JP2009025071A - Navigation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation apparatus for enabling a user to easily and safely drive a vehicle at night. <P>SOLUTION: The navigation apparatus is provided with: a display for displaying and guiding a route; a normal voice navigation section for implementing a normal voice navigation; a detail voice navigation section for implementing a detail voice navigation in comparison with the normal voice navigation; a voice navigation changing-over switch; a brightness determining section for determining a brightness; a message informing section for informing a confirmation message regarding a necessity of the detail voice navigation; a display screen turning-off section for turning off a display screen; and a CPU for controlling the entire navigation apparatus. When the brightness determining section determines that the brightness is low around the vehicle, the CPU causes the message informing section to inform the user of the confirmation message regarding the necessity of the detail voice navigation. When the user determines that the detail voice navigation is necessary and the voice navigation changing-over switch switches the voice navigation to the detail voice navigation, the display screen is turned off. Since the user can drive the vehicle by the detail voice navigation only without viewing the display screen with the high brightness, he/she can easily and safely drive the vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device that provides route guidance to a destination, and more particularly to a navigation device that provides route guidance that is easy to travel at night.

  Conventionally, a navigation device detects a current position by a GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like as a vehicle travels, displays the current position together with a road map on a display device, and moves from the current location to a destination. An appropriate route is set up and route guidance is provided by a display device and a voice output device.

  In route guidance in such a navigation device, voice route guidance is performed mainly by supplementing the route guidance by displaying a map on the display screen of the display device and the route guidance on this display screen. It makes it easier to drive. Also, in recent navigation devices, because of the widespread use of devices having a television reception function, a display device display (for example, a liquid crystal display) that displays route guidance can clearly see TV images even outdoors in the daytime. The brightness has been increased. However, in such a navigation device having a high-intensity display, the brightness of the display screen is relatively bright at night compared to the brightness around the vehicle, so that when the user views the display screen, the user The user feels extremely bright in the eyes, and the dullness of the guide screen that is too bright may cause a dazzling eye when the user looks at the display screen, thereby hindering safe driving. For this reason, it is possible to lower the brightness level of the display screen at night, but if the brightness level is lowered to the extent that it does not affect the driver, it will cause problems such as the color balance of the display screen being lost, and the guidance display However, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to read detailed route guidance at night.

  By the way, we estimate the margin that the driver can gaze at the screen, and control the output amount of guidance information to notify the driver by estimating the margin, and it is judged that the margin is small at night. In addition, a route guidance device is known that reduces the amount of guidance information to be displayed and increases the amount of guidance information to be notified from voice output, thereby reducing the need for the driver to watch the screen (for example, Patent Documents). 1). However, although the amount of guidance information to be displayed is reduced, the display screen remains lit, so the driver may have difficulty driving due to the glare caused by the brightness of the display screen.

  Also, based on the past number of times the vehicle is traveling on the running road, it is determined whether the running road is an unfamiliar road, and if it is determined that the running road is an unfamiliar road, route guidance is provided. There is known a navigation device that performs control so that route guidance is not performed when it is determined that the running road is not an unfamiliar road (see, for example, Patent Document 2). However, since this device performs screen display and voice guidance when it is determined that it is an unfamiliar road at night, the user may become dazzled by the lighting of the screen display. It became difficult to do.

  In addition, when intersection information and deceleration point information are stored in advance and the route guidance is displayed on the display, if the vehicle speed exceeds a certain speed when approaching the deceleration point required by vehicle speed, weather, day or night, A vehicle-mounted navigation device that performs predetermined voice guidance such as a warning to a driver is known (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

  In addition, the position of an object requiring warning (crossing, tunnel, etc.) to be warned is stored in advance, and when the distance between the position information and the position of the vehicle is within a certain distance, voice means Or the route guidance apparatus which issues a warning by a display means is known (for example, refer patent document 4).

However, since the devices of Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4 provide guidance by screen display at night, the screen display may become dazzling for the user and may be difficult to drive, as in Patent Document 1. there were.
JP-A-7-139959 JP 2006-313085 A JP-A-9-35186 JP-A-8-35848

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and provides a navigation device that provides route guidance to a destination and that allows a user to easily travel safely during night driving. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is mountable on a vehicle, and is an input means for inputting a destination, and a route for searching for a route from the current position of the vehicle to the input destination. Guiding the route searched by the search means, the information storage means for storing the navigation information necessary for the route search by the route search means, the current position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, and the route search means Guidance means and control means for controlling the entire apparatus, wherein the guidance means displays the route searched by the route search means on a display screen of a display device and guides the route, and voice And a voice guidance means for guiding the route at the voice guidance means when the surroundings are bright. Normal voice guidance means for performing voice guidance) and detailed voice guidance means for performing voice guidance more detailed than the normal voice guidance (this is referred to as detailed voice guidance). A voice guidance switching switch for switching between normal voice guidance by the detailed voice guidance and detailed voice guidance by the detailed voice guidance means, and notification means for notifying the user of a confirmation message for confirming the necessity of detailed voice guidance by the detailed voice guidance means; A determination means for determining the brightness around the host vehicle when the vehicle is traveling, and a display screen off means for turning off a display screen of a display device of the display guide means, wherein the control means During the normal voice guidance by the voice guidance means, when the judgment means judges that the brightness around the vehicle is dark, the notification means gives the user detailed voice guidance. A confirmation message for confirming whether or not the user is informed, the user determines that the detailed voice guidance is necessary based on the confirmation message, and the voice guidance selector switches the voice guidance of the route to the normal voice guidance means. When the voice guidance is switched to the detailed voice guidance of the detailed voice guidance means, the display screen off means turns off the display screen of the display device of the display guidance means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first aspect, the detailed voice guidance means performs voice guidance for each intersection name guidance, distance guidance to the next intersection, facility name guidance during traveling, It includes at least one of distance or time guidance from the current position to the destination, continuous driving travel time guidance, and travel route name guidance.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first or second aspect, the input means is a guidance generation condition for inputting a time interval and a travel distance interval of the voice guidance of the searched route. It has setting input means, and the control means performs voice guidance by the voice guidance means according to a time interval and a travel distance interval preset by the user by the guidance generation condition setting input means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the input unit includes a voice recognition unit that recognizes a user's voice, and the control unit includes the voice. When the recognition means recognizes the user's voice, the voice guidance selector switch is switched.

  Invention of Claim 5 is a navigation apparatus of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4, It is further provided with the illumination light detection means which detects the on-off state of the illumination lamp which illuminates the front of the said vehicle, The determination means determines that the brightness around the own vehicle is dark when the illumination lamp detection means detects the ON state of the illumination lamp.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the determination means determines the time before the sunrise time and the time after the sunset time based on the data of the sunrise time and the sunset time. The brightness around the vehicle is determined to be dark.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the navigation apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the determination unit includes an illuminance sensor that measures brightness around the host vehicle, and measurement by the illuminance sensor. When the illuminance value is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the brightness around the vehicle is determined to be dark.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the surroundings of the own vehicle become dark, the display screen can be turned off and the voice guidance can be detailed. When driving at night, when the user is relatively bright, it is possible to prevent the user from being dazzled when the user looks at the display screen due to the glare of the guide screen that is too bright, preventing safe driving from being hindered. . At the same time, since the voice route guidance is guided in more detail than usual by the detailed voice guidance, it is possible to travel the destination route with only the voice guidance without display guidance, and it is possible to drive safely.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the user can obtain a lot of detailed voice guidance information, the route to the destination can be surely traveled without guidance on the display screen.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the voice guidance interval can be set to the user's desired time interval or travel distance interval, for example, when the display guidance is turned off at night, the voice guidance time interval or travel distance interval By shortening and making frequent voice guidance, it is possible to make it easy to travel by voice guidance alone. In the daytime, when you travel on a single road that doesn't require frequent guidance, and there are no intersections longer than a predetermined distance, or when you want to guide the name of a travel route that travels for a long time, By setting the travel distance interval long, the troublesomeness of listening to the same guidance many times at short intervals can be reduced, and the user can listen to the guidance at a suitable interval.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the user can switch the voice guidance switch by voice, the voice guidance can be switched to the detailed voice guidance easily and safely even during driving.

  According to the invention of claim 5, since it is possible to determine that the brightness around the host vehicle is dark by turning on the lighting lamp of the vehicle, the lighting lamp of the vehicle is turned on in the tunnel or in the dark due to bad weather other than at night. In this case, the voice guidance can be switched.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the brightness around the vehicle can be determined based on the sunrise time and sunset time data, the brightness can be easily determined.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the illuminance sensor is provided, it is possible to reliably detect that the surroundings of the own vehicle have become dark regardless of time and place.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of a navigation apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The navigation device 1 of the present embodiment includes an input operation unit (input unit, guidance condition setting unit) 2, a position detection unit (current position detection unit) 3, an information storage unit (information storage unit) 4, a display unit (guide unit, Display guidance means) 5, voice guidance section (guidance means, voice guidance means, normal voice guidance means, detailed voice guidance means) 6, traffic information reception section 7, voice guidance changeover switch 8, illuminance sensor 9, and control for controlling each section Part (control means) 10 is provided.

  The input operation unit 2 has a function of inputting information related to route guidance such as a departure point and a destination and instructing the control unit 10 to perform navigation processing according to the driver's will. As a means for realizing the function, the input operation unit 2 is used for inputting a destination with a telephone number or coordinates on a map, or requesting route guidance by touch operation and key operation, respectively. The operation panel 21 includes a voice input unit (voice recognition unit) 22 having a voice recognition function for performing voice input. The operation panel 21 includes a touch panel on the display screen of the display unit 5. Configured. By operating the input operation unit 2, the user can perform various instructions and settings such as searching for a route to the destination and changing the setting of the display screen.

  The input operation unit 2 further includes a guidance generation condition setting unit (guidance generation condition setting input unit) 23 for setting and inputting a voice guidance time interval and a travel distance interval by the voice guidance unit 6 of the searched route, And a genre selection unit 24 for selecting the genre of the ground.

  The position detection unit 3 uses a satellite navigation system (GPS) to obtain current position information such as the latitude and longitude of the vehicle from a GPS antenna, and the traveling direction of the vehicle is determined by using the geomagnetism. , A gyro sensor 33 for detecting the traveling direction of the vehicle in a relative direction, and a distance sensor 34 for detecting the traveling distance of the vehicle from the rotational speed of the wheels. The position detection unit 3 detects the current position of the vehicle using position information, direction information, distance information, and the like from the GPS receiver 31 and other sensors.

  The information storage unit 4 is an external storage device that stores route search information that is information necessary for route search, such as navigation programs and data, and includes, for example, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or the like. The information storage unit 4 includes a program for performing processing such as route search, a display output control program and data necessary for route guidance, a program such as voice recognition and data necessary for the same, and a voice output necessary for voice guidance. A program for performing control and necessary data are stored. The route search information data stored in the information storage unit 4 includes map data (including intersection names and public facility names), road data (including road names), toll road / ferry usage fee data, search data, and guidance data. , Map matching data, destination data, registration point data (address, telephone number, etc.), facility name data, data by genre, calendar data including calendar data including sunrise, sunset time, and the like. Further, POI information (Point Of Interest), which is point information of various registered stores and facilities, is also stored.

  The display unit 5 is configured by a simple liquid crystal display or the like, and displays guidance information necessary for the user on the screen. Here, the display unit 5 is an intersection enlarged map screen based on the map data and guidance data processed by the control unit 10, the current route or branch route being traveled, information on the destination in each route, destination name, time, distance, A direction arrow or the like is displayed. The display unit 5 is provided in an instrument panel in the vicinity of the driver's seat, and the user can check the current location of the vehicle by viewing this, and can obtain information on the route in the future. . Further, the display unit 5 can be used as the operation panel 21 using a touch panel provided on the display screen, etc., so that the user can perform point input, road input, etc. by touching the screen or tracing the screen. It is configured.

  The voice guide unit 6 performs route guidance by voice, and includes a voice output unit 61 that outputs a voice guidance signal formed by a normal voice guide unit 63 and a detailed voice guide unit 64 described later, and a voice output unit 61. Is provided with a loudspeaker 62 that amplifies the output sound. The voice guidance unit 6 includes a normal voice guidance unit (normal voice guidance unit) 63 for performing voice guidance when the surroundings are bright (this is referred to as normal voice guidance), and more detailed voice guidance than the normal voice guidance ( This has a detailed voice guidance section (detailed voice guidance means) 64 for performing detailed voice guidance). The voice guidance between the normal voice guidance of the normal voice guidance unit 63 and the detailed voice guidance of the detailed voice guidance unit 64 can be switched by a voice guidance changeover switch 8 described later, and the brightness around the vehicle is dark. When the user switches the voice guidance changeover switch 8, detailed route guidance is performed by the detailed voice guidance from the detailed voice guidance unit 64.

  The detailed voice guidance by the detailed voice guidance unit 64 includes intersection name guidance for each intersection, distance guidance to the next intersection, facility name guidance during travel, guidance of distance or time from the current position of the vehicle to the destination, continuous It includes at least one of driving travel time guidance and travel route name guidance. In addition, information on the name of the intersection, the name of the facility, and the name of the travel route is stored in the map data stored in the information storage unit 4, and is based on the position data of the vehicle detected from the position detection unit 3 during travel. Various detailed voice guidance is performed by the detailed voice guidance unit 64. These guidance, for example, “pass the A intersection” as the intersection name guidance for each intersection, “pass the A intersection as the next intersection name guidance immediately after passing the intersection, next is the B intersection 500 meters ahead.” It is guided as follows. Also, in the POI information (store name / public facility name) guidance, “Soon it will be an elementary school on the left. A hospital will be in the right hand soon.” In the continuous running time guidance, “I am running for 1 hour and 30 minutes”. Guided. The travel distance measured by the distance sensor 34 is also guided, and the information guidance to the destination is, for example, “25 km remaining, approximately 60 minutes are required.” In addition, for example, in the case of going on a single road without an intersection for a predetermined mileage, it is "2.7 km to the A intersection. 2.6 km to the A intersection. In the guidance and the guidance of the route name, guidance such as “currently running on Route 1 and joining with Prefectural Road 275 at the A intersection” is given.

  Further, in the voice guidance unit 6, the guidance generation condition setting unit 24 of the input operation unit 2 can set the voice guidance interval to the user's desired time interval or mileage interval. In this case, by shortening the time interval or travel distance interval of the voice guidance and frequently performing the voice guidance by the detailed voice guidance unit 64, it is possible to make it easy to travel safely only by the voice guidance. In the daytime, when the user travels on a long road that does not require frequent guidance, or when the name of a travel route that travels long is guided, the voice guidance unit 6 provides voice guidance time intervals. Alternatively, by setting the guidance travel distance interval to be long, the troublesomeness of listening to the same guidance many times at a short interval can be reduced, and the user can listen to the guidance at a suitable interval.

  The traffic information receiving unit 7 includes a VICS / FM multiple receiver 71 that sequentially receives current road traffic information outside the vehicle. VICS (Vehicle Information & Communication System) provides road traffic information in real time, and transmits information by FM multiplexing (text broadcasting), radio wave beacon, and optical beacon. The latest road traffic information such as traffic congestion information and traffic accident information from the VICS is transmitted to the control unit 10, and the control unit 10 calculates a driving index on the driving route in consideration of the road traffic information. be able to.

  The voice guidance changeover switch 8 is a changeover switch for switching between normal voice guidance of the normal voice guidance unit 63 and detailed voice guidance of the detailed voice guidance unit 64 in the voice guidance unit 6. In this switching, when the CPU 11 described later determines that the brightness of the vehicle around the vehicle is dark, the user is notified of a confirmation message for confirming whether or not the detailed voice guidance by the detailed voice guidance unit 64 is necessary. Based on the above, when the user determines that detailed voice guidance is necessary, the user performs it.

  The illuminance sensor 9 is a sensor for detecting the illuminance attached to the navigation device 1 or a vehicle on which the navigation device 1 is mounted in order to measure the brightness around the host vehicle. The measurement data obtained by the illuminance sensor is sent to a brightness determination unit 11b of the CPU 11 described later. The brightness determination unit 11b determines that the brightness around the vehicle is dark if the measured illuminance value is equal to or less than a predetermined value. judge.

  The control unit 10 includes a CPU 11 (control means), a flash memory 12, a ROM 13, and a RAM 14. The CPU 11 implements various navigation functions by performing necessary arithmetic processing based on data and programs stored in the information storage unit 4. The ROM 13 stores a program for performing a program check of the flash memory 12 and a program for updating the program and data stored in the information storage unit 4 based on the program and data stored in the flash memory 12, and the RAM 14 is set. The searched route guidance information such as the point coordinates of the destination and the road name and the data during the calculation process are temporarily stored. In addition, the control unit 10 performs voice input processing from the input operation unit 2 or converts voice read from the information storage unit 4 based on a voice output control signal from the CPU 11 into an analog signal to be used as a voice guidance signal. A voice processor for outputting to the output unit 61, each sensor of the position detection unit 3, and a sensor input interface for taking in sensor signals from the illuminance sensor 9 are provided.

  The CPU 11 includes a route search unit (route search unit) 11a, a brightness determination unit (determination unit) 11b, a display screen off unit (display screen off unit) 11c, a message notification unit (notification unit) 11d, and an illumination lamp detection unit ( (Illuminating lamp detecting means) 11e and a time measuring unit 11f.

  The route search unit 11a searches for a candidate route from the current location to the destination set by the input operation unit 2. The user uses the input operation unit 2 to select a destination route from the searched candidate routes.

  The brightness determination unit 11b determines the brightness around the host vehicle when the vehicle is traveling. For example, the brightness determination unit 11b determines that the brightness of the surroundings of the vehicle is dark when the illumination lamp detection unit 11e described later detects an on state of the illumination lamp, and based on the sunrise time and sunset time data. The brightness around the vehicle is determined to be dark before the sunrise time and after the sunset time, and the brightness around the vehicle is measured by the illuminance sensor 9, and the value of the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor is a predetermined value. When the following is shown, it is determined that the brightness around the vehicle is dark.

  When the user switches the voice guidance from the normal voice guidance of the normal voice guidance unit 63 to the detailed voice guidance of the detailed voice guidance unit 64 by the voice guidance changeover switch 8, the display screen off unit (display screen off means) 11 c The display screen of the display device 5 (for example, a liquid crystal display) is turned off.

  The message notification unit 11d determines whether the detailed voice guidance unit 64 needs detailed voice guidance when the brightness judgment unit 11b determines that the brightness around the host vehicle is dark during normal voice guidance by the normal voice guidance unit 63. A confirmation message for confirming is notified to the user.

  The illuminating light detection unit 11e detects, for example, an on / off state of an illuminating lamp (for example, a headlight) that illuminates the front of the host vehicle (an on / off state of a headlight switch), and transmits the detection information to the brightness determination unit 11b. To do. Then, when the illuminating lamp detection unit 11e detects the on state of the illuminating lamp (the on state of the headlight switch), the brightness determination unit 11b determines that the brightness around the vehicle is dark based on this detection information.

  The time measuring unit 11f includes a clock, and the daily sunrise time, sunset time, and current time included in the calendar data of the calendar data stored in the information storage unit 4 are the sunrise time and sunset time. Detect that. The detected sunrise / sunset time information is transmitted to the brightness determination unit 11b. Based on this time information, the brightness determination unit 11b determines the brightness of the vehicle surroundings before the sunrise time and after the sunset time. Is determined to be dark. In addition, the time measurement unit 11f performs time measurement processing such as measurement of travel time such as continuous travel time from the stop position, time measurement such as calculation of destination arrival time and required driving time, and time calculation.

  A flow of the entire system of the navigation device of this embodiment will be described. When the CPU 11 reads the program from the information storage unit 4 and starts the route guidance program, the CPU 11 detects the current position by the position detection unit 3 and displays the surrounding map on the display unit 5 around the current position. In addition, the name of the current position is displayed. Next, the input operation unit 2 allows the user to set a destination using a target name such as a place name or facility name, a telephone number or address, a registration point, a road name, or the like. When the destination is set, the CPU 11 uses the route search unit 11a to search for a route from the current position to the destination and extract candidate routes. When the user selects a route from the candidate routes and the destination route is determined, the CPU 11 causes the display unit 5 and the voice guidance unit 6 to start route guidance based on display guidance and voice guidance.

  At this time, the voice guidance of the route by the voice guidance unit 6 starts from the normal voice guidance which is voice guidance when the surroundings are bright by the normal voice guidance unit 63 at the beginning. For example, when the headlight of the own vehicle is turned on when the headlight switch is turned on and the lighting lamp detection unit 11e detects the lighting, or the time measurement unit 11f detects the sunrise and sunset times. Or when it is detected that the illuminance value around the vehicle measured by the illuminance sensor 9 has become a predetermined value or less, the brightness determination unit 11b determines that the brightness around the vehicle is dark. With this determination, the CPU 11 notifies the user of a confirmation message for confirming the necessity of detailed voice guidance by the message notification unit 11d. The notification of the confirmation message is performed by announcing the confirmation message from the voice guidance unit 6. When the user is notified of the confirmation message and determines that detailed voice guidance is necessary, the user manually switches the voice guidance changeover switch 8 or instructs by voice of the user via the voice input unit 22 (“Yes” or the like). ) To switch the voice guidance selector switch 8. By this switching, detailed voice guidance by the detailed voice guidance unit 64 starts. At this time, in conjunction with the switching of the voice guidance changeover switch 8, the CPU 11 turns off the display screen of the display unit 5 by the display screen off unit 11c. As a result, when the brightness around the vehicle becomes dark, the display screen of the display device of the display unit 5 becomes a substantially black screen, so the user does not feel dazzling light from the display screen and can drive safely. Can do. A confirmation message may be displayed on the display screen of the display unit 5 together with the notification of the confirmation message.

  Next, the operation procedure of the navigation device 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the user inputs a destination using the input operation unit 2 (S1), the CPU 11 searches for a candidate route for the destination using the route search unit 11a (S2). When the user selects a destination route from the candidate routes searched for by the input operation unit 2, the CPU 11 provides route guidance based on display guidance by the display unit 5 and normal voice guidance from the normal voice guidance unit 63 of the voice guidance unit 6. Is started (S4). And CPU11 detects the lighting of the headlight by the illuminating light detection part 11e, the detection of the sunrise and sunset time by the time measurement part 11f, or the illuminance value around the own vehicle by the illuminance sensor 9 becomes below a predetermined value. If the brightness determination unit 11b determines that the brightness around the vehicle has become dark (YES in S6), the message notification unit 11d requires detailed voice guidance. A confirmation message for confirming whether or not to the user is notified to the user (S7). When the user receives the confirmation message and determines that detailed voice guidance is required (S8), the user switches the voice guidance changeover switch 8 manually or by voice input (S9). With this switching, the CPU 11 starts detailed voice guidance by the detailed voice guidance unit 64 (S10), and turns off the display screen of the display unit 5 by the display screen off unit 11c (S11). If NO in S6 and S8, the process returns to S4. As a result, when the brightness around the host vehicle becomes dark, the display screen of the display device of the display unit 5 is turned off so that the screen becomes black, and the user does not feel dazzling light from the display screen and can drive safely. Can do. Here, the screen display of the display unit 5 is erased by turning off the drive power of the display device, but the display screen may be displayed in black by a display drive signal.

  As described above, according to the navigation device 1 of the present embodiment, when the surroundings of the own vehicle become dark, the display screen can be turned off and the voice guidance can be detailed. When driving at night when the brightness of the display screen is relatively bright, the glare of the guide screen that is too bright causes the user to be dazzled when viewing the display screen, preventing safe driving. Can be prevented. At the same time, since the voice route guidance is guided in more detail than usual by the detailed voice guidance, it is possible to travel the destination route with only the voice guidance without display guidance, and it is possible to drive safely.

  In addition, since the user can obtain a lot of detailed voice guidance information, the route to the destination can be surely traveled without guidance on the display screen.

  In addition, since the voice guidance interval can be set to the user's desired time interval or travel distance interval, for example, when the display guidance is turned off at night, the voice guidance time interval or travel distance interval is shortened and the detailed voice By carrying out the voice guidance by the guide unit 64 frequently and in detail, it is possible to make it easy to travel safely with only the voice guidance. Also, in the daytime, when guidance is not required frequently, when traveling on a single road with no intersection longer than a predetermined distance, or when guiding the name of a travel route that travels long, voice guidance by the voice guidance unit 6 is provided. By setting a longer guide time interval or guide travel distance interval, the user can listen to the guide at a suitable interval, such as reducing the annoyance of listening to the same guide many times at a short interval.

  In addition, since the user can switch the voice guidance switch by voice, the voice guidance can be switched to the detailed voice guidance easily and safely even during driving.

  In addition, it is possible to determine that the brightness of the surroundings of the vehicle is dark by turning on the lighting lamps of the vehicle, so voice guidance is also provided when the lighting lamps of the vehicle are turned on in the tunnel or in the dark due to bad weather other than at night. Can be switched.

  Further, since the brightness around the vehicle can be determined based on the sunrise time and sunset time data, the brightness can be easily determined.

  In addition, since the illuminance sensor 9 is provided, it is possible to reliably detect that the surroundings of the host vehicle have become dark regardless of time and place.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the structure of the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible suitably in the range which does not change the meaning of invention. In this embodiment, the voice changeover switch is provided in addition to the display unit. For example, the voice changeover switch is provided at the end of the touch panel of the display unit with a small area that does not hinder driving. The change-over switch can be easily configured, and only the voice change-over switch can be displayed even at night, which is convenient.

The block block diagram of the navigation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement procedure of an apparatus same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation apparatus 2 Input operation part (input means)
3 Position detector (current position detector)
4 Information storage unit (information storage means)
5 Display section (display guidance means, guidance means)
6 Voice guidance part (voice guidance means, guidance means)
8 Voice guidance switch 9 Illuminance sensor 10 Control unit (control means)
11 CPU (control means)
11a Route search unit (route search means)
11b Brightness determination unit (determination means)
11c Display screen off section (display screen off means)
11d Message notification unit (notification means)
11e Illumination light detection unit (illumination light detection means)
22 Voice input unit (voice recognition means)
23 Guidance generation condition setting unit (guidance generation condition setting input means)
63 Normal voice guidance section (normal voice guidance means)
64 Detailed voice guidance section (Detailed voice guidance means)

Claims (7)

Can be mounted on a vehicle,
An input means for inputting a destination;
Route search means for searching for a route from the current position of the vehicle to the input destination;
Information storage means for storing navigation information necessary for route search by the route search means;
Current position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle;
Guidance means for guiding the route searched by the route search means;
Control means for controlling the entire apparatus,
In the navigation apparatus, the guidance unit includes a display guidance unit that displays the route searched by the route search unit on a display screen of a display device to guide the route, and a voice guidance unit that guides the route by voice.
The voice guidance means includes normal voice guidance means for performing voice guidance when the surroundings are bright (this is called normal voice guidance), and more detailed voice guidance than the normal voice guidance (this is called detailed voice guidance). Detailed voice guidance means for performing
A voice guidance switch for switching between normal voice guidance by the normal voice guidance means and detailed voice guidance by the detailed voice guidance means;
Informing means for informing a user of a confirmation message for confirming the necessity of detailed voice guidance by the detailed voice guidance means;
Determination means for determining brightness around the vehicle when the vehicle is running;
Display screen off means for turning off the display screen of the display device of the display guide means,
The control means includes
During the normal voice guidance by the normal voice guidance means, when the determination means determines that the brightness around the host vehicle is dark, a confirmation message for confirming the necessity of detailed voice guidance from the notification means to the user. Inform,
Based on the confirmation message, the user determines that the detailed voice guidance is necessary, and the voice guidance changeover switch changes the voice guidance of the route from the normal voice guidance of the normal voice guidance means to the detailed voice guidance of the detailed voice guidance means. When the display device is switched to, the display screen of the display device of the display guide means is turned off by the display screen off means.   Voice guidance by the detailed voice guidance means is: intersection name guidance for each intersection, distance guidance to the next intersection, facility name guidance during travel, distance or time guidance from the current position of the vehicle to the destination, continuous operation The navigation device according to claim 1, comprising at least one of travel time guidance and travel route name guidance. The input means includes guidance generation condition setting input means for setting and inputting a voice guidance time interval and a travel distance interval of the searched route,
3. The control means according to claim 1, wherein the voice guidance means performs voice guidance according to a time interval and a travel distance interval preset by the user by the guidance generation condition setting input means. The navigation device described in 1. The input means includes voice recognition means for recognizing a user's voice,
The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control means switches the voice guidance changeover switch when the voice recognition means recognizes a user's voice. Illumination lamp detection means for detecting an on / off state of an illumination lamp that illuminates the front of the vehicle, further comprising:
5. The determination unit according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the brightness around the host vehicle is dark when the illumination lamp detection unit detects an ON state of the illumination lamp. The navigation device described in 1.   The determination means determines that the brightness around the vehicle is dark before sunrise time and after sunset time based on the data of sunrise time and sunset time. The navigation device according to claim 1.   The determination means includes an illuminance sensor that measures the brightness around the vehicle, and determines that the brightness around the vehicle is dark when the value of the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor indicates a predetermined value or less. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the navigation device is characterized.

Images