JP2020160002A - Display device and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a display device and a computer program which can adjust the size of a region drawing showing a region where travelling is possible with the remaining charge amount according to the number of charging facilities and can display the region drawing.SOLUTION: A navigation device 1 generates a first region drawing 62 showing a travel possible region where travelling from a current position 61 is possible with the remaining charge amount (S1). A CPU 41 generates a third region drawing 75 as a drawing smaller than the first region drawing 62 by a predetermined distance X, with the surplus power of the remaining charge amount taken into consideration (S2). A determination region 81, which is defined by the first region drawing 62 and the third region drawing 75, is set (S3). The CPU 41 generates a second region drawing 64 by adjusting the size of the first region drawing 62 on the basis of the number of charge facilities 63 in each determination region 81 (S8), and displays the second region drawing on a map image 65 (S9).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a display device and a computer program that display an area graphic indicating a travelable area.

Conventionally, there is a display device that displays an area figure indicating a travelable area based on the remaining charge amount of the battery of the vehicle. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-203733, based on the current position of the vehicle and the remaining charge amount of the battery, the cruising range that can be navigated by the remaining charge is calculated, and the calculated cruising range is superimposed on the map information. The technology related to the display device for displaying is disclosed.

In the display device of JP-A-2017-203733, when calculating the cruising range, a range in which 10% of the remaining charge is left is set in the remaining charge amount. Specifically, the display device executes a route search from the current position, and executes a route search until a node having a remaining charge amount of less than 10% is detected. The display device generates an area connecting the detected nodes with a line as a cruising range.

JP-A-2017-203733 (paragraphs 0031, 0032, FIG. 5)

By the way, the number of charging facilities that can charge the battery varies depending on each location within the cruising range. However, in Patent Document 1, a node having a remaining charge of 10% is uniformly searched for, and a range connecting the nodes with a line is set as a cruising range. For example, when power is consumed more than expected and charging is required, it is highly possible that the distance traveled to the nearest charging facility is relatively long in a place where there are few charging facilities around the vehicle position. For this reason, it is necessary to leave a large amount of spare capacity. On the other hand, in places where there are many charging facilities, the travel distance to the nearest charging facility is relatively short, so it is possible to set less spare capacity. That is, the cruising range can be set longer. In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the cruising range is uniformly displayed with the remaining capacity and the appropriate cruising range according to the number of charging facilities cannot be displayed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and is a display device capable of adjusting and displaying the size of an area figure indicating a travelable area with the remaining charge amount according to the number of charging facilities. And to provide computer programs.

In order to achieve the above object, the display device according to the present invention allows the electric vehicle to travel from the current position to the remaining charge amount based on the current position of the electric vehicle and the remaining charge amount of the battery of the electric vehicle. A first area graphic generating means for generating a first area graphic indicating a possible travelable area, a determination area setting means for setting a determination area in which a part of the travelable area indicated by the first area graphic is divided, and a determination area setting means. A second area graphic generating means for generating a second area graphic whose size of the first area graphic is adjusted based on the number of charging facilities included in the determination area set by the determination area setting means, and the first region graphic generating means. It has a display means for displaying a two-area figure.

Further, the computer program according to the present invention is a computer program for displaying a figure of a travelable area, and the computer is based on the current position of the electric vehicle and the remaining charge amount of the battery of the electric vehicle. A first area figure generating means for generating a first area figure indicating a travelable area in which the electric vehicle can travel with the remaining charge amount from the current position, and a part of the travelable area indicated by the first area graphic. A second area in which the size of the first area figure is adjusted based on the number of charging facilities included in the judgment area set by the judgment area setting means and the judgment area setting means for setting the judgment area. It functions as a second area figure generating means for generating a figure and a display means for displaying the second area figure.

According to the display device and the computer program according to the present invention having the above configuration, a determination area used for determining the charging facility is set in the travelable area where the vehicle can travel with the remaining charge amount. Then, the display device or the like generates and displays the second area figure by adjusting the size of the first area figure indicating the travelable area based on the number of charging facilities included in the set determination area. be able to. As a result, the size of the first area figure can be adjusted and displayed according to the number of charging facilities in the determination area. For example, in a place with a large number of charging facilities or a place with a high density, the remaining charge capacity (buffer) may be reduced. As a result, the mileage (cruising distance) can be displayed longer. Further, in a place where the number of charging facilities is small or a place where the density is low, the remaining capacity (buffer) may be increased. As a result, although the mileage (cruising distance) is displayed shorter, sufficient spare capacity (buffer) can be left even when the moving distance to the nearest charging facility is relatively long. With the display device or the like, the size of the area figure that can travel (navigable) with the remaining charge amount can be appropriately adjusted and displayed according to the number of charging facilities described above.

It is a block diagram which showed the navigation device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the area figure display processing program which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the 1st area figure generation processing of the area figure display processing program. It is a figure which shows the screen which displayed the 2nd region figure on the liquid crystal display. It is a figure for demonstrating the process of generating the 1st area figure. It is a figure for demonstrating the generation process of the 3rd area figure, and the setting process of a determination area. It is a figure which shows the state which adjusts the outer peripheral line. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the 1st area figure, the 2nd area figure after adjustment, and a charging facility. It is a figure for demonstrating the case where the determination area of another example and the adjacent determination area are used. It is a figure which shows the screen which displayed the 2nd region figure of another example on the liquid crystal display.

Hereinafter, the display device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings based on an embodiment embodied in a navigation device. First, the schematic configuration of the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment, a current position detection unit 11 for detecting the current position of a vehicle (for example, an electric vehicle) on which the navigation device 1 is mounted and various data are recorded. A data recording unit 12, a navigation ECU 13 that performs various arithmetic processes based on the input information, a touch panel 14 that accepts operations from the user, and a map of the area around the vehicle and an area graphic described later are displayed to the user. A liquid crystal display 15, a speaker 16 that outputs voice guidance regarding route guidance, a DVD drive 17 that reads a DVD as a storage medium, and an information center such as a probe center or a VICS (registered trademark: Vehicle Information and Communication System) center. It includes a communication module 18 for communicating between the two.

Hereinafter, each component included in the navigation device 1 will be described in order.
The current position detection unit 11 includes a GPS 21, a vehicle speed sensor 22, a steering sensor 23, a gyro sensor 24, and the like, and can detect the current position, direction, vehicle running speed, current time, and the like of the vehicle. .. Here, in particular, the vehicle speed sensor 22 is a sensor for detecting the moving distance and the vehicle speed of the vehicle, generates a pulse according to the rotation of the driving wheels of the vehicle, and outputs the pulse signal to the navigation ECU 13. Then, the navigation ECU 13 calculates the rotation speed and the moving distance of the drive wheels by counting the generated pulses. It is not necessary for the navigation device 1 to include all of the above four types of sensors, and the navigation device 1 may include only one or a plurality of of these sensors.

Further, the data recording unit 12 is a driver for reading a hard disk (not shown) as an external storage device and a recording medium, a map information DB 31 recorded on the hard disk, a predetermined program, and the like, and writing predetermined data on the hard disk. It is equipped with a recording head (not shown). The data recording unit 12 may be configured by a non-volatile memory, a memory card, or an optical disk such as a CD or DVD instead of the hard disk. Further, the map information DB 31 may be stored in an external server and acquired from the navigation device 1 by communication.

Here, the map information DB 31 includes, for example, link data 33 related to roads (links), node data 34 related to node points, intersection data 35 related to each intersection, search data 36 used for processing related to route search, points of facilities and the like. It is a storage means that stores point data related to, map display data for displaying a map, search data for searching a point, and the like. In particular, in the present embodiment, the map information DB 31 stores data regarding a charging facility capable of charging the battery 51, which will be described later.

Further, the link data 33 includes the width of the road to which the link belongs, the distribution, the cant, the bank, the condition of the road surface, the number of lanes of the road, the place where the number of lanes decreases, and the width of each link constituting the road. Data representing narrowed points, crossings, etc., data representing corners, radius of curvature, intersections, T-shaped roads, corner entrances and exits, etc., and road attributes, data representing downhill roads, uphill roads, etc. Regarding the type, in addition to general roads such as national roads, prefectural roads, and narrow streets, data representing toll roads such as highway national roads, urban highways, general toll roads, and toll bridges are recorded.

Further, as the node data 34, the coordinates (positions) of the actual road branch points (including intersections, T-shaped roads, etc.) and the node points set for each predetermined distance according to the radius of curvature of each road, etc. A node attribute that indicates whether a node is a node corresponding to an intersection, a connection link number list that is a list of link numbers of links that connect to a node, and an adjacency that is a list of node numbers of nodes that are adjacent to a node via a link. Data related to the node number list, the height (altitude) of each node point, etc. are recorded.

Further, as the intersection data 35, the corresponding node information for specifying the node forming the intersection, the connection link information for specifying the link connected to the intersection (hereinafter referred to as the connection link), the connection angle of the link at the intersection, and the like. Is remembered.

Further, as the search data 36, various data used in the route search process for searching the route from the starting point (for example, the current position of the vehicle) to the set destination are recorded as described later. Specifically, the cost that quantifies the degree of appropriateness as a route to an intersection (hereinafter referred to as the intersection cost), the cost that quantifies the degree of appropriateness as a route to a road constituting a road (hereinafter referred to as the link cost), etc. The cost calculation data used to calculate the search cost is stored. Further, in the present embodiment, the search data 36 includes the expected fuel consumption (electricity cost) consumed when traveling on each road, the adjustment value for adjusting the fuel consumption (electricity cost) that fluctuates depending on the occupants, the weather, etc., and the past fuel consumption. Data for searching for a position (electricity shortage position, etc.) where fuel (remaining charge amount) is exhausted, such as actual data of (fuel consumption), is stored.

Here, the intersection cost is set for each node corresponding to the intersection included in the route for which the search cost is calculated, and the presence / absence of a traffic light and the traveling route of the own vehicle when passing through the intersection (that is, go straight, turn right, and turn left). The value is calculated according to the type of) and the like. In addition, the link cost is set for each link included in the route for which the search cost is calculated, and based on the link length, the road attribute, road type, road width, number of lanes, slope, traffic condition, etc. of the link are set. Is calculated in consideration of.

The navigation device 1 searches for a route to the destination and guides the route according to the destination and search conditions set by the user. As the search condition, for example, items such as "fuel consumption", "distance", and "time" can be adopted. For example, if a high priority is set for "fuel efficiency", a route search that prioritizes reducing the amount of fuel consumed to the destination is performed. The fuel referred to here is, for example, gasoline in the case of a gasoline-powered vehicle and the amount of charge of a battery in the case of an electric vehicle. If a high priority is set for the "distance", the route search that gives priority to shortening the distance to the destination is performed. If a high priority is set for "time", a route search is performed with priority given to shortening the time required to reach the destination.

Further, the navigation device 1 of the present embodiment can display the area figure corresponding to the remaining fuel and the refueling station for refueling, and executes a route search when displaying the area figure. In the following description, as an example, a case where an electric vehicle is adopted as a vehicle and a charging facility is adopted as a refueling station will be described. The electric vehicle referred to here is a vehicle having a battery that can be charged from the outside and having a motor as a drive source that is driven based on the power supplied from the battery. A charging facility is a facility equipped with equipment capable of charging a battery. Further, the electric vehicle is not limited to an electric vehicle driven by purely electric energy, but may be a so-called hybrid vehicle used in combination with a combustion engine such as a gasoline engine or a diesel engine. Further, the vehicle of the present application is not limited to an electric vehicle, and may be a gasoline vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle.

The route search process to the destination and the route search process for displaying the area figure may be performed by an external server communicably connected to the navigation device 1. When a route search is performed by an external server, information necessary for the route search such as the current position, destination, and search conditions is transmitted from the navigation device 1 to the server device together with the route search request. Then, the server device that has received the route search request performs a route search using the map information possessed by the server device, and identifies the route to the destination or the like. After that, the specified route is transmitted to the requesting navigation device 1. As a result, even if the map information possessed by the navigation device 1 at the time of route search is an old version of the map information or the navigation device 1 does not have the map information itself, it is based on the latest version of the map information possessed by the server device. It is possible to set an appropriate route.

Further, the navigation ECU (electronic control unit) 13 is an electronic control unit that controls the entire navigation device 1, and is a computing device, a CPU 41 as a control device, and a working memory when the CPU 41 performs various arithmetic processes. In addition to being used as a RAM 42 for storing route data and the like when a route is searched for, a ROM 43 for recording a control program and an area graphic display processing program (see FIGS. 2 and 3) described later. , It is provided with an internal storage device such as a flash memory 44 that stores a program read from the ROM 43.

The navigation ECU 13 constitutes various means as a processing algorithm. For example, the first region graphic generating means indicates a travelable area in which the electric vehicle can travel from the current position with the remaining charge amount based on the current position of the electric vehicle and the remaining charge amount of the battery of the electric vehicle. Generate a one-area figure. Further, the determination area setting means sets a determination area in which a part of the travelable area indicated by the first area figure is partitioned. The second area figure generating means generates the second area figure whose size of the first area figure is adjusted based on the number of charging facilities included in the judgment area set by the judgment area setting means. The display means displays the second area figure on the liquid crystal display 15. The third area figure generating means generates a third area figure surrounded by a post-movement outer peripheral line obtained by moving the outer peripheral line indicating the outer circumference of the first area figure by a predetermined distance toward the inside where the electric vehicle exists. ..

The touch panel 14 is arranged in front of the display area of the liquid crystal display 15 and is operated when scrolling a map image or selecting a button arranged in the display area. Then, the navigation ECU 13 detects the operation content (touch operation, drag operation, flick operation) for the touch panel 14 based on the detection signal output from the touch panel 14 by the operation of the touch panel 14. As the operating means for accepting the user's touch operation, an operating means such as a tablet may be used instead of the touch panel 14.

In addition, the liquid crystal display 15 has a map image including roads, traffic information, operation guidance, operation menus, key guidance, guidance routes from the departure point to the destination, guidance information along the guidance routes, news, weather forecasts, etc. The time, mail, TV program, etc. are displayed. In particular, in the present embodiment, the area graphic corresponding to the charging facility is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 (see FIG. 4). A HUD or HMD may be used instead of the liquid crystal display 15.

Further, the speaker 16 outputs voice guidance for guiding the traveling along the guidance route and traffic information guidance based on the instruction from the navigation ECU 13.

The DVD drive 17 is a drive capable of reading data recorded on a recording medium such as a DVD or a CD. Then, based on the read data, music and video are reproduced, the map information DB 31 is updated, and the like. A card slot for reading and writing a memory card may be provided instead of the DVD drive 17.

Further, the communication module 18 is a communication device for receiving traffic information, probe information, weather information, etc. transmitted from a traffic information center, for example, a VICS center, a probe center, etc., and corresponds to, for example, a mobile phone or a DCM. ..

Further, the navigation device 1 of the present embodiment is connected to a battery controller 52 that controls a battery 51 mounted on an electric vehicle. The battery controller 52 is connected to the battery 51 and controls the magnitude (current value) of the current supplied to the battery 51 and the magnitude (voltage value) of the voltage. Further, the battery controller 52 can calculate the remaining charge amount of the battery 51 based on the detected values such as the current value, the voltage value, and the temperature of the battery 51. The navigation ECU 13 of the navigation device 1 is connected to the battery controller 52, and can detect the remaining charge amount of the battery 51 based on the signal input from the battery controller 52.

Subsequently, the area graphic display processing program executed by the CPU 41 in the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. 2 and 3 are flowcharts of the area graphic display processing program according to the present embodiment. Here, the area graphic display processing program is, for example, a program that is executed when a specific button on the touch panel 14 is touched and displays a second area graphic described later on a map image. The condition for starting the execution of the area graphic display processing program is not limited to the condition for detecting the touch operation on the touch panel 14, and for example, the condition for changing the scale of the map image displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 to a specific scale. good. In this case, when the CPU 41 detects that a specific scale has been selected, it starts the process of FIG. Alternatively, the condition for starting the execution of the area graphic display processing program may be the condition for executing the route search. For example, when the CPU 41 receives an operation of setting a destination and starting route guidance by the operation input of the touch panel 14, the process of FIG. 2 is started. Further, the condition for starting the execution of the area graphic display processing program may be a condition in which the remaining charge amount of the battery 51 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. Further, the program shown in the flowchart in FIG. 2 below is stored in the RAM 42 and ROM 43 included in the navigation device 1 and executed by the CPU 41.

Here, the CPU 41 adjusts the size of the first area figure 62 surrounding the current position 61 shown in FIG. 5 according to the number of charging facilities 63 (see FIG. 4), and adjusts the size of the second area figure 64 (see FIG. 4). Is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15. As shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 41 superimposes the second area graphic 64 surrounding the current position 61 on the map image 65 of the liquid crystal display 15. The map image 65 in FIG. 4 shows a map image 65 displayed at a predetermined scale (X km in the illustrated example). The marks, scales, etc. shown in FIG. 4 are examples. For example, the same mark is used as the mark of the charging facility 63 for convenience of explanation, but a different mark may be used for each service company of the charging facility 63.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, first, in step 1 (hereinafter, abbreviated as S) 1 in the area graphic display processing program, the CPU 41 executes the first area graphic generation processing, and the first area graphic 62 is generated. Generate. FIG. 3 shows the contents of the first area graphic generation process.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the CPU 41 starts the first area graphic generation process, the CPU 41 sets the reachable area 67 based on the current position 61 and the remaining charge amount of the battery 51 (S21). FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a process of generating the first area figure 62. As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 41 sets, for example, a region centered on the current position 61 with a circle as the outer edge as a reachable region 67. The reachable area 67 is a circular area having the longest reachable distance R1 as a radius. The maximum reachable distance R1 here is, for example, the distance when the vehicle travels from the current position 61 on a straight line under ideal travel conditions until all the remaining charge is used. The ideal driving condition is, for example, assuming a straight road with no slope along one direction (for example, north-south direction) from the current position 61, and running at a constant speed without stopping the straight road. .. The constant speed is, for example, the speed at which the battery 51 consumes the least amount of electricity, in other words, the speed at which the power consumption is the highest. That is, the longest reachable distance R1 is the distance traveled until the power runs out when ideally traveled by removing all the factors that reduce the electricity cost such as the gradient, the traffic jam, and the waiting for the signal.

The reachable area 67 is not limited to a circular area, but may be a square or polygonal area. As will be described later, the reachable area 67 is an area for setting the power shortage position 72 (see FIG. 5). Therefore, the reachable region 67 is not limited to the region based on the above-mentioned ideal traveling condition (maximum reachable distance R1), and is appropriately shaped as long as it is a region in which the power shortage position 72 can be set (included). Can be changed.

The CPU 41 executes S22 after executing S21 in FIG. In S22, the CPU 41 sets a destination for each direction on the outer circumference of the reachable area 67 set in S21. As shown by the black squares in FIG. 5, the CPU 41 has, for example, the intersections of the lines along the 16 directions with respect to the current position 61 and the outer peripheral edge of the reachable area 67 (in this case, 16 intersections). Is set to the destination 69. The destinations 69 are set at equal intervals (22.5 degree intervals in the case of FIG. 5) on the circle of the reachable area 67. Note that FIG. 5 illustrates only a part of the 16 directions (north, north-northeast, etc.) in order to prevent the drawing from becoming complicated. The set position of the destination 69 shown in FIG. 5 is an example. For example, the CPU 41 may set the destination 69 at a position deviated by a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction of the reachable area 67 from a direction along any of the 16 directions such as north-south and east-west.

When the destination 69 is set, the CPU 41 searches for a route from the current position 61 to each destination 69 (S22). The CPU 41 executes a route search process for searching the route 71 from the current position 61 for each of the plurality of destinations 69, for example, based on the search data 36 of the map information DB 31 and the like.

The CPU 41 executes S23 after executing S22. The CPU 41 calculates a power shortage position (hereinafter, referred to as a power shortage position) 72 in which the remaining charge amount is completely eliminated when the CPU 41 moves along the path 71 searched in S22 according to the actual traveling conditions (S23). The actual driving condition referred to here is different from the ideal driving condition used when setting the reachable area 67 of S21, for example, and is a condition considering factors that fluctuate the electricity cost generated in the actual driving. is there. More specifically, the actual running conditions include the slope of the running path, the curvature of the running path, the occurrence of traffic jams, the number of signals, and the expected amount of electric power consumed in the traffic jams and waiting for traffic lights. Alternatively, as the actual driving conditions, various conditions such as the weather (wind speed, rainfall) and the number of passengers can be adopted to fluctuate the electricity cost. By setting the power shortage position 72 based on such traveling conditions, the power shortage position 72 corresponding to the 16 directions (each destination 69) set in S22 can be calculated more accurately.

The CPU 41 executes S24 after executing S23. The CPU 41 connects the power shortage positions 72 in each direction set in S23 with an outer peripheral line to generate the first area graphic 62. As shown by the broken line in FIG. 5, the CPU 41 connects the adjacent power shortage positions 72 with the power shortage positions 72 in each direction arranged in the circumferential direction around the current position 61 with a straight outer peripheral line 73, and is in the first region. The figure 62 is generated. The first area figure 62 is, for example, a polygon connecting the power shortage positions 72. The first area figure 62 shows a travelable area (cruiseable range) capable of traveling (cruiseable) with the remaining charge amount from the current position 61. The outer peripheral line 73 is not limited to a straight line, and may be, for example, a curved line centered on the current position 61 and passing through two power shortage positions 72.

When the CPU 41 generates the first area figure 62 in S24, the CPU 41 ends the first area figure generation process shown in FIG. Returning to FIG. 2, when the CPU 41 executes S1, it executes S2. In S2, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 6, the CPU 41 generates a third area graphic 75 in which the first region graphic 62 generated in S1 is reduced inward by a predetermined distance X. For example, the CPU 41 selects an arbitrary first power shortage position 72A from the plurality of power shortage positions 72. The CPU 41 sets a first straight line 77 connecting the selected first power shortage position 72A and the current position 61, and moves the first power shortage position 72A to the current position 61 side (inside) along the first straight line 77 by a predetermined distance. The position 78 moved by X is calculated (see the white circle in FIG. 6). The CPU 41 executes the same processing as the first power shortage position 72A described above for all the power shortage positions 72, and calculates the position 78 moved by a predetermined distance X. The CPU 41 connects adjacent positions 78 with an outer peripheral line 79 after moving in a straight line to generate a third area figure 75. Note that FIG. 6 illustrates only a part of the first straight line 77 and the position 78 in order to avoid cluttering the drawings. Further, the method for generating the third area figure 75 is not limited to the above method. For example, the CPU 41 can reach an outer peripheral line 73 connecting an arbitrary first power shortage position 72A and a second power shortage position 72B adjacent to the first power shortage position 72A among the plurality of power shortage positions 72. The third area figure 75 may be generated by parallelizing the figure 75 by a predetermined distance X along the radial direction of 67.

The CPU 41 executes S3 after executing S2. In S3, the CPU 41 sets a determination area 81 between the first area figure 62 and the third area figure 75. As shown by the hatching in FIG. 6, the CPU 41 is a straight line connecting the arbitrary first power shortage position 72A, the second power shortage position 72B adjacent to the first power shortage position 72A, and the current position 61. The area surrounded by the outer peripheral line 73 and between the outer peripheral line 79 after movement is set as the determination area 81. More specifically, the CPU 41 has a first straight line 77 connecting the first power shortage position 72A and the current position 61, a second straight line 83 connecting the second power shortage position 72B and the current position 61, an outer peripheral line 73, and an outer circumference after movement. The area surrounded by the four straight lines of the line 79 is set as the determination area 81. In the present embodiment, the CPU 41 sets two adjacent power shortage positions 72 as a set, sets a judgment area 81 for each set of power shortage positions 72, and sets a total of 16 judgment areas 81. The CPU 41 adjusts the size of the first area figure 62 based on the number of charging facilities 63 included in the determination area 81. In other words, the determination area 81 is an area for searching the charging facility 63 in order to adjust the size of the first area figure 62.

Here, the power shortage position 72 is a position where it is expected that the remaining charge amount at the present time will be completely exhausted. However, for example, when actually traveling, it is assumed that power consumption may be higher than expected due to traffic congestion, road surface conditions, weather, etc., and charging may be required. Therefore, in order to have a certain amount of remaining charge (buffer), the third area figure 75 is generated by reducing the first area figure 62 by a predetermined distance X. When the electric vehicle reaches the third area figure 75 (outer peripheral line 79 after movement), the remaining charge amount of the set remaining power remains, and the driver may move to the charging facility 63 with the remaining charge amount at that time. It will be possible. At this time, in a place where there are few charging facilities 63 around the position of the own vehicle, there is a high possibility that the moving distance to the nearest charging facility 63 will be relatively long. For this reason, it is necessary to leave a large amount of spare capacity. On the other hand, in a place where there are many charging facilities 63, there is a high possibility that the moving distance to the nearest charging facility 63 will be relatively short. Therefore, it is possible to set a small amount of spare capacity and a long mileage. Therefore, the CPU 41 of the present embodiment is based on the number of charging facilities 63 included in the determination area 81, and is the size of the first area figure 62, more specifically, the position of the outer peripheral line 73 that partitions the determination area 81. To adjust.

Therefore, the predetermined distance X described above is a distance based on the remaining charge amount left as a surplus capacity, and is a distance for defining the determination region 81. The predetermined distance X is, for example, a distance that can be traveled with the remaining charge amount from the time when the power shortage lamp (fuel lamp) for notifying the driver that the power shortage is near is turned on, and is several km to several tens of km. In this case, when the electric vehicle runs as expected, the power shortage lamp lights up when the outer peripheral line 79 is reached after the movement of the third area figure 75, and the remaining charge amount at that time is the predetermined distance X. You can drive. The CPU 41 does not have to make the first area figure 62 smaller based on the distance (predetermined distance X). For example, the CPU 41 may reduce the first area graphic 62 inward until the remaining charge amount is a few percent (several Wh) of the full charge.

Further, the shape and position of the determination region 81 described above are an example. For example, the CPU 41 may use a triangular region surrounded by the first power shortage position 72A, the second power shortage position 72B, and the current position 61 as the determination area 81. Alternatively, the CPU 41 sets, for example, each area in which the first area figure 62 is divided in a matrix in a determination area 81, and determines the size of the first area figure 62 based on one or a plurality of determination areas 81. You may adjust it.

When the CPU 41 sets a plurality of (16 in this embodiment) determination areas 81 in S3, the CPU 41 executes S4. The CPU 41 determines in S4 whether or not the processing has been completed for all the determination areas 81. The CPU 41 executes processing for each of the plurality of determination areas 81 in S5 and later described later. Therefore, in S4, when the processing after S5 is not completed for all the determination areas 81, the CPU 41 makes a negative determination (S4: NO).

When the CPU 41 makes a negative determination in S4 (S4: NO), the CPU 41 selects a new determination area 81 from the plurality of determination areas 81 (S5). For example, the CPU 41 selects an arbitrary determination area 81 from the 16 determination areas 81. Further, when the CPU 41 executes S7, which will be described later, and executes S5 again, the CPU 41 selects a determination area 81 that is deviated by one clockwise direction from the previously selected determination area 81. In this way, the CPU 41 selects a new determination area 81 each time S5 is executed.

The CPU 41 executes S6 after executing S5. The CPU 41 extracts the charging facility 63 included in the determination area 81 selected in S5 (S6). The CPU 41 extracts the charging facility 63 in the determination area 81 based on, for example, the coordinate position of the determination area 81 and the map information DB 31 (see FIG. 1) of the data recording unit 12. The CPU 41 may acquire the charging facility 63 in the determination area 81 by making an inquiry to the server device or the like.

The CPU 41 executes S7 after executing S6. In S7, the CPU 41 adjusts to move the outer peripheral line 73 of the first area graphic 62 corresponding to the determination area 81 inward based on the number of charging facilities 63 extracted in S6 (adjustment to reduce the size of the first area graphic 62). ) Is executed to calculate the final outer peripheral line 85 of the second area figure 64. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the outer peripheral line 73 is adjusted. The CPU 41 adjusts the final outer peripheral line 85 to the outside farther from the current position 61 as the number of charging facilities 63 included in the determination area 81 increases. Therefore, in the CPU 41 of the present embodiment, the larger the number of charging facilities 63, the smaller the remaining charge capacity (buffer) and the longer the cruising distance (cruising distance). Further, the CPU 41 increases the remaining capacity (buffer) as the number of charging facilities 63 decreases. As a result, the position of the outer peripheral line 73 (the size of the first area graphic 62) can be adjusted according to the moving distance to the nearest charging facility 63 around the final outer peripheral line 85.

For example, when the number of charging facilities 63 included in the determination area 81 is equal to or greater than a preset upper limit value, the CPU 41 sets the adjustment amount to be reduced to zero, and finally sets the outer peripheral line 73 for partitioning the determination area 81. It is set as the outer line 85. Further, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 7, the CPU 41 performs an adjustment to move the final outer peripheral line 85 inward as the number of charging facilities 63 included in the determination area 81 decreases. When the number of charging facilities 63 included in the determination area 81 is zero, the CPU 41 uses the line inside the determination area 81, that is, the outer peripheral line 79 after the movement of the third area figure 75 as the final outer peripheral line 85. Set.

The width (number of steps) for adjusting the outer peripheral line 73 stepwise is not particularly limited. For example, the CPU 41 sets the upper limit value to 10, and calculates the width W obtained by dividing the distance between the outer peripheral line 73 and the outer peripheral line 79 after movement into 10 equal parts. Then, the CPU 41 may move the outer peripheral line 73 inward by the width W as the number of charging facilities 63 included in the determination area 81 decreases to 10, 9, 8, ... ..

Further, the above-mentioned adjustment method of the outer peripheral line 73 is an example. For example, the CPU 41 may adjust the outer peripheral line 73 by moving the outer peripheral line 79 after moving the inside of the determination area 81. If the charging facility 63 is zero, the CPU 41 sets the outer peripheral line 79 to the final outer peripheral line 85 after moving. Further, the CPU 41 moves the outer peripheral line 79 to the outside after moving each time the charging facility 63 increases, and sets the moved outer peripheral line 79 to the final outer peripheral line 85, and as a result, the outer peripheral line 73 is moved to the outside. You may adjust to.

Further, the standard for adjusting the outer peripheral line 73 is not limited to the number of charging facilities 63. For example, the CPU 41 may adjust the outer peripheral line 73 based on the density of the charging facility 63. The CPU 41 may adjust the outer peripheral line 73 inward each time the number (density) of the charging facilities 63 with respect to the area of the determination area 81 decreases.

When the CPU 41 executes S7 in FIG. 2, it executes S4 again. When the CPU 41 makes a negative determination in S4 (S4: NO), the CPU 41 selects a new determination area 81 in S5. The CPU 41 executes the processes of S5 to S7 for all the determination areas 81, and adjusts the outer peripheral line 73 corresponding to each determination area 81.

When the CPU 41 completes the processing for all the determination areas 81 (S4: YES), the CPU 41 executes S8. In S8, as shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 41 connects the final outer peripheral lines 85 calculated in S7 to each other to generate the second area graphic 64. The CPU 41 connects, for example, one end of an arbitrary final outer peripheral line 85 and one end of the final outer peripheral line 85 adjacent to the final outer peripheral line 85 (the end on the side closer to the arbitrary final outer peripheral line 85) with a straight line 85A. The area figure 64 is generated.

When the CPU 41 generates the second area graphic 64 in S8, the CPU 41 superimposes the generated second area graphic 64 on the map image 65 and displays it on the liquid crystal display 15 (S9). As shown in FIG. 4, the second area graphic 64 displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 is a map in which the travelable distance from the current position 61 is adjusted according to the number of charging facilities 63 around the final outer peripheral line 85. Become. More specifically, when there are many charging facilities 63 around the final outer peripheral line 85, the final outer peripheral line 85 is on the outer side, and when there are few charging facilities 63 around the final outer peripheral line 85, the final outer peripheral line 85 is on the inner side. .. As a result, the CPU 41 of the present embodiment appropriately adjusts the size of the second area graphic 64 (first area graphic 62) indicating the area in which the vehicle can travel with the remaining charge amount, according to the number of charging facilities 63. Can be displayed.

When the CPU 41 executes S9, the CPU 41 ends the area graphic display processing program shown in FIG. When the CPU 41 displays the second area graphic 64 once, the shape and position of the displayed second area graphic 64 are displayed until the operation input to the touch panel 14 (instruction to display the second area graphic 64) is detected again. Etc. are maintained. Further, the CPU 41 restarts the processes of FIGS. 2 and 3 in accordance with the movement of the electric vehicle (in accordance with the movement of the current position 61), and moves the position and shape of the second area graphic 64 to the current position after the movement. It may be updated automatically based on 61.

As described in detail above, in the navigation device 1 and the computer program executed by the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the first area graphic 62 showing the travelable area that can be traveled with the remaining charge amount is generated from the current position 61. (S1). The CPU 41 generates a third area figure 75 in which the first area figure 62 is reduced by a predetermined distance X in consideration of the remaining charge capacity (S2), and is divided into the first area figure 62 and the third area figure 75. The determination area 81 is set (S3). The CPU 41 adjusts the size of the first area figure 62 based on the number of charging facilities 63 included in each of the plurality of determination areas 81 (S7), and generates the second area figure 64 (S8). Then, the CPU 41 superimposes the generated second area graphic 64 on the map image 65 and displays it on the liquid crystal display 15 (S9).

According to this, the CPU 41 is surrounded by the first area graphic 62 capable of traveling with the remaining charge amount, the determination area 81 used for the determination of the charging facility 63, and the charging facility 63 included in the set determination area 81. By adjusting the size of the first area figure 62 based on the number of, the second area figure 64 can be generated and displayed. For example, in a place where the number of charging facilities 63 is large or a place where the density is high, the remaining charge capacity (buffer) can be reduced and the mileage (cruising distance) can be displayed longer. Further, in a place where the number of charging facilities 63 is small or a place where the density is low, the remaining capacity (buffer) is increased. As a result, although the mileage (cruising distance) is displayed shorter, sufficient spare capacity (buffer) is left even when the moving distance to the nearest charging facility 63 is long near the final outer peripheral line 85 of the second area figure 64. Can be left.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, in the present embodiment, the navigation device 1 performs the route search process, but the route search process may be performed by an external server communicably connected to the navigation device 1. When the operation is performed by an external server, information necessary for route search such as the current position 61 and the remaining charge amount of the battery 51 may be transmitted from the navigation device 1 to the server device together with the route search request.

Further, the CPU 41 may set the determination area 81 in the first area figure 62 without using the third area figure 75.
Further, the CPU 41 may adjust the outer peripheral line 73 after moving the third area graphic 75 without directly adjusting the outer peripheral line 73 of the first area graphic 62, and as a result, the outer peripheral line 73 may be adjusted. In this case, the CPU 41 may adjust the outer peripheral line 79 after moving to the outer side as the number of charging facilities 63 in the determination area 81 increases.
Further, in the above embodiment, the CPU 41 determines the number of charging facilities 63 in one determination area 81, but the number of charging facilities 63 may be determined using a plurality of determination areas 81. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 41 is based on the number of charging facilities 63 included in both the determination area 81 corresponding to a predetermined orientation and the two adjacent determination areas 81A adjacent to the determination area 81. , The outer peripheral line 73 of the determination region 81 may be adjusted. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 41 selects a determination area 81 and two adjacent determination areas 81A sandwiching the determination area 81, and is based on the total number of charging facilities 63 included in the three areas. , The outer peripheral line 73 of the determination area 81 in the middle may be adjusted. As a result, the size of the first area figure 62 can be adjusted by taking into account not only the determination area 81 corresponding to the predetermined orientation but also the number of charging facilities 63 in the adjacent adjacent determination area 81A.
The shape of the second area figure 64 shown in FIG. 4 is an example. For example, the CPU 41 connects the ends of the final outer peripheral line 85 after adjustment with a straight line 85A to generate the second area figure 64, but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 10, the CPU 41 may connect the ends of the two final outer peripheral lines 85 with a curved line and round the corners of the second area figure 64. Alternatively, the CPU 41 may connect the ends of the two final outer peripheral lines 85 along an actual traveling path.

Further, the present invention can be applied to a device having a route search function and a display function in addition to the navigation device. For example, it can be applied to mobile phones, smartphones, tablet terminals, personal computers and the like (hereinafter referred to as mobile terminals and the like). It can also be applied to a system composed of a server and a mobile terminal or the like. In that case, each step of the area graphic display processing program (FIGS. 2 and 3) described above may be configured to be executed by either the server or the mobile terminal. Further, when the present invention is applied to a mobile terminal or the like, the present invention can also be applied to a display process for a moving body other than an electric vehicle, for example, a two-wheeled vehicle using a battery as a drive source.

Further, although the embodiment in which the display device according to the present invention is embodied has been described above, the display device can also have the following configuration, and in that case, the following effects are obtained.

For example, the first configuration is as follows.
Based on the current position (61) of the electric vehicle and the remaining charge amount of the battery (51) of the electric vehicle, the traveling area in which the electric vehicle can travel from the current position with the remaining charge amount is shown. A judgment area setting means (41) for setting a first area figure generation means (41) for generating a one-area figure (62) and a judgment area (81) for dividing a part of the travelable area indicated by the first area figure ( A second area figure (64) whose size of the first area figure is adjusted is generated based on 41) and the number of charging facilities (63) included in the determination area set by the determination area setting means. A display device (1) having a second area graphic generating means (41) and a display means (15, 41) for displaying the second area graphic.
According to the display device having the above configuration, a determination area used for determining the charging facility is set in the travelable area where the vehicle can travel with the remaining charge amount. Then, the display device can generate and display the second area figure by adjusting the size of the first area figure indicating the travelable area based on the number of charging facilities included in the set determination area. it can. As a result, the size of the first area figure can be adjusted and displayed according to the number of charging facilities in the determination area. For example, in a place with a large number of charging facilities or a place with a high density, the remaining charge capacity (buffer) may be reduced. As a result, the mileage (cruising distance) can be displayed longer. Further, in a place where the number of charging facilities is small or a place where the density is low, the remaining capacity (buffer) may be increased. As a result, although the mileage (cruising distance) is displayed shorter, sufficient spare capacity (buffer) can be left even when the moving distance to the nearest charging facility is relatively long. The display device can appropriately adjust and display the size of the area figure that can travel (navigable) with the remaining charge amount according to the number of charging facilities described above.

The second configuration is as follows.
The second area graphic generating means adjusts the size of the first area graphic to be small based on the number of charging facilities included in the determination area, and the number of charging facilities included in the determination area is the first. Based on the number, the number of the charging facilities included in the determination area is the second number, which is less than the first number, as compared with the adjustment amount that makes the first area figure smaller. The amount of adjustment for reducing the size of the first area figure is increased.
According to the display device having the above configuration, the first area figure is adjusted to be small based on the number of charging facilities in the determination area to generate the second area figure. The display device adjusts the second area figure smaller as the number of charging facilities in the determination area decreases. In other words, the display device adjusts the second area figure more as the number of charging facilities increases. For this reason, when there are many charging facilities and charging is required, the second area figure corresponding to the number of charging facilities is displayed by enlarging the second area figure for the area where the nearest charging facility is relatively close. It becomes possible.

The third configuration is as follows.
The third area figure (75) surrounded by the outer peripheral line (79) after moving the outer peripheral line (73) showing the first area figure by a predetermined distance (X) toward the inside where the electric vehicle exists. ) Is provided, and the determination area setting means is between the outer peripheral line of the first area figure and the post-movement outer peripheral line of the third area figure. The area is set as the determination area.
According to the display device having the above configuration, the size of the determination region can be adjusted based on the length of a predetermined distance for moving the outer peripheral line after movement, and the search range of the charging facility can be adjusted.

The fourth configuration is as follows.
The determination area setting means sets the determination area corresponding to each direction with respect to the current position of the electric vehicle, and the second area graphic generation means corresponds to a predetermined direction among the directions. The size of the first area figure corresponding to the predetermined orientation is adjusted based on the number of the charging facilities included in the determination area.
According to the display device having the above configuration, the determination area is set in each direction, and the first area figure is adjusted for each determination area. Therefore, a charging facility is extracted as compared with the case where a large judgment area that occupies most of the travelable area of the first area figure is set and the charging facility existing in the judgment area is extracted by one process. The content of the process of adjusting the size of the first area figure after the process or extraction can be simplified, and the processing load can be reduced.

The fifth configuration is as follows.
The second region graphic generation means has the predetermined orientation based on the number of charging facilities included in both the determination region corresponding to the predetermined orientation and the adjacent determination region (81A) adjacent to the determination region. The size of the first area figure corresponding to is adjusted.
According to the display device having the above configuration, the size of the first area figure can be adjusted in consideration of not only the determination area corresponding to the predetermined direction but also the number of charging facilities in the adjacent adjacent determination area. Depending on the amount of remaining charge, it is possible to stop at a charging facility not only in the judgment area but also in the adjacent judgment area before the power runs out. If the charging facility in the judgment area is out of order, the driver may move to the charging facility in the adjacent judgment area. According to such a situation, the search range of the charging facility can be expanded to the adjacent determination area and the first area figure can be adjusted.

The sixth configuration is as follows.
The first area graphic generating means calculates the power shortage position (72) traveled from the current position of the electric vehicle until all of the remaining charge amount is used, and uses the current position of the electric vehicle as a reference. The first region is a figure in which the power shortage position is set in each direction and the power shortage positions adjacent to the power shortage position in each direction arranged in the circumferential direction around the current position are connected by the outer peripheral line. The determination area setting means, which is generated as a figure, includes a first power shortage position (72A) included in the plurality of power shortage positions, a second power shortage position (72B) adjacent to the first power shortage position, and the like. A region surrounded by straight lines (77, 83) connecting the three positions of the current position and between the outer peripheral line and the outer peripheral line after movement is set as the determination region.
According to the display device having the above configuration, the power shortage position is set in each direction, and the power shortage position is connected by the outer peripheral line to generate the first region figure. Then, the search range of the charging facility can be set by the power shortage position, the current position, the outer peripheral line, and the outer peripheral line after moving.

1 Navigation device 11 Current position detector 13 Navigation ECU
15 Liquid crystal display 31 Map information DB
41 CPU
51 Battery 61 Current position 62 1st area figure 63 Charging facility 64 2nd area figure 72 Electricity missing position 72A 1st electric missing position 72B 2nd electric missing position 73 Outer line 75 3rd area figure 77 1st straight line 79 Outer circumference after movement Line 81 Judgment area 81A Adjacent judgment area 83 Second straight line X Predetermined distance

Claims (7)

Based on the current position of the electric vehicle and the remaining charge amount of the battery of the electric vehicle, a first region diagram showing a travelable area in which the electric vehicle can travel with the remaining charge amount is generated from the current position. First area figure generation means and
A determination area setting means for setting a determination area in which a part of the travelable area indicated by the first area figure is divided, and a determination area setting means.
A second area graphic generating means for generating a second area graphic whose size of the first area graphic is adjusted based on the number of charging facilities included in the determination area set by the determination area setting means.
A display device having a display means for displaying the second area graphic. The second area graphic generating means
The size of the first area figure is adjusted to be small based on the number of charging facilities included in the determination area, and the number of charging facilities included in the determination area is the first number. Adjustment to make the first area figure smaller based on the fact that the number of charging facilities included in the determination area is a second number smaller than the first number as compared with the adjustment amount to make the first area figure smaller. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the amount is increased. There is a third area figure generating means for generating a third area figure surrounded by the outer peripheral line after moving the outer peripheral line showing the first area figure by a predetermined distance toward the inside where the electric vehicle exists. And
The determination area setting means
The display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an area between the outer peripheral line of the first area figure and the post-movement outer peripheral line of the third area figure is set as the determination area. The determination area setting means
The judgment area corresponding to each direction with respect to the current position of the electric vehicle is set.
The second area graphic generating means
Claims 1 to 3 in which the size of the first area figure corresponding to the predetermined direction is adjusted based on the number of the charging facilities included in the determination area corresponding to the predetermined direction among the respective directions. The display device according to any one of the above items. The second area graphic generating means
The size of the first region figure corresponding to the predetermined orientation is determined based on the number of charging facilities included in both the determination region corresponding to the predetermined orientation and the adjacent determination region adjacent to the determination region. The display device according to claim 4, which is adjusted. The first area graphic generation means
The power shortage position traveled from the current position of the electric vehicle until all the remaining charge amount is used is calculated, and the power shortage position is set in each direction based on the current position of the electric vehicle. A figure in which the adjacent power shortage positions are connected by the outer peripheral line with respect to the power shortage position in each direction arranged in the circumferential direction around the current position is generated as the first area figure.
The determination area setting means
The outer circumference is surrounded by a straight line connecting the first power deficiency position included in the plurality of power deficiency positions, the second power deficiency position adjacent to the first power deficiency position, and the three positions of the current position. The display device according to claim 3, wherein an area between the line and the outer peripheral line after movement is set as the determination area. A computer program that displays a figure of a travelable area.
Computer,
Based on the current position of the electric vehicle and the remaining charge amount of the battery of the electric vehicle, a first region diagram showing a travelable area in which the electric vehicle can travel with the remaining charge amount is generated from the current position. First area figure generation means and
A determination area setting means for setting a determination area in which a part of the travelable area indicated by the first area figure is divided, and a determination area setting means.
A second area graphic generating means for generating a second area graphic whose size of the first area graphic is adjusted based on the number of charging facilities included in the determination area set by the determination area setting means.
A computer program for functioning as a display means for displaying the second area graphic.

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