JP4182381B2 - Map display apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a map display device provided in, for example, an in-vehicle navigation device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a vehicle-mounted navigation device, the current position of a vehicle is detected by GPS, autonomous navigation, and the like, and the travel position of the vehicle is displayed together with a map display. A device for gradually scrolling the screen is provided.
In the conventional map display device used for such a navigation device, there are devices that display icons, marks and the like on the map, but they do not display natural images in an overlapping manner.
[0003]
For this reason, even if the user can recognize the route on the map, it is difficult to collate the scenery actually seen from the driver's seat with the map displayed on the screen, and the route is wrong. Inconvenience may occur.
Therefore, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-89978, an actual landscape at the time of traveling of the vehicle is imaged, and the video data is stored in a storage medium in advance, and a map and video corresponding to the traveling position of the vehicle are recorded. A navigation device has been proposed in which these are combined and displayed on one screen.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the conventional navigation device (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-89978), when a map showing a route and an image showing a landscape are combined and displayed, a map showing the route is displayed at one corner of the display screen, A video showing the scenery is displayed on the entire other display screen.
However, in this prior art, since video data obtained by photographing a landscape is displayed as it is, the amount of data increases. In addition, video data obtained by photographing a landscape is not practical because it is necessary to replace a large amount of data in order to cope with a case where the landscape changes due to development of an urban area or the like.
[0005]
In addition, since the photographed scenery is displayed as it is, if a complicated landscape such as an urban area is displayed as it is, it may be inconvenient for location recognition.
Further, in such a navigation device, since there is no trouble in driving, it is necessary to easily and quickly select and delete the display when switching between the display of only the map and the combined display of the map and the video.
[0006]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a map display device capable of obtaining an effective navigation function by combining a map and a natural image.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a map display device that detects a current position of a vehicle, displays map information corresponding to the current position from a map database, and displays the map information. A natural image database for storing the natural image and at least one sub-screen for displaying the natural image in a state of being superimposed on the display screen for displaying the map information based on a predetermined priority order. A display unit that controls the display of the display unit based on an instruction from the operation unit, an operation unit for an operator to instruct the display unit to display, switch, and delete a sub-screen. Part.
[0008]
In the map display device of the present invention, the current position of the vehicle is detected, map information corresponding to the current position is retrieved from the map database and displayed on the display unit.
The natural image database stores a plurality of natural images corresponding to the current position of the vehicle. The display unit has at least one sub-screen that displays the natural image in a state of being superimposed on the display screen that displays the map information, and selectively displays the sub-screen to display the natural image. I do.
When the operator instructs the display unit to display, switch, and delete the sub screen from the operation unit, the control unit controls the display of the display unit based on the instruction from the operation unit, and displays the sub screen. Control switching and erasing.
As described above, in the map display device of the present invention, since the natural image is displayed on the sub screen of the display unit, by visually recognizing the natural image, the scenery of the road on which the vehicle is actually traveling and the target object are displayed on the sub screen. By comparing with the natural image displayed on the screen, the current position can be confirmed effectively.
[0009]
In addition, since natural images mainly composed of still images are displayed, the natural image database capacity is not so large. Also, shooting work for collecting natural images, replacement of natural images, etc. This can be done more easily than in the case.
Further, as a natural image, an image obtained by extracting a target by an image editing process by a computer or the like can be displayed in addition to an image obtained by directly photographing a landscape itself. Therefore, there is no possibility of rebuilding over a long period of time, and the appearance of the most prominent building etc. is selected as a natural image, so that it can be used as an effective location confirmation means regardless of the season and changes in surrounding buildings. Can do.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of a map display device according to the present invention will be described below.
The map display device according to the present embodiment displays map data stored in a disk medium such as a DVD-ROM, and when the map is scrolled, the map is internally interpreted as being scrolled along a specific road. The natural image data stored as the data along the specific road is displayed.
In this case, a disk medium such as a DVD-ROM constitutes a map database and a natural image database.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a map display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The map display device includes a CPU 1, a mechanical controller 2, a servo circuit 3, a disk device (database) 4, a data processing unit 5, a DRAM 6, a display control circuit (control unit) 7, and a display device (display unit) 8.
The CPU 1 transmits a command to the mechanical controller 2 and controls the disk device 4 by the servo circuit 3. When data is read from the disk device 4, it is stored in the DRAM 6 via the data processing unit 5. The CPU 1 reads the data on the DRAM 6, performs necessary processing, and then draws it on a drawing plane portion (a drawing area or a screen area set on the memory) of the DRAM 6.
This processing flow is applied to both the map surface and the natural screen. The display control circuit 7 controls display of drawing data of a plurality of drawing planes, and as a result, the overlaid image is displayed on the display device 8.
[0012]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example when a small image of a natural image is displayed on the map background in this map display device.
As shown in the figure, in this example, the map background display surface G1 is a full-screen background surface in the display device 8, and the two sub-screens G2 and G3 have a size that does not hinder reading of the map information. It is displayed on both sides away from the center of the screen, and the natural image is displayed in a recognizable size.
[0013]
In this example, the road data of the map information is hierarchized according to the road level, and is stored in the disk device 4 as a set of link data between intersections. The map display device holds the vehicle position and the cursor position by latitude and longitude, respectively, and expresses the center position of the area currently displayed on the screen by the cursor position.
In this screen, when an operator (driver) inputs a map scroll instruction from an operation unit (not shown), the map display device is within the range determined by a constant from the cursor position at a specific level from the hierarchical link group. Search for a link at a distance and internally interpret it as a scroll link. In this link search, the map display device searches from a higher-level link.
[0014]
When the scroll link is determined, the map display device searches image data stored as information along the link. These image data also hold information on which side (direction) at which position with respect to the link. The obtained image data is displayed on a natural screen (plane) different from the map surface (plane) so that the link is displayed around the center of the screen and the child screens G2 and G3 have a size that can be recognized sufficiently on both the left and right sides. draw.
In the sub-screens G2 and G3, the image data stored as existing on the left and right around the cursor position along the link is updated and displayed as needed.
Here, when the relative position of the background map screen G1 scrolls and the relative position with respect to the display device 8 changes, the relative positions of the natural image child screens G2 and G3 with respect to the display device 8 do not change. Only the image changes in the sub-screens G2 and G3. By doing in this way, it is possible to obtain a lot of image information without disturbing the map display on the display surface G1 having a limited area.
[0015]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the CPU 1 in this embodiment.
First, when a scroll instruction is given by an operator (driver) (S100), the CPU 1 searches for the nearest link from the cursor position coordinates (S101).
Next, the direction of the link is calculated (S102), compared with the rotation direction at the time of the previous drawing (S103), and the corresponding link is shifted beyond the minimum direction of the direction determined by quantization (16 directions, etc.) (S103; Y), the map surface is redrawn so that the front of the link is at the top of the screen (S106). If it is determined that the link direction has not changed (S103; N), a point on the nearest link is calculated from the cursor position (S104), and the map surface is scrolled so that the point is in the center of the screen. Then, the cursor position is updated (S105).
[0016]
Subsequently, among the image data stored in the disk device 4 as information along the link, the nearest one located in the scroll direction along the link is searched (S107). At this time, the link is searched one by one on the left side and the right side toward the front of the scroll. The obtained two pieces of image data are drawn in the natural picture screen area on the natural picture plane secured on the left and right sides of the link (S108).
Thereafter, the timer is started (S109), and only the map screen is scrolled (S111) until the timer is stopped (S110). After a certain period of time has elapsed, the timer stops and returns to step S102 to enter the direction calculation for the same link or the next link on the same road.
[0017]
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a road data management table in the disk device 4.
In this management table, roads are recorded as “inter-intersection links” by hierarchical levels, road IDs, and link IDs. Each link has a start point and an end point coordinates.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a natural image data management table in the disk device 4.
Each natural image data is associated with a link, and has a position coordinate and a direction with respect to the link. In this way, in step S107, it is possible to select the nearest forward image along the link one by one on the left and right with respect to the link.
[0018]
As described above, in the map display device of the present example, a natural image is displayed on the sub-screen of the display unit. By visually recognizing the natural image, the scenery of the road on which the vehicle is actually traveling and the target object are displayed. It can be compared with the natural image displayed on the sub-screen, and the current position can be confirmed effectively.
In addition, since the map display device of the present invention displays a natural image mainly composed of still images, the capacity of the natural image database is not so large, and a photographing operation for collecting the natural image is performed. Replacement of natural images can be performed more easily than in the case of moving images.
[0019]
In addition, by instructing scrolling of the map screen, a natural image can be automatically searched and displayed, and operability can be improved.
In addition, the current position of the vehicle is displayed at the center of the display screen, and the left and right natural images of the road are displayed on the child screens on both sides. Can be displayed.
[0020]
In the above example, an image obtained by directly capturing the landscape itself is used as a natural image. However, for example, an image obtained by extracting a target such as a conspicuous building by image editing processing by a computer can be displayed.
Therefore, there is no possibility of rebuilding over a long period of time, and the appearance of the most prominent building etc. is selected as a natural image, so that it can be used as an effective location confirmation means regardless of the season and changes in surrounding buildings. Can do.
[0021]
Further, in the above-described example, a plurality of natural images to be displayed on the child screen may be provided corresponding to the current position of the vehicle, and the plurality of images may be sequentially displayed based on preset priorities. In this case, display based on the priority order of the sub-screens may be executed by a switching operation from the operation unit.
In this way, by switching and displaying a plurality of natural images, even if the location cannot be confirmed with one natural image, the location can be surely confirmed by switching to another natural image.
[0022]
In addition, the natural image switching display operation as described above is a wipe setting function (a function for setting a split screen for a full screen and controlling display in units of partial screens) provided in this type of display device. It is also possible to make use of it.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, in the map display device that detects the current position of the vehicle, searches the map database corresponding to the current position, and displays the map information, the current position of the vehicle corresponds to the current position of the vehicle. A natural image database for storing a plurality of natural images is provided, and at least one sub-screen displaying a natural image is superimposed on a display screen for displaying map information based on a preset priority order. , while selectively displayed, an operator display of the child screen against a display screen, switching, and by erasing and to perform display control of the natural image.
[0024]
Therefore, in the map display device of the present invention, a natural image is displayed on the sub screen of the display unit. By visually recognizing the natural image, the scenery of the road on which the vehicle is actually traveling and the target object are displayed on the sub screen. It can be compared with the displayed natural image, and even if it cannot be confirmed with one natural image at that time, the current position can be effectively confirmed by switching to another natural image .
In addition, since the map display device of the present invention displays a natural image mainly composed of still images, the capacity of the natural image database is not so large, and a photographing operation for collecting the natural image is performed. In addition, replacement of natural images can be performed more easily than in the case of moving images.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a map display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example when a natural image child screen is displayed on a map background in the map display device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of a CPU 1 in the map display device shown in FIG. 1;
4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a road data management table in the disk device of the map display device shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a natural image data management table in the disk device of the map display device shown in FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU, 2 ... Mechanical controller, 3 ... Servo circuit, 4 ... Disk apparatus, 5 ... Data processing part, 6 ... DRAM, 7 ... Display control circuit, 8 ... Display apparatus.

Claims (3)

In a map display device that detects a current position of a vehicle, searches map information corresponding to the current position from a map database, and displays the map information.
A natural image database for storing a plurality of natural images corresponding to the current position of the vehicle;
A display unit that selectively displays at least one sub-screen that displays the natural image in a state of being superimposed on a display screen that displays the map information;
An operation unit for an operator to instruct the display unit to display, switch, and delete a sub-screen;
A control unit that controls display of the display unit based on an instruction from the operation unit ;
A map display device , wherein a plurality of natural images to be displayed on the sub-screen are provided corresponding to the current position of the vehicle, and are sequentially displayed based on a preset priority . Display based on the priority of the child screen, a map display device according to claim 1, characterized in that to perform the switching operation from the operation unit. In a map display method for detecting a current position of a vehicle, searching map information corresponding to the current position from a map database, and displaying the map information,
Storing a plurality of natural images corresponding to the current position of the vehicle in a natural image database;
A display step of selectively displaying at least one sub-screen displaying the natural image on a display unit in a state of being superimposed on a display screen displaying the map information;
An operation step for an operator to instruct the display unit to display, switch, and delete a sub-screen;
A control step of controlling display of the display unit by a control unit based on an instruction from the operation unit;
Have
A map display method characterized in that a plurality of natural images to be displayed on the sub-screen are provided corresponding to the current position of the vehicle, and are sequentially displayed based on a preset priority order .

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