JP2006003269A - Portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a guide function having excellent handleability, in a portable terminal having the guide function to a destination. <P>SOLUTION: A portable telephone 1 has a DST setting means 11 for writing position information of a target arrival spot in a built-in memory part 251 and setting it as DST position information, a POS positioning means 12 for positioning POS position information which is the position information of a present spot, an azimuth measuring means 13 for measuring the terminal direction of the portable telephone 1, and a presentation means 15 for outputting the course direction from the present spot to the target arrival spot based on the POS position information and the DST position information in the memory part. The presentation means 15 has a constitution wherein an output level is changed corresponding to the magnitude of a deviation angle between the terminal direction and the course direction, namely, the output level is heightened as the deviation angle approaches zero, and the output level is lowered as the deviation angle becomes larger. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal having a navigation function.

  In recent years, a cellular phone having a GPS (Global Positioning System) function and realizing a guidance function (navigation function) using position information such as latitude and longitude data obtained by using this GPS function, and PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) ) And other portable terminals. For example, as a mobile phone having a guidance function, it has a liquid crystal display as a display means for displaying map data, and a GPS positioning circuit that receives GPS signals from GPS satellites and calculates position information of the current location. There is one configured to display a guidance direction to the ground on map data (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, the mobile phone having the conventional guidance function has the following problems. That is, a small liquid crystal panel adopted by a mobile phone or the like has a problem that it is not easy for the user (user) to grasp the route to the destination on the map data because the amount of information that can be displayed is not sufficient. was there. Furthermore, even with a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA, walking while visually observing the display screen is not easy, and there is a possibility that surrounding safety cannot be sufficiently confirmed.

JP 2002-31541 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use guidance function in a portable terminal having a guidance function.

The present invention is a portable terminal having a guidance function to a target destination point,
DST setting means for writing the position information of the target arrival point into the memory unit and setting it as DST position information;
POS positioning means for positioning POS position information that is position information of the current location;
Orientation measuring means for measuring the terminal direction which is the attitude of the mobile terminal;
Guidance information calculation means for calculating guidance information from the current location to the target arrival location based on the POS location information and the DST location information of the memory unit;
A presentation means for converting the guidance information into a physical quantity that can be recognized by the user of the mobile terminal and outputting the physical quantity,
The guidance information includes at least a course direction that is an azimuth direction from the current point to the target destination point,
The presenting means is a portable terminal configured to change an output characteristic of the physical quantity in accordance with a deviation angle between the terminal direction and the course direction (Claim 1). .

  The portable terminal of the present invention includes an azimuth measuring unit that measures a terminal direction that is the posture of the portable terminal, and a guidance that calculates at least a course direction that is an azimuth from the current position to the target arrival point as the guidance information. Information presentation means, and the presentation means is configured to change the output characteristic of the physical quantity in accordance with the magnitude of the deviation angle between the terminal direction and the course direction.

  Therefore, in the mobile terminal of the present invention, for example, when the user (user) rotates the direction in which the mobile terminal is gripped in a substantially horizontal plane, the output characteristic of the presenting means is in accordance with the magnitude of the deviation angle. fluctuate. Therefore, the user of the portable terminal can easily know the course direction based on the change in the output characteristics of the presenting means. Therefore, in the portable terminal, for example, the route direction as the guidance information can be presented without using a display unit that presents two-dimensional area information such as a liquid crystal display.

  That is, in the mobile terminal of the present invention, the user can recognize the approximate magnitude of the deviation angle between the course direction and the terminal direction according to the output characteristic of the physical quantity output by the presenting means. Further, when the user changes the direction in which the portable terminal is held, the user can easily know which side the route direction is on the side of the terminal direction based on the change tendency of the output characteristics of the presentation means. be able to. Furthermore, the user can easily know the route direction according to the output characteristics of the presenting means if the terminal direction is directed to the side where the route direction is present.

As described above, the portable terminal of the present invention can notify the user of the course direction without using the two-dimensional image information displayed on the liquid crystal display or the like.
The memory unit includes a RAM externally attached to the CPU of the portable terminal, a RAM built in the CPU, a register inside the CPU, and the like.

  In the present invention, as a method of capturing the target arrival point into the mobile terminal, for example, a method of capturing a point designated by the user using pointing means on the map data displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the mobile terminal, , A method of importing the telephone number entered by the user or the telephone number of the callee as information for identifying the target destination, and the facility name entered by the user as information for identifying the target destination There is a method to capture.

  The map data to be displayed on the liquid crystal screen can be read from, for example, a memory unit of a mobile terminal, or downloaded from an external server having a map database via the communication function of the mobile terminal. it can. Furthermore, as link data for associating the telephone number with location information or link data for associating a facility name with location information, data stored in the memory unit of the mobile terminal can be used, and communication functions of the mobile terminal It is also possible to use what is stored in a storage means such as an external server that can be connected via the network.

  Further, as the DST setting means, for example, the position information of the target arrival point obtained by referring to the data stored in the portable terminal can be set as the DST position information. Alternatively, as the DST setting means, for example, some information that can identify the target arrival point is transmitted to an external server or the like via wireless communication, and the position information (latitude and longitude) of the target arrival point is transmitted from the external server or the like. Data, etc.) can be received, and this position information can be set as DST position information.

  As the physical quantity output by the presenting means, one that acts on the human senses such as sound, light, and vibration can be used. The output characteristics to be changed according to the deviation angle include, for example, sound, vibration, volume, frequency, timbre, melody, intermittent pattern when intermittent, and intermittent time interval. . The output characteristics in the case of light include brightness, color, blinking pattern when blinking, blinking interval, and the like.

The presenting means changes the output level of the physical quantity according to the magnitude of the deviation angle, increases the output level as the deviation angle approaches zero, and decreases the output level as the deviation angle increases. It is preferable that it is comprised so that (Claim 2).
In this case, in the portable terminal, for example, when the user rotates the direction in which the portable terminal is gripped in a substantially horizontal plane, the output level of the presenting means varies according to the magnitude of the deviation angle. . Therefore, the user of the portable terminal can easily know the course direction based on the change in the output level of the presenting means. Therefore, in the portable terminal, for example, the route direction as the guidance information can be presented without using display means for presenting two-dimensional area information such as a liquid crystal display.

  That is, in this portable terminal, the user can recognize the approximate magnitude of the deviation angle between the course direction and the terminal direction according to the output level of the physical quantity output by the presenting means. Furthermore, when the user changes the direction in which the portable terminal is gripped, depending on whether the output level of the presenting means is increased or decreased, the path direction is on the side with respect to the terminal direction. You can easily know. Furthermore, the user can easily know the terminal direction in which the output level of the presenting means becomes maximum, that is, the course direction, by turning the terminal direction toward the side where the course direction is present.

The portable terminal preferably has a navigation switch for switching between operation and non-operation of the presenting means (claim 3).
In this case, the user of the portable terminal can use the guidance function as necessary by operating the navigation switch to switch between the operation and non-operation of the presentation means. And if the said presentation means is operated as needed, the power consumption of the said portable terminal can be suppressed, for example, the duration of the power supply battery of the said portable terminal can be lengthened. Further, if all the means for realizing the guidance function of the portable terminal such as the POS positioning means and the guidance information calculation means are operated in conjunction with the navigation switch, the portable terminal when the navigation switch is OFF is used. The power consumption of the terminal can be further suppressed.

  The DST setting means includes a final point input function as a user I / F for inputting a final destination, and one or more intermediate points located on a guide route from the current point to the final destination. A path storage function for writing destination position information to the memory unit, and the DST setting means stores position information of either the intermediate destination or the final destination in the DST position. It is preferable to set it as information (claim 4).

  In this case, for example, by sequentially setting the intermediate destination located on the guidance route from the current point to the final destination or the positional information of the final destination as the DST positional information, The route guidance via the intermediate destination can be performed by the mobile terminal. As the final point input function, for example, a user I / F (interface) for pointing the user on the map data displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the portable terminal or a telephone number for specifying the final destination And a user I / F for inputting facility names and the like.

The portable terminal has a navigation switch for switching between operation and non-operation of the presentation means, and the navigation switch causes the presentation means to output the guidance information from the current location to the final destination. A first switch;
It is preferable to have a second switch that causes the presenting means to output the guidance information from the current point to the next intermediate destination in the route order or the final destination.
In this case, if the first switch is turned on, guidance information such as a course direction to the final destination can be appropriately output using the presenting means, and the second switch is turned on. Then, using the presenting means, it is possible to appropriately output guidance information such as a course direction from the current point to the next intermediate destination or final destination value.

The navigation switch is preferably configured to be operable while the portable terminal is carried.
Here, the state in which the portable terminal is carried is a non-use state of the portable terminal. For example, in the case of a foldable portable terminal, the portable terminal is folded with the display screen, the operation panel, or the like inside. When the navigation switch is configured so that it can be operated in the portable state, for example, the navigation switch is operated without making the display screen or the operation panel of the portable terminal usable. Thus, the guidance function of the portable terminal can be used at any time.

Further, it is preferable that the presenting means is configured to output at least one of sound, light and vibration as the physical quantity.
In this case, by outputting at least one of sound, light, and vibration from the presenting means, it is possible to start with a course direction via at least one of the user's vision, hearing, and touch. The guidance information can be notified to the user.

Further, the presenting means is configured such that the output characteristic changes in a substantially normal distribution according to the magnitude of the deviation angle, with the terminal direction having zero deviation angle from the course direction as the center. In addition, it is preferable that the substantially normal distribution shape is configured to expand and contract in the angular direction.
In this case, if the output characteristic of the presenting means is set in a substantially normal distribution centered on the terminal direction in which the deviation angle is zero, the user of the portable terminal can determine the terminal direction in which the deviation angle is zero. It becomes easy to perceive. Furthermore, if the substantially normal distribution shape is configured to be expandable / contractible in the angular direction, the setting of the presenting means is set according to the azimuth accuracy required for the guidance function of the mobile terminal, individual differences of users (users), and the like Can be changed. For example, when the required azimuth accuracy is not high, the angular range in which the user can recognize the output of the presenting means can be widened by extending the substantially normal distribution shape in the angular direction. And it becomes easy for a user to find the said terminal direction from which the said deviation angle becomes zero by this.

  Here, the substantially normal distribution shape is not only a strict Gaussian distribution shape represented by a normal distribution function, but also a distribution having a peak at the center and gradually decreasing the level at the side. The shape is widely included. For example, a so-called peaky distribution shape such as a “mountain mountain” represented by a cosine distribution function or a “triangle mountain” represented by a triangular distribution function may be used.

Further, the guidance information calculation means calculates a route distance that is a distance to the target arrival point as the guidance information, and the presentation means intermittently outputs the physical quantity according to the length of the route distance. It is preferable that the time interval is changed (claim 9).
In this case, using the presenting means, it is possible to present not only the terminal direction where the deviation angle becomes zero, but also the course distance to the target arrival point.

The azimuth measuring means includes a magnetic sensitive body and an electromagnetic coil wound around the outer peripheral side of the magnetic sensitive body, and generates an electric potential difference at both ends of the electromagnetic coil in accordance with a change in current flowing through the magnetic sensitive body. It is preferable to comprise an element (claim 10).
In this case, the terminal direction can be accurately detected using the MI element, and the azimuth accuracy of the deviation angle calculated by the mobile terminal can be improved. Furthermore, according to the MI element that is small in size and can be configured to reduce power consumption, the portable terminal can be miniaturized, and the power consumption can be suppressed to extend the continuous usable time.

The mobile terminal is preferably a mobile phone configured to be connectable to a public telephone line by wireless communication.
In this case, the guiding function can be realized by using a mobile phone as the mobile terminal. In the case of the mobile phone, since the display means such as a liquid crystal display is small, the guidance function by the presenting means is particularly effective.

Example 1
This example is an example related to a mobile phone having a guidance function for guiding a user to a destination. The contents will be described with reference to FIGS.
The mobile terminal 1 of this example is a mobile phone (hereinafter referred to as a mobile phone 1 as appropriate) having a function of guiding to a target destination.
As shown in FIG. 1, the cellular phone 1 writes the position information of the target arrival point into the memory unit 251 and sets the DST setting means 11 for setting as the DST position information and the POS position information which is the position information of the current point. Based on the POS positioning means 12, the azimuth measuring means 13 for measuring the terminal direction which is the posture of the mobile phone 1, and the POS position information and the DST position information in the memory unit, the guidance information from the current point to the target arrival point And a presentation unit 15 that converts the guidance information into a physical quantity that can be recognized by the user of the mobile phone 1 and outputs the physical quantity.

The guidance information includes at least a course direction that is an azimuth direction from the current point to the target arrival point, and the presentation unit 15 performs the above-described guidance according to the magnitude of the deviation angle between the terminal direction and the course direction. It is configured to change the output characteristic of the physical quantity.
Hereinafter, this content will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the mobile phone 1 of this example is configured to be connectable to a public telephone line via wireless communication. The cellular phone 1 of this example is a foldable type that is foldable and configured such that when folded, the liquid crystal display 23 and the operation unit 241 are accommodated inside. The mobile phone 1 includes an antenna 211 for data communication, and performs data communication and the like, a transmission / reception unit 21 that modulates / demodulates data, a communication control unit 22 that controls transmission / reception of data, a liquid crystal display 23 for display, and the like. A CPU 25 for performing various calculations necessary for the operation, and memory units 251 and 252 for storing various data (hereinafter, referred to as RAM 251 and ROM 252 as appropriate). The user I / F includes an operation unit 241 including a numeric keypad 241a, a microphone and speaker 242 for voice call, a speaker 281 for notification of incoming calls, a vibrator 282, and an incoming LED 283.

  In particular, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cellular phone 1 of this example includes a GPS positioning unit 26 as the POS positioning means 12 as a component specialized for the guidance function (navigation function), and the azimuth direction. It has a two-dimensional orientation sensor 27 as the measuring means 13 and a navigation switch 243 that is arranged on the outer surface of the folded mobile phone 1 and can be operated even when the mobile phone 1 is folded. And in the mobile phone 1 of this example, the electronic map data matched with the positional information which consists of latitude longitude are stored in ROM252. 3 shows the cellular phone 1 in a state where the liquid crystal display 23 portion of the cellular phone 1 shown in FIG. 2 is folded in the direction of arrow A in FIG. Therefore, in FIG. 2, the antenna 211 is not visible by the liquid crystal display 23 portion.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the GPS positioning unit 26 has a GPS antenna 261 that receives a GPS radio wave signal. The GPS antenna 261 is configured to receive a radio wave signal transmitted from a GPS satellite. Then, the GPS positioning unit 26 demodulates the signal received by the GPS antenna 261 and calculates the distance from the GPS satellite based on the demodulated signal. Then, the GPS positioning unit 26 calculates latitude / longitude data as the POS position information of the mobile phone 1 based on the distances from a plurality of GPS satellites. The POS position information is stored in the RAM 251 so that the CPU 25 can refer to it.

  The DST setting means 11 in this example refers to a point input function that allows the user to input a target arrival point on the map data displayed on the liquid crystal display 23 and a database stored in the ROM 252 based on the target arrival point input by the user. The latitude / longitude reference function for obtaining latitude / longitude data (position information) and the latitude / longitude setting function for writing the latitude / longitude data obtained by the latitude / longitude reference function to the RAM 251 and setting the latitude / longitude data as DST position information.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the above-described point input function displays the map data stored in the ROM 252 (FIG. 1) on the liquid crystal display 23, and uses the cursor arrow 231 displayed on the liquid crystal display 23 to indicate the target to the user. This is a user I / F function for designating a destination point. The latitude / longitude reference function is a function for obtaining the position information of the target arrival point designated by the user, that is, the latitude / longitude data as the DST position information by referring to the link data between the map data and the position information. Furthermore, the latitude / longitude setting function is a function for writing latitude / longitude data of the target arrival point to a predetermined address in the RAM 251 by using the memory writing function 25b (FIG. 1) of the CPU 25.

  The guidance information calculation means 14 is implemented using the arithmetic processing function 25a of the CPU 25. The guidance information calculation means 14 determines the course direction and the course distance from the current point to the target destination point from the POS position information that is the current point location information and the DST position information that is the target destination point location information. Calculate as information. Specifically, the CPU 25 refers to the POS position information and DST position information stored in the RAM 251 and calculates the course direction and the course distance. For example, the course direction is obtained as arctan ((POS longitude-DST longitude) / (POS latitude-DST latitude)). Here, POS latitude and POS longitude are latitude data and longitude data in the POS position information, and DST latitude and DST longitude are latitude data and longitude data in the DST position information.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 1, an incoming speaker 281 is used as the presentation means 15. The speaker 281 as the presenting means 15 in this example has an output level characteristic as shown in FIG. 5 according to the deviation angle between the terminal direction and the course direction. That is, the output level of the presenting means 15 changes in a substantially normal distribution centered around the time when the deviation angle becomes zero. In the figure, the horizontal axis defines the deviation angle = an angle centered on zero, and the vertical axis defines the output level of the guide sound output from the speaker 281.

  In particular, in this example, the deviation angle is set to ± 10 degrees when the output level of the presentation means 15 is minus 10 dB relative to the maximum value (deviation angle = output level value at zero). In the figure, the horizontal axis indicates the deviation angle, and the vertical axis indicates the output level ratio based on the output level when the deviation angle is zero. The deviation angle of minus 10 dB at which the volume of human audible sound is about ½ is set according to individual differences among users, the environment such as ambient noise, and required orientation accuracy. Is good.

  For example, the substantially normal distribution shape may be configured to expand and contract in the angular direction using the setting screen of the mobile phone 1 or the like. In this case, the user can easily change the output characteristics when the speaker 281 as the presentation unit 15 outputs the guidance sound according to the preference and the usage situation.

  Further, the presenting means 15 of the present example expresses the course distance, which is the distance from the current point to the target arrival point, by the time interval at which the speaker 281 outputs the guidance sound. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the output interval t2 of the guide sound is set short according to the course distance. On the other hand, the continuous generation period t1 of the guide sound is set to a substantially constant 50 milliseconds irrespective of the course distance. FIG. 4A shows a case where the course distance is short, and FIG. 4B shows a case where the course distance is long. In the figure, the vertical axis defines the output level and the horizontal axis defines time. Instead of the configuration of this example that expresses the length of the route distance by the output interval t2 as described above, the induction distance is expressed by the magnitude of the output duty ratio that is the ratio between the output period and the non-output period by the speaker 281. You can also.

  The two-dimensional azimuth sensor 27 as the azimuth measuring means 13 in this example is composed of an MI element. The two-dimensional azimuth sensor 27 measures the azimuth by detecting the geomagnetism, that is, the earth's magnetism and the magnetic field generated by the geomagnetism, using the MI element. This two-dimensional azimuth sensor 27 is an IC formed by arranging two MI elements so that the detection sensitivities are substantially orthogonal. Note that the two-dimensional orientation sensor 27 of this example is a very small sensor having vertical, horizontal, and height dimensions of about 3 mm, 3 mm, and 1 mm, respectively.

In the mobile phone 1 of this example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the X axis 27 _X along the direction in which the antenna 211 protrudes, and the Y that is orthogonal to the X axis 27 _X and included in the plane to which the antenna 211 protrudes belong. Axis 27 _Y was defined. In the mobile phone of this example, the two-dimensional orientation sensor 27 is mounted so that the detection sensitivities of the two MI elements of the two-dimensional orientation sensor 27 are along the X axis 27 _X and the Y axis 27 _Y , respectively. It is.

  Here, the two-dimensional azimuth sensor 27 of this example will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the two-dimensional azimuth sensor 27 is a two-dimensional sensor that detects magnetic fields in two axial directions orthogonal to each other. The two-dimensional azimuth sensor 27 is formed by integrally packaging two magnetic sensing units 41 and 42 made of MI elements and a control circuit chip 14 for controlling the magnetic sensing units 41 and 42. IC.

  Each of the magnetic sensing units 41 and 42 uses an amorphous wire (hereinafter referred to as an amorphous wire 44 as appropriate) having a length of 1 mm and a wire diameter of 20 microns as the magnetic sensitive body 44 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the magnetic sensing units 41 and 42, an electromagnetic coil 45 having an inner diameter of 200 μm or less is wound around the outer peripheral side of a tubular insulating resin 46 extrapolated to the amorphous wire 44.

  That is, the magnetic sensing units 41 and 42 of the present example utilize the MI (Magneto-impedance) phenomenon exhibited by the amorphous wire 44 as a magnetosensitive body, in which the impedance changes greatly according to the strength of the surrounding magnetic field. . In this example, the intensity of the peripheral magnetic field is detected by measuring the induced voltage generated in the electromagnetic coil 45 when a pulsed current (hereinafter referred to as a pulse current) is applied to the amorphous wire 44. ing.

  Here, the above-mentioned MI phenomenon will be outlined. This MI phenomenon occurs in the magnetic sensitive body 44 made of a magnetic material having an electron spin arrangement in the circumferential direction with respect to the direction of current to be supplied. When the energizing current energized to the magnetic sensitive body 44 is changed abruptly, the magnetic field in the circumferential direction changes abruptly. The MI phenomenon is a phenomenon in which a change in the electron spin direction according to the peripheral magnetic field and a change in internal magnetization, impedance, and the like associated therewith occur due to the effect of the magnetic field change in the circulation direction.

Then, the MI element (in this example, the magnetic sensing units 41 and 42) using the MI phenomenon is accompanied by a change in the electron spin direction when the energization current of the amorphous wire 44 as a magnetic sensitive body is rapidly changed. Changes in the internal magnetization and impedance of the magnetic sensitive body are converted into voltages (induced voltages) generated at both ends of the electromagnetic coil 45 disposed on the outer periphery of the amorphous wire 44. And the magnetic sensing parts 41 and 42 of this example have a magnetic detection sensitivity in the longitudinal direction of the amorphous wire 44 as a magnetic sensitive body.
As the azimuth measuring means 13, instead of the two-dimensional azimuth sensor 27 of this example, a three-dimensional azimuth sensor in which a tilt sensor is combined with three MI elements having sensitivity in three axial directions orthogonal to each other is used. It is also possible to do.

Next, an operation procedure for using the guidance function of the mobile phone of this example and the operation of the guidance function will be described along the control flowchart of the mobile phone 1 as shown in FIG.
First, in step S101, a user I / F screen for allowing the user to input a target arrival point is displayed on the liquid crystal display 23 as the point input function. Specifically, the map data is read from the ROM 252 and displayed on the liquid crystal display 23. Here, as in step SU101, the user is made to specify the target arrival point by using the cursor arrow 231 (see FIG. 4) displayed as an overlay on the liquid crystal display 23. In addition, as a point input function, the latitude longitude data as positional information can also be comprised so that a user may input directly. Further, the link data for associating the address address, telephone number, facility name, etc. with location information such as latitude / longitude data is stored in the ROM 252, and the above-mentioned point is set so that the user can input the address address, telephone number, etc. An input function can also be configured.

  Next, in step S102, the latitude / longitude reference function refers to link data that associates the map data with the position information, and obtains DST position information that is the position information of the target arrival point designated by the user. In step S103, the DST position information is written in the RAM 251 by the latitude / longitude setting function. Note that the cellular phone 1 of this example is configured to operate the guidance function when the DST position information is written at a predetermined address on the RAM 251.

  Next, in step S104, the CPU 25 refers to whether the navigation switch 243 is turned on or off. When the navigation switch 243 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S105 and step S106. In step S <b> 105, the GPS positioning unit 26 is operated, and POS position information, which is latitude / longitude data (position information) of the current location, is taken into the CPU 25 and written into the RAM 251. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S107, and the course direction and the course distance from the current point to the target destination point are calculated as the guidance information from the POS position information and the DST position information stored in the RAM 251. On the other hand, in step S106, the two-dimensional azimuth sensor 27 is operated to capture the terminal direction, which is the azimuth direction in which the projecting direction of the antenna 211 of the mobile phone 1 is directed. In step S108, a deviation angle that is a difference between the course direction and the terminal direction is calculated.

  Next, in step S109, output control according to the guidance information is performed on the speaker 281 serving as the presentation unit 15. Specifically, for a drive circuit unit (not shown) that supplies driving power to the speaker 281, the CPU 25 responds to the volume control value according to the magnitude of the deviation angle and the magnitude of the course distance. Outputs the interval control value. As a result, the speaker 281 intermittently outputs a guidance sound having a volume corresponding to the volume control value with a time interval t2 (see FIG. 6) corresponding to the interval control value.

  As described above, according to the mobile phone 1 of this example, if the navigation switch 243 is turned on while the guidance function is operating after the DST position information is set, the route direction and the terminal direction are determined. A guidance sound having a volume corresponding to the deviation angle that is the difference between the two is output from the speaker 281. Further, at this time, the guide sound is output intermittently with a time interval t2 having a length corresponding to the course distance that is the distance from the current point to the target arrival point.

  Therefore, the user using the mobile phone 1 of this example can easily change the course direction by turning the projection direction of the antenna 211 within a substantially horizontal plane centering on the user while turning the navigation switch 243 ON. I can know. In particular, in the mobile phone 1 of this example, the output level characteristic of the speaker 281 that is the presentation means 15 is set to a substantially normal distribution centered around the deviation angle = zero. Therefore, when the user rotates the output level (volume) in the wide angle range in which the output level (volume) of the guidance sound from the speaker 281 is distributed in a substantially normal distribution, it occurs when the terminal direction is rotated. The direction of azimuth where the deviation angle becomes zero can be searched very easily based on the direction of increase / decrease in volume. Furthermore, in the mobile phone 1 of this example, the speaker 281 intermittently outputs a guidance sound with a time interval corresponding to the guidance distance as necessary. Therefore, the user can know the approximate path distance from the current position to the target arrival point based on the time interval of the guidance sound generated by the speaker 281.

  In this example, the output level of the guide sound, that is, the volume is changed according to the deviation angle. Instead, as shown in FIG. 11, the output level of the guide sound is kept substantially constant, as shown in FIG. The frequency can also be changed. In the figure, the horizontal axis defines the angle around deviation angle = zero, and the vertical axis defines the frequency of the guide sound output from the speaker 281.

  If the configuration is such that the frequency of the guide sound is changed according to the deviation angle, it is very effective, for example, in a usage environment where the ambient noise level is high. In such a use environment, there is a risk that the induced sound in the low output level region is drowned out by ambient noise. For this reason, in the configuration in which the deviation angle is expressed by a change in the volume of the guidance sound, there is a possibility that the course direction cannot be quickly determined due to individual differences. If the configuration is such that the frequency is changed as described above, the course direction can be clearly expressed by changing the timbre by changing the frequency while maintaining a sufficient volume of the guidance sound.

  Furthermore, as the presenting means 15, in addition to the speaker 281 of this example, an incoming LED 283 that notifies the incoming of the mobile phone 1 by light, a vibrator 282 that notifies by vibration, and the like can also be used. For example, in the case of the incoming LED 283, the color, brightness, etc. can be changed as the output characteristics. In the case of the vibrator 282, the output level, the output pattern, and the like can be changed as in the case of this example. Also, when the deviation angle becomes substantially zero, the speaker 281 is used as in this example, and voice information for informing the above-mentioned course distance such as “It is about 600 m” or “It is around here” is output. It is also good.

(Example 2)
This example is an example in which a route calculation function and a route guidance function are added as guidance functions based on the mobile phone of the first embodiment. The contents will be described with reference to FIGS.
The ROM 252 of the mobile phone 1 of this example stores road connection data representing road connection information along with map data. This road connection data is used to calculate the optimum route order between two predetermined points designated on the map data. Further, the DST setting means 11 of this example has a final point input function as a user I / F for inputting a final destination, and a route calculation for calculating an intermediate destination on the route from the current point to the final destination. Function and the above route storage function for writing latitude / longitude data (position information) of each intermediate destination to the RAM 251, and further, the position information of either the intermediate destination or the final destination is A route guidance function is provided for route guidance by setting the DST position information of the target arrival point in the route order. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, the mobile phone 1 of this example includes a first switch 243a and a second switch 243b as the navigation switch 243.

And the mobile telephone 1 of this example implements a guidance function along the flowchart of FIG.
First, in step S201, a user I / F screen for inputting a final destination is displayed on the liquid crystal display 23 as the final point input function. Specifically, the map data is read from the ROM 252 and displayed on the liquid crystal display 23. Here, as shown in step SU201, the user is made to specify the target arrival point using the cursor arrow 231 (see FIG. 4) displayed as an overlay on the liquid crystal display 23. Note that the final point input function may be configured such that the user directly inputs the latitude and longitude data (position information) of the final destination. In addition, link data that associates the address, telephone number, facility name, etc., specifying the final destination with latitude / longitude data (location information) is stored in the ROM 252 and the address, telephone number, etc. are input to the user. The final point input function can also be configured so that

  Next, in step S202, by using the same latitude / longitude reference function as in the first embodiment, the link data that associates the map data with the latitude / longitude data (position information) is referred to, and the position information of the final destination specified by the user Get some latitude and longitude data. In step S203, the GPS positioning unit 26 is operated, and POS position information, which is latitude / longitude data of the current location, is taken into the CPU 25. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 204, and the optimum route from the current point specified by the POS position information to the final destination is calculated with reference to the road connection data. As a result, intermediate destinations such as intersections and road inflection points located on the route from the current point to the final destination are obtained. Then, the latitude and longitude data of each intermediate destination is obtained as position information, and these are written in the RAM 251.

Next, in step S205, the CPU 25 refers to the ON / OFF states of the first switch 243a and the second switch 243b. When the first switch 243a is turned on, step S206 is performed, and when the second switch 243b is turned on, step S207 is performed.
In step S206, the latitude / longitude data of the final destination is set as DST position information of the target arrival point. On the other hand, in step S207, the latitude / longitude data of the next intermediate destination value in the route order (route order, after passing through the last intermediate destination, the final destination) is used as DST position information of the target destination point. Set.

  Thereafter, Step 208 and Step S210, and Step S209 are performed in parallel. In step S208, the GPS positioning unit 26 is operated, and POS position information, which is latitude / longitude data of the current location, is taken into the CPU 25. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S210, and the course direction and the course distance from the current point to the target arrival point are calculated as the guidance information from the POS position information and the DST position information. On the other hand, in step S209, the two-dimensional azimuth sensor 27 is operated to capture the terminal direction which is the azimuth direction in which the projecting direction of the antenna 211 of the mobile phone 1 is directed. In step S211, a deviation angle that is a difference between the course direction and the terminal direction is calculated. Thereafter, in step S212, the speaker 281 is controlled to output a guidance sound corresponding to the guidance information. This step S212 has the same processing contents as step S109 in the first embodiment.

As described above, the cellular phone 1 of this example has a route guidance function for guiding an optimum route for reaching the final destination.
In this example, the latitude / longitude data set in the DST position information, which is the position information of the target arrival point, is switched according to which of the two navigation switches 243a, 243b is turned on. Thus, switching between outputting the guidance information to the final destination or the guidance information to the intermediate destination in the order of the route is realized. Instead, the position information of the final destination is set as the first DST position information, and the position information of the route-sequential intermediate destination or the like is set as the second DST position information, and the calculation processing of S208 to S211 Can be implemented for each DST position information. In this case, when the first switch 243a is ON, step S212 is performed based on the first DST position information, and when the second switch 243b is ON, step S212 is performed based on the second DST position information. S212 can be performed.
Other configurations and operational effects are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Example 3
This example is an example in which information necessary for the guidance function is acquired from an external server based on the mobile phone of the first embodiment. This will be described with reference to FIG.
In this example, map data to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 23 is downloaded from an external server connected to a mobile phone via a public telephone line. That is, the mobile phone of this example has a connection function for connecting to the external server through a public telephone line, a data request function for specifying map data to be downloaded, and a map download function for downloading map data from the external server. .

That is, the guidance function of the mobile phone 1 of this example is obtained by replacing step S101 in the flowchart of the first embodiment with a series of processing steps of steps S301 to S304.
First, in step S301, a state in which mutual communication is possible is established between the mobile phone 1 and an external server. In step S302, a request signal for map data is transmitted from the mobile phone 1 to the external server. In step S303, the mobile phone 1 downloads map data from an external server. In step S304, the downloaded map data is displayed on the liquid crystal display.
Other configurations and operational effects are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Example 4
In this example, an external server is provided with a route calculation function based on the portable terminal of the second embodiment. This will be described with reference to FIG.
The mobile phone of this example downloads location information of an intermediate destination on the route from the current point to the final destination from an external server via a public telephone line. That is, the mobile phone of this example has a connection function for connecting to the above information server through a public telephone line, a route calculation request function for transmitting the current location and the location information of the final destination, and requesting route calculation, and an external And a route download function for downloading location information of intermediate destinations from the server.
That is, the guidance function of the mobile phone 1 of this example is obtained by replacing step S204 in the flowchart of the second embodiment with steps S401 to S403 and processing steps of SO401 and SO402 of the external server.

  The external server has a storage medium such as a hard disk or a DVD-ROM storing map data associated with road connection data representing road connection information, and is designated based on the map data stored in the storage medium. It is configured to calculate an optimum route between the two points. The external server receives two points from the mobile phone connected through the public telephone line, calculates the optimum route between the two points, and obtains the location information of the intermediate destination forming the optimum route. It is configured to transmit to a mobile phone.

  First, in step S401, a state in which mutual communication is possible is established between the mobile phone 1 and an external server. In step S402, the location information of the current location and the final destination is transmitted from the mobile phone 1 to the external server, and a request signal for requesting route calculation is transmitted. On the other hand, in step SO401, the external server calculates the optimum route between the two points based on the received location information of the current location and the location information of the final destination. In step SO402, each position information of the intermediate destination located on the route is returned to the mobile phone. Thereby, in the mobile phone 1, the latitude and longitude data of each intermediate destination can be taken in as the position information of the intermediate destination received from the external server as in step S403.

Other configurations and operational effects are the same as in the second embodiment.
Furthermore, in this example, it is configured to transmit the location information of the two points toward the external server, but instead, it is configured to transmit a telephone number identifying the point, a facility name, and the like. You can also. In this case, if the external server is configured so that position information such as latitude and longitude data can be generated based on information such as a telephone number, it is not necessary to store a database of position information in the ROM of the mobile phone.

  Furthermore, the flowchart of this example is an example in which the location information of the final destination is obtained by referring to the database stored in the ROM 251, but instead, the external database is referred to as in the third embodiment. Thus, it is possible to obtain the position information of the final destination.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile phone in Embodiment 1. FIG. The perspective view which shows the mobile telephone in Example 1 (partial sectional drawing). 1 is a perspective view showing a folded mobile phone in Embodiment 1. FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the user I / F screen of a point input function in Example 1. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the output characteristics of the guidance sound output from the speaker in the first embodiment. The graph which shows the time change of a guidance sound in Example 1 ((a) is when a course distance is short. (B) is when a course distance is long.). FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a two-dimensional orientation sensor in Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a front view showing a magnetic sensing unit in the first embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of the magnetic sensing part in Example 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a guidance function in the mobile phone according to the first embodiment. 6 is a graph showing another example of the output characteristics of the guidance sound output from the speaker in the first embodiment. The perspective view which shows the folded mobile phone in Example 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a guidance function in a mobile phone according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a part of the procedure of the guidance function in the mobile phone according to the third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a part of the procedure of the guidance function in the mobile phone according to the fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Mobile terminal (mobile phone)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 DST setting means 12 POS positioning means 13 Direction measuring means 14 Guidance information calculation means 15 Presentation means 23 Liquid crystal display 25 CPU
251 and 252 Memory unit 26 GPS positioning unit 261 GPS antenna 27 Two-dimensional orientation sensor 281 Speaker 282 Vibrator 283 Incoming LED

Claims (11)

A mobile device with a function to guide the destination
DST setting means for writing the position information of the target arrival point into the memory unit and setting it as DST position information;
POS positioning means for positioning POS position information that is position information of the current location;
Orientation measuring means for measuring the terminal direction which is the attitude of the mobile terminal;
Guidance information calculation means for calculating guidance information from the current location to the target arrival location based on the POS location information and the DST location information of the memory unit;
A presentation means for converting the guidance information into a physical quantity that can be recognized by the user of the mobile terminal and outputting the physical quantity,
The guidance information includes at least a course direction that is an azimuth direction from the current point to the target destination point,
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the presenting means is configured to change an output characteristic of the physical quantity in accordance with a magnitude of a deviation angle between the terminal direction and the course direction.   2. The presenting means according to claim 1, wherein the presenting means changes the output level of the physical quantity in accordance with the magnitude of the deviation angle, increases the output level as the deviation angle approaches zero, and outputs as the deviation angle increases. A portable terminal characterized by being configured to lower the level.   3. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal includes a navigation switch that switches between operation and non-operation of the presenting unit.   3. The DST setting means according to claim 1, wherein the DST setting means is a final point input function as a user I / F for inputting a final destination, and 1 located on a guide route from the current point to the final destination. Or a path storage function for writing position information of two or more intermediate destinations into the memory unit, and the DST setting means is at any one of the intermediate destination and the final destination. A portable terminal characterized in that information is set as the DST position information. 5. The portable terminal according to claim 4, wherein the portable terminal has a navigation switch for switching between operation and non-operation of the presentation means, and the navigation switch displays the guidance information from the current location to the final destination. A first switch to output to
A portable terminal comprising: a second switch that causes the presenting means to output the guidance information from the current point to the intermediate destination or the final destination in the route order.   6. The mobile terminal according to claim 3, wherein the navigation switch is configured to be operable in a mobile state of the mobile terminal.   The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the presenting unit is configured to output at least one of sound, light, and vibration as the physical quantity.   8. The presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the presenting means outputs a substantially normal distribution according to the magnitude of the deviation angle, with the terminal direction having a deviation angle of zero from the course direction as a center. A portable terminal configured to change characteristics and configured to expand and contract the substantially normal distribution shape in an angular direction.   9. The guidance information calculation means according to claim 1, wherein the guidance information calculation means calculates a route distance that is a distance to the target arrival point as the guidance information, and the presentation means determines the length of the route distance. Accordingly, the mobile terminal is configured to change a time interval when intermittently outputting the physical quantity.   10. The azimuth measuring unit according to claim 1, wherein the azimuth measuring unit includes a magnetic sensitive body and an electromagnetic coil wound around the outer peripheral side of the magnetic sensitive body. A portable terminal comprising an MI element that generates a potential difference between both ends of an electromagnetic coil.   11. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is a mobile phone configured to be connectable to a public telephone line by wireless communication.

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