the root direction can be inexpensively reduced in size.
[0023]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as “embodiments”) will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present embodiment can be realized by controlling a computer with a program in addition to the necessary hardware. In this case, the manner of realizing the hardware and the program can be variously changed. Virtual circuit blocks that realize the functions of the present invention and the present embodiment are used.
[0024]
[1. Constitution〕
The present embodiment relates to the navigation device shown in FIG. 1 (hereinafter referred to as “this device”). However, since there are methods and programs, and some elements that can be grasped as a recording medium on which such a program is recorded, It is also an aspect of the present invention to download and execute such a program on the navigation device of each vehicle via a communication network such as the Internet or a mobile phone network.
[0025]
[1-1. Overall configuration of navigation device)
First, in the present apparatus, the computer searches and sets a route to a given destination, that is, a route based on road data prepared in advance, and sequentially provides guidance along the route according to the progress of the vehicle. It is a navigation device that outputs, and includes the following elements shown in the functional block diagram of FIG.
[0026]
That is, the absolute position / azimuth detecting unit 1 calculates the absolute position coordinates and the azimuth on the ground surface of the current position of the vehicle (called the own vehicle) on which the present device is mounted, that is, the own vehicle position (also called the vehicle position). It is a part for receiving, for example, a GPS radio wave transmitted from a GPS satellite by an antenna or a receiver for calculation. The relative azimuth detecting unit 2 is a part for detecting the relative azimuth of the own vehicle using a gyro or the like. The vehicle speed detection unit 3 is a part that calculates the speed of the own vehicle by processing a vehicle speed pulse obtained from the vehicle.
[0027]
The main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 are parts that serve as a control circuit for controlling the entire device. The memory group M is various memories necessary for the operation of the present apparatus. For example, the ROM 5 for storing programs is accessed by the main CPU when the present apparatus is started. A main program is loaded into a dynamic RAM (DRAM) 6 which provides a work area and the like. An SRAM (static RAM) 7 for backing up information such as settings is backed up by a battery even while the main power is off, and provides memory contents when the main power is turned on. A display VRAM (video RAM) 8 stores bitmap data of an image to be displayed on the display unit 10.
[0028]
The display unit 10 is a part for displaying various information such as a map and an operation menu on a liquid crystal display screen (not shown), and is desirably used together with speech synthesis. The input unit 11 is a part for the user to input information such as a command from a switch or the like, and includes a touch sensor function, a remote control unit, an infrared transmitting / receiving unit, and the like. The user interface unit 9 is a user interface that connects the display unit 10 and the input unit 11 to the main CPU and its peripheral circuits 4 using an I / O control circuit, a device driver, and the like.
[0029]
The CD / DVD-ROM control unit 12 is a means for reading various data recorded on a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM from a database. The storage means stores map information indicating a target object or facility around the road and lane information according to the approach direction to the intersection.
[0030]
The FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13 is a part that performs processing for receiving FM broadcast waves and extracting desired data such as VICS service traffic information from the broadcast waves, and the traffic information includes congestion information. The light / beacon receiving and processing unit 14 is a part that receives and processes information such as identification information of each beacon and traffic information of a VICS service from an optical beacon or a radio beacon installed on a road shoulder or the like. The voice recognition unit 15 is a part that recognizes a word such as a command word from an input utterance of the user.
[0031]
[1-2. Role of main CPU and its peripheral circuits]
Further, the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “CPU”) realize the role of each of the following parts shown in FIG. 1 by the autonomous control processing of the computer based on the above program. Is configured. That is, the current position detecting unit 40 is a vehicle position measuring unit that measures the position (own vehicle position) and the traveling direction of the vehicle. Specifically, the current position detecting unit 40 combines the GPS navigation positioning and the autonomous navigation positioning to determine the vehicle position. And calculating the heading direction.
[0032]
Here, in the GPS navigation positioning, the current position is calculated using information obtained by the absolute position / azimuth detecting unit 1 based on radio waves from artificial satellites. In the autonomous navigation positioning, the current position is calculated using information obtained from the relative azimuth detecting unit 2 and the vehicle speed detecting unit 3 based on the geomagnetism and the speed of the own vehicle.
[0033]
The destination specifying unit 41 is a means for receiving an input of a destination by searching for a facility from a database or specifying a cursor on a map. The route setting unit 42 determines a route to the input destination by the road. A means for searching and setting based on data. In addition, the map display unit 43 displays two-dimensional or tertiary information on the display unit 10 based on the calculated vehicle position and the road data, and displays the vehicle position on a surrounding map and at least a part of the route. The guidance unit 44 is a unit that outputs guidance guidance to the display unit 10, and also uses highlighted display and synthesized voice.
[0034]
[1-3. Configuration related to jog key)
Next, an operation unit (also referred to as a “jog device”) D is a part that receives a direction input by a jog key that is a tiltable or movable mover, and includes peripheral members of the jog key. Here, a partial perspective view of an example of the jog device D is shown in FIG. 2, and a cross-sectional view around the cross-section X in FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. That is, the jog key K (FIG. 2) is erected on the surface of an infrared remote control unit (not shown), and when a force is applied to the head portion H with a finger, the jog key K is moved from the neutral position shown by the broken line to the entire periphery as illustrated by the solid line. It is an inverted mover, and is configured to return to the neutral position by a resilient force of a spring or the like if no force is applied.
[0035]
The jog device D is provided with a notification system and a resistance generation unit (described later) as a drive system driven through the drive unit 23, in addition to a switch system for extracting signals through the switch matrix 21 (FIG. 1). As a switch system, first, although not shown because it is the same as the conventional one, a multistage switch is provided in each of eight directions at the base of the jog key K as a first switch group, and an angle of being pushed down in each direction is detected.
[0036]
As a drive system of the jog device D, first, as shown in FIG. 3, a control part C (FIG. 2) using a solenoid SL or the like is provided so as to surround the axis S of the jog key from eight directions. Are connected to the drive unit 23 (FIG. 1) to control on / off independently of each other. In other words, each control part C shown in FIG. 2 is operated to move the contact T in the direction of the axis S by the force of the actuator such as the solenoid SL, so that the axis S is tilted in the direction of the control part C. To generate resistance.
[0037]
As another drive system, a speaker SP for outputting a notification sound (FIG. 1) and a micromotor for vibration (not shown) for generating vibration on the jog key K are provided near the jog device D. The micromotor is connected to and driven by the drive unit 23, and together with the drive unit 23, constitutes a notification unit that generates a notification sound and a vibration of the jog device D.
[0038]
Then, a second switch (called a vibration switch) SW for generating this vibration is provided for each control part C. These vibration switches SW are used to generate an alarm sound or vibration when the jog key K is tilted in directions other than the root direction, and may be shared by the first switch group. Can be illustrated.
[0039]
For example, a contact T toward the axis S and a vibration switch SW behind the contact T are provided on the movable side of each solenoid SL (FIG. 2) so as to advance and retreat with respect to the shaft S together. When the jog key K is depressed to overcome the urging force, the corresponding vibration switch SW is turned on.
[0040]
Next, the scroll display unit 45 realized by the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 (FIG. 1) scrolls a map along the set route on the display unit 10 in response to an input to the jog device D. It is a means to do. Then, the jog management sub-microcomputer 22 detects that the key points, which are preset points in the route, are located within a predetermined range of the screen, that is, within the cursor at the time of the scroll display, and sets the notifying means. It is a control means for operating, and is a means for operating the notification means when a direction other than the route is input from an operation unit at a key point.
[0041]
That is, as a condition for operating the notification means, whether to always notify when the cursor approaches a key point, or whether to notify only when the cursor approaches a key point and input a direction other than the route. It is desirable that the switching can be set in advance. Further, the notification by the notification means includes a notification sound and a vibration of the jog key K, and it is desirable that the selection of one or both of them can be switched and set in advance.
[0042]
In addition, when the jog key K of the operation unit is moved in a direction other than the root while the key point is located within the cursor during the scroll display, the jog management sub-microcomputer 22 inputs the direction of the root. A resistance generating means for generating a greater push-back resistance force on the jog key K of the jog device D is configured together with the drive unit 23 and the solenoids SL.
[0043]
Regarding this resistance, it is desirable to be able to switch and set in advance whether the operating conditions are the same or different, whether to operate simultaneously or selectively, etc. in relation to the above-mentioned notification sound and vibration. By the above-described switching settings, a usage mode that suits the preference of each user becomes possible.
[0044]
[2. Action)
[2-1. Outline of action)
In the present embodiment configured as described above, the scroll display unit 45 realized by the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 displays a map along the set route according to an input to the jog device D. The scroll display is performed in the unit 10. At the time of such a scroll display, at a point such as an intersection or a branch, an action of a solenoid or the like restricts the jog key in the direction in which the jog key is tilted. It is easy to tilt the jog key in the direction, and if the jog key is tilted in any other direction, it is reported that the direction is different due to vibration or notification sound.
[0045]
For example, when the route as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed while tracing the cursor cs, at the key point a, the directions dB, dC, dD, dE, dF, dG, dH are different from those in the upward direction dA in FIG. When a large resistance force is generated and the jog key is tilted in these directions, the operator feels the resistance force in his hand, and furthermore, the jog key is vibrated or an alarm sounds.
[0046]
Similarly, at point b in FIG. 4, all other than the left direction dG in FIG. 3, at point c except for the upper left direction dH, and at point d except for the upper right direction dB, that is, except for the heading direction of the route. When the jog key is tilted in a direction outside the route, the jog key is subjected to a resistive force, that is, torque, and the operator senses it with his / her hand, and furthermore, the jog key is vibrated or an alarm sounds. Therefore, the operator can immediately understand that his own operation direction is out of the route even if he does not always look at the display screen.
[0047]
[2-2. More specific processing procedure]
Here, a processing procedure at the time of scroll display of the route in the present embodiment is shown in FIG. That is, in this procedure, assuming that the route is set by the CPU in advance (step 1), the scroll display unit 45 realized by the CPU sequentially determines the cursor position on the route (step 2). At the cursor position, the traveling direction for which the route is set is determined (step 3), and the traveling direction that the cursor should originally follow is notified to the jog management sub-microcomputer 22 (step 4).
[0048]
In response to this, the jog management sub-microcomputer 22 operates the necessary solenoids SL through the drive unit 23 at the control part C that controls the inclination of the jog key K except for the traveling direction (FIGS. 2 and 3). The inclination is limited by the resistance (step 5). As a result, for example, when the jog key K of the operation unit is moved in a direction other than the route when a key point is located in the cursor, a larger push-back resistance force than when the direction of the route is input is applied to the jog device D. The user can feel it with his / her finger.
[0049]
In this state, the user instructs the scroll direction by applying a force to the head H of the jog key K (FIG. 2) provided on the surface of the infrared remote control unit (not shown) with a finger.
[0050]
This operation content is extracted as a signal from the jog device D through the switch matrix 21 by the vibration switch SW or the like. If the inclination of the jog key K in the operation content does not match the route setting (step 7). ), And sends a vibration request to the jog device D (step 8). Specifically, in response to this request, the drive unit 23 causes the jog key K to generate vibration by operating a vibration micromotor (not shown). Further, depending on the setting, a notification sound is emitted from the speaker SP.
[0051]
Then, the contents of the operation are passed to the scroll display unit 45 of the CPU (steps 9 and 10), and the position of the cursor displayed on the display unit 10 is changed or updated by an instruction from the CPU (step 11).
[0052]
[3. effect〕
As described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to the visual confirmation on the screen at the time of route scrolling, the notification sound and the vibration of the operation unit such as the jog key allow the user to know the important points such as the intersection to turn right and left. Operability is realized.
[0053]
Also, in the present embodiment, when a direction other than the direction along the route is input at a key point, the user is notified of the input. Is effectively prevented.
[0054]
Further, in the present embodiment, when a direction other than the route is input, a resistance force that pushes back the mover of the operation unit is generated, so that the operation in the direction deviating from the route can be immediately corrected, and excellent operability is realized.
[0055]
Further, in the present embodiment, among the solenoids surrounding the axis of the mover from eight directions, a simple structure in which resistance is generated by a solenoid other than the root direction enables downsizing at low cost.
[0056]
[4. Other embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but includes other embodiments as exemplified below. For example, the route direction that does not generate notification or resistance may be only the route traveling direction when viewed from a key point, or may include the retreat direction returning to the route from the key point, and may not generate notification or resistance. . Further, at least the FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13, the light / beacon reception and processing unit 14, and the voice recognition unit 15 can be omitted, and the processing procedure of FIG. 5 and the like can be rearranged by various conventionally known programming techniques. is there. Further, since the configuration of FIGS. 2 and 3 is merely an example, the shape of the head portion H does not need to be spherical, for example, and other configurations can be appropriately changed.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a navigation device and a method that realize excellent operability by supporting operations in route scrolling other than visual.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a jog key according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a jog key and control parts according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a route according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Absolute position and direction detection part 2 ... Relative direction detection part 3 ... Vehicle speed detection part 4 ... Main CPU and its peripheral circuit 5 ... ROM
6 ... DRAM
7 ... SRAM
8 ... VRAM
9 User interface unit 10 Display unit 11 Input unit 12 CD / DVD-ROM control unit 13 FM multiplex reception and processing unit 14 Optical / beacon reception and processing unit 15 Voice recognition unit 21 Switch matrix 22 Jog management sub-microcomputer 23 drive unit 40 current position detection unit 41 destination designation unit 42 route setting unit 43 map display unit 44 guide control unit 45 scroll display unit M memory group D operation unit (jog device)
K ... Jog key H ... Head part S ... Axis C ... Control part SW ... Vibration switch

Claims (6)

In a navigation device in which a computer searches for a route to a given destination and performs setting and guidance,
Said computer,
An operation unit for receiving a direction input;
A display unit for displaying information;
Means for scroll-displaying a map along the set route on the display unit in response to an input to the operation unit;
Notification means for generating at least one of a notification sound or vibration of the operation unit,
Control means for detecting that key points, which are points set in advance in the route, are located in a predetermined range of a screen during the scroll display, and operating the notification means;
A navigation device comprising: 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit activates the notification unit when a direction other than the route is input from the operation unit at the point. In a navigation device in which a computer searches for a route to a given destination and performs setting and guidance,
Said computer,
An operation unit for receiving a direction input by the mover,
A display unit for displaying information;
Means for scroll-displaying a map along the set route on the display unit in response to an input to the operation unit;
At the time of the scroll display, at least when a key point which is each point set in advance in the route is located within a predetermined range of the screen, when the movable element of the operation unit is moved in a direction other than the route. A resistance generating means for generating a larger push-back resistance force on the mover than when the direction of the route is input;
A navigation device comprising: The operation unit includes a movable element that is tiltable or movable about an axis,
The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the resistance generating means includes a solenoid provided so as to surround the axis of the mover from eight directions. A computer including an operation unit that receives an input of a direction, a display unit for displaying information, and a notification unit that generates at least one of a notification sound and vibration of the operation unit; In the navigation method of searching and performing setting and guidance,
Said computer,
A process of scroll-displaying a map along the set route on the display unit according to an input to the operation unit;
A control process of detecting that key points, which are points set in advance in the route, are located in a predetermined range of a screen during the scroll display, and operating the notification unit;
Navigation method. 6. The navigation method according to claim 5, wherein the control process activates the notification unit when a direction other than a route is input from the operation unit at the point.

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