JP2978576B2 - Car navigation system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an in-vehicle navigation device for searching and displaying a recommended route from a current position to a target position based on input of road information and route selection conditions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional on-vehicle navigation device disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-28800. In FIG.
It comprises a microcomputer in which one CPU, 12 ROM, 13 RAM, and input / output interface 14 are connected by a bus 15.

A traffic information receiver 2 receives traffic information and the like from a traffic information processing center by way of a guide radio system or a quasi-microwave system via a road guide board or a transmitter installed on a signal pole or the like. . This traffic information is information on traffic conditions such as the total extension distance of the traffic congestion section, the average vehicle speed, the cause of traffic congestion, traffic regulations due to accidents and construction, and various warnings.

A compact disk (hereinafter abbreviated as CD) player 3 reads data on road maps, place names, intersection names, famous places, historic sites, public facilities, gas stations, etc. stored in a CD-ROM. is there.

[0005] A CRT (cathode ray tube) display 4 performs display based on various data converted into display signals by the processing device 1. The operation unit 5 includes input devices such as a key switch and a light pen.

The self-contained navigation type position sensor 6 includes a geomagnetic sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and the like. The traffic information receiver 2, the CD player 3, the CRT display 4, the operation unit 5, and the self-contained navigation type position sensor 6 are connected to the input / output interface 14 of the processing device 1.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the first step S1, traffic information is input from the traffic information receiver 2 and data relating to a display format such as a current position, a target position, and reduction of a road map are input together with route selection conditions such as the shortest time from the operation unit 5. You. Then, based on these inputs, necessary information such as a road map is read from the CD player 3 and the CRT is read.
The information is displayed on the display 4.

In the second step S2, it is determined whether or not a candidate route has been input, and if not, the process proceeds to a third step S3. In the third step S3, a suitable candidate route is input by the light pen of the operation unit 5.

In a fourth step S4, a route that is within predetermined restriction conditions for the candidate route is selected. The restriction condition is that at least one condition is that the vehicle has an intersection within a certain range from the candidate route, and one of the conditions is that the vehicle is within a certain distance from the candidate route.
One of the conditions may be that the distance has a certain range with respect to the distance of the candidate route.

In a fifth step S5, a fourth step S4
A search is performed from the route searched in the above based on information such as traffic information and a route selection condition such as the shortest time. As a result of this search, the route that most closely matches the condition is set as the recommended route, the route that next matches the condition is set as the next candidate of the recommended route, and so on.

In a sixth step S6, the recommended route is displayed in the same display form as the above-mentioned candidate route. At this time, based on the input traffic information, a traffic jam display and additional information such as a traffic jam cause and an average vehicle speed are also displayed at the same time.

In the next seventh step S7, if the displayed recommended route is not appropriate, a request for the next candidate is input from the operation unit 5, so that it is determined that this input has been made and the process proceeds to the fifth step S5. Return. Then, the fifth step S5
Is displayed in the sixth step S6 as the recommended route which is stored as the recommended route.

If it is determined in the seventh step S7 that the vehicle has reached the target position based on the input from the self-contained navigation type position sensor 6, the operation is terminated.
Returning to step S1, the operation is continued.

Then, in the first step S1, information of the traffic information receiver 2 is input again, and if there is a change in conditions, the conditions to be changed are input from the operation unit 5. At this time, since the candidate route has already been input, the second step S
The process proceeds from step 2 to an eighth step S8.

In an eighth step S8, if there is no change in the information input from the traffic information receiver 2 and no input of conditions to be changed from the operation unit 5, the first step S8 is performed again.
Return to 1.

In an eighth step S8, when there is a change in the information input from the traffic information receiver 2, the information is displayed. For example, when the information is related to the occurrence of an accident, an accident display is displayed on the CRT display 4. Further, the current position on the recommended route is also displayed, and the process proceeds to the fifth step S5 to perform a search again, and a new recommended route is displayed in the sixth step S6. The process also proceeds from the eighth step S8 to the fifth step S5 when a condition to be changed is input from the operation unit 5. For example, a recommended route and a selection condition corresponding to a condition such as a main road selection or a bad road avoidance are displayed.

[0017]

Since the conventional navigation apparatus is configured as described above, it is necessary to input a candidate route first, and by setting a predetermined restriction condition, the current route from the current position to the destination is set. It is shorter than searching all routes, but it is not significant.Furthermore, if you make a mistake in the recommended route or intentionally go through another route, you will not be able to search further and select a recommended route In order to make a right turn, left turn, or the like, the user must look at the displayed screen to make a right or left turn, which causes problems such as hindrance to driving.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is not necessary to first input a candidate route, and it is also possible to shorten the time required for searching for a recommended route, and to reduce the time required for traffic jams and the like. Promptly respond when traffic information is obtained and continue to search for recommended routes even if the recommended route is incorrect or intentionally passed another route, and select the recommended route It is an object of the present invention to provide an in-vehicle navigation device that can transmit an instruction such as a right turn or a left turn necessary for the vehicle to the user without hindering safe driving of the user.

[0019]

According to the present invention, there is provided an on-vehicle navigation device according to the present invention, wherein the recommended routes are arranged in ascending order of the angle formed by a straight line connecting the intersection ahead of the current position and the destination and a road vector branched at the intersection. And an instruction means for instructing the traveling direction at the intersection by the recommended route.

[0020]

According to the present invention, the recommended route searching means is arranged so that, at a branch point such as an intersection in front of the traveling direction, an angle formed by a straight line connecting the intersection with the destination and each road vector is small. If traffic congestion or an accident occurs on the first candidate route, the recommended route is sequentially changed to the next candidate route, and the instruction means turns right or left at an intersection in accordance with the recommended route. , Indicating straight ahead or by voice.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, the same or corresponding parts as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals 1 to 6, 11 to 15 as those in FIG. However, the conventional example is different from the processing procedure of the processing apparatus 1 based on the control program stored in the ROM 12 (FIG. 2).
See).

Next, the processing procedure of the processing apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in the first step S11, traffic information such as traffic accidents, traffic congestion, and traffic regulations due to construction is received from the traffic information receiver 2, the current location is obtained from the independent navigation type position sensor 6, and the destination and road map are reduced from the operation unit 5. , And route selection conditions such as rough road avoidance, narrow road avoidance, and main road selection. Based on these input data, necessary information such as a road map is read from the CD player 3 and CR information is read out.
It is displayed on the T display 4. FIG. 3 shows an example of the displayed screen.

Next in the second step S12, the coordinates of the current position P as shown in FIG. 4, the coordinates of the destination P _O, the traveling direction in front of the coordinate of the intersection P _C, branched at the intersection P _C e.g. next intersection etc. Are read for each of right turn (P _{1 in} FIG. 4), straight ahead (P _{2 in} FIG. 4), left turn, and retreat, and predetermined distances a, b, and c are calculated for each.
A in the case of a right turn in FIG. 4, b, shows the c, a linear distance between the next coordinate point P ₁ in the case of right turn and the intersection P _C, b is entered at the intersection P _C and the destination P _O Straight line distance,
c is the next coordinate point P ₁ and the straight line distance connecting the destination P _O in the case where the right turn.

Next, in a third step S13, the angle X _r when turning right, the angle X _s when going straight, and the angle X when turning left with respect to the direction to the destination P _O from the following equation.
_e , the angle _Xb in the case of retreat is calculated, and the candidate routes are set to 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the order of smaller angles. Here, when the number of branches at the intersection is n, n candidate routes are created, and FIG. 4 shows a case where n = 3.

2s = a + b + c

Then, an angle X (= X _r , X _s , X _e , X _b ) formed between a straight line connecting the intersection ahead of the current position and the destination and a road vector branched at the intersection is expressed by the following equation.

[0027]

(Equation 1)

Next, in a fourth step S14, if there is no change in the traffic information, and if so, its contents are displayed in an eighth step S18, and the route selection condition is changed according to the contents of the traffic information. Is again in the fourth step S14
Can be changed with.

In the next fifth step S15 when there is no change in the traffic information / selection conditions, it is determined whether or not the candidate route can be selected based on the route selection conditions. Here, if the traffic information indicates that the traffic is closed due to an accident, construction, or the like, the next candidate route is automatically set as a recommended route in ninth step S19, and if traffic is possible due to traffic congestion or the like, the route is selected based on the route selection condition. Is determined.

If it is determined to avoid, a ninth step S
After setting the next candidate route as the recommended route in step 19, the process returns to the fourth step S14, and similarly, it is checked whether or not the traffic information / route selection condition has been changed, and it is determined whether or not selection is possible. If it is determined that the vehicle can pass, a recommended route is displayed on the CRT display 4 in a sixth step S16. FIG. 3 and FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the instruction to turn right, go straight (not shown), and turn left is displayed on the CRT display 4 with characters and arrows and transmitted to the user.

Next, when the position of the next intersection of the route specified in the seventh step S17 reaches a predetermined distance from the destination, the search is terminated. If the predetermined distance has not been reached, the process returns to the second step S12, and a search for a route is continuously performed. Here, even if the user makes a mistake in the designated route or intentionally proceeds with another route, the recommended route from the next intersection is newly searched and displayed. Will be possible.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which a route is searched for from an intersection ahead in the traveling direction from the current position. However, a route from a destination may be searched for. Also, the case where the instruction of right turn, left turn, and straight ahead is displayed on the CRT display 4 with characters and arrows has been described.
Alternatively, it may be converted into audio data and instructed by sound.

In the above embodiment, the self-contained navigation type sensor 6 is used to detect the current position. However, position information as additional information of the traffic information received by the traffic information receiver 2 or radio navigation. The same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained by using the receiver of the system (GPS).

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, a recommended route is a road having a smaller angle formed by a straight line connecting the intersection ahead of the current traveling direction and the destination and a road vector branched at the intersection. Since there is no need to input a candidate route first, the time required to search for a recommended route can be shortened, and when traffic information such as accidents and congestion is obtained, it is possible to respond quickly. There is an effect that the recommended route can be continuously searched even when the recommended route is incorrect or when the user intentionally passes another route.

In addition, since an instruction to turn right, turn left, or go straight at an intersection is transmitted to the driver using characters and arrows on the CRT display, it is not necessary to stare on the CRT display and safe driving is possible. The effect is as follows.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle-mounted navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a map and traffic information according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of searching for a recommended route according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of a recommended route according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a conventional in-vehicle navigation device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a conventional in-vehicle navigation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Processing apparatus 2 Traffic information receiver 3 CD player 4 CRT display 5 Operation part 6 Independent navigation type position sensor 11 CPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 Input / output interface 15 Bus

Continuation of front page (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01C 21/00 G01C 21/20 G08G 1/0969 G06F 15/21 G06F 15/40

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A navigation device for searching and displaying a recommended route from a current position to a destination based on input of traffic information and route selection conditions, a straight line connecting an intersection ahead of the current position and the destination and a road branched at the intersection. An on-vehicle navigation device comprising: a recommended route search unit that sets a recommended route in an order of a smaller angle with a vector; and an instruction unit that specifies a traveling direction at an intersection based on the recommended route.