JPH11166827A - Portable altimeter and power supply control method of gps receiving device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To precisely determine the altitude (elevation value) corresponding to the position of a portable altimeter carried by a user and attain the effective use of power and power saving by storing the map information of an inputted desired block, and specifying the elevation value of the position corresponding to the longitude and latitude measured by a GPS receiving device. SOLUTION: A wrist watch with altimeter 100 inputs the numerical map data received by a numerical map data input device 105 through an interface 200, and stores the inputted numerical map data in a numerical map data memory part 201 consisting of a rewritable memory device. A GPS receiving device 202 receives the radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites 209, and measures the longitude, latitude and height of the present position. An elevation value converting part 203 determines the elevation value corresponding to the longitude and latitude of the present position measured by the GPS receiving device 202 from the numerical map data. A display control part 204 displays the elevation value determined by the elevation value converting part 203 on an altitude display part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a GPS (Global P
ositioning System: Global Positioning System (G) that receives radio waves transmitted from satellites and measures longitude, latitude, and height
More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable altimeter having a PS receiving device and a power supply control method for a GPS receiving device. The present invention relates to a portable altimeter capable of efficiently controlling power supply to a GPS receiver mounted on an altimeter and reducing power consumption, and a power supply control method for a GPS receiver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art GPS (Global Positioning System):
Global Positioning System) is about 20,200K on earth
m, among the 24 GPS satellites that orbit in six orbits with a tilt angle of 55 degrees in about 12 hours, 3 to 3 are the most easily received.
The navigation data necessary for positioning is received from four or more satellites by a receiver on the earth, and the propagation delay time is measured to perform positioning calculation such as the position, moving direction, and moving speed of the user. .

Here, the transmission frequencies of the GPS satellites include a frequency L1 (1.57542 GHz) and a frequency L2 (1.2
2760 GHz), but the C / A code whose code is open to the public for free is 1.57542 GHz.
Since the signal is transmitted at (frequency L1), frequency L1 is used for general positioning. The frequency L1 is PSK (phase shift keying) modulated by a pseudo noise code (a composite wave of a C / A code for identifying a satellite and navigation data such as the orbit of the satellite and the orbit information and time information of the satellite), and spreads the spectrum. And sent.

FIG. 22 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional GPS receiver for receiving a radio wave (frequency L1) transmitted from a GPS satellite. In FIG. 22, reference numeral 2200 denotes a receiving antenna for receiving a radio wave from a GPS satellite, 2201. Is an L-band amplifier circuit for amplifying the received L-band signal, 2202 is a local oscillation circuit for generating a signal for converting the received signal to a signal of a desired frequency, 2203 is a received signal and a local oscillation circuit 2202 A down-converter circuit for multiplying the generated signal to perform signal conversion, 2204 is a voltage comparison circuit for digitally converting a signal from the down-converter circuit 2203, 2205 is a C / A code generation circuit for generating a C / A code, and 2206 is The C / A code generation circuit 2205 generates a C / A code
A message decoding circuit for multiplying the A code to obtain navigation data and carrier phase information corresponding to a pseudo distance, 2207 is a positioning arithmetic circuit for calculating positioning data using the navigation data and the carrier phase information input from the message decoding circuit 2206. Each is shown.

[0005] The receiving operation of the GPS receiver configured as described above will be described. L-band amplifier circuit 2201 selectively amplifies a 1.57542 GHz signal received by reception antenna 2200. And down converter circuit 2
A first IF 203 receives a signal amplified by the L-band amplification circuit 2201 and uses the signal generated by the local oscillation circuit 2202 to convert the input signal to a first IF of several tens MHz to 200 MHz.
(Intermediate frequency) Converted to a signal, and 2MHz to 5MHz
To a second IF signal. Voltage comparison circuit 220
Reference numeral 4 inputs the second IF signal from the down-converter circuit 2203 and performs digital conversion with a clock several times as high as the IF signal. This output is spread spectrum data (digital signal).

The message decoding circuit 2206 despreads the digital signal output from the voltage comparison circuit 2204 with a C / A code (a pseudo noise code identical to that of a GPS satellite) generated by a C / A code generation circuit 2205, and outputs the navigation data. And obtain carrier phase information corresponding to the pseudo distance.

This operation is performed for a plurality of GPS satellites. Usually, positioning data is obtained by a positioning arithmetic circuit 2207 from navigation data and carrier phase information of four satellites. The positioning data obtained by the positioning calculation circuit 2207 is output to a CPU (not shown) that controls the operation of the entire device, or is output as a digital signal to the outside.

Recently, such a GPS receiver has been
It is used as a car navigation system by combining GPS location information and CD-ROM map information.

A GPS receiver can also be used as an altimeter. As a conventional technique for obtaining an altitude value of a vehicle using GPS positioning data, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
No. 52930, "GPS reception method" is available. The GPS receiving method disclosed in this publication prepares data in which the relationship between the latitude / longitude of each region and its altitude (elevation value) is prepared, and further changes the altitude from the longitude / latitude change measured by GPS. Is calculated, the positioning error of the two-dimensional positioning is estimated from the calculation result, the user is notified, and the error of the positioning position due to a change in altitude is corrected.

As another method of obtaining altitude, there is a method of applying a pressure sensor to obtain a change in altitude from a change in atmospheric pressure. For example, an altimeter for aviation is known. In such an altimeter, an altitude value is input at a point where the altitude value is certain before use, and the altitude is indicated based on the altitude value at this point and the air pressure.

[0011]

However, according to the above-mentioned prior art, when the GPS receiver is used as an altimeter, if the altimeter is mounted on a vehicle, nationwide or wide-area map information and various service information are preliminarily obtained. The altimeter is equipped with a storage medium or the like in which the altitude is stored, and the map information including the altitude of the corresponding portion is appropriately obtained, so that the altitude (altitude value) can be accurately determined
However, in the case of a portable altimeter such as a wristwatch, the storage capacity of the installed storage medium is limited due to the space of the device. Since information cannot be taken in advance, there is a problem that an altitude (elevation value) corresponding to a position carried by the user cannot be obtained with high accuracy.

In addition, when power is supplied from a large-capacity vehicle battery as compared with the power consumption of an altimeter (in other words, a GPS receiver) like an altimeter mounted on a vehicle, the power consumption is reduced. Although the altimeter can be operated without any inconvenience and is not inconvenient, in the case of a small portable altimeter such as a wristwatch, the power source is also small, so how to effectively use power and The problem was how to save power.

On the other hand, in the case of an altimeter to which a pressure sensor is applied, for example, when there is a sudden weather change in a mountain area,
Since an error is caused by the change in air pressure, there is a problem that an accurate altitude cannot be obtained when the camera is used in a portable manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is an object of the present invention to accurately obtain an altitude (elevation value) corresponding to a position carried by a user in a small portable altimeter such as a wristwatch type. This is the first purpose.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a portable altimeter such as a wristwatch type with a power supply at necessary measurement timings, thereby achieving effective use of power and saving power.

[0016]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable altimeter having a GPS.
Blocks generated by subdividing map information having longitude, latitude, and elevation values in advance in a portable altimeter having a GPS receiver that receives radio waves transmitted from satellites and measures longitude, latitude, and height , Map information input means for inputting map information of a desired block, map information storage means for storing map information of the block input via the map information input means, and the map information storage means And an elevation value specifying means for specifying an elevation value at a position corresponding to the longitude and latitude measured by the GPS receiving device, based on the map information stored in the GPS receiving apparatus, and an elevation value specified by the elevation value specifying means. Display means.

That is, the GPS receiver measures the longitude / latitude, and further refers to the longitude / latitude and altitude values in block units stored in the map information storage means, and refers to the altitude corresponding to the longitude / latitude specified by the positioning data. By obtaining the value and displaying the altitude value, highly accurate altitude information can be obtained with a small device such as a wristwatch.

In the portable altimeter according to the second aspect, the radio wave transmitted from the GPS satellite is received and the longitude and the altitude are measured.
In a portable altimeter having a GPS receiver for measuring latitude and height, a block group generated by previously subdividing map information having longitude, latitude and geoid data from
Map information input means for inputting map information of a desired block, map information storage means for storing map information of the block inputted via the map information input means, and map information stored in the map information storage means. With reference to the geoid data, and from the height measured by the GPS receiver,
Elevation value identification means for identifying the elevation value by subtracting the geoid data of the position corresponding to the corresponding longitude and latitude, and display means for displaying the elevation value identified by the elevation value identification means,
It is provided with.

That is, the GPS receiver measures the longitude / latitude, and further refers to the longitude / latitude and geoid data in block units stored in the map information storage means, and refers to the elevation relative to the longitude / latitude specified by the positioning data. By obtaining a value and displaying the value, highly accurate altitude information considering the geoid (average sea level) is obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the portable altimeter according to the first or second aspect, further comprising the step of outputting the height measured by the GPS receiver or the altitude. Selection means for selecting whether to output the elevation value specified by the value specification means, and elevation value output means for outputting the height or elevation value selected by the selection means to the display means. .

That is, an altitude value switching input means instructs to switch any one of the height measured by the GPS receiver and the longitude / latitude and the altitude of the position specified by the positioning of the GPS receiver. By selecting the altitude value switched by the altitude value output switching input means and outputting it to the display means, the user can select the height data desired to be confirmed.

In a portable altimeter according to a fourth aspect, in the portable altimeter according to the first aspect, the map information input means may include an adjacent block among the map information subdivided into blocks. If the elevation values are the same,
The corresponding plurality of adjacent blocks are input as one block.

That is, when map information is input in units of subdivided blocks, if the elevation value of the block is the same as the elevation value of an adjacent block, the block is compressed into one, thereby limiting the number of blocks. Make effective use of the memory area.

In a portable altimeter according to a fifth aspect, in the portable altimeter according to the first or fourth aspect, the elevation value is an elevation value at a center position of the subdivided block. The altitude value identifying means identifies the altitude value of a position corresponding to the longitude and latitude measured by the GPS receiver by performing a proportional operation using the altitude value.

That is, when an altitude value is given as an altitude value at the center position of a subdivided block, a proportional operation is performed using the altitude value to obtain the longitude / latitude measured by the GPS receiver. Specify the altitude value at the corresponding position.

[0026] In the portable altimeter according to claim 6, in the portable altimeter according to claim 5, the altitude value specifying means includes a longitude and a position measured by the GPS receiver.
Along with specifying the block to which the position corresponding to the latitude belongs, determine whether the position corresponding to the measured longitude and latitude corresponds to the center position of the specified block,
When determined to correspond to the center position, the elevation value of the center position of the specified block is specified as the elevation value of the position corresponding to the measured longitude / latitude, and when it is determined that the block does not correspond to the center position, The altitude value at a position corresponding to the measured longitude and latitude is specified by performing the proportional calculation.

That is, the block to which the position corresponding to the longitude and latitude measured by the GPS receiver belongs is specified, and it is determined whether or not the position corresponding to the measured longitude and latitude corresponds to the center position of the specified block. If it is determined that the position corresponds to the center position, the elevation value of the center position of the specified block is specified as the elevation value of the position corresponding to the measured longitude and latitude, and if it is determined that the position does not correspond to the center position, the proportional value is determined. The altitude value of the position corresponding to the measured longitude and latitude is specified by performing the calculation.

In a portable altimeter according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the portable altimeter according to the second aspect, the map information input means includes an adjoining block of the map information subdivided into blocks. When the geoid data has the same value, the corresponding plural adjacent blocks are input as one block.

That is, when map information is input in units of subdivided blocks, if the geoid data of the block is the same as the geoid data of an adjacent block, the block is limited to one by compressing the block. Make effective use of the memory area.

According to a portable altimeter according to claim 8, in the portable altimeter according to claim 2 or 7, the geoid data is geoid data at a center position of a subdivided block. The altitude value specifying means performs a proportional operation using the geoid data to specify geoid data at a position corresponding to the longitude and latitude measured by the GPS receiving device, and the height measured by the GPS receiving device. Then, the elevation value is specified by subtracting the specified geoid data.

That is, when the geoid data is given as the geoid data of the center position of the subdivided block, a proportional calculation is performed using the geoid data to obtain the longitude / latitude measured by the GPS receiver. The geoid data at the corresponding position is specified, and the altitude value is specified by subtracting the specified geoid data from the height measured by the GPS receiver.

In a portable altimeter according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the portable altimeter according to the eighth aspect, the altitude value specifying means may include a longitude and a position measured by the GPS receiver.
Along with specifying the block to which the position corresponding to the latitude belongs, it is determined whether the position corresponding to the longitude / latitude corresponds to the center position of the specified block, and when it is determined that the position corresponds to the center position, Using the geoid data of the block to identify an elevation value at a position corresponding to the longitude and latitude, and when it is determined that the position does not correspond to the center position, performing the proportional calculation to calculate the longitude and
Geoid data at a position corresponding to latitude is obtained, and an altitude value is specified using the obtained geoid data.

That is, the block to which the position corresponding to the longitude and latitude measured by the GPS receiver belongs is specified, and whether or not the position corresponding to the longitude and latitude corresponds to the center position of the specified block is determined. When it is determined that the position corresponds to the center position, the elevation value of the position corresponding to the longitude and latitude is specified using the geoid data of the block, and when it is determined that the position does not correspond to the center position, the longitude is calculated by performing a proportional calculation. -Obtain geoid data at a position corresponding to latitude, and specify an altitude value using the obtained geoid data.

Further, according to a power supply control method for a GPS receiver according to a tenth aspect, a GPS which receives a radio wave transmitted from a GPS satellite and measures longitude, latitude, and height is provided.
In the power supply control method for a GPS receiver in a portable altimeter having a receiver, the positioning by the GPS receiver is forcibly started at an arbitrary timing or automatically started at a preset time interval. 1st to choose
And a second step of inputting the start of positioning by the GPS receiver, and forcibly starting at the arbitrary timing in the first step is selected, and
When the start of positioning is input in the second step, a third step of turning on the power of the GPS receiver and starting positioning is performed, and the automatic operation is performed at the preset time interval in the first step. Power on the GPS receiver according to the time interval if the start is selected
A fourth step of starting positioning by positioning, and when the positioning by the GPS receiving apparatus is completed, the power of the GPS receiving apparatus is turned off.
And a fifth step of performing FF.

That is, according to the use situation,
A power save mode for selecting whether to power off the GPS receiver after forcibly performing positioning once, or to power off the GPS receiver after continuous positioning at arbitrarily set time intervals. Is provided to suppress power consumption.

[0036]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a portable altimeter and a power supply control method for a GPS receiver according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment, an altimeter wristwatch will be described as an example of a portable altimeter of the present invention.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows a wristwatch with an altimeter which is a portable altimeter of the embodiment 1 and numerical map data necessary for displaying an altitude value (altitude) of a current position on the wristwatch with an altimeter. It is an explanatory view showing a computer for inputting. In FIG. 1, a wristwatch 100 with an altimeter has a display unit 103 such as an LCD having a time display unit 101 for displaying time and an altitude display unit 102 for displaying an altitude value (altitude) of a current position (display means of the present invention). Corresponds to)
And operation buttons 104a to 104d for performing a time setting operation, an operation mode setting operation, and the like.

The wristwatch 100 with an altimeter has a GPS receiver that receives radio waves transmitted from GPS satellites and measures the longitude, latitude, and height. Based on the longitude and latitude measured by the GPS receiver, It has a function of specifying the elevation value of the corresponding longitude / latitude from numerical map data consisting of longitude / latitude / elevation values of a plurality of points stored in advance and displaying the specified elevation value on the altitude display unit 102. I have. Numerical map data including longitude, latitude, and altitude for specifying the altitude is prepared in the computer 110. Therefore, the wristwatch with altimeter 100 is a digital map data input device 10 for receiving digital map data from the computer 110.
5 (corresponding to the map information input means of the present invention), and has a built-in rewritable storage device for storing the digital map data received by the digital map data input device 105. I have.

On the other hand, the computer 110 can edit the digital map data used in the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter.
Numerical map data of a data amount that can be stored in the storage device of the altimeter wristwatch 100 is configured to be transmitted to the numerical map data input device 105.

FIG. 2 shows an altimeter wristwatch 10 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a block 0. The wristwatch 100 with altimeter
The digital map data received by the digital map data input device 105 is input via the interface 200 (corresponding to the map information input means of the present invention: hereinafter referred to as "I / F 200"), and the input digital map data is stored. Numerical map data storage unit 201 (corresponding to the map information storage unit of the present invention) including a rewritable storage device (for example, RAM, EEPROM, etc.) that receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites 209 A GPS receiver 202 (see FIG. 22 for a schematic configuration) that measures the longitude / latitude of the position and, if necessary, a height;
The altitude value conversion unit 203 (corresponding to the altitude value specifying means of the present invention) for obtaining the altitude value corresponding to the longitude and latitude of the current position measured in Step 2 from the digital map data, and the altitude display unit 102 shown in FIG. A display control unit 204 (corresponding to a display unit of the present invention) for controlling a process of displaying the altitude value obtained by the altitude value conversion unit 203.

The wristwatch with altimeter 100 turns on the power of the GPS receiver 202 only when the user operates a button as the positioning process by the GPS receiver 202.
The GPS receiver 202 is periodically turned on at a time interval set by the user, and the longitude / latitude of the current position is determined. A positioning mode selection button 205 for selecting one of the forced positioning mode and the timer positioning mode, and a positioning mode selection button 205 for selecting one of the forced positioning mode and the timer positioning mode. GPS based on the determined positioning mode
A positioning control unit 206 for controlling ON / OFF of a power supply of the receiving apparatus 202; and a timer 207 for counting a time set by a user when a timer positioning mode is selected.
And a positioning start / end button 208 for designating the start or end of positioning.

The positioning mode selection button 205 and the positioning start / end buttons 208 are operated by the operation buttons 104a to 104d of the altimeter wristwatch 100 shown in FIG.
Corresponds to any one of

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the computer 110 shown in FIG. Computer 110
The CPU 300 controls the entire apparatus, a ROM 301 storing a boot program and the like, a RAM 302 storing numerical map data being edited and used as a work area of the CPU 300, and a wristwatch 100 with an altimeter.
A hard disk 3 storing map processing software 304 for performing a process of editing digital map data to be transmitted to the altimeter, a process of transmitting edited digital map data to the altimeter wristwatch 100, and the like.
And an input device 305 for operating the map processing software 304, a display 306 for displaying numerical map data and the like being edited by the map processing software 304, and a CD-ROM. When digital map data is supplied from the ROM, a CD-ROM drive 307 for reading the digital map data from the CD-ROM, a bus 308 for connecting the above-described units,
An I / F 309 for connecting the digital map data output device 111 for transmitting the edited digital map data to the altimeter wristwatch 100 to the bus 308;

The digital map data will be described in detail later. However, the medium for supplying the digital map data is not limited to a CD-ROM, but may be an FD or a DV.
Computer 1 such as D, PD (photo disk), MO, etc.
Any device can be used as long as it can be read at step 10.

Next, the configuration of the numerical map data output device 111 and the numerical map data input device 105 for transferring numerical map data from the computer 110 to the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter will be described.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of transferring numerical map data from the computer 110 to the altimeter wristwatch 100 by optical communication. Although detailed explanation is omitted,
The digital map data output device 111 connected to the computer 110 has an LED 400, a resistor 401 and a transistor 402, and the digital map data input device 105 connected to the altimeter wristwatch 100 has a photodiode 4
10, a resistor 411, a transistor 412, and an amplifier circuit 413.

In the digital map data output device 111, a digital signal, which is digital map data input from the computer 110, is input to the base of the transistor 402, so that a current is supplied to the LED 400 in response to an intermittent signal of 1 or 0 of the digital signal. As a result, the LED 400 emits light at a certain wavelength. In the digital map data input device 105, a photodiode 410
Receive the light from the LED 400, a current flows in synchronization with the intermittent signal on the light emitting side, and this current is
By converting into a voltage signal in step 1, a digital signal transmitted from the digital map data output device 111 can be obtained. Then, the digital signal is converted to an amplifier circuit 41.
3 and is stored in the digital map data storage unit 201 as digital map data.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of transferring digital map data from the computer 110 to the altimeter wristwatch 100 by radio communication. Although a detailed description is omitted, the digital map data output device 111 connected to the computer 110 has a modulator 500, a transmitter 501, and an antenna 502, and is connected to the altimeter wristwatch 100. Is the antenna 510,
It has a receiving unit 511 and a demodulation unit 512.

In the digital map data output device 111,
The I / F 309 performs processing such as level conversion on the digital map data input from the computer 110, and
Numeral 00 inputs numerical map data from the I / F 309, modulates the input numerical map data using a carrier of a predetermined frequency, and generates transmission data.
The transmission data generated in step 0 is amplified, and the amplified transmission data is transmitted from the transmission antenna 502. In the digital map data input unit 102, the receiving unit 511 receives and amplifies the transmission data transmitted from the digital map data output unit 111 via the antenna 510, and the demodulation unit 512 uses the receiving unit 511.
The I / F 200 performs processing such as level conversion of the digital map data discriminated by the demodulation unit 512 from the transmission data received in step S1 and stores it in the numerical map data storage unit 201.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a method of transferring numerical map data from the computer 110 to the altimeter wristwatch 100 by electromagnetic coupling. Although a detailed description is omitted, the digital map data output device 111 connected to the computer 110 has a transmission coil 600 and is connected to the altimeter wristwatch 100.
Has a receiving coil 601.

First, as shown in FIG.
The digital map data output device 111 and the digital map data input device 105 are arranged so that 0 and the receiving coil 601 face each other in a non-contact state. Digital map data output device 11
In 1, digital map data is input from the computer 110, an alternating current as the input digital map data is supplied to the transmission coil 600, and a magnetic field is generated. In the digital map data input device 105, an AC voltage having the same frequency is generated in the receiving coil 601 according to the magnetic field generated in the transmitting coil 600. The AC voltage generated in the receiving coil 601 is numerical map data. After performing a predetermined process on the numerical map data, the numerical map data is stored in the numerical data storage unit 201.

Although the optical communication, the radio wave communication and the wireless communication using the electromagnetic coupling have been described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, the transfer method of the digital map data is not limited to the wireless communication. Wrist watch 10
Other methods may be used, such as a wired communication for directly connecting 0 and transferring numerical map data.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, a numerical map data input unit 105 is prepared separately from the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter, and is connected to the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter when transferring the numerical map data. Although an example in which the watch is used is shown, the watch may of course be incorporated in the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter.

Next, the operation of the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter according to the first embodiment will be described in detail in the order of (1) input processing of numerical map data, and (2) positioning / altitude value display processing.

(1) Numerical Map Data Input Processing The numerical map data stored in the numerical map data storage unit 201 of the altimeter wristwatch 100 includes longitude, latitude, and elevation values of a plurality of locations. In the altimeter wristwatch 100, the GPS receiver 202 measures the longitude and latitude of the current position, and obtains the altitude value corresponding to the measured longitude and latitude from the above numerical map data, thereby obtaining the altitude value of the current position. it can.

By the way, if the altimeter is to be mounted on a car, a CD-
By using a ROM or the like, digital map data of various places can be stored, but it is difficult for a portable small altimeter to store a large amount of digital map data. In particular, in the altimeter wristwatch 100 of the first embodiment,
Due to its shape, the capacity of a storage device that can be incorporated is necessarily limited, and it is difficult to store a large amount of digital map data.

Therefore, the wristwatch with altimeter 1 of the first embodiment is described.
In the case of 00, only numerical map data of a specific area is stored and used. For example, when the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter according to the first embodiment is used for mountain climbing, hiking, and the like, numerical map data of a range in which the user operates in climbing and hiking is stored in the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter.

Hereinafter, the input processing of the numerical map data will be described with the input target area being around Makuhari, Chiba Prefecture. As map information for obtaining numerical map data, for example, VICS information for car navigation, map information issued by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, or the like can be used.

First, the map processing software 304 is started in the computer 110, the map information stored in the CD-ROM is read, and the screen is displayed on the display 306. At this time, for example, when a map of Chiba Prefecture is displayed on the screen, by inputting “Chiba Prefecture” or by specifying the position of Chiba Prefecture with a mouse, the map of Chiba Prefecture as shown in FIG. Displayed on the screen.

After that, in order to select a more local area, an arbitrary place name, for example, "Makuhari" is input, and a map of Makuhari as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the screen. Then, by specifying an arbitrary range of the map displayed on the screen using the mouse (a range surrounded by a thick black line in FIG. 8), an area where the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter is used can be specified.

The map information used here includes, in addition to the terrain data shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, numerical map data consisting of longitude, latitude and altitude values. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating digital map data including longitude, latitude, and altitude values. FIG. 9 shows a digital elevation model obtained by calculating vector data by measuring contour lines drawn on a 1/25000 topographic map, and calculating one block in the longitudinal direction for 2.25 seconds (approx. 50 m) and 1.5 seconds (approximately 50 m) in the latitude direction, and the elevation value of the center point of each block is given as a common elevation value to an arbitrary point in each block.

Therefore, by specifying an arbitrary range (region) with the mouse as shown in FIG. 8, the corresponding block range shown in FIG. 9 is determined. At this time, the number of blocks included in the specified range may be one or more.

Here, it is assumed that as a result of specifying the range (region) as shown in FIG. 8, four blocks are specified. FIG. 10A is an explanatory diagram showing four designated blocks, and FIG. 10B is an explanatory diagram showing longitude, latitude, and altitude values of each block shown in FIG. From the computer 110, numerical map data of longitude, latitude and altitude shown in FIG. 10B are transferred to the altimeter wristwatch 100 in block units.

As a result, the following numerical map data is stored in the numerical map data storage unit 201 of the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter. Block 1: Altitude values in the range of longitude X1 to X2, latitude y1 to y2 are H1 Block 2: Altitude value in the range of longitude X2 to X3, latitude y1 to y2 are H2 Block 3: Longitude X1 to X2, latitude y2 to y3 The altitude value in the range of H3 is H3. Block 4: The altitude value in the range of longitudes X2 to X3 and latitudes y2 to y3 is H4.

In FIG. 10A, when the elevation values of a plurality of adjacent blocks are equal to each other, the plurality of blocks having the same elevation value are regarded as one block, so that the input to the altimeter wristwatch 100 is performed. Data can be compressed to reduce the amount of data. FIG.
(C) is an explanatory diagram showing the longitude, latitude, and altitude values of each block when the altitude values of block 1 and block 2 shown in FIG. 10A are equal.

The computer 110 compresses the numerical map data and transfers it to the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter based on FIG. 10C as follows, and stores the transferred numerical map data in the numerical map data storage unit 201. Is done. Blocks 1 and 2: Height values in the range of longitudes X1 to X3 and latitudes y1 to y2 are H1 Block 2: Height values in the range of longitudes X1 to X2 and latitudes y2 to y3 are H3 Block 3: Longitudes X2 to X3 and latitude y2 The elevation value in the range of ~ y3 is H4

As described above, since blocks 1 and 2 in FIG. 10A are compressed into one block, the amount of digital map data that must be stored can be reduced, and the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter can be reduced. Can effectively utilize the storage capacity of the numerical map data storage unit 201. In addition, as the number of adjacent blocks having the same elevation value increases, the numerical map data can be compressed, and the numerical map data storage unit 201 can store more numerical map data.

The above-described processing for inputting the digital map data is merely an example, and the longitude, latitude,
Other methods may be used as long as numerical map data consisting of altitude values can be input and stored in an altimeter wristwatch.

Also, in the first embodiment, only the numerical map data is stored in the numerical map data storage unit 201 of the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter. If the data can be stored in the data storage unit 201, the terrain data may be stored together.

Further, in the first embodiment, a digital map data storage unit 201 capable of rewriting digital map data.
However, for example, digital map data may be supplied to the altimeter wristwatch 100 using a dedicated IC card.

(2) Positioning / Altitude Display Processing Subsequently, in the wristwatch 100 with altimeter storing the digital map data as described above, the GPS receiver 202
Is used to determine the longitude and latitude (height if necessary) using, and to find and display the elevation value corresponding to the measured longitude and latitude from the digital map data, a) positioning mode setting processing, b The description will be made in the order of the positioning processing and the altitude value display processing.

A) Positioning Mode Setting Process In a portable altimeter such as the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter according to the first embodiment, a large-capacity It is difficult to mount a battery. Therefore, the GPS receiver 2
In the positioning processing by the method 02, it is important how to reduce the power consumption. Thus, in the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter according to the first embodiment, in order to save power, the GPS receiving device 20 is operated only when a user operates a button.
2, the power is turned on, the forced positioning mode for positioning the longitude / latitude of the current position and the height as necessary, and the GPS receiver 202 is periodically turned on at a time interval set by the user, And a timer positioning mode for measuring the longitude / latitude and height as needed.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a positioning mode setting process for setting the positioning mode by selecting one of the forced positioning mode and the timer positioning mode. The user can operate the positioning mode selection button 205 shown in FIG. 2 to instruct the positioning control unit 206 to start the positioning mode setting process. The positioning control unit 206 waits for the designation of the start of the positioning mode setting process, and inputs the designation of the start of the positioning mode setting process.
The process proceeds to the next step S1102 (S1101).

The positioning control unit 206 displays a message requesting selection of either the forced positioning mode or the timer positioning mode on the display unit 103, and sets the positioning mode to the forced positioning mode or the timer positioning mode selected by the user. (S1102).

When the positioning mode is selected in step S1102, positioning control section 206 determines whether or not the timer positioning mode has been selected (S1103). If it is determined that the selected mode is not the timer positioning mode, the positioning control unit 206 ends the positioning mode setting processing.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the selected mode is the timer positioning mode, the positioning control unit 206 displays a message requesting the setting of the time interval for performing the positioning process on the display unit 103, and the setting is performed by the user. The set time is set in the timer 207 (S1104). Here, the user operates the positioning mode selection button 205 and, for example,
A desired time such as minutes, 10 minutes, and 15 minutes can be set. If the time has already been set, the time can be canceled and a new time can be set.

After setting the time in timer 207, positioning control section 206 ends the positioning mode setting process.

B) Positioning Processing Next, positioning processing executed according to the mode set in the above-described positioning mode setting processing will be described. FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing positioning processing. The user
By operating the positioning start / end button 208 shown in FIG. 2, the start of positioning processing can be designated to the positioning control unit 206. The positioning control unit 206 waits for the designation of the start of the positioning process, and inputs the designation of the start of the positioning process, and proceeds to the next step S1202 (S1201).

The positioning control unit 206 determines in step S1201
, The power of the GPS receiver 202 is turned on based on the designation of the start of the positioning process.

When the power is turned on in step S1202, the GPS receiver 202 starts positioning processing (S1203). That is, the GPS receiver 202
Receiving radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites 209,
Measure the longitude and latitude of the current location.

The positioning control unit 206 is provided with the GPS receiver 20
2 to determine whether one positioning process has been completed (S2).
1204) When the positioning process is completed, the power of the GPS receiver 202 is turned off (S1205). On this occasion,
The positioning control unit 206 determines whether or not the positioning process has been completed.
A signal indicating that two to one positioning processes have been completed may be input.

After turning off the power of the GPS receiver 202, the positioning control unit 206 determines whether or not the currently set mode is the timer positioning mode (S1206). As a result of the determination, when the timer positioning mode is not set (when the forced positioning mode is set), the positioning process ends. On the other hand, if the timer positioning mode is set, the next step S12
Proceed to 07.

If the timer positioning mode is set, the positioning control unit 206 determines whether or not the timer 207 has counted the time set in step S1104 in FIG. 11 (S1207).

If the timer 207 determines that the counting process has not been performed, the positioning control unit 206 instructs the timer 207 to start the counting process for the set time, and ends the positioning process (S1208).

On the other hand, if the timer 207 determines that the counting process is being performed, the positioning control unit 206 ends the positioning process.

The timer 207 outputs a count-up signal to the measurement control unit 206 when the set time is counted (or subtracted). Each time the positioning control unit 206 inputs a time-up signal indicating that the set time has elapsed from the timer 207 in step S1201, the positioning control unit 206 executes the above-described step S120.
Steps 2 to S1207 are repeatedly executed. Then, when the end of the positioning is instructed from the user via the positioning start / end buttons, the positioning control unit 206 ends the positioning processing in the timer positioning mode.

C) Elevation Value Display Processing Further, when the longitude and latitude of the current position are obtained by the above-described positioning processing, processing for displaying the elevation value of the current position on the altitude display unit 102 is performed. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for obtaining and displaying an altitude value of the current position based on the longitude and latitude of the current position obtained in the positioning processing.

The elevation value conversion unit 203 is a GPS receiver 2
02, the longitude / latitude of the current position measured is input, and the block to which the current position obtained by the positioning processing belongs is specified based on the numerical map data stored in the numerical map data storage unit 201 (S1301). Specifically, the block is specified by determining which of the blocks shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10A the current position obtained by the positioning processing belongs to.

Then, the altitude value conversion unit 203 obtains the altitude value of the current position based on the block specified in step S1301 (S1302). For example, when the longitude / latitude of the current position is a value belonging to the range of the longitude / latitude of the block 1 shown in FIG.
03 specifies the altitude H1 given to the block 1 as the altitude of the current position.

After that, the display control unit 204 performs a process of inputting the altitude value obtained by the altitude value conversion unit 203 and displaying the input altitude value on the altitude display unit 102 (S1303).
As a result, the altitude value is displayed on the altitude display unit 102 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the longitude and latitude of the current position may be displayed simultaneously in addition to the altitude value.

In the processing shown in FIG. 13, even when the longitude and latitude of the current position obtained by the positioning processing are different, the processing is applicable when they are the longitude and latitude belonging to the same block. It will be the same elevation value given to the block. Therefore, since the elevation value given to each block is the elevation value of the center point of that block,
When an altitude value at a position other than the center point is obtained, the accuracy of the altitude value can be improved by obtaining the altitude value by a proportional calculation based on the altitude value around the center point. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the processing procedure for obtaining and displaying the elevation value of the current position based on the longitude and latitude of the current position obtained in the positioning processing.

The altitude conversion unit 203 is a GPS receiver 2
02, the longitude / latitude of the current position measured is input, and the block to which the current position obtained by the positioning processing belongs is specified based on the numerical map data stored in the numerical map data storage unit 201 (S1401). Specifically, the block is specified by determining which of the blocks shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10A the current position obtained by the positioning processing belongs to.

Then, the altitude value conversion unit 203 determines whether or not the current position obtained by the positioning processing falls on the center point of the block specified in step S1401 (S1402).

If it is determined in step S1402 that the center point is hit, the elevation value given to the block is the elevation value of the center point of the block.
The elevation value given to the block specified in 1401 is set as the elevation value at the current position (S1405).

Thereafter, the display control unit 204 proceeds to step S
A process of inputting the altitude value obtained in 1405 and displaying the input altitude value on the altitude display unit 102 is performed (S1404).
As a result, the altitude value is displayed on the altitude display unit 102 as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 1402 that the center point is not attained, a proportional calculation is performed using the altitude values of other blocks to perform processing for obtaining the altitude value of the current position (S1403). Hereinafter, an example of the process of obtaining the altitude value by performing the proportional calculation will be specifically described.

FIG. 15 to FIG. 19 are explanatory diagrams for explaining processing for obtaining an altitude value by performing proportional calculation. In FIG. 15, the current position obtained by the positioning process is indicated by “*”, and the current position “*” obtained by the positioning process is determined by the longitude / longitude belonging to block 5 (elevation value h5).
It shall have latitude.

First, the block 5 to which the current position “*” belongs
Find the elevation values at the four corners of. Specifically, the center point of block 5 (elevation value h5) and the center point of block 1 (elevation value h5)
1), the center value hc51 of the center position, the center point of block 5 (height value h5), and the center point of block 3 (height value h).
3), the center altitude hc53 of the center position, the center point of block 5 (altitude h5) and the center point of block 7 (altitude h)
7), the center point of the block 5 (elevation value h5) and the center point of the block 9 (elevation value h5)
The altitude value hc59 at the center position between the points 9 and 9 is calculated using the following equations.

Hc51 = h5 + k (h1-h5) hc53 = h5 + k (h3-h5) hc57 = h5 + k (h7-h5) hc59 = h5 + k (h9-h5) k is a proportional constant, and in this case is 1/2.

FIG. 16 shows an elevation value h at the center point of the block 5.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between an altitude value h1 of a center point of a block 1 and an altitude value hc51 of a center position obtained by the above equation.

Next, as shown in FIG. 17, the elevation value at the point where the line connecting the points having the obtained elevation values hc57 and hc59 and the perpendicular drawn from the current position “*” intersects is represented by H.
The altitude at a point where a line connecting the points having the obtained altitudes hc51 and hc53 and the perpendicular drawn from the current position “*” intersects is H2, and the altitude H1 and the altitude H
2 respectively.

The coordinates of the current position “*” are 138 ° east 0 ′
Assuming that 0 "45 and north latitude 36 ° 0'0" 6, the altitude values H1 and H2 can be obtained using the following equation. H1 = hc57 + k (hc59-hc57) H2 = hc51 + k (hc53-hc51) k is a proportionality constant. In this case, k = (0 "45/2")
25) = 0.2

FIG. 18A shows an altitude hc57 and an altitude h.
FIG. 18B is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between c59 and the altitude H1 obtained by the above equation, and FIG. 18B is a diagram showing the relationship between the altitude hc51 and the altitude hc53 and the altitude H2 obtained by the above equation.

Then, the altitude value of the current position “*” located on the line connecting the points of the obtained altitude values H1 and H2 is obtained by the following equation. H = H2 + k (H1−H2) k is a proportionality constant. In this case, k = (0 ″ 6/1 ″ 1)
5) = 0.4

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the elevation value H1, the elevation value H2, and the elevation value H at the current position obtained by the above equation. In this way, by obtaining the altitude value of the current position by proportional calculation based on the numerical map data given in advance, a more accurate altitude value can be obtained. However, in the above description, first, the four corners of the block to which the current position “*” belongs, that is, the elevation values of the four points are obtained to calculate the elevation value of the current position.
You can also calculate the elevation value of the current position at a point,
The method of calculating the altitude value of the current position is not limited to the above-described method. Further, when the current position is located on a straight line connecting two altitude values, for example, h2 and h5, by a proportional calculation using the altitude values h2 and h5,
The altitude value of the current position can also be obtained. Further, when the altitude value is obtained, the altitude values at the four corners of each block are calculated and obtained.
It may be calculated with 0, or may be calculated in advance after inputting the numerical map data from the computer 110.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 14 again, after obtaining the altitude value of the current position by the above-described method in step S1403, the display control unit 204 sets the altitude value conversion unit 20
The altitude value obtained in step 3 is input, and the input altitude value is displayed on the altitude display unit 102 (S1404). As a result, the altitude value is displayed on the altitude display unit 102 as shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the wristwatch with altimeter 100 (portable altimeter) according to the first embodiment, the longitude and the latitude are measured by the GPS receiver 202 and further stored in the numerical map data storage unit 201. Since the altitude value with respect to the measured longitude and latitude is obtained and displayed by referring to the numerical map data in block units, highly accurate altitude value (altitude information) can be obtained by a small device such as a wristwatch.

When inputting digital map data in block units, if the elevation value of the block is the same as the elevation value of an adjacent block, the blocks are compressed into one. Can be reduced. Therefore, a small-capacity storage device that can be built in a small device such as a wristwatch can be effectively used.

Further, in accordance with the use situation, the user performs forced positioning once, then turns off the power of the GPS receiver 202, performs continuous positioning at arbitrary time intervals, and performs positioning. Since there is a timer positioning mode in which the power of the GPS receiving device 202 is turned on / off every time the power is turned on, effective use of power and power saving can be achieved. In other words, G is used only when the positioning process is performed.
Since the power of the PS receiver 202 is turned on, even a small altimeter such as the altimeter wristwatch 100, in which a large-capacity battery cannot be mounted, can perform positioning processing many times over a long period of time. It becomes possible.

(Embodiment 2) In the positioning processing by the GPS receiving apparatus 202 described in Embodiment 1, the height of the current position can be obtained without using digital map data. However, the height obtained by this positioning process is different from the altitude value obtained from the digital map data.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the height obtained by the positioning processing by the GPS receiving device 202 and the altitude value obtained from the digital map data. GPS receiver 202
Is the ellipsoid height h from the surface of the spheroid (reference ellipsoid surface) with the origin at the center of the earth to the GPS receiver 202, as is well known. . On the other hand, generally, the elevation value is a geoid (geo).
It means the altitude H from the level plane called the id) plane to the ground surface.

Here, the geoid surface means an equipotential surface of the earth gravity which coincides with the average sea level.
This corresponds to the water surface when the entire earth is covered with water. The geoid plane itself or at least a plane parallel thereto is used as a reference plane for the altitude H on the map. The elevation values used in Japanese surveys and maps are based on the average sea level (~ geoid) of Tokyo Bay.

Therefore, when a person wearing the wristwatch 100 with altimeter performs positioning processing on the roof of a high-rise building, the height information obtained by the positioning processing by the GPS receiver 202 has the origin at the center of the earth. G from the surface of the spheroid
Since the height of the ellipsoid is up to the PS receiving device 202, the height from the surface of the spheroid to the position of the human can be accurately measured. On the other hand, when a person wearing the altimeter wristwatch 100 performs positioning processing on the roof of a high-rise building and obtains an altitude value corresponding to the longitude and latitude obtained by the positioning processing from the numerical map data (see Embodiment 1). In), since the elevation value means the elevation H from the geoid surface to the ground surface,
It is impossible to get the height of the skyscraper where humans exist.

Therefore, an altimeter wristwatch 1 of the second embodiment is described.
In 00, both the height information obtained by the positioning processing by the GPS receiver 202 and the altitude value obtained by using the numerical map data as described in the first embodiment can be selectively displayed. For example, the height of a building can be easily measured.

In the following description, in the case of height information, the height obtained by the positioning process by the GPS receiver is used, and in the case of the altitude value, the height obtained from the numerical map data as described in the first embodiment is used. When the value is simply referred to as a height, it means a height other than the height information and the altitude value.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of an altimeter wristwatch 100 according to the second embodiment. The wristwatch 100 with an altimeter shown in FIG. 21 has substantially the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 2, and therefore only different points will be described here.

As shown in FIG. 21, a wristwatch 100 with an altimeter according to the second embodiment has a display mode selection button 2100 for selecting one of a height mode for displaying height information and an altitude value mode for displaying an altitude value. (Corresponding to the selection means of the present invention) and either the height information obtained from the GPS receiver 202 or the altitude obtained from the altitude conversion unit 203 based on the display mode selected by the display mode selection button 2100. (Corresponding to the altitude value output means of the present invention).

Next, a method for measuring the height of a building using the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter according to the second embodiment will be described. However, the case where the altitude value mode is selected with the display mode selection button 2100 is the same as the processing described in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

First, the user selects the positioning mode selection button 20
5 to set the above-mentioned forced positioning mode, and at the same time, operate the display mode selection button 2100 to set the display mode to the height mode, and obtain the height information obtained by the positioning process by the GPS receiver 202. Be able to display.

Subsequently, by pressing the positioning start / end button 208 on the ground, the user instructs the GPS receiver 202 to execute positioning processing. as a result,
The height information obtained by the positioning process by the GPS receiver 202 is displayed on the altitude display unit 102 shown in FIG.

Thereafter, the user climbs the roof of a building such as a high-rise building and presses the positioning / end button 208 again to obtain height information by the positioning processing. The obtained height information is similarly displayed on the altitude display unit 102, and the height of the building can be obtained by subtracting the height information obtained on the ground from the displayed height information.

Note that the height information obtained the first time is stored in the altimeter wristwatch 100, and the height information obtained the second time is subtracted from the stored height information. By providing a mode in which a difference from the height information of the second time is obtained and the obtained difference is displayed on the altitude display unit 102, the height of the building can be automatically obtained.

Further, by adding the altitude value at the same position to the difference between the height information obtained as described above, the altitude value at the position where the user wearing the wristwatch 100 with altimeter is present is corrected. Can be.

As described above, according to the wristwatch with altimeter 100 (portable altimeter) according to the second embodiment, the height information measured by the GPS receiver 202 and the GPS receiver 202
Since the display data selection unit 2101 can select and display any one of the elevation values of the digital map data corresponding to the position obtained by the positioning of the GPS receiver 20.
Using the properties of the height information measured in Step 2 and the elevation value of the digital map data corresponding to the position obtained by the positioning of the GPS receiver 202, it is possible to accurately obtain the elevation value, the height of the building, and the like. it can.

(Embodiment 3) As described with reference to FIG. 20 in Embodiment 2, the elevation value of the digital map data corresponding to the position obtained by the positioning of the GPS receiver 202 is as follows.
It represents the height from the geoid surface to the ground surface. Therefore, when a user wearing the altimeter wristwatch 100 is on a building, in order to obtain an accurate height of the position where the user is present (hereinafter referred to as “corrected altitude value”), the GPS receiver 202 is required. It is necessary to perform a process of correcting the elevation value of the digital map data by using the height information measured in the step (1).

Therefore, an altimeter wristwatch 1 according to the third embodiment will be described.
FIG. 9 and FIGS. 10 (a) to 10
By replacing the elevation value of each block described using (c) with the geoid height hg (see FIG. 20) at the position corresponding to each block, the user can use numerical map data consisting of longitude, latitude, and geoid height. It is intended to obtain a corrected elevation value which is an accurate height of an existing position.

That is, as shown in FIG. 20, since the height information measured by the GPS receiver 202 indicates the height from the surface of the reference ellipsoid to the wristwatch 100 with altimeter,
By subtracting the geoid height hg from the height information, the height from the geoid surface (level surface) to the altimeter wristwatch 100 can be accurately measured. In other words,
Even when the user wearing the altimeter wristwatch 100 is on the roof of a building, a corrected elevation value obtained by adding the height of the building to the elevation value at that position can be obtained by one positioning process. .

Wristwatch with altimeter 1 according to Embodiment 3
The configuration and operation of 00 are the same as those described in the first embodiment except that the altitude value of the digital map data is changed to the geoid height, so that the detailed description is omitted here. However, the altimeter wristwatch 100 of the third embodiment
, The altitude conversion unit 203 inputs the height information measured by the GPS receiver, and calculates the GPS information from the input height information.
It is necessary to perform a process of subtracting the geoid height of the digital map data corresponding to the position obtained by the positioning of the receiving device 202 to obtain a corrected elevation value.

That is, also in the altimeter wristwatch 100 according to the third embodiment, when map information is input in units of subdivided blocks, if the geoid data of the block is the same as the geoid data of an adjacent block, the map information is input. By compressing the blocks into one, a process for effectively utilizing the limited memory area, and as shown in FIG. 14, the block to which the position corresponding to the longitude and latitude measured by the GPS receiver belongs is specified. Also, it is determined whether or not the position corresponding to the longitude / latitude corresponds to the center position of the specified block, and when it is determined that the position corresponds to the center position,
Using the geoid data of the block to identify the altitude value of the position corresponding to longitude and latitude, and if it is determined that it does not correspond to the center position, by performing a proportional calculation, the geoid data of the position corresponding to longitude and latitude It is possible to perform a process of determining the altitude value using the obtained geoid data.

Also, the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter according to the third embodiment can be applied to the second embodiment. The height information measured by the GPS receiver 202 and the G
Any one of the corrected altitude values obtained by subtracting the geoid height of the digital map data corresponding to the position obtained by the positioning of the PS receiving device 202 can be displayed on the altitude display unit 102.

Further, when the wristwatch with altimeter 100 according to the third embodiment is used, the geoid of the digital map data corresponding to the position obtained by the positioning of the GPS receiver 202 from the height information measured by the GPS receiver 202 is used. The height of the building can be measured only by using the corrected elevation value obtained by subtracting the height. This is, as described above, the corrected elevation value obtained by subtracting the geoid height of the digital map data from the height information,
This is because the height is the height at which the user exists from the geoid surface. Therefore, the height of the building can be measured by calculating the corrected altitude value on the ground and subtracting the corrected altitude value obtained on the building from the obtained corrected altitude value. The height of the building can also be measured by combining the height information measured by the GPS receiver 202 and the corrected elevation value obtained by subtracting the geoid height from the height information.

As described above, according to the wristwatch 100 with an altimeter (portable altimeter) according to the third embodiment, the GPS receiver 202 measures the longitude, latitude, and height information, and the corresponding height information corresponds to the measured height information. Since the corrected altitude value is obtained by subtracting the geoid height of the digital map data, highly accurate altitude information in consideration of the geoid (average sea level) can be obtained.

In the first embodiment, the elevation value is included in the digital map data, and in the third embodiment, the geoid height is included in the digital map data. However, the longitude, latitude, elevation value, and geoid The following processing can be performed by using numerical map data consisting of heights.

In FIG. 21, longitude / latitude / height information is measured using the GPS receiver 202. Then, the altitude conversion unit 203 inputs the longitude / latitude / height information measured by the GPS receiver 202, and the measured longitude / latitude.
The altitude value and geoid height of the digital map data corresponding to the latitude are obtained. Thereafter, the altitude value conversion unit 203 subtracts the value obtained by adding the altitude value and the geoid height of the digital map data from the height information measured by the GPS receiver 202, and displays the result on the altitude display unit 102. I do. As a result, even when the user wearing the altimeter wristwatch 100 is on the building, the height from the ground surface to the position where the user is present can be measured by one process.

In the first to third embodiments described above, the portable altimeter of the present invention has been described as an altimeter wristwatch 100. However, the portable altimeter of the present invention can be realized even with a small altimeter such as a wristwatch. The portable altimeter of the present invention is not limited to a wristwatch.

[0136]

As described above, according to the portable altimeter according to the present invention (claim 1), the GPS receiver measures the longitude and the latitude, and further, the block unit stored in the map information storage means. With reference to the map information, an altitude value for the longitude and latitude specified by the positioning data is obtained and the values are displayed, so that highly accurate altitude information can be obtained by a small device such as a wristwatch.

According to the portable altimeter according to the present invention (claim 2), the GPS receiver measures the longitude and latitude,
Further, by referring to the longitude / latitude and geoid data in block units held in the map information storage means, an elevation value for the longitude / latitude specified by the positioning data is obtained,
Since the value is displayed, highly accurate altitude information in consideration of the geoid (average sea level) can be obtained.

Further, according to the portable altimeter according to the present invention (claim 3), the height measured by the GPS receiver and the GP
Either the altitude value of the map information at the position specified by the positioning of the S receiver is switched by the altitude value output switching input means, and the altitude value switched by the altitude value switching input means is selected and displayed. To output the data to the means, the user can arbitrarily select the height data desired to be confirmed.

Further, according to the portable altimeter of the present invention, when map information is input in units of subdivided blocks, if the altitude of the block is the same as the altitude of an adjacent block. For example, since the block is compressed into one, the data amount of the map information can be reduced, and the storage capacity of the map information storage means, which is limited due to its small size, can be effectively used.

Further, according to the portable altimeter according to the present invention, when the elevation value is given as the elevation value at the center position of the subdivided block, the altitude value is proportional to the elevation value using the elevation value. By performing the calculation, the elevation value at the position corresponding to the longitude / latitude measured by the GPS receiver is specified. Therefore, even when only one elevation value is given for each block, a more accurate elevation value can be obtained. Value can be obtained.

According to the portable altimeter according to the present invention, the block to which the position corresponding to the longitude / latitude measured by the GPS receiver belongs is specified, and the block corresponding to the measured longitude / latitude is specified. Determines whether the position corresponds to the center position of the specified block, and if it is determined that the position corresponds to the center position, the elevation value of the position corresponding to the longitude and latitude where the elevation value of the center position of the specified block is measured If it is determined that the position does not correspond to the center position, to determine the elevation value of the position corresponding to the longitude and latitude measured by performing a proportional operation, it has as the longitude / latitude of the current position and map information Longitude of the position corresponding to the altitude value
According to the relationship with the latitude, even when only one elevation value is given for each block, a more accurate elevation value can be obtained.

According to the portable altimeter according to the present invention, when the map information is input in units of subdivided blocks, the geoid data of the block is the same as the geoid data of the adjacent block. For example, by compressing the block into one, the limited memory area is effectively used, the data amount of the map information can be reduced, and the storage capacity of the map information storage means, which is limited due to its small size, is reduced. It can be used effectively.

Further, according to the portable altimeter according to the present invention, when the geoid data is given as the geoid data of the center position of the subdivided block, the proportionality is calculated using the geoid data. By performing the calculation, to identify the geoid data of the position corresponding to the longitude and latitude measured by the GPS receiver, and to specify the elevation value by subtracting the specified geoid data from the height measured by the GPS receiver, Even when only one piece of geoid data is given for each block, more accurate geoid data can be obtained, and as a result, a more accurate elevation value can be obtained.

Further, according to the portable altimeter according to the present invention (claim 9), the block to which the position corresponding to the longitude / latitude measured by the GPS receiver belongs is specified, and the position corresponding to the longitude / latitude is determined. It is determined whether or not it corresponds to the center position of the specified block, and if it is determined that it corresponds to the center position, the elevation value of the position corresponding to longitude and latitude is specified using the geoid data of the block, and the center position is determined. If it is determined that does not correspond to, to calculate the geoid data of the position corresponding to the longitude and latitude by performing a proportional calculation,
In order to identify the elevation value using the obtained geoid data,
Depending on the relationship between the longitude / latitude of the current position and the longitude / latitude of the position corresponding to the geoid data having map information, even if only one geoid data is given for each block, More accurate geoid data can be obtained, and as a result, more accurate elevation values can be obtained.

Furthermore, according to the power supply control method for a GPS receiving apparatus according to the present invention (claim 10), after the user forcibly performs one time of positioning according to the use situation, the GP receiving power is controlled.
Power consumption is suppressed by providing a power saving mode for selecting whether to turn off the power of the S receiving device or to turn off the power of the GPS receiving device after performing positioning continuously at an arbitrarily set time interval. Therefore, effective use of power and power saving can be achieved, and even a small altimeter such as a wristwatch, which cannot be equipped with a large-capacity battery, can perform positioning processing many times over a long period of time. Becomes

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an altimeter wristwatch, which is a portable altimeter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and a computer for inputting numerical map data necessary for displaying an altitude value on the altimeter wristwatch.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an altimeter wristwatch, which is a portable altimeter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a computer for inputting numerical map data to an altimeter wristwatch, which is a portable altimeter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of transferring digital map data from a computer to the altimeter wristwatch as a portable altimeter according to the first embodiment of the present invention by optical communication.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of transferring digital map data from a computer to the altimeter wristwatch, which is a portable altimeter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, by radio wave communication.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of transferring numerical map data from a computer to a wristwatch with an altimeter as a portable altimeter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention by electromagnetic coupling.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process of inputting numerical data including longitude, latitude, and altitude values to an altimeter wristwatch that is a portable altimeter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process of inputting numerical data including longitude, latitude, and altitude values to an altimeter wristwatch that is a portable altimeter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating digital map data including longitude, latitude, and altitude values in the altimeter wristwatch, which is a portable altimeter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 (a) shows a state in which digital map data is subdivided into blocks of a certain range of longitude and latitude in the altimeter wristwatch which is a portable altimeter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. And (c) is an explanatory diagram showing the longitude, latitude, and altitude values of each block shown in (a).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing positioning mode setting processing in the altimeter wristwatch which is a portable altimeter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing positioning processing in the altimeter wristwatch, which is a portable altimeter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an altimeter wristwatch, which is a portable altimeter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, for obtaining and displaying an altitude value of the current position based on the longitude and latitude of the current position obtained by the positioning process. It is a flowchart which shows a processing procedure.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an altimeter wristwatch, which is a portable altimeter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, for obtaining and displaying an altitude value of a current position based on longitude and latitude of the current position obtained by positioning processing. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of a processing procedure.

FIG. 15 is a first explanatory diagram illustrating a process of obtaining the altitude value of the current position obtained by the positioning process by proportional calculation in the altimeter wristwatch which is the portable altimeter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a second explanatory diagram illustrating a process of obtaining, by proportional calculation, the altitude value of the current position obtained by the positioning process in the altimeter wristwatch as the portable altimeter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a third explanatory diagram illustrating a process of obtaining, by proportional calculation, the altitude value of the current position obtained by the positioning process in the altimeter wristwatch that is the portable altimeter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 18 (a) and (b) show a process of calculating the altitude value of the current position obtained by the positioning process by proportional calculation in the altimeter wristwatch which is a portable altimeter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a 4th explanatory view.

FIG. 19 is a fifth explanatory diagram illustrating a process of obtaining, by proportional calculation, the altitude value of the current position obtained by the positioning process in the altimeter wristwatch which is the portable altimeter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship among an ellipsoidal height, a geoid height, and an altitude value.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a portable altimeter according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 22 shows a radio wave (frequency L) transmitted from a GPS satellite.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional GPS receiving device for receiving 1).

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 wristwatch with altimeter 101 time display unit 102 altitude display unit 103 display unit 104 a to 104 d operation button 105 numerical map data input device 110 computer 111 numerical map data output device 200 I / F 201 numerical map data storage unit 202 GPS receiver 203 altitude Value conversion unit 204 Display control unit 205 Positioning mode selection button 206 Positioning control unit 207 Timer 208 Positioning start / end button 209 GPS satellite 304 Map processing software 2100 Display mode selection button 2101 Display data selection unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Chiaki Nakamura 1-8-8 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba Seiko Instruments Inc.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A portable altimeter having a GPS receiver that receives a radio wave transmitted from a GPS satellite and measures longitude, latitude, and height, subdivides map information having longitude, latitude, and elevation values in advance. Map information input means for inputting map information of a desired block from among the block groups generated as described above, and map information storage means for storing the map information of the block input via the map information input means. An altitude value identifying means for identifying an altitude value of a position corresponding to the longitude and latitude measured by the GPS receiver based on the map information stored in the map information storage means; and an altitude value identifying means for identifying the altitude value. A portable altimeter comprising: a display unit for displaying a set altitude value. 2. A portable altimeter having a GPS receiver for receiving a radio wave transmitted from a GPS satellite and measuring the longitude, latitude and height, subdivides map information having longitude, latitude and geoid data in advance. Map information input means for inputting map information of a desired block from the group of blocks generated as above, and map information storage means for storing the map information of the block input via the map information input means. An altitude for specifying an altitude value by referring to the geoid data stored in the map information storage means and subtracting the geoid data at a position corresponding to the corresponding longitude and latitude from the height measured by the GPS receiver; A portable altimeter comprising: value specifying means; and display means for displaying the altitude value specified by the altitude value specifying means. 3. A selecting means for selecting whether to output the height measured by the GPS receiving device or the altitude value specified by the altitude value specifying means, and a height selected by the selecting means. The portable altimeter according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: an altitude value output unit that outputs a height or an altitude value to the display unit. 4. The map information input means, when the elevation values of adjacent blocks are the same in the map information subdivided in block units, assigns a plurality of corresponding adjacent blocks to one.
2. The input as one block.
Portable altimeter as described in. 5. The GPS receiver according to claim 1, wherein the elevation value is an elevation value at a center position of the subdivided block, and the elevation value specifying means performs a proportional operation using the elevation value. Positioned longitude /
5. The portable altimeter according to claim 1, wherein an altitude value at a position corresponding to latitude is specified. 6. The elevation value specifying means specifies the block to which the position corresponding to the longitude / latitude measured by the GPS receiving device belongs, and determines the position corresponding to the measured longitude / latitude to the specified block. It is determined whether or not the position corresponds to the center position, and if it is determined that the position corresponds to the center position, the elevation value of the center position of the specified block is specified as the elevation value of the position corresponding to the measured longitude and latitude. And when it is determined that it does not correspond to the center position,
The portable altimeter according to claim 5, wherein an altitude value at a position corresponding to the measured longitude and latitude is specified by performing the proportional operation. 7. When the geoid data of adjacent blocks have the same value in the map information subdivided in block units, the map information input means inputs the corresponding plurality of adjacent blocks as one block. The portable altimeter according to claim 2, wherein: 8. The geoid data is a geoid data of a center position of a subdivided block, and the elevation value specifying means performs a proportional operation using the geoid data, so that the GPS receiving device performs positioning. The geoid data of a position corresponding to the determined longitude / latitude is specified, and the elevation value is specified by subtracting the specified geoid data from the height measured by the GPS receiver. Portable altimeter as described. 9. The elevation value specifying means specifies the block to which the position corresponding to the longitude / latitude measured by the GPS receiving device belongs, and the position corresponding to the longitude / latitude is the center of the specified block. Determine whether or not it corresponds to the position, if it is determined to correspond to the center position, specify the elevation value of the position corresponding to the longitude and latitude using the geoid data that the block has, to the center position The method according to claim 8, wherein when it is determined that the position does not correspond, geoid data at a position corresponding to the longitude and latitude is obtained by performing the proportional operation, and an altitude value is specified using the obtained geoid data. Portable altimeter as described. 10. A power supply control method for a GPS receiver in a portable altimeter having a GPS receiver that receives a radio wave transmitted from a GPS satellite and measures the longitude, latitude, and height, the method comprising: A first step of selecting whether positioning is to be forcibly started at an arbitrary timing or automatically started at a preset time interval; and a second step of inputting a start of positioning by the GPS receiving device. When it is selected to start forcibly at the arbitrary timing in the first step, and when the start of positioning is input in the second step, the power of the GPS receiver is turned on. A third step of starting positioning, and, if it is selected in the first step to automatically start at the preset time interval, the GP according to the time interval A fourth step of positioning starts the power supply of the receiving apparatus turned ON, and the positioning is completed by the GPS receiver the GPS
5. A power supply control method for a GPS receiver, comprising: a fifth step of turning off the power of the receiver.