JP2011027433A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide "a navigation system" capable of performing guidance of an electric vehicle to charging facilities where waiting periods are expected to be short when charging of a battery of the vehicle is predicted to become necessary during route guidance. <P>SOLUTION: The navigation system includes: an on-vehicle navigation device mounted on the electric vehicle; and an information center for collecting information on the position of the vehicle and the residual capacity of its battery transmitted from the on-vehicle navigation device. The information center creates prediction information on-demand for charging, on the basis of the position of the vehicle and the residual capacity of the battery having been collected, and the positions of charging facilities for electric vehicles and the number of chargers possessed by the facilities, and the prediction information on-demand for charging is transmitted to the on-vehicle navigation device. The on-vehicle navigation device searches for a route 55 to a destination. When the on-vehicle navigation device receives the prediction information on-demand for charging while the device performs guidance under the route 55, the device presumes road sections where charging facilities 54 are presumed to be congested, on the basis of the charging demand prediction information, and searches again for a route 56 to the destination which evades the road sections. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation system that includes an in-vehicle navigation device mounted on an electric vehicle and an information center that is communicably connected to the in-vehicle navigation device.

  In a typical in-vehicle navigation device, a control device such as a CPU for controlling all processing related to navigation, a storage device such as a DVD-ROM storing map data, a display device, and a current position of the own vehicle are detected. GPS receiver, a gyro for detecting the traveling direction and traveling speed of the own vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor, and the like are provided. Then, the control device reads out map data including the current position of the own vehicle from the storage device, draws a map image around the own vehicle position based on the map data, and displays the current position of the own vehicle. The vehicle position mark to be indicated is displayed superimposed on the screen, the map image is scrolled according to the movement of the vehicle, the map image is fixed on the screen and the vehicle position mark is moved, You can see at a glance where your vehicle is currently driving.

  In-vehicle navigation devices are usually equipped with a function (route guidance function) that guides the user so that the user can travel to the destination set by the user without making a mistake. According to this route guidance function, the control device performs a simulation calculation such as a horizontal search method or a Dijkstra method using the map data to find an optimum route from the departure point (for example, the current position of the vehicle) to the destination. Go and search, store the searched route as a guide route, and display the guide route on the map image so that it can be distinguished from other roads while driving, or to the approaching intersection on the guide route When a predetermined distance is reached, by displaying a map of the intersection on the map image (enlarged view of the intersection, an arrow indicating the direction of travel at the intersection, the distance to the intersection, the name of the intersection, etc.) The user can grasp which road to drive and in which direction to proceed at the intersection.

  Such a guidance route can be searched not only by the vehicle-mounted navigation device of the host vehicle but also by an information center that is communicably connected to the vehicle-mounted navigation device. Specifically, the information center collects information such as vehicle position and speed (referred to as probe information) from a plurality of vehicles, generates traffic information such as traffic jams based on the collected probe information, and searches for routes. To go. As a technology related to this, for example, in Patent Document 1, when an in-vehicle navigation device transmits vehicle information such as a departure point, a destination, fuel consumption, and remaining fuel to the navigation center, the navigation center determines the departure point and the destination. A navigation system that transmits route guidance information including a fuel amount at a relatively low fuel cost and a refueling amount at the gasoline station to an in-vehicle navigation device is described.

  On the other hand, hybrid cars combining internal combustion engines and electric motors and electric cars that emit no exhaust gas have been developed as one of the measures to protect the global environment, and will become more popular as infrastructure such as charging facilities progresses. Expected to do. Regarding this electric vehicle, Patent Document 2 discloses a navigation device that stores facility data including the position of a facility having facilities for charging a battery of the electric vehicle, and provides the position of the facility based on the facility data. Are listed.

JP 2004-125430 A JP 2001-215124 A

  As described above, a driving battery (hereinafter also simply referred to as “battery”) necessary for an electric vehicle is expensive and heavy, and therefore, a battery having a relatively small capacity is mounted on the electric vehicle. For this reason, an electric vehicle has a shorter travelable distance with one full charge than an automobile using gasoline or the like as fuel, and is frequently charged. An electric vehicle can travel even with a short charge, but in this case, the travelable distance is inevitably shortened, and the number of times of charging increases.

  In addition, until the battery of the electric vehicle is fully charged, depending on the capacity of the charging facility, for example, it takes a long time of about 15 to 20 minutes per vehicle. Therefore, for example, when three electric vehicles are waiting to be charged in one charging facility, it is necessary to wait for 45 to 60 minutes before the vehicle starts charging.

  In this way, since it takes time to charge an electric vehicle, there is a high possibility that charging facilities are congested in a charging facility in a region where there is little remaining battery capacity and there are many electric vehicles that need to be charged. For this reason, even if the location of the charging facility is provided as in the navigation device described in Patent Document 2, if the charging facility is congested, a large amount of waiting time occurs at the charging facility, The time to reach the ground will be greatly delayed.

  The present invention was created in view of the problems in the prior art, and is an area where there are many charging facilities with a short waiting time when it is expected that charging of an electric vehicle battery is required during route guidance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation system that can be guided to.

  In order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, according to the present invention, a vehicle-mounted navigation device mounted on an electric vehicle and a vehicle-mounted navigation device are communicatively connected and transmitted from the vehicle-mounted navigation device. A navigation system comprising an information center for collecting the position of the vehicle and the remaining battery capacity, wherein the information center includes the collected position of the vehicle and the remaining battery capacity, the position of the charging facility for the electric vehicle, and the charging. Based on the number of chargers possessed by the facility, charging demand prediction information is created, the charging demand prediction information is transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device, and the in-vehicle navigation device searches for a route to the destination. When the charging demand prediction information is received in the state where guidance is provided based on the route, the charging demand prediction information is used for charging. Estimating a road section or area congestion at the facility is expected, a navigation system, which comprises re-searching for a route until said destination to avoid the road section or area is provided.

  In the navigation device according to this aspect, the in-vehicle navigation device includes a remaining battery capacity detection unit that detects a remaining battery capacity of a vehicle, a communication unit that communicates with the information center, and the remaining battery capacity detection unit. Control means for transmitting a signal requesting the charging demand prediction information and an identification signal for identifying the vehicle to the information center when it is determined from the detected information that the remaining battery capacity of the vehicle has become a predetermined value or less. When the information center receives a communication means for communicating with the in-vehicle navigation device, a signal requesting the charging demand prediction information, and an identification signal for identifying a vehicle, the charging demand prediction information is Control means for transmitting to the in-vehicle navigation device of the vehicle corresponding to the identification signal, the in-vehicle navigation device When it is determined that the remaining battery capacity of the vehicle has become equal to or less than a predetermined value, the control means of the mobile device transmits the position and route of the vehicle together with a signal requesting the charging demand prediction information to the information center, and the information When the control means of the center receives the signal requesting the charging demand prediction information, the position and route of the vehicle, the charging demand prediction information of the area corresponding to the position and route of the vehicle is sent to the in-vehicle navigation device. The control unit of the in-vehicle navigation device may transmit the charging demand prediction information to the destination including a charging time at a charging facility based on the charging demand prediction information. A route that takes the shortest time to reach may be searched, and the control means of the information center may include a signal requesting the charging demand prediction information, a vehicle position and When the route is received, the traffic information of the area is transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device together with the charging demand prediction information of the area according to the position and the route of the vehicle, and the control means of the in-vehicle navigation device is When charging demand prediction information and traffic information are received, a route that takes the shortest time to reach the destination, including charging time at a charging facility, is searched based on the charging demand prediction information and traffic information. You may do it.

  In the navigation system of the present invention, the in-vehicle navigation device transmits the position of the vehicle (own vehicle) and the remaining capacity of the battery to the information center, and the information center transmits the position of the vehicle and the battery transmitted from the in-vehicle navigation device. The remaining capacity is collected, and charging demand prediction information is created based on the collected position of the vehicle, the remaining capacity of the battery, the position of the charging facility, and the number of chargers. When the on-vehicle navigation device searches for a route to the destination, and receives charging demand prediction information in a state where guidance is based on the searched route, the in-vehicle navigation device A road section or area where congestion is predicted is estimated, and a reroute to the destination that avoids the road section or area is re-searched.

  As a result, when it is expected that the battery of the own vehicle needs to be charged during route guidance, it is possible to guide to an area where there are many charging facilities with a short waiting time. As a result, even if the distance is longer than the initial guidance route, the charging time at the charging facility can be shortened, and the delay in reaching the destination can be suppressed.

It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the navigation system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus and information center of this embodiment. FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating the concept of route search using charging demand prediction information. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which concerns on transmission of the vehicle information performed in the control part of the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which concerns on the production | generation of the charge demand prediction information performed in the control part of the information center of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which concerns on the search of the guidance path | route using the charge demand prediction information performed in the control part of the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which concerns on transmission of the charge demand prediction information performed in the control part of the information center of this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The navigation system 100 according to this embodiment includes an in-vehicle navigation device 20 mounted on each of a plurality (four in FIG. 1) of electric vehicles 20a and one information center 30. Each in-vehicle navigation device 20 and the communication center 30 are connected so as to be communicable via, for example, a mobile phone line.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the in-vehicle navigation device 20 and the information center 30 of the present embodiment.

  In the in-vehicle navigation device 20, reference numeral 1 denotes a DVD drive. The DVD (DVD-ROM) 1a driven by the DVD drive 1 has various scale levels (1/12500, 1/25000, 1 / 50,000, etc.). Correspondingly, map data divided into longitude width and latitude width of an appropriate size is stored. In addition to data related to various facilities existing on the map, this map data corresponds to the points where multiple roads such as intersections and branches intersect with road unit data necessary for various processes such as route search and map matching. It includes nodes (points expressed in longitude and latitude) and links corresponding to roads, lanes and the like connecting the nodes. The data relating to the facility includes charging facility data such as the position of the charging facility of the electric vehicle and the number of chargers held by the charging facility. In the present embodiment, a DVD-ROM is used as a medium for storing map data, but other storage media such as a CD-ROM, an HDD, and a semiconductor memory may be used instead.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes an operation unit for operating a navigation device body to be described later, and has, for example, a touch panel provided on the front surface of a display device to be described later. The operation unit (touch panel) 2 outputs a signal corresponding to the contact position when the user touches with a finger or the like.

  3 is a GPS receiver that receives a GPS signal sent from a GPS satellite and detects the longitude and latitude of the current position of the vehicle, 4 is an angle sensor such as a gyro for detecting the traveling direction of the vehicle, A self-contained navigation sensor provided with a distance sensor or the like that generates a pulse for every fixed travel distance, and 5 is a communication device such as a mobile phone that communicates with the information center 30 outside the vehicle.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a driving information detection unit for outputting information on the driving situation of the vehicle. The output driving information includes the traveling speed of the host vehicle, the traveling distance, each shift position (D, N, R, P in the case of an AT vehicle), the remaining capacity of the driving battery, the average power consumption during traveling, etc. Is included. Furthermore, a start / stop signal for the drive motor based on the on / off operation of the ignition key is included.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a display device that includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, an organic EL panel, or the like, and displays various information related to the navigation device 20.

  In the navigation apparatus body 10, 11 is a buffer memory for temporarily storing map data read from the DVD 1a via the DVD drive 1, and 12 is a control unit constituted by a microcomputer or the like. The control unit 12 basically detects the current position of the host vehicle based on a signal output from the GPS receiver 3 or determines the traveling speed of the host vehicle based on a signal output from the self-contained navigation sensor 4. Map data to be calculated or displayed by controlling the DVD drive 1 is read from the DVD-ROM 1a to the buffer memory 11, or the departure place (for example, the own vehicle) is set according to the search conditions set using the read map data. Various processings related to navigation, such as searching for a guidance route from the current location of the vehicle to the destination.

  The control unit 12 also transmits vehicle information of the vehicle such as the current position of the vehicle detected by the GPS receiver 3 at every predetermined time and the remaining battery capacity detected by the driving information detection unit 6 to the communication device. 5 to the information center 30. Furthermore, when the control unit 12 searches for a guidance route to the destination and performs guidance based on the searched guidance route, the control unit 12 determines that the remaining battery capacity of the host vehicle has become a predetermined value or less. In addition, a signal requesting charging demand prediction information is transmitted to the information center 30 via the communication device 5. Furthermore, the control unit 12 estimates the road section or area where the congestion at the charging facility is predicted based on the charging demand prediction information of the information center 30 received via the communication device 5, and the road section or area is estimated. Re-search the guidance route to the destination to avoid. The control unit 12 includes a memory 12a, and stores information unique to the vehicle such as the vehicle ID (identification number), the vehicle type, and the full capacity of the battery when fully charged.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a map drawing unit that performs map image drawing processing using the map data read to the buffer memory 11.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes an operation screen / mark generation unit that generates various menu screens (operation screens) and various marks such as a vehicle position mark and a cursor according to the operation status.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes a guide route storage unit for storing data related to the guide route. The guidance route storage unit 15 stores data related to all nodes (coordinates of points expressed in longitude and latitude) from the departure point to the destination of the guidance route searched by the control unit 12. Reference numeral 16 denotes a guidance route drawing unit. Based on the control from the control unit 12, the guidance route data is read from the guidance route storage unit 15, and the guidance route is displayed differently from other roads (for example, the color is changed). The line width is increased, etc.).

  Reference numeral 17 denotes an image composition unit. Based on the control from the control unit 12, the map image drawn by the map drawing unit 13 is displayed on the guide route drawn by the guide route drawing unit 16 and the operation screen / mark generation unit 14. The generated menu screen and various marks are superimposed and displayed on the screen of the display device 7. Reference numeral 18 denotes an audio output unit, which outputs an audio signal (for example, guidance information related to navigation) to the speaker 8 based on control from the control unit 12.

  Reference numeral 19 denotes an external information storage unit that stores external information (for example, charging demand prediction information of the information center 30) received via the communication device 5.

  On the other hand, in the information center 30, 31 indicates a map data storage unit for storing map data having the same configuration as the map data stored in the DVD-ROM 1a of the in-vehicle navigation device 20. That is, the map data in the map data storage unit 31 also includes charging facility data such as the position of the charging facility of the electric vehicle and the number of chargers. The map data in the map data storage unit 31 is updated every predetermined period (for example, one month).

  Reference numeral 32 denotes a communication device that communicates with the in-vehicle navigation device 20. Reference numeral 33 denotes a vehicle information storage unit that stores vehicle information of each electric vehicle 20 a received via the communication device 32.

  Reference numeral 34 denotes a control unit that performs control related to the operation of the information center 30. For example, the control unit 34 collects each vehicle information stored in the vehicle information storage unit 33 every predetermined time, and includes the collected vehicle information and map data (including charging facility data) stored in the map data storage unit 31. ) To generate charging demand prediction information in which the magnitude of demand for charging facilities in road sections or areas is predicted. Further, when the control unit 34 receives the charging demand prediction information request signal of the in-vehicle navigation device 20 via the communication device 32, the charging demand for the in-vehicle navigation device 20 is generated from the generated charging demand prediction information. Prediction information is extracted and transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device 20 via the communication device 32.

  A charging demand prediction information storage unit 35 stores charging demand prediction information generated by the control unit 34.

  In the navigation system 100 configured as described above, when the remaining capacity of the battery of the host vehicle becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the in-vehicle navigation device 20 of the host vehicle uses the received charging demand prediction information of the information center 30. In addition, a search is again made for a guidance route that makes it possible to use a charging facility with a short waiting time.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the concept of route search using charging demand prediction information. In order to simplify the description, it is assumed that one charger is installed per charging facility.

  In FIG. 3, 51 is a mark indicating the current position of the vehicle, and 52 drawn in a satin pattern is a vehicle with a small remaining battery capacity (a vehicle having a remaining capacity ratio of a predetermined value or less with respect to the total battery capacity). A mark, 53 drawn in a white background, indicates a vehicle having a large remaining battery capacity (a vehicle in which the ratio of the remaining capacity to the total capacity of the battery is larger than a predetermined value), and 54 indicates a charging facility. . 3 is a mark indicating a route (first route) searched without using the charging demand prediction information, and 56 drawn with a solid line in FIG. 3B is 56. It is a mark which shows the path | route (2nd path | route) searched using the charge demand prediction information.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the charging facility 54 is located in the vicinity of a section (section in the first route 55) drawn by a solid line among sections (road sections) between the points A and B. Three are installed. On the other hand, there are eight vehicles 52 with a small remaining battery capacity. The vehicle 52 has a low remaining battery capacity and needs to be charged, so there is a possibility that the vehicle 52 will stop at the charging facility 54. For this reason, in the section drawn with a solid line, there are about 2.7 vehicles per charging facility 54 that may stop at the charging facility 54.

  On the other hand, in the vicinity of a section drawn with a broken line, there are two vehicles 52 with a small remaining battery capacity, although two charging facilities 54 are installed. For this reason, there is one vehicle per charging facility 54 that may stop at the charging facility 54.

  From this, it is predicted that the charging facility 54 will be congested in the vicinity of the section drawn by the solid line. On the other hand, in the vicinity of the section drawn with a broken line, it is predicted that there is no congestion at the charging facility 54, or even if it is crowded, it is not as much as the section drawn with a solid line.

  In the in-vehicle navigation device 20 of the present embodiment, the charging demand of the road section or each area generated from the total number of charging facilities capable of predicting the charging demand as described above and the total number of vehicles that require charging is obtained from the information center 30. Acquire and re-search the route to the destination. As a result, the route of the area including the route drawn by the broken line shown in FIG. 3A is searched, and the road section or area through which the route drawn by the solid line predicted to be crowded at the charging facility 54 passes is avoided. The route is set as a guidance route (second route). And guidance is performed based on the 2nd path | route 56 shown in FIG.3 (b).

  Hereinafter, various processes related to the route search in consideration of the degree of congestion of the charging facility, that is, the demand level of the charging facility, performed in the navigation system 100 of the present embodiment will be described.

  First, processing related to transmission of vehicle information performed in the control unit 12 of the in-vehicle navigation device 20 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4 showing an example of the processing flow. It is assumed that the electric vehicle 20a on which the in-vehicle navigation device 20 is mounted is traveling.

  In the first step S11, it is determined whether a predetermined time has passed (YES) or not (NO). The determination process in step S11 is continued until the vehicle travels for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes). If the determination result is YES, the process proceeds to step S12.

  In the next step S12, the current position of the host vehicle 20a is detected based on the signal output from the GPS receiver 3.

  In the next step S13, the remaining capacity of the battery of the host vehicle 20a is detected based on the signal output from the driving information detector 6.

  In the next step S14, vehicle information is transmitted via the communication device 5. The vehicle information transmitted in step S14 includes the ID of the host vehicle 20a, the total capacity of the battery, the current position of the host vehicle 20a detected in step S12, the remaining battery capacity of the host vehicle 20a detected in step S13, and In the case of route guidance, the guidance route used for guidance is included.

  The above-described steps S11 to S14 are repeated while the host vehicle is traveling.

  Next, processing related to generation of charging demand prediction information performed in the control unit 34 of the information center 30 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5 showing an example of the processing flow.

  In the first step S21, vehicle information of the electric vehicle 20a is received via the communication device 32 and stored in the vehicle information storage unit 35.

  In the next step S22, it is determined whether a predetermined time has passed (YES) or not (NO). The process of step S21 is continued until a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) elapses. If the determination result is YES, the process proceeds to step S23.

  In the next step S23, the vehicle information stored in the vehicle information storage unit 35 during a predetermined time is collected and organized. In this step S23, the collected vehicle information is subjected to a cleansing process to remove abnormal data, map matching is performed on the remaining data, and if there is data that cannot be matched, the data is corrected, etc. Processing is performed.

  In the next step S24, the vehicle 20a in which the remaining battery capacity is a predetermined value or less is detected for each predetermined area. In this step S24, the map is divided into areas of a predetermined size (for example, 1 km square in the city area and 2 km square in the suburbs) based on the map data stored in the map data storage unit 32, and collected for each area. Based on the position of the vehicle 20a, the remaining capacity and the total capacity of the battery in the vehicle information, the ratio of the remaining capacity to the total capacity of the battery is detected to be a predetermined value (for example, 30%) or less.

  In the next step S25, a charging facility is detected for each zone based on the map data stored in the map data storage unit 31.

  In the next step S <b> 26, charging demand prediction information in which the magnitude of the demand for the charging facility is predicted for each zone is generated and stored in the charging demand prediction information storage unit 35. In step S26, the ratio of the total number of vehicles 20a detected in step S24 to the total number of chargers in the charging facility detected in step S25 is calculated for the road section where the charging facility in the area is installed. And charging demand prediction information is produced | generated by adding the calculated ratio to the corresponding road section on a map as a value which predicted the magnitude | size of the demand of the charging facility in the road section.

  The above-described steps S21 to S26 are repeated.

  Next, FIG. 6 showing an example of the processing flow on the in-vehicle navigation device 20 side and the processing flow on the information center 30 side regarding the processing related to the route search using the charging demand prediction information performed in the navigation system 100 of the present embodiment. An example will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the first step S31 in FIG. 6, the control unit 12 of the in-vehicle navigation device 20 determines whether the destination is set (YES) or not (NO). When it is detected that the user has operated the operation unit 2 to set the destination, YES is determined, and the process proceeds to step S32.

  In the next step S32, a guidance route to the destination is searched. In this step S32, a guidance route to the destination is searched based on the map data stored in the DVD-ROM 1a, with the current position of the host vehicle 20a detected based on the signal output from the GPS receiver 3 as the departure point. To do. At this time, based on the distance, a route corresponding to the road width, road type, right turn, left turn, etc. is used as a parameter to search for a guide route (hereinafter also referred to as “first route”) that requires the shortest travel time. To do.

  In the next step S33, guidance is performed based on the first route, that is, the guidance route (first route) is displayed on the map image so as to be distinguishable from other roads, or an intersection guide map is displayed. I will guide you.

  In the next step S34, it is determined whether the host vehicle 20a has traveled a predetermined distance (YES) or not (NO) based on the signal output from the driving information detector 6. The route guidance process in step S33 is continued until the host vehicle 20a travels a predetermined distance (for example, 1 km). If the determination result is YES, the process proceeds to step S35.

  In the next step S35, it is determined whether or not the remaining battery capacity of the host vehicle 20a has become a predetermined value or less (YES) or not (NO). In step S35, the remaining capacity of the battery of the host vehicle 20a is detected based on the signal output from the driving information detection unit 6, and the ratio of the remaining capacity to the total capacity of the battery is a predetermined value (for example, 20%) or less. It is determined whether or not. If the determination result is NO, the process returns to step S33 to perform route guidance processing, and if the determination result is YES, the process proceeds to step S36.

  In the next step S36, the current position of the host vehicle 20a is detected based on the signal output from the GPS receiver 3.

  In the next step S37, along with a signal for requesting charging demand prediction information, the ID of the host vehicle 20a, the current position of the host vehicle 20a detected in step S36, and the guidance route (first route) searched in step S32 are: It transmits via the communication apparatus 5.

  In contrast to the processing in step S37 on the in-vehicle navigation device 20, the processing as shown in FIG. 7 is performed on the information center 30 side. In the first step S51 of FIG. 7, the control unit 34 of the information center 30 receives the ID, position, and guidance route (first route) of the vehicle 20a together with the charging demand prediction information request signal via the communication device 32.

  In the next step S52, charging demand prediction information for the area corresponding to the position of the vehicle 20a and the guidance route is extracted. In this step S52, the guidance route of the vehicle 20a (here, the section from the position of the vehicle 20a received in step S51 to the destination) is included from the charging demand prediction information stored in the charging demand prediction information storage unit 35. The charging demand prediction information of the area and the surrounding area is extracted.

  In the next step S53, the charging demand prediction information extracted in step S52 plus the ID of the vehicle 20a received in step S51 is transmitted via the communication device 31, and the process ends.

  Returning to FIG. 6, in step S <b> 38, it is determined whether the charging demand prediction information for the host vehicle 20 a is received via the communication device 5 (YES) or not (NO). In this step S38, if the charging demand prediction information is not received even after a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) has elapsed since the charging demand prediction information request signal was transmitted, and an ID different from the ID of the own vehicle 20a When charging demand prediction information is received, it is determined as NO, and the process returns to step S36 to perform vehicle position detection processing. On the other hand, if charging demand prediction information having the same ID as that of the host vehicle 20a is received, the determination is YES, and the process proceeds to step S39.

  In the next step S39, a road section where congestion at the charging facility is predicted is estimated based on the charging demand prediction information received in step S38, and a guidance route to a destination that avoids the road section is re-searched. In step S39, basically, as in step S32, the map data stored in the DVD-ROM 1a is set based on the current position of the host vehicle 20a detected based on the signal output from the GPS receiver 3 as the departure point. Search for a guidance route to the destination. However, unlike step S32, at this time, based on the distance, a value according to a value that predicts the magnitude of demand of the charging facility is used as a parameter together with a value according to road width, road type, right turn, left turn, etc. Thus, a guidance route (hereinafter, also referred to as “second route”) having the shortest travel time including the charging time at the charging facility is searched.

  In the next step 40, guidance is performed based on the second route, that is, the guidance route (second route) is displayed on the map image so as to be distinguishable from other roads, or an intersection guide map is displayed. I will guide you.

  As described above, in the navigation system 100 of the present embodiment, the in-vehicle navigation device 20 transmits vehicle information including the current position of the host vehicle 20a and the remaining battery capacity. The information center 30 collects the vehicle information transmitted from the in-vehicle navigation device 20 and generates charging demand prediction information based on the collected vehicle information, the position of the charging facility, and the number of chargers. In addition, the in-vehicle navigation device 20 searches for a guidance route to the destination and provides guidance based on the searched guidance route (first route), and the remaining capacity of the battery of the host vehicle 20a is predetermined. When it is determined that the value is equal to or less than the value, the current position and guidance route of the host vehicle 20a are transmitted together with the charging demand information request signal. When the information center 30 receives the position and the guidance route (first route) of the vehicle 20a together with the charging demand information request signal, the information center 30 transmits the charging demand prediction information of the area corresponding to the position and the guidance route of the vehicle 20a. When the on-vehicle navigation device 20 receives the charging demand prediction information for the host vehicle 20a, the in-vehicle navigation device 20 estimates a road section where congestion at the charging facility is predicted based on the charging demand prediction information, and avoids the road section. A guidance route (second route) to the destination is searched.

  Accordingly, when it is predicted that the battery of the host vehicle 20a needs to be charged during route guidance, it is possible to guide to an area where there are many charging facilities with a short waiting time. As a result, even if the distance becomes longer than the initial guidance route (first route), the charging time at the charging facility can be shortened, and the delay in the time to reach the destination can be suppressed. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the guidance route to the destination is re-searched based on the charging demand prediction information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, traffic information (for example, traffic jam information) together with the charging demand prediction information. Or the guidance information), the guidance route to the destination may be re-searched. In this case, the information center may transmit the traffic information together with the charging demand prediction information when receiving the charging demand prediction information request signal.

1a ... DVD-ROM,
3 ... GPS receiver,
5, 32 ... communication device (communication means),
6 ... Driving information detection part (remaining battery capacity detection means),
12, 34 ... control unit (control means),
20 ... In-vehicle navigation device,
20a ... Electric car,
30 ... Information Center,
31 ... Map data storage unit,
52 ... Electric car with less battery capacity,
54 ... Charging facilities,
55 ... Guidance route (first route) searched without using the charging demand prediction information,
56... Guide route (second route) searched using the charging demand prediction information.

Claims (6)

An in-vehicle navigation device mounted on an electric vehicle, and an information center connected to the in-vehicle navigation device so as to be communicable and collecting a vehicle position and a remaining battery capacity transmitted from the in-vehicle navigation device. A navigation system,
The information center creates charging demand prediction information based on the collected vehicle position and remaining battery capacity, the position of the charging facility of the electric vehicle, and the number of chargers held by the charging facility, and the charging demand prediction Sending information to the in-vehicle navigation device,
The in-vehicle navigation device searches for a route to a destination, and when receiving the charging demand prediction information in a state in which guidance is performed based on the route, the charging facility is based on the charging demand prediction information. A navigation system characterized by estimating a road section or area where congestion is predicted and re-searching a route to the destination that avoids the road section or area. The vehicle-mounted navigation device includes: a remaining battery capacity detecting unit that detects a remaining battery capacity of a vehicle; a communication unit that communicates with the information center; and information detected by the remaining battery capacity detecting unit. Control means for transmitting a signal for requesting the charging demand prediction information to the information center and an identification signal for identifying the vehicle when it is determined that the remaining capacity has become a predetermined value or less;
When the information center receives a communication means for communicating with the in-vehicle navigation device, a signal for requesting the charging demand prediction information, and an identification signal for identifying a vehicle, the charging center predicts the charging demand prediction information. 2. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that transmits to the in-vehicle navigation device of the vehicle corresponding to the vehicle. When it is determined that the remaining battery capacity of the vehicle has become a predetermined value or less, the control means of the in-vehicle navigation device transmits the position and route of the vehicle together with a signal requesting the charging demand prediction information to the information center. ,
When the control means of the information center receives the signal requesting the charging demand prediction information, the position and route of the vehicle, the charging demand prediction information of the area corresponding to the position and route of the vehicle is transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation system. The navigation system according to claim 2, wherein the navigation system transmits the information to a device.   The control means of the in-vehicle navigation device has the shortest time to reach the destination including the charging time at a charging facility based on the charging demand prediction information when the charging demand prediction information is received. The navigation system according to claim 3, wherein the route is searched. When the control means of the information center receives a signal for requesting the charging demand prediction information, the position and route of the vehicle, the traffic of the area together with the charging demand prediction information of the area corresponding to the position and route of the vehicle. Sending information to the in-vehicle navigation device,
When the charging demand prediction information and traffic information are received, the control means of the in-vehicle navigation device reaches the destination including charging time at a charging facility based on the charging demand prediction information and traffic information. The navigation system according to claim 3, wherein the navigation system searches for a route that takes the shortest time to travel.   The charging demand prediction information is a ratio of the total number of vehicles whose remaining battery capacity is equal to or less than a predetermined value with respect to the total number of chargers owned by the charging facility in a road section where the charging facility is installed. The navigation system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the navigation system is characterized.

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