JPH02132322A - Display method for navigation system for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a fast automobile navigation system by providing a means which reads and stores reference map information including the current position of the automobile and map information of the same scale on all adjacent azimuths, and a means which changes display areas according to both the pieces of information. CONSTITUTION:The index of a map indicating the current position of the automobile is inputted with keys of an operation part 2. A processor 4 stores corresponding reference map information A5 from a CD-ROM in a display correspondence memory 6 and a processor 9 displays an image plane 10 based upon the information A5. The processor 4 calculates a position according to information regarding the absolute azimuth, traveling distance, and forward/backward steering from a sensor 3 and displays a cursor 11. Then the information of the same scale with the information A5 which regards all adjacent azimuths is read out of a ROM and stored in the memory 6, and when the automobile moves to A6, the A6 is regarded as new reference map information. At the same time, the image plane 10 is updated instantaneously, and peripheral information on the map being displayed is set up in the memory 6 at all times. Consequently, small storage capacity is read out efficiently and necessary information is displayed fast with rigidly selected information.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Fields The present invention relates to a display method for an automobile navigation system that displays the current position of one's own vehicle on a screen. This invention relates to a display method for an automobile navigation system that can speed up navigation.

<Prior art> Map data storage means storing map data, for example C
There is an automobile navigation system that uses D-ROM. Such an automobile navigation system stores a large amount of map data in a CD-ROM, and is also equipped with a display device, a position measuring device, etc. that measures the current position of the vehicle, and stores map data according to the vehicle position on the CD-ROM.
The location cursor is read out from the D7-ROM and drawn on the display screen, and a location cursor indicating the current position of the vehicle is drawn on the map, and the cursor is moved on the map in accordance with the movement of the vehicle.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> By the way, conventional automobile navigation systems store map data displayed on a display screen on a CD-ROM.
Although it was read from ROM, the capacity of the internal memory to store the read map data requires space and costs 1-
There were restrictions in this respect.

For this reason, it is not possible to read all of the map data on the CD-ROM at once, and map data for display is read as necessary. Therefore, when switching maps as the vehicle moves or manually enlarging/reducing the map when searching for a map, you must wait until the CD-ROM access is completed, and there is a time lag before the map is actually displayed. There was a problem that prompt display was not possible.

From the above, it is an object of the present invention to create a CD-1; It is an object of the present invention to provide a display method for an automobile navigation system that can efficiently read map data from OM and increase the display speed by using these carefully selected map data.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In the present invention, the above problem is solved by providing reference map data including the current position of the own vehicle, and adjacent maps in all directions that have the same scale as this reference map data and are adjacent to the reference map data. This is achieved by means for reading map data from a map data storage means and storing it, and means for changing a display area on a screen display of the vehicle's position based on the stored reference map data and adjacent map data.

In addition to the above-mentioned means, the present invention provides enlargement and reduction map data that includes the current position of the own vehicle and has a different scale from the reference map data, and the current position side of the own vehicle indicated by this reduction map data. 3 adjacent map data for reduction adjacent to the map data for reduction, and 3 adjacent map data for enlargement adjacent to the map data for enlargement on the current position side of the own vehicle indicated by the map data for enlargement. means for reading and storing map data from the map data storage means; and means for enlarging or reducing the range of the display area based on the map data for enlarging and reducing and the adjacent map data for enlarging and reducing. ing.

<Function> Reference map data including the current position of the own vehicle read from a map data storage means such as a CD-ROM, and adjacent maps in all directions that are on the same scale as this reference map data and are adjacent to the reference map data. map data is stored in internal memory, and when displaying the own vehicle position on the screen, the display area on the screen is changed based on the reference map data and adjacent map data stored in the internal memory, and the display area is changed according to the own vehicle position. to update the contents of internal memory.

The internal memory also includes enlargement and reduction map data that includes the current position of the own vehicle read out from the map data storage means and has a different scale from the reference map data, and the own vehicle indicated by this reduction map data. On the current position side of the vehicle, which is indicated by the three adjacent map data for reduction adjacent to the map data for reduction, and on the side of the current position of the own vehicle indicated by the map data for enlargement, adjacent to the map data for enlargement. Three adjacent map data for enlargement and reduction are stored, and when the display area is enlarged or reduced, the range of the display area is changed based on the map data for enlargement and reduction and the adjacent map data for enlargement and reduction.

Embodiment> Figure 1 shows an automobile navigation system that can realize the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of the system.

In the figure, 1 is a CD-RO that serves as a map data storage means.
M, 2 is an operation unit equipped with various keys for accessing the CD-ROM, map search, etc., 3 is a sensor for position detection, sensor 3 includes a geomagnetic sensor that detects the absolute direction, and a vehicle speed that detects the distance traveled. There are sensors, transmission sensors that detect forward and backward movement, and steering sensors that detect direction. A processing device 4 performs CD-ROM access processing, position calculation processing for calculating M1 of the vehicle position from data from the sensor 3, memory control, display control, etc. based on commands from the operation unit 2. Reference numeral 5 denotes a memory for storing map data read from the CD-ROMI, including a display compatible memory 6 and an enlargement/reduction compatible memory 7.
, management information memory 8, etc. 9 is a display processor. Reference numeral 10 denotes a display screen composed of a liquid crystal, a cathode ray tube, and the like.

The map data stored in the display compatible memory 6 will be explained below with reference to FIG.

When a map index indicating the current position of your vehicle is input by key operation on the operation unit 2, the processing device 4 inputs the C.
Reads the reference map data A5 corresponding to the index from the D-ROMI and stores it in the display compatible memory 6 (
(See Figure 2(a)). This reference map data A5 is input to the display processor 9 via the processing device 4, and the display processor 9 displays a map on the display screen based on the reference map data A5, and also displays the map on the display screen based on the position calculation processing data. A cursor 11 indicating the vehicle position is displayed. Then, as the car moves, the cursor position is moved to display the own car position on the screen.

Subsequently, the processing device 4 displays the currently displayed reference map data A,
C
- Read from the ROM1 and store it in the display compatible memory 6 (see FIG. 2(a)).

Thereafter, when the own vehicle position moves from, for example, the reference map data A5 to the adjacent map data A6 (see 2nd?(b)), the processing device 4 registers the adjacent map data A6 as new reference map data, and , adjacent map data A■ of data A6 which became the reference map data. ~A,2 on CD-
It is read from the ROMI and stored (see FIG. 2(c)). These map data are A2 → A H H
. . . TAG→A, . . . , A12→A, and so on (see FIG. 2(d)). and,
The above memory control is performed every time the vehicle position moves from the reference map area to another area. Note that when the own vehicle position moves from within the reference map data Ag to within the adjacent map data A6, the display screen 10 changes to the adjacent map data A6.
The adjacent map data A■ is instantly revised based on the above. ~
The access to A1■ is performed while the map based on the adjacent map data A6 is being displayed. In this way, the display compatible memory 6 is always prepared with peripheral data of the currently displayed map.

Next, the map data stored in the enlargement/reduction compatible memory 7 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

First, do you want to reduce the currently displayed area using Figure 3? both,
The reduced map data required to display a wide area including the area will be explained. In Figure 3(a), B1
is reduction map data for displaying a wide area including the area displayed by the reference map data A5, and is for example to display an area four times larger in area than the reference map data A5. The display area of this reduced map data B is divided into four square-shaped areas, and is the area where your vehicle is currently located. That is, it includes the area displayed by the reference map data A (shaded area in the figure). In addition, B2, B■, and B4 are located on the side of the area where the weight is located (hatched area in the figure) when the area indicated by the reduced map data B1 is divided into four parts in a square shape, and the reduced map data B, This is three adjacent map data for reduction adjacent to . Note that the above also applies to FIGS. 3(b) to 3(d). In other words, the map data for reduction B1
According to the position of the own vehicle within the area, three map data B2 adjacent to the area where the own vehicle is located as shown in Fig. 3 (.) to (d).
, B3, and B4 are adjacent map data for reduction, and B1 to B
4 is expansion/reduction compatible memory 7? be remembered.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, enlarged map data necessary for enlarging the currently displayed area and displaying the area in detail will be explained. In FIG. 4(a), Ce is the reference map data A
Enlargement map data for enlarging a part of the area displayed by s, for example, standard map data A5 of 1 in terms of area.
It displays 74 regions. C,,Cj,C,
is located on the area side where the own vehicle is located when the area indicated by the enlarged map data C is divided into four in a square shape (dotted lines in the figure), and is adjacent to the enlarged map data C1. This is map data. The same applies to FIGS. 4(b) to 4(d). In other words, the enlargement map data C0
According to the position of the own vehicle within the area, three map data C2 adjacent to the area where the own vehicle is located as shown in Fig. 4(a) to (d) are displayed.
, C3, and C4 are adjacent map data for enlargement, and C■ to C
4 is stored in the enlargement/reduction compatible memory 7.

When instructed by the operation unit 2 to enlarge or reduce the display area by one step, the display processor 9
The map data shown in FIGS. 4 and 4 is read out from the enlargement/reduction compatible memory 7, and the range of the display area is immediately changed based on the map data and displayed on the display screen 10.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the management information memory 8. As shown in FIG. An automobile navigation system is capable of displaying maps of different scales, for example from level 9 to level 0. For example, if the level of the reference map data A is set to "5", the display area can be reduced to a wider range as the level goes from "5" to "9", such as 4 times, 16 times, 64 times, etc. As the level goes from "5" to "0", the display area becomes 174 times, 1/16 times, 1/64 times, etc., allowing for enlarged display. However, map data of all levels regarding the reference map of interest is not necessarily stored on the CD-ROMI. Therefore, while accessing the reference map data A5, it is checked in advance whether map data exists for all levels of the reference map, and the existence or non-existence of the map data is stored in the management information memory 8.

Once a month With this configuration, it is possible to immediately display whether or not there is an enlarged or reduced map to be targeted when performing a map search for the 5 standard maps.For example, if there is no target map, the This eliminates the disadvantages of operators having to wait for access to complete, only to be informed that ``no corresponding map exists'' and attempt to access the map again.

In addition, the management information is adjacent map data A1 to A4, A6 to A
, may also be stored.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the process of the present invention.

First, by operating the keys on the operation unit 2, you instruct to display the map of the predetermined level where your vehicle is currently located (
Step 101)'. The processing device 4 accesses the map data of the requested level (referred to as reference map data A5) (step 102), and stores the reference map data AS in the display compatible memory 6 (step 103). Calculate own vehicle position based on data from sensor 3 (step 1o4)
.

The display processor 9 selects the reference map theme? A5
The vehicle position is displayed on the display screen 10 based on the position calculation processing data (step 105).

In parallel with this display processing, the processing device 4 displays enlarged/reduced map data of each level corresponding to the standard map data AS.
D-ROM] is determined by referring to the management information of the CD-ROM1, and the determination result is stored in the management information memory 8 (step 106). is map data A of the same scale area adjacent to the display area of reference map data A5.
■ ~A4, A, ~Ag (see Figure 2), are stored in the display compatible memory 6, and the stored contents of the management information memory 8 are referred to to check whether there is a reduced/enlarged map one level higher; If it exists, the map data for reduction B■, the adjacent map data for reduction B2, B3, I34, the map data for enlargement C1, the adjacent map data for enlargement C2 . , C, ,
C4 is stored in each enlargement/reduction compatible memory 7 (
Step 107).

Thereafter, the processing device 4 determines whether the displayed map needs to be changed due to the movement of the vehicle or due to a request for enlarged/reduced display (step 108), and if the displayed map does not need to be changed, the process returns to step 104. , move the cursor on the display screen based on the detected position.

However, if it is necessary to change the displayed map, it is necessary to determine whether an enlarged or reduced map should be displayed (step 1).
09), if it is rNOJ, the adjacent map data of the area into which the vehicle has entered is regarded as the reference map data A5 (step 1
10). Thereafter, steps 105 to 107 are performed to update the contents of the display compatible memory 6, the enlargement/reduction compatible memory 7, and the management information memory 8.

On the other hand, if rYESJ is determined in step j-09, that is, if it is necessary to display an enlarged/reduced map, the processing device 4 refers to the management information memory 8 and determines whether the requested map data exists ( Step 111), . If there is map data, it is determined whether it has already been read out and stored in the enlargement/reduction compatible memory 7 (step 112), and if it has been stored, the map data is immediately used and stored again. If not, after accessing the CD-ROMI and reading out predetermined map data (step 113), the corresponding enlarged/reduced map data is set as reference map data A (step 114). Step 104
Repeat the following process.

Also, if it is determined in step 111 that there is no management information, "
After displaying "No applicable map" on the screen (step 115),
Return to step 104.

In the above embodiment, a CD-ROM is used as the map data storage means.
Although a ROM is shown as an example, the present invention can also be implemented in an automobile navigation system using, for example, a floppy disk, cassette, etc. as a map data storage means.

Furthermore, in the embodiments, a configuration in which the display screen is fixed and the cursor is moved has been described, but it is also possible to use a scrolling system in which the cursor is fixed at the center of the screen and the display area is varied.

<Effects of the Invention> According to the present invention, reference map data including the current position of the own vehicle and adjacent map data in all directions that have the same scale as this reference map data and are adjacent to the reference map data are mapped. The data is read out from the data storage means and stored, and when displaying the vehicle's position on the screen, the display area on the screen is changed based on the stored reference map data and adjacent map data. CD-R
The map data of OM is efficiently read out, and the display speed can be increased even if the amount of map data is small by using these carefully selected map data.

Also, enlargement and reduction map data that includes the current position of the own vehicle and has a different scale from the reference map data, and the current position side of the own vehicle indicated by this reduction map data, and the reduction map data A map data storage means stores three pieces of adjacent map data for reduction adjacent to the map data and three pieces of adjacent map data for enlargement adjacent to the map data for enlargement on the current position side of the host vehicle indicated by the map cheetah for enlargement. When the display area is enlarged or reduced, the range of the display area is changed based on the enlargement/reduction map data and the adjacent map data for enlargement/reduction. Enlargement/reduction switching can be performed instantly.

Furthermore, by storing management information indicating the presence or absence of map data used when enlarging or reducing the area indicated by the reference map data, it is possible to avoid unnecessary waiting until access is completed when changing the scale of the displayed map. do not have.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 shows an automobile navigation system that can realize the present invention.
A block diagram of the system. Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of map data stored in the display compatible memory. Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of map data that reduces the display area to display a wide area map. Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of the map data that displays the display area. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the management information memory, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the processing of the present invention. 1...CD-ROM, 2...Operation unit, 3...Sensor, 4...Processing device, 6...Display compatible memory 6, 7...Enlargement/reduction compatible memory 7, 8...Management information memory 8, 9. Display processor, 10. Display screen. Patent Applicant Alpine Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Chiki Saito Figure 2 Figure 4 (a) (b) Figure 3 (a) (C) Figure 5

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a display method for an automobile navigation system, the present invention reads out desired map data from map data stored in a map data storage means and displays the current position of the vehicle on the screen based on the map data. , reads out and stores reference map data including the current position of the own vehicle and adjacent map data in all directions having the same scale as the reference map data and adjacent to the reference map data from the map data storage means; When displaying the car position on the screen,
A method for displaying a navigation system for an automobile, comprising changing a display area on a screen based on stored reference map data and adjacent map data. (2) enlargement and reduction map data that includes the current position of the own vehicle and has a different scale from the reference map data; and the current position side of the own vehicle indicated by this reduction map data, and three adjacent map data for reduction adjacent to the map data for expansion, and three adjacent map data for expansion adjacent to the current position of the own vehicle indicated by the map data for expansion, and adjacent to the map data for expansion. The map data is read from and stored in the map data storage means, and when the display area is enlarged or reduced, the range of the display area is changed based on the enlargement/reduction map data and the enlargement/reduction adjacent map data. The automobile navigation system according to claim 1
How the system is displayed. (3) Management information indicating the presence or absence of map data used when enlarging or reducing the area indicated by the reference map data is stored.
2. A method for displaying a navigation system for an automobile according to items 1 and 2.