JP2011180088A - Navigation apparatus and branch point guide method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation apparatus, along with a branch point guide method, capable of facilitating a user to understand in which direction traveling is to be continued, when looking at a branch point guide chart, at a branch point where each different color is allocated to each traveling direction. <P>SOLUTION: A color added to an actual road (or a guide label) in a guide direction on a guide route at the guide branch point is specified, and a branch point guide chart drawn by adding a color (red color) similar to the specified color to a road chart 120 showing the guide direction is created and displayed. Consequently, the user looking at the branch point guide chart can recognize intuitively the color allocated to a direction in which traveling is to be continued actually, and can understand easily in which direction traveling is to be continued from the color at the branch point by seeing the actual road (or the guide label) in front of a vehicle in consideration of the recognized color. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus and a branch point guidance method, and more particularly, to a navigation apparatus that performs branch point guidance such as displaying a guide image of a guidance branch point on a guidance route in an enlarged manner and guiding a traveling direction at the guidance branch point. It is suitable for use.

  In general, a navigation device that guides driving of a vehicle not only displays a map around the current location, but also has a function of automatically setting and guiding a guidance route from the current location to the destination by specifying the destination. ing. This route guidance function uses map data to automatically search the route with the lowest cost from the current location to the destination by performing a simulation such as the breadth-first search (BFS) method or Dijkstra method, and guides the searched route. Set as a route.

  After the guide route is set, the guide route is drawn thickly with a different color so that it can be distinguished from other roads on the map image while the vehicle is running. In addition, when the vehicle approaches within a predetermined distance from the guidance branch point on the guidance route, the branch point guidance map is displayed, or the guidance for the direction to travel is performed by voice, etc. The driver is guided to the destination.

  Various techniques related to such branch point guidance have been proposed. For example, the guide sign is processed and displayed on the screen so that the sign information related to the direction in which the host vehicle should travel is emphasized among a plurality of sign information (such as place names, directions, and facilities) included in the guide sign at the intersection. Techniques have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, a technique has been proposed in which a direction guide line indicating the direction in which the vehicle should travel after passing an intersection and information indicating a destination set by the user are displayed on the same screen as the direction guide sign image. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).

  Further, a technique has been proposed for determining the color of a guidance route displayed on a map screen based on the direction (straight, left or right turn) in which the host vehicle should travel after passing an intersection (for example, see Patent Document 3). reference). If the type of road after turning right or left at the intersection is determined and it is determined that the road is the first type of road (for example, an expressway), an arrow for guiding the right / left turn is displayed in the first color. When it is determined that the road is a second type of road (for example, a road other than an expressway), a technique for displaying the arrow in the second color has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 4).

JP 2009-210431-A JP 2009-63321 A JP 2009-92493 A JP 2009-58375 A

  By the way, among the branch points, there are branch points in which different colors are assigned to the respective traveling directions at the branch points, and the respective colors are assigned to the road surface of the road located in the respective traveling directions. In addition, there is a branch point where a guide sign illustrated with different colors is attached to each of the arrow portions indicating the traveling directions. However, the display form of the branch point guide map displayed on the screen by the conventional navigation device does not change whether the road surface of the road or the branch point where the guide signs are colored or not. Therefore, since the branch point guide map displayed on the screen is different from the actual view at the branch point, there is a problem that it is difficult for the user to grasp which direction to proceed.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. At a branch point where a different color is assigned to each traveling direction, the user who viewed the branch point guide map travels in which direction. The purpose is to make it easy to know whether it is good.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the present invention, the color assigned to the guidance direction at the guidance branch point on the guidance route (the color attached to the actual road or the guidance sign corresponding to the guidance direction) is specified, A branch point guide diagram is generated and displayed by drawing the color having the same color as the specified color on the figure indicating the guide direction.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, the graphic indicating the guidance direction on the guidance route in the branch point guide map is displayed in the same color as the color assigned to the guidance direction. Therefore, the user who has seen the branch point guide map can intuitively recognize the colors assigned to the direction to actually travel. Then, it is possible to easily grasp from the color which direction should be proceeded at the branch point by looking at the actual road or the guide sign color-coded in front of the vehicle while considering the recognized color.

It is a block diagram which shows the example of whole structure of the navigation apparatus by this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the main structural examples of the navigation apparatus by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the branch point guide map by this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the navigation apparatus by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of the branch point guide map by this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the modification of the main structures of the navigation apparatus by this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the navigation device 100 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM, which stores various types of map data necessary for map display, route search, and the like. The map data stored in the DVD-ROM 11 includes a drawing unit composed of various data necessary for map display and a road unit composed of data necessary for various processes such as map matching, route search, and route guidance. It is.

  The road unit includes link information on road links corresponding to individual vectors when the road is divided into a plurality of vectors and node information on nodes corresponding to both end points of each road link. It is out. The node information includes a node ID that uniquely identifies the node, a node position (latitude and longitude), a road link (link ID) connected to the node, and a node (branch point) corresponding to the end points of a plurality of road links. A flag indicating whether or not there is included. The link information includes a link ID that uniquely identifies the road link, nodes (node IDs) connected to both ends of the road link, link cost, road type (general road or highway), road attributes, and the like. Although the DVD-ROM 11 is used here as a recording medium for storing map data, other recording media such as a CD-ROM, a hard disk, and a semiconductor memory may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the road unit data includes color information indicating colors assigned to the respective traveling directions at the branch points. Specifically, the link information (road attribute) relating to the road link corresponding to each traveling direction has color information assigned to the traveling direction. The color information represents a color attached to an actual road (road surface) or a guide sign (arrow part). That is, when a color is not attached to an actual road or a guide sign, the road link does not have color information.

  A vehicle position detection unit 12 detects the current position of the vehicle at predetermined intervals, and includes a self-contained navigation sensor, a GPS receiver, a position calculation CPU, and the like. The self-contained navigation sensor includes a vehicle speed sensor (distance sensor) that outputs a single pulse for each predetermined travel distance to detect the travel distance of the vehicle, and an angular velocity sensor such as a vibration gyro that detects the rotation angle (movement direction) of the vehicle. (Relative orientation sensor). The self-contained navigation sensor detects the relative position and direction of the vehicle using these vehicle speed sensor and angular velocity sensor.

  The position calculation CPU calculates an absolute own vehicle device (estimated vehicle position) and a vehicle direction based on relative position and direction data output from the self-contained navigation sensor. The GPS receiver receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites by a GPS antenna and performs a three-dimensional positioning process or a two-dimensional positioning process to calculate the absolute position and direction of the vehicle (the vehicle direction is The calculation is based on the current vehicle position and the current vehicle position one sampling time ΔT before).

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a DVD-ROM control unit which controls reading of map data from the DVD-ROM 11. A map data storage unit 14 temporarily stores map data read from the DVD-ROM 11 under the control of the DVD-ROM control unit 13. That is, the DVD-ROM control unit 13 inputs information on the current vehicle position from the vehicle position detection unit 12 and outputs an instruction to read out a predetermined range of map data including the current vehicle position, thereby displaying a map display or a guidance route. The map data necessary for the search is read from the DVD-ROM 11 and stored in the map data storage unit 14.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes an operation unit such as a remote control, a touch panel, or an operation switch. The user sets various information (for example, a route guidance destination or waypoint) to the navigation device 100 or performs various operations (for example, a menu). Selection operation, map enlargement / reduction operation, manual map scrolling, numeric input, etc.).

  Reference numeral 16 denotes a destination setting unit, which sets a point designated through the operation of the operation unit 15 by the user as a destination on the destination setting operation screen displayed on the display 17. Then, the destination setting unit 16 outputs destination information indicating the set destination to the guidance route searching unit 18.

  The guidance route search unit 18 is set by the destination setting unit 16 from the own vehicle position (departure point) detected by the vehicle position detection unit 12 based on the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14. The link costs on the various routes to the destination are sequentially added, and the route having the smallest link cost is searched for as a guide route.

  Reference numeral 19 denotes a guidance route memory. When a guidance route is searched by the guidance route search unit 18, data of the searched guidance route (a set of road links from the current position to the destination) is used as guidance route information. Store temporarily.

  Reference numeral 20 denotes a map display control unit, which generates map image data around the vehicle position based on the vehicle position information detected by the vehicle position detection unit 12 and the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14. Generate. Then, the map display control unit 20 outputs the generated map image data to the display 17 to display a map image around the vehicle position on the display 17.

  Reference numeral 21 denotes a guidance route guide unit. When a guidance route is searched by the guidance route search unit 18, the vehicle position information detected by the vehicle position detection unit 12 and the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14. And guidance route guidance based on guidance route information stored in the guidance route memory 19. Specifically, the guidance route guide unit 21 displays the guidance route on the display 17 in a color different from that of other roads on the map image generated by the map display control unit 20, thereby guiding the guidance route. Travel guidance to the destination of the route. The guidance route guidance unit 21 performs route guidance on the guidance branch point whenever the host vehicle approaches a branch point (hereinafter referred to as a guidance branch point) on the guidance route where the route guidance is to be performed.

  Next, the main functional configuration of the navigation device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of the navigation device 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the guidance route guide unit 21 includes a travel determination unit 31, a guidance direction specification unit 32, a color specification unit 33, a guide map generation unit 34, and a display control unit 35.

  The travel determination unit 31 is based on the vehicle position information detected by the vehicle position detection unit 12, the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14, and the guidance route information stored in the guidance route memory 19. Then, it is determined whether or not the own vehicle has approached within a certain distance (for example, 700 m) from the next guidance branch point. When it is determined that the host vehicle has come within a certain distance from the next guidance branch point, the traveling determination unit 31 notifies the guidance direction specifying unit 32 to that effect.

  In addition, the traveling determination unit 31 includes the own vehicle position information detected by the vehicle position detection unit 12, the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14, and the guidance route information stored in the guidance route memory 19. Based on the above, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle has passed the guidance branch point displaying the branch point guide map. When it is determined that the host vehicle has passed the guidance branch point, the travel determination unit 31 notifies the display control unit 35 to that effect. The display control unit 35 erases the display of a branch point guide map described later. Moreover, unless the own vehicle has arrived at the destination, the traveling determination unit 31 determines whether the own vehicle has approached within a certain distance from the next guidance branch point.

  The guidance direction identifying unit 32 identifies the guidance direction on the guidance route at the guidance branch point based on the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14 and the guidance route information stored in the guidance route memory 19. To do. And the guidance direction specific | specification part 32 outputs the specific road information (link ID) which shows the road link of the specified guidance direction to the color specific | specification part 33. FIG.

  Whether the color specifying unit 33 is assigned a color to the road link indicated by the specific road information (link ID) output from the guide direction specifying unit 32 based on the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14 It is determined whether or not (whether or not color information exists on the road link corresponding to the road). When it is determined that no color is assigned, the color specifying unit 33 outputs a branch point guide map generation instruction to the guide unit generating unit 34. On the other hand, when it is determined that the color is assigned, the color specifying unit 33 specifies the assigned color (the color attached to the actual road or the guide sign). Then, the color specifying unit 33 outputs a branch point guide map generation instruction to the guide map generating unit 34 together with the color information indicating the specified color.

  When only the branch point guide map generation instruction is output from the color specifying unit 33, the guide map generating unit 34 stores the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14 and the guidance stored in the guidance route memory 19. Based on the route information, on the road figure that schematically represents the road in each traveling direction at the guidance branch point, the guidance direction is indicated by an arrow, and the branch point guide map indicating the name of the direction located in the guidance direction is drawn. Data (branch point guide map image data) is generated. Then, the guide map generation unit 34 outputs the generated branch point guide map image data to the display control unit 35.

  Further, the guide map generation unit 34 stores the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14 and the guidance route memory 19 when the branch point guide map generation instruction and color information are output from the color specifying unit 33. Based on the guide route information, the road graphic representing the direction of travel described above is drawn with a color similar to the color indicated by the color information on the road graphic indicating the guide direction. Drawing data (branch point guide map image data) of the branch point guide map is generated. Then, the guide map generation unit 34 outputs the generated branch point guide map image data to the display control unit 35.

  The display control unit 35 causes the display 17 to display the branch point guide map by outputting the branch point guide map image data output from the guide map generating unit 34 to the display 17.

  Next, the branch point guide map displayed on the display 17 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a display example when the vehicle position enters within a certain distance from the next guidance branch point on the guidance route. The actual road or the arrow part of the guide sign located in each traveling direction at this guidance branch point is painted in red and blue (for example, the straight direction is red and the right diagonal direction is blue).

  In the branch point guide diagram of FIG. 3, a road graphic 120 indicating a road in the guide direction (straight direction), a road graphic 140 indicating a road that is not the guide direction, an arrow graphic 160 indicating the guide direction, and a direction located in the guide direction (FIG. 3). In the example of FIG. 3, a guide sign figure 180 for guiding “direction XX”) and a guide sign figure for guiding a direction located in a direction other than the guide direction (in the example of FIG. 3, “▲▲ direction”). 200 is displayed. The road graphic 120 in the guide direction is given a color similar to the color specified by the color specifying unit 33 (for example, red). In the example of FIG. 3, the entire road graphic 120 is colored, but the color may be applied only to a part of the road graphic 120 (for example, a portion corresponding to a roadside zone of the road). . Further, the road graphic 120 may be displayed in a blinking manner in order to emphasize the color attached to the road in the guidance direction.

  In this way, the user who sees the branch point guide map can intuitively recognize the color (red) assigned to the road in the direction to actually travel by the color attached to the road graphic 120. . Then, by looking at the road surface of the actual road ahead of the vehicle while considering the recognized color, it is possible to determine which direction to proceed at the branch point from the match between the color and the color attached to the road surface. It can be easily grasped.

  Next, the operation of the navigation device 100 in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the navigation device 100 when the host vehicle is traveling on the guidance route toward the destination. In the process of step S100 in FIG. 4, after the navigation device 100 is activated, the guidance route search unit 18 searches for a guidance route from the vehicle position to the destination, and stores the resulting guidance route information in the guidance route memory 19. Start by doing that.

  First, the map display control unit 20 generates map image data around the vehicle position based on the vehicle position information detected by the vehicle position detection unit 12 and the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14. (Step S100). And the map display control part 20 outputs the map image data produced | generated in step S100 to the display 17, and displays a map image on the display 17 (step S120).

  Next, the traveling determination unit 31 includes the vehicle position information detected by the vehicle position detection unit 12, the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14, and the guidance route information stored in the guidance route memory 19. Based on the above, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle has come within a certain distance from the next guidance branch point (step S140). If the traveling determination unit 31 determines that the host vehicle is not approaching within a certain distance from the next guidance branch point (NO in step S140), the process proceeds to step S300.

  On the other hand, when the traveling determination unit 31 determines that the host vehicle has come within a certain distance from the next guidance branch point (YES in step S140), the traveling determination unit 31 notifies the guidance direction specifying unit 32 accordingly. To do. The guidance direction identifying unit 32 identifies the guidance direction on the guidance route at the guidance branch point based on the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14 and the guidance route information stored in the guidance route memory 19. (Step S160). And the guidance direction specific | specification part 32 outputs the specific road information which shows road link ID of the specified guidance direction to the color specific | specification part 33. FIG.

  Based on the link information of the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14, the color specifying unit 33 determines whether or not a color is assigned to the road link in the guide direction specified by the guide direction specifying unit 32. (Step S180). If the color specifying unit 33 determines that no color is assigned to the road link in the guide direction (NO in step S180), the color specifying unit 33 instructs the guide map generating unit to generate a branch point guide map. 34.

  Next, based on the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14 and the guidance route information stored in the guidance route memory 19, the guide map generation unit 34 displays the roads in the traveling directions at the guidance branch points. On the road figure schematically represented, the guide direction is indicated by an arrow, and branch point guide map image data indicating the name of the direction located in the guide direction is generated (step S240). Then, the guide map generation unit 34 outputs the generated branch point guide map image data to the display control unit 35. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S260.

  On the other hand, when the color specifying unit 33 determines that a color is assigned to the road link in the guide direction (YES in step S180), the color specifying unit 33 stores the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14. Based on the color information included in the link information as the road attribute, the color assigned to the road link indicated by the specific road information output from the guidance direction specifying unit 32 is specified (step S200). Then, the color specifying unit 33 outputs color information indicating the specified color to the guide diagram generating unit 34 together with a branch point guide map generation instruction.

  Next, the guide map generation unit 34 represents the roads in the traveling directions described above based on the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14 and the guidance route information stored in the guidance route memory 19. Of the road figures, branch point guide map image data is generated by drawing the road figure indicating the guidance direction with a color similar to the color indicated by the color information output from the color specifying unit 33 (step) S220). Then, the guide map generation unit 34 outputs the generated branch point guide map image data to the display control unit 35. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S260.

  In step S260, the display control unit 35 outputs the branch point guide map image data generated by the guide map generation unit 34 in step S220 or S240 to the display 17, thereby displaying the branch point guide map image on the display 17. . Next, the traveling determination unit 31 includes the vehicle position information detected by the vehicle position detection unit 12, the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14, and the guidance route information stored in the guidance route memory 19. Based on the above, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has passed the guidance branch point displaying the branch point guide map (step S280).

  If traveling determination unit 31 determines that the vehicle has not passed the guidance branch point displaying the branch point guide map (NO in step S280), the process transitions to step S260. On the other hand, when traveling determination unit 31 determines that the vehicle has passed the guidance branch point displaying the branch point guide map (YES in step S280), traveling determination unit 31 detects the vehicle position detected by vehicle position detection unit 12. Based on the vehicle position information, the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14, and the guidance route information stored in the guidance route memory 19, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle has arrived at the destination. (Step S300).

  If traveling determination unit 31 determines that the host vehicle has not arrived at the destination (NO in step S300), the process proceeds to step S100. On the other hand, when traveling determination unit 31 determines that the host vehicle has arrived at the destination (YES in step S300), navigation device 100 ends the process in FIG.

  As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, based on the link information of the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14, the color (actual road) assigned to the guidance direction on the guidance route at the guidance branch point Or the color attached to the guide sign) is specified, and a branching point guide map is generated and displayed by attaching the color similar to the specified color to the road graphic 120 indicating the guide direction. .

  According to this embodiment configured as described above, the road figure indicating the guidance direction on the guidance route in the branch point guide map is displayed in the same color as the color attached to the actual road or the guidance sign in the guidance direction. The Therefore, the user who has seen the branch point guide map can intuitively recognize the colors assigned to the direction to actually travel. Then, by looking at the actual road or guidance sign in front of the vehicle while taking into account the recognized color, it is possible to easily grasp from the color which direction should proceed at the branch point.

  In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a branch point guide map is generated by drawing a road figure with a color similar to the color attached to a road in a guide direction or a guide sign. It is not limited to. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, a color similar to the color attached to the road in the guide direction or to the guide sign may be attached only to the guide sign figure 180. In this case, the guide sign graphic 180 may be displayed in a blinking manner in order to emphasize the color attached to the road in the guide direction or the guide sign. The entire guide sign graphic 180 may not be colored, but may be colored only on the outer frame of the guide sign graphic 180, or an arrow graphic (not shown) indicating the traveling direction of the guide sign graphic 180. May be added only to the arrow graphic.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, in the branch point guide map, the color similar to the color attached to the road in the guide direction or the guide sign is attached only to the arrow graphic 160 indicating the guide direction. May be. In this case, the arrow graphic 160 may be blinked and displayed in order to emphasize the color attached to the road in the guidance direction or the guidance sign. Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), in the branch point guide map, a color similar to the color attached to the road in the guide direction or the guide sign is attached to both the arrow figure 160 and the guide sign figure 180. Anyway. In this case, the arrow graphic 160 and the guidance sign graphic 180 may be blinked at the same time or alternately in order to emphasize the color attached to the road in the guidance direction or the guidance sign.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (d), in the branch point guide map, the color of the color similar to the color attached to the road in the guide direction or the guide sign is displayed on the road graphic 120 and the guide sign graphic 180 indicating the road. You may make it attach to both. In this case, the road graphic 120 and the guide sign graphic 180 may be blinked and displayed simultaneously or alternately in order to emphasize the color attached to the road in the guide direction or the guide sign.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (e), in the branch point guide map, the color similar to the color attached to the road in the guide direction or the guide sign is attached to both the arrow figure 160 and the guide sign figure 180. Anyway. In this case, the arrow graphic 160 and the guidance sign graphic 180 may be blinked at the same time or alternately in order to emphasize the color attached to the road in the guidance direction or the guidance sign.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (f), in the branch point guide map, the color similar to the color attached to the road in the guide direction or the guide sign is given to the road figure 120, the arrow figure 160, and the guide sign figure 180. You may make it attach. In this case, the road graphic 120, the arrow graphic 160, and the guidance sign graphic 180 may be blinked simultaneously or alternately in order to emphasize the color attached to the road in the guidance direction or the guidance sign.

  In addition, according to which road surface or guide sign is actually colored at the guidance branch point, only the road graphic 120 is colored (FIG. 3), or only the guide sign graphic 180 is colored. (FIG. 5 (a)) or whether both the road graphic 120 and the guide sign graphic 180 are colored (FIG. 5 (d)) may be determined.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which specifies the color allocated to the guidance direction specified by the guidance direction specific | specification part 32 based on the color information memorize | stored in the map data storage part 14, this invention Is not limited to this. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the color specifying unit 33 ′ performs image processing on the captured image captured by the imaging unit 40 that captures the front of the host vehicle, thereby specifying the guide direction specified by the guide direction specifying unit 32. You may make it specify the color allocated to. As a result, even when the vehicle travels at a branch point where no color information is assigned to the map data, the color assigned to the road in the guidance direction can be specified.

  Further, based on the road type information of the map data stored in the map data storage unit 14, the color assigned to the guidance direction specified by the guidance direction specifying unit 32 may be specified. In general, highway guide signs are green and general road guide signs are blue. Therefore, the color assigned to the road in the guidance direction can be specified based on the road type. That is, the color specifying unit 33 specifies green when the road in the guide direction specified by the guide direction specifying unit 32 is an expressway, and blue when the road is a general road.

  As a result, a road graphic indicating the guidance direction on the guidance route in the branch point guide map is displayed in a color similar to the color corresponding to the road type of the road in the guidance direction. Therefore, the user who has seen the branch point guide map can intuitively recognize the color (blue or green) assigned to the road in the direction to actually travel. And, by taking into account the recognized color, you can easily grasp from the color which direction (that is, either the general road or the highway) to proceed at the branch point by looking at the actual guidance sign in front of the vehicle can do.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the color assigned to the road that is not the guidance direction on the guidance route at the guidance branch point is also specified, and the color similar to the specified color is used as a road graphic indicating the direction that is not the guide direction. A branching point guide map may be generated as well. In this case, it is preferable that the color of the arrow graphic indicating the guide direction is similar to the color assigned to the guide direction. From the viewpoint of allowing the user who sees the branch point guide map to intuitively recognize the color assigned to the road in the direction that should actually travel, only the road graphic indicating the guide direction and the guide sign graphic are used. It is more preferable to enhance the distinguishability by adding colors.

  In addition, each of the above-described embodiments is merely an example of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Map data memory | storage part 31 Travel determination part 32 Guide direction specific | specification part 33,33 'Color specific | specification part 34 Guide map production | generation part 40 Imaging part 100 Navigation apparatus 120 Road figure 180 Guide sign figure

Claims (8)

A travel determination unit that determines whether or not the host vehicle approaches within a certain distance from a guidance branch point that is a branch point on the guidance route to the destination and is assigned a different color in each traveling direction;
A guidance direction identifying unit that identifies a guidance direction on the guidance route at the guidance branch point when the travel determination unit determines that the host vehicle has come within a certain distance from the guidance branch point;
A color specifying unit for specifying a color assigned to the guide direction specified by the guide direction specifying unit;
A guide map generating unit that generates a branch point guide map in which a color having the same color as the color specified by the color specifying unit is attached to a graphic indicating the guide direction;
A navigation device comprising: a display control unit that controls to display the branch point guide map generated by the guide map generation unit. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the graphic indicating the guidance direction includes a road graphic indicating a road in the guidance direction specified by the guidance direction specifying unit. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2,
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the graphic indicating the guide direction includes a guide sign graphic for guiding a road in the guide direction specified by the guide direction specifying unit. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2,
The figure showing the guide direction includes an arrow figure showing the guide direction specified by the guide direction specifying unit. In the navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A map data storage unit for storing map data including color information indicating colors assigned to the respective traveling directions at the guidance branch point;
The navigation device characterized in that the color specifying unit specifies a color assigned to the guide direction specified by the guide direction specifying unit based on color information stored in the map data storage unit. In the navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The color specifying unit specifies a color assigned to the guide direction specified by the guide direction specifying unit by performing image processing on a captured image picked up by an image pickup unit that picks up the front of the host vehicle. A featured navigation device. In the navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A map data storage unit for storing map data including road type information indicating a road type of a road in each traveling direction at the guidance branch point;
The color specifying unit specifies the color according to the road type of the road corresponding to the guidance direction specified by the guidance direction specifying unit based on the road type information stored in the map data storage unit. A featured navigation device. A first step for determining whether or not the host vehicle approaches within a certain distance from a guidance branch point that is a branch point on the guidance route to the destination and that is assigned a different color to each road in the traveling direction; ,
A second step of specifying a guidance direction on the guidance route at the guidance branch point when it is determined by the first step that the host vehicle has approached within a certain distance from the guidance branch point;
A third step of identifying a color assigned to the guidance direction identified in the second step;
A fourth step of generating a branch point guide diagram in which a color having the same color as the color specified in the third step is attached to a graphic indicating the guide direction;
And a fifth step of controlling to display the branch point guide map generated by the fourth step.