JP4779645B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device that searches a map data for a route from a current position to a set destination and provides guidance for the searched route.

In general, many car navigation devices are configured to end route guidance when a vehicle approaches a destination set by the vehicle and the remaining distance reaches a predetermined distance or a distance set by a user. This is presumed that if the vehicle is close to the destination to some extent, it is easy to reach the destination, so that the need for route guidance is low.
As a technique related to the route guidance performed by the car navigation device, for example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, unnecessary route guidance is omitted or deleted by determining a route that a user is frequently using and getting used to running. Techniques to do this are disclosed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a technique that can adjust the timing of route guidance performed by the navigation device according to the user's preference and feeling.
JP 2002-139335 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-236028 JP 2002-221427 A

By the way, if the prospect from the front point to the destination is relatively good or the travel route is a straight line, the user can easily make the destination even if the route guidance ends before the destination. Seems to be able to reach.
However, in reality, the situation from the point where the guidance stops to the destination is different depending on the case, so the remaining route may be difficult to grasp depending on the situation. If it is not confirmed by looking at the screen, it may not be easy to reach the destination. And such a problem is fundamentally different from the technical subject in patent documents 1-3, and cannot be solved by the technique currently disclosed by patent documents 1-3.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device capable of appropriately determining whether or not to continue route guidance when approaching a destination. .

  According to the navigation device of the first aspect, when the distance to the destination is within the predetermined distance A, it is determined whether or not to continue the route guidance based on the route situation to the destination. That is, referring to the above route situation, it is determined whether it is easy for the user to reach the destination, and if it is determined that the arrival is relatively difficult, if the route guidance is continued, the user Appropriate guidance can be performed so that the destination can be reliably reached.

Then, while to the destination, to continue the route guidance if the number of buildings and facilities adjacent to the guide path is equal to or greater than a specified number. Thus, when there are many buildings and facilities along the route, it is assumed that the driver is wondering which building or facility corresponds to the destination. Therefore, if route guidance is continued in such a case, it is possible to provide appropriate guidance to the user.

According to the navigation device according to claim 2 or 3, a distance from the last right / left turn or branch point to the destination is within a predetermined distance B, and a predetermined distance from the last right / left turn or branch point. to continue the route guidance if you are adjacent to the guide path of less than C there are buildings and facilities. That is, there originally despite reaching the immediately destination when turning right or left or branched in the last point, the buildings and facilities in the vicinity of the point is located outlook is poor, also confusing made it, It is assumed that it is difficult to understand where the destination is. Therefore, if route guidance is continued in such a case, it is possible to provide appropriate guidance to the user.

According to the navigation device according to claim 4, the predetermined distance B in claim 2 or 3, the C, and set according to the size of the building or facility. That is, poor or ambiguity prospects due to the buildings and facilities are present, may vary depending on the size of the building or facility. Therefore, the predetermined distance B in response to the buildings and facilities increases, be set so C becomes long, it is possible to appropriately determines whether or not to continue the route guidance.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a car navigation apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the car navigation apparatus. The car navigation device 1 includes a control circuit 2 mainly composed of a microcomputer, a position detector 3 for detecting the current position of the vehicle, a map data input device 4, an operation switch group 5, an external memory 6, a color liquid crystal display, etc. Display device 7, an external information input / output device 8 that transmits and receives data to and from the outside (for example, a VICS center and various information centers), a remote control sensor 9, and a remote control 10.

  The position detector 3 includes a G sensor 11 for detecting the pitch angle of the vehicle, a gyroscope 12 for detecting the roll angle of the vehicle, a distance sensor 13 for detecting the travel distance of the vehicle, and a radio wave transmitted from an artificial satellite. And a GPS receiver 14 for GPS (Global Positioning System) that detects (positions) the current position of the vehicle. Each of the sensors 11 to 14 has an error having a different property. For this reason, the control circuit 2 detects the current position, traveling direction, speed, travel distance, current time, etc. of the vehicle with high accuracy by using the detected values of the sensors 11 to 14 while interpolating. Yes. Depending on the accuracy, the position detector 3 may be constituted by only a part of the sensors 11 to 14 described above. Further, a steering rotation sensor, a wheel sensor of each rolling wheel, or the like may be used.

  The map data input device 4 is a map data recording medium that records various data such as road map data, landmark data, map matching data, destination data (facility database), and table data for converting traffic information into road data. It is comprised by the drive device for reading data from. As the map data recording medium, a large-capacity storage medium such as a DVD is generally used, but a medium such as a memory card or a hard disk device may be used.

  The road map data includes data such as road shape, road width, road name, signal, railroad crossing, building, various facilities, place name, terrain, etc., and for displaying the road map on the screen of the display device 7. Contains data. Destination data consists of information about transportation facilities such as stations, leisure facilities, accommodation facilities, public facilities, various stores such as retail stores, department stores, restaurants, residences, condominiums, and place names. The data includes data such as the telephone number, address, latitude and longitude, and data for displaying landmarks indicating facilities on the screen of the display device 7 on the road map. It is configured.

Although not shown in detail, the operation switch group 5 (corresponding to input means) is configured to include a mechanical switch provided near the screen of the display device 7 and a touch panel provided on the screen of the display device 7. . The user (driver) uses the operation switch group 5 to input a destination, information necessary for searching for the destination, a limit value L1 to be described later, a passing point, and the screen and display mode of the display device 7. Various commands for switching and the like are input. The user can also input commands and the like by operating the remote controller 10.
The external memory 6 is composed of a flash memory card or the like, for example, storing program software for complying with other standards, or specific data such as route data to the destination set by the control circuit 2 during route guidance, etc. Is to be memorized.

  On the screen of the display device 7, a map around the position of the vehicle is displayed at various scales, and a current location mark (pointer) indicating the current position and the traveling direction of the vehicle is displayed so as to be superimposed on the display. It has become. In addition, when performing route guidance to the destination, a route guidance screen is displayed. Further, the display device 7 displays an input screen for the user to input information necessary for searching for the destination, search for the destination and setting, various messages, and the like. It has become.

The microcomputer constituting the control circuit 2 includes a CPU, a memory 15 (RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory, etc.), I / O, and the like. When the CPU executes a program stored in the ROM (or flash memory), it functions as a destination search means, a route search means, and a route guidance means.
Here, the function as the route search means is to automatically calculate a recommended travel route from the starting point (current position) of the vehicle to the destination, and for example, the Dijkstra method is used. Specifically, a road map around the current location is displayed on the screen of the display device 7 so that the vehicle can move along the travel route, and a current location mark indicating the current position and traveling direction of the vehicle is superimposed on the road map. It is a function to display. In this case, the display of the current location moves on the map as the vehicle travels, and the map is scrolled according to the position of the vehicle. At this time, map matching is performed in which the current location of the vehicle is placed on the road.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing performed by the control circuit 2 only in the part related to the gist of the present invention. When the destination (arrival point) is set by the driver (step S1), the control circuit 2 searches for a route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination (step S2). When the vehicle starts to travel, the current position is acquired from the position detector 3 (step S3), and it is determined whether or not the determination point has been reached, that is, whether it is Am before the destination (for example, 50 m). (Step S4). If the determination point has not been reached ("NO"), route guidance is performed as usual (step S5), and the process returns to step S3.

In step S4, when the vehicle reaches the determination point (“YES”), the control circuit 2 displays the route status from the determination point to the destination in the subsequent steps S6 to S10, the map data given from the map data input device 4. To determine whether each condition is met. Based on the determination result, it is determined whether or not to continue route guidance to the destination.
First, in step S6, it is determined whether or not the number of intersections existing between the destination and the destination is equal to or greater than a specified number (for example, “5”). That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when the number of intersections is relatively large, it is preferable for the driver to keep his / her line of sight as forward as possible for safe driving. Therefore, in such a case (“YES”), if the route guidance to the destination (G) is continued (step S11) and appropriate guidance is given to the driver by voice, the driver There is no need to check the map with the line of sight toward the display device 7.

  In the next step S7, it is determined whether or not the number of right or left turn or branch points existing between the destination and the destination is equal to or greater than a specified number (for example, “5”). That is, as shown in FIG. 4, even when the vicinity of the destination is reached, it is generally necessary to make a right or left turn or to pass through a branch point several times. It is also assumed that the user is unsure and the user is at a loss as to which way to select. Therefore, in such a case ("YES"), the process proceeds to step S11 and the route guidance is continued.

In the next step S8, the specified number is the number of buildings or facilities that are adjacent to the guide route to the destination (e.g., "5") or whether, for example a polygon to display them on the map Judgment etc. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, when there are a large number of buildings and facilities along the route, it is assumed that the driver is at a loss as to which building corresponds to the destination. Therefore, in such a case ("YES"), the process proceeds to step S11 and the route guidance is continued.

  In the next step S9, it is determined whether or not the distance from the last right or left turn or branch point to the destination is within a predetermined distance Bm (for example, 20 m). Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the vehicle reaches the destination at a relatively short distance when it turns left at the last point. If there is no right or left turn or branch point between the determination point and the destination, it is determined that the answer is “NO” and the route guidance is terminated.

When it is determined "YES" in step S9, it followed in step S10, adjacent to the predetermined distance Cm (e.g. 15 m) within the path from the last right turn or decision point, whether building or facility exists to decide. Here it is judged as "YES", originally despite reaching the immediately destination when turning right or left or branched in the last point, buildings and facilities in the vicinity of the last point is located Is the case. In such a case, in addition to that outlook to the destination it is bad, its buildings and facilities is made whether or not a destination is confusing, is also envisioned that the destination is resulting in a flow-through difficult to understand immediately . Therefore, in such a case (“YES”), the process proceeds to step S11 and the route guidance is continued.

  If “NO” is determined in step S10, all of the conditions in steps S6 to S10 are not met, and it is considered that it is relatively easy to reach the destination from the determination point to the destination. be able to. Accordingly, the route guidance is ended in the same manner as in the conventional car navigation apparatus.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the control circuit 2 of the car navigation device 1 continues the route guidance based on the route situation to the destination when the vehicle reaches the determination point of the distance Am before the destination. I decided to decide whether or not. That is, referring to the above route situation, it is determined whether or not it is easy for the driver to reach the destination, and if it is determined that it is relatively difficult to reach the driver, if the route guidance is continued, the driver Appropriate guidance can be provided so that the destination can be reached with certainty.
Specifically, the route guidance is continued when the number of intersections existing to the destination is greater than or equal to the prescribed number, so the driver keeps his line of sight ahead without facing the screen of the display device 7. Can continue to run. In addition, route guidance is continued even when the number of right / left turn or branch points existing before the destination is more than the specified number, so appropriate guidance is provided so that the driver does not hesitate to choose the way to the end. Can be done.

In addition, between to the destination, so if the number of buildings and facilities adjacent to the guide path is equal to or greater than a specified number will continue to route guidance, wondering whether the driver of a how the building to correspond to the destination Appropriate guidance can be provided so as to avoid such a situation. In addition, the distance from the last right turn or branched point up to the destination is within Bm, and, there are buildings and facilities adjacent from the last right turn or branched point the guidance route within Cm In this case, since the route guidance is continued, appropriate guidance can be provided to the end so that the driver does not pass through the destination.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or shown in the drawings, and the following modifications are possible.
For example, a distance Bm in step S10, the Cm, may be variably set depending on the size of buildings and facilities. That is, it poor or ambiguity of outlook of buildings and facilities are present, so vary depending on the size of the buildings and facilities are assumed, according to buildings and facilities increases the distance If Bm and Cm are set to be long, it is possible to appropriately determine whether or not to continue route guidance. In order to determine the size of a building, for example, height data for displaying the number of floors of a destination building or the like may be used.
The judgment conditions in steps S6 to S10 may be appropriately selected according to individual designs.
In addition, not limited to those shown in steps S6 to S10, if the conditions are appropriate for determining the route status from the determination point to the destination from the viewpoint of whether or not the route guidance should be continued, an appropriate one is used. Select and judge.

In addition, each specified number and each distance Am, Bm, and Cm may be set by appropriately changing numerical values and distances that are considered appropriate within a range that satisfies the condition (A>B> C).
In order to ensure that the route guidance performed in step S11 reaches the destination, the route guidance may be switched to a dedicated “previous destination guidance mode” that provides guidance in more detail than usual.
The route status to the destination may be determined based on, for example, route information acquired from VICS.
The navigation device is not limited to a vehicle.

1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a car navigation device according to an embodiment when the present invention is applied to the car navigation device. The flowchart which shows only the part which concerns on the summary of this invention about the processing content performed by the control circuit of a car navigation apparatus The figure explaining the judgment conditions in step S6 of FIG. The figure explaining the judgment conditions in step S7 of FIG. The figure explaining the judgment conditions in step S8 of FIG. The figure explaining the judgment conditions in step S9, S10 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is a car navigation device, 2 is a control circuit, 3 is a position detector, and 4 is a map data input device.

Claims (4)

In a navigation device that searches the map data for a route from the current position to the set destination and provides guidance for the searched route.
When the distance to the destination is within a predetermined distance A, determine whether to continue route guidance based on the route status to the destination ,
A navigation device characterized in that route guidance is continued when the number of buildings or facilities adjacent to the guidance route is equal to or greater than a prescribed number before reaching the destination . The distance from the last right / left turn or branch point to the destination is within a predetermined distance B (<A), and the guide route is within a predetermined distance C (<B) from the last right / left turn or branch point. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the route guidance is continued when there is a building or facility adjacent to . In a navigation device that searches the map data for a route from the current position to the set destination and provides guidance for the searched route.
When the distance to the destination is within a predetermined distance A, determine whether to continue route guidance based on the route status to the destination,
The distance from the last right / left turn or branch point to the destination is within a predetermined distance B (<A), and the guide route is within a predetermined distance C (<B) from the last right / left turn or branch point. A navigation device characterized in that route guidance is continued when there is a building or a facility adjacent to the vehicle. 4. The navigation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined distances B and C are set according to the size of the building or facility .

Images