JPH11351888A - Navigator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically add facility data that are not recorded in a map data base to the map database. SOLUTION: Map database is stored in a rewritable storage medium, the facility data such as the position, type, or the like of a facility that exists at an arbitrary point are judged from the current position data according to a current position detection means 13, change in vehicle state, image data or the like of a television camera or the like being mounted to a vehicle, and the facility data are automatically added to a map database storage means 11 by a map data control means 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for automatically converting facilities existing at an arbitrary point into a map database from the state of a vehicle such as when the vehicle is stopped or from image data taken by a television camera mounted on the vehicle. The present invention relates to a navigation device to be added.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, users have been using CD-ROM, DV
When a map database recording medium such as a D-ROM is obtained, facility data desired by the user may not be recorded. This is due to a time lag from the collection of information in the map database to the creation of the data through the creation of the data to the user's hand, and the data capacity of the map database recording medium. Unless a new map database storage medium is obtained, the map data is not updated, and facilities and the like built after the user obtains the map data storage medium are not reflected in the map database. Further, a map database storage medium in which all facilities are recorded is practically impossible. In the case of a map database storage medium in which facility data desired by the user is not recorded, the user newly stores the facility data. It is necessary to purchase a recorded map database storage medium.

[0003] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 62-293117 discloses a travel information display device for manually setting facilities and the like as point registration when facility data is not stored in a map database.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing such a conventional traveling information display device. In the drawing, 101 is a traveling distance detector, 102 is an azimuth detector, 103 is a map memory, 104 is a display, and 105 is a display. A control circuit, 106 is a marker moving device, 110 is a switch, and 111 is a point memory.

Next, the operation will be described. When the user operates the switch 110 to input coordinate information of an arbitrary point and information indicating the name of the arbitrary point, the display 10
The information of the point is displayed on the screen of No. 4 along with the map and the current position at the inputted point.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-210707 discloses a navigation device which independently creates map data by a user.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing such a conventional navigation apparatus. In the figure, 201 is the navigation apparatus, 202 is a CPU, 203 is a peripheral circuit gate array, 204 is a main memory, 205 is a program memory, 206 is a battery, 207 is an antenna, 208 is a GPS processing unit, 209 is a CD-ROM,
10 is a CD-ROM drive unit, 211 is a key input unit, 21
2 is a graphic processor, 213 is a CCD camera unit, 214 is a signal processing unit, 215 is a display unit, and 216 is a video memory.

Next, the operation will be described. For example, CC
The image data acquired by the D camera unit 213 is stored in the main memory 204 together with the position data in association with the position data indicating the point to which the image data is related,
The image data is automatically displayed on the display unit 215 when it reaches the point indicated by the position data stored in the main memory 204 when moving.

[0009]

Since the conventional navigation apparatus is constructed as described above, it is necessary to manually register the facilities, and it is very troublesome to set each facility. , There was a risk of erroneous input.

In general, on-vehicle navigation devices are designed so that operation inputs other than simple operations are not accepted during traveling of the vehicle for safety reasons. The vehicle needs to be stopped. In addition, it is not always possible to stop the vehicle immediately after finding a facility, and even if an attempt is made to register a location after a while after finding a facility, the user correctly stores the place where the facility was located. However, there is a problem that the position cannot be set accurately.

Further, when image data taken by a digital camera or the like is stored in a storage means and displayed on map data, the type of the facility (for example, gas station, convenience store) is not classified in the data. There were challenges.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and safely and accurately adds facility data to a map database without giving a user troublesome registration of facility locations and the like. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a navigation device that can perform the navigation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device that can add facility data to a map database for each facility type.

[0014]

According to the present invention, there is provided a navigation apparatus comprising: a map database storing means for storing map data; a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of a vehicle and a stop of the vehicle; The fuel amount measuring means to be measured, and when the stop of the vehicle is detected by these means, and when the increase in the fuel amount is measured, the map database storage means is arranged so that the facility of the gas station exists at the detected stop position. System control means for adding data.

The navigation apparatus according to the present invention has a map database storing means for storing map data, a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of the vehicle and a stop of the vehicle, and a cover for detecting opening and closing of a fuel tank cover of the vehicle. Open / close detection means and when these means stop the vehicle, and when the opening of the fuel tank cover is detected,
System control means for adding data to the map database storage means so that a gas station facility exists at the detected stop position.

The navigation device according to the present invention has a map database storing means for storing map data, a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of the vehicle and a stop of the vehicle, and a rotation angle calculating means for calculating a rotation angle of the vehicle. When the stop of the vehicle is detected by these means, and the rotation of the vehicle at a certain angle or more is detected, the map database storage means so that the facility of the rotary parking lot exists at the detected stop position. System control means for adding data.

According to the navigation apparatus of the present invention, a map database storing means for storing map data, a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of the vehicle and a stop of the vehicle, and a stop of the vehicle is detected by these means. And,
When the detected stop position of the vehicle is a position deviating from the running automobile exclusive road on the map data stored in the map database storage means, a service area or a parking area facility exists at the detected stop position. And a system control means for adding data to the map database storage means.

The navigation apparatus according to the present invention includes a map database storing map data, a current position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, a photographing means for photographing the outside of the vehicle, and extracting a facility from the photographed image data. Image data extracting means, a facility position measuring means for measuring the position of the facility photographed based on the detected current position and the extracted image data, and a map so that the facility exists at the measured facility position. System control means for adding data to the database storage means.

The navigation apparatus according to the present invention has facility data storage means for storing facility data including a logo of the facility and information related thereto, and the image data extracting means converts the facility data from the photographed image data to the facility data. The system control unit extracts the logo mark, and stores the logo mark of the facility extracted by the image data extracting unit in the facility data storage unit at the measured location of the facility when the logo mark of the facility is stored in the facility data storage unit. The data is added to the map database storage means so that the existing facility data exists.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle-mounted navigation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a map database storage unit in which map data such as road and facility information is recorded, 12 denotes a map data control unit that reads and writes map data from the map database storage unit 11,
Reference numeral 13 denotes a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of the vehicle based on output data of various sensors.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a system control means for controlling the operation of the entire system, and is constituted by a microcomputer, a read-only memory (hereinafter, referred to as ROM), a rewritable memory (hereinafter, referred to as RAM), and the like.
Numeral 15 is a fuel amount measuring means for measuring the gasoline amount of the vehicle. 16 is a display control means for generating a display signal for displaying a road, a landmark, a place name, a current position mark, etc., in accordance with an instruction from the system control means 14; Display means for performing the following.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the vehicle-mounted navigation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a rewritable map data storage medium,
It corresponds to. Reference numeral 22 denotes a map data reading and writing device, which corresponds to the map data control means 12.
23 is a GPS receiver (GPS) for detecting the current position of the vehicle.
Is Global Positioning System
m) and 24 are azimuth sensors for detecting the azimuth of the vehicle, and 25 is a distance sensor for detecting the moving distance of the vehicle, and these correspond to the current position detecting means 13.

A control unit 26 performs various calculations and controls the entire apparatus. The control unit 26A includes a CPU (central processing unit) 26A, a ROM (read-only memory) 26B,
It comprises a RAM (randomly rewritten memory) 26C, a display control unit 26D for controlling the display of the liquid crystal display 28, and an I / O (input / output unit) 26E for performing input / output with the outside. The map data shown in FIG. The control means 12, the system control means 14, and the display control means 16 are each realized as a function of the control unit 26. Reference numeral 28 denotes a liquid crystal display for displaying display data from the control unit 26, and corresponds to the display means 17. Reference numeral 27 denotes an oil amount sensor, which is a fuel amount measuring means 1
5 is supported.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of adding the facility data of the gas station to the map database in the navigation device of the first embodiment.

In step ST101, the current position data is fetched from the current position detecting means 13 and the process proceeds to step ST101.
At T102, based on the current position data of the vehicle taken in step ST101, map data around the current location is read from the map database storage means 11 by the map data control means 12, and the map information and the current position mark are displayed on the display means 17. indicate. Normally, ST101, ST1
02 is repeated at regular intervals.

Next, in step ST103, it is determined from the output of the distance sensor 25 whether or not the vehicle is stopped. When it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, in step ST104, the fuel amount measuring means 15 determines whether the gasoline amount has increased by a certain amount or more. If the gasoline amount has not increased by a certain amount or more, the flow returns to step ST103, and while the vehicle is stopped, the determination as to whether the gasoline amount has increased is repeated at regular time intervals. In step ST104, when it is confirmed that the gasoline amount has increased by a certain amount, it is determined that a gas station is present at the position of the current position data of the vehicle taken in step ST101.

Next, in step ST105, it is determined from the map data read in step ST102 whether or not gas station facility data exists near the position of the current position data obtained in step ST101. If the facility data of the gas station has been recorded in the map data, the processing is terminated without adding the facility data of the gas station to the map database. If the facility data of the gas station has not been recorded in the map data, in step ST106, the process proceeds to step ST10.
At the position of the current position data obtained in step 1, the facility data of the gas station is recorded in the map database.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when it is detected that the vehicle is stopped, and when it is detected that the gasoline amount has increased by a certain amount or more, gasoline is currently supplied at the gas station. That is, there is a gas station facility in the stopped position,
Since the facility data of the gas station is added to the location on the map database, the facility data of the gas station can be automatically added to the map database together with the location without giving the user the trouble of registering. The effect is obtained.

In the first embodiment, the facility of the gas station is determined by measuring the gasoline amount. However, the opening and closing of the gasoline tank cover is detected, and if the gas station is located where the gasoline tank cover is opened. Even if it is determined, the same effect can be obtained. Further, the operation of the lever for opening the gasoline tank cover beside the driver's seat may be detected.

In the first embodiment, the gasoline amount is measured as the fuel amount.
The same effect can be obtained by measuring the amount of driving energy of the vehicle such as the amount of electricity.

Further, in the first embodiment, the facility is added to the map database storage means by using the writable map database storage means, but another storage area is secured in the facility addition memory. For example, a storage unit may be separately provided.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same or corresponding parts as in FIG. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 41 denotes a rotation angle calculating means such as a terrestrial magnetism sensor or a gyro which fetches azimuth information of the vehicle from the current position detecting means 13 and calculates how much the vehicle has rotated after stopping.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of adding the facility data of the rotary parking lot to the map database in the navigation device according to the second embodiment.

Steps ST111 to ST11
Steps up to 3 are the same as steps ST101 to ST103 of the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.
In step ST114, after the vehicle stops, the rotation angle calculating unit 41 determines whether the azimuth of the vehicle has changed by a certain angle or more, for example, 90 degrees or more. If the azimuth of the vehicle does not fluctuate by more than a certain angle while the vehicle is stopped, it is determined whether or not the azimuth of the vehicle fluctuates by more than a certain angle at a certain time interval until the vehicle departs. When it is detected that the azimuth of the vehicle has turned by a certain angle or more, it is determined that a rotary parking lot exists at the point of the current position data of the vehicle taken in step ST111. If the vehicle has not rotated more than the predetermined angle, the process returns to step ST113, and repeatedly performs detection of rotation of the vehicle at predetermined time intervals while the vehicle is stopped.

Step ST115, step ST116
Is the same as that in step ST10 of the first embodiment except that the facility data is changed from the gas station to the rotary parking lot.
5. The description is omitted because it is the same as step ST106.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, when it is detected that the vehicle is stopped and that the azimuth of the vehicle has turned by a predetermined angle or more, the vehicle is to be parked in the current rotary parking lot. That is, it is considered that the facility of the rotary parking lot is present at the position where the vehicle is stopped, and the facility data of the rotary parking lot is added to the position on the map database, so that the user is registered. The effect is obtained that the facility data of the revolving parking lot can be automatically added to the map database together with its position without giving any trouble.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
In the figure, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of adding the facility data of the service area and the parking area to the map database in the navigation device according to the third embodiment.

Step ST121, step ST122
Is the same as step ST101 and step ST102 in the first embodiment, and the description is omitted. Step ST
At 123, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is traveling on a motorway based on the road data recorded in the map database storage unit 11 and the current position data obtained from the current position detection unit 13. If it is determined that the vehicle is traveling on a motorway, then step ST124 is executed.
In the above, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has stopped based on the current position data. If it is determined that the vehicle has stopped, in step ST125, it is determined from the road data and the current position data whether the stop position is the main line or the entrance of the motorway, and the stop position is other than the main line or the entrance of the motorway. In this case, it is determined that the service area or the parking area exists at that position.

Steps ST126 and ST127
Is the same as step ST105 and step ST106 in the first embodiment except that the facility data is changed from the gas station to the service area or the parking area, and therefore the description is omitted.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, it is detected that the vehicle has stopped while traveling on the motorway, and the stop position is other than the main line or the entrance of the motorway. , Currently parked in a service or parking area. That is, it is considered that the service area or the parking area facility exists at the stop position, and the service area or the parking area facility data is added to the position on the map database. The effect is obtained that the facility data of the service area or the parking area can be automatically added to the map database together with the location without giving the trouble.

In order to more reliably avoid erroneous recognition especially when the vehicle is stopped due to traffic congestion, the service area or the parking area is located at the stop position only when the stop position is shifted, for example, by 10 m to 50 m or more from the motorway. May exist, and the facility data of the service area or the parking area may be added to the position on the map database.

Further, for the same reason, it is assumed that the facility in the service area or the parking area exists at the stop position only when the ignition is turned off.
The facility data of the service area or the parking area may be added to the position on the map database.

Embodiment 4 FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
In the figure, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 81 denotes a photographing unit for photographing an image outside the vehicle by a television camera or the like mounted outside the vehicle. Is an image data extracting means for extracting the image data. Reference numeral 83 denotes a facility position calculating means for calculating the position of the facility displaying the logo mark from the current position data acquired by the current position detecting means 13 and the image data photographed by the photographing means 81. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the map database storage means 11 stores facility logos and information related thereto, for example, facility data including facility types and names. The map database storage means 11
Although it corresponds to the facility data storage means, the facility data storage means may be provided separately from the map database storage means 11.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation device according to the fourth embodiment for adding the facility data of the shop displaying the logo mark on a signboard or the like to the map database.

Step ST131, step ST132
Are the steps ST101 and ST1 of the first embodiment.
The description is omitted because it is the same as 102.

In step ST133, for example, an image of an arbitrary point shown in FIG. 10 is photographed by the photographing means 81 attached to the vehicle. Next, step ST13
In step 4, for example, the pattern data of the logo mark shown in FIG. Next, the image data extracting means 82 performs step S
In T135, a logo mark having the same pattern as the pattern data of the logo mark read out in step ST134 is extracted from the video shot in step ST133,
In step ST136, it is determined whether a logo mark having the same pattern has been found. For example, FIG. 10, FIG.
In the case of 1, it is determined that the logo of FIG. 12 has been found.
If a logo mark having the same pattern cannot be found, the process is terminated.
At 37, the position of the facility displaying the logo is calculated by the facility position calculating means 83.

Here, when there is no logo mark having the same pattern, the user may newly register a pattern extracted from the image data.

Next, in step ST138, it is determined whether or not facility data having the logo extracted in step ST136 exists at the position calculated in step ST137 in the map database. Subsequent processing is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will not be repeated.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, if a logo mark having the same pattern as the previously stored logo mark pattern data exists in the captured image data, the logo mark is It is assumed that there is a facility such as a store that displays the logo mark at the existing location, and the facility data corresponding to the logo mark is added to the location on the map database, so that the trouble of registering the user is troublesome. There is an effect that facility data having a logo can be automatically added to the map database together with its position without giving it.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the stop of the vehicle is detected and the increase in the fuel amount is measured, the map database is stored so that the facility of the gas station exists at the stop position. Since the data is configured to be added to the means, it is possible to safely and accurately add the gas station facility data to the map database without giving the user the trouble of registering the location of the facility. is there.

According to the present invention, when the stop of the vehicle is detected and the opening of the fuel tank cover is detected,
Since the data is added to the map database storage means so that the facility of the gas station is present at the stop position, the configuration is very simple, without giving the user the trouble of registering the location of the facility. This has the effect that the facility data of the gas station can be safely and accurately added to the map database.

According to the present invention, when the stop of the vehicle is detected and the rotation of the vehicle over a certain angle is detected,
Since the data is added to the map database storage means so that the facility of the rotary parking lot is present at the stop position, it is safe and accurate without giving the user the trouble of registering the location of the facility. There is an effect that facility data of the revolving parking lot can be added to the map database.

According to the present invention, when the stop of the vehicle is detected and the stop position of the vehicle is out of the dedicated road for driving, the facility of the service area or the parking area exists at the stop position. As described above, the data is added to the map database storage means, so that the facility data of the service area or the parking area can be safely and accurately stored in the map database without giving the user the trouble of registering the location of the facility. The effect is that it can be added.

According to the present invention, the position of the photographed facility is measured based on the current position and the photographed image data, and the data is added to the map database storage means so that the facility exists at the measured position of the facility. With such a configuration, the image data of the facility can be added to the map database safely and accurately without giving the user the trouble of registering the location of the facility. As a result, facility data such as gas stations, rotary parking lots, service areas and parking areas are automatically added to the map database based on changes in vehicle conditions, so real-time map information can be obtained. There is an effect that the latest map database can always be obtained without newly purchasing the input map database storage medium.

According to the present invention, facility data including a facility logo and information related thereto is stored,
Extract the logo of the facility from the captured image data,
When the extracted logo of the facility is stored as facility data, the data is added to the map database storage means so that the facility data exists at the position of the measured facility. The facility information of the facility displaying the logo can be added to the map database with a type and a name, and can be used for searching for a facility, displaying only a specific facility on a map, and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the navigation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of an overall operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of an overall operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of an overall operation in Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of an overall operation in Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of image data photographed by photographing means according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a logo mark pattern in a map database according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an example of extracting a logo mark according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional traveling information display device.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional navigation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 map database storage means, 13 current position detection means, 14 system control means, 15 fuel amount measurement means, 41 rotation angle calculation means, 81 photographing means, 82 image data extraction means, 83 facility position calculation means.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A map database storing means for storing map data; a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of a vehicle and a stop of the vehicle; a fuel amount measuring means for measuring a fuel amount of the vehicle; When the stop of the vehicle is detected by the detection means, and when the increase in the fuel amount is measured by the fuel amount detection means, the gas station facility is located at the stop position detected by the current position detection means. A navigation device comprising: a system control unit for adding data to a map database storage unit. 2. Map database storage means for storing map data; current position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle and stopping of the vehicle; cover opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of a fuel tank cover of the vehicle; When the stop of the vehicle is detected by the current position detecting means and the opening of the fuel tank cover is detected by the cover opening / closing detecting means, a gas station facility exists at the stop position detected by the current position detecting means. And a system control means for adding data to the map database storage means. 3. A map database storage unit that stores map data; a current position detection unit that detects a current position of the vehicle and a stop of the vehicle; a rotation angle calculation unit that calculates a rotation angle of the vehicle; When the stop of the vehicle is detected by the detection means, and when the rotation of the vehicle by a certain angle or more is detected by the rotation angle calculation means, the facility of the rotary parking lot is located at the stop position detected by the current position detection means. And a system control means for adding data to the map database storage means so as to exist. 4. A map database storing means for storing map data; a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of the vehicle and a stop of the vehicle; a stop of the vehicle being detected by the current position detecting means; When the stop position of the vehicle detected by the position detection means is a position deviating from the dedicated automobile road on the map data stored in the map database storage means, the stop position detected by the current position detection means And a system control means for adding data to the map database storage means so that a service area or a parking area facility exists. 5. A map database storing map data; a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of the vehicle; a photographing means for photographing the outside of the vehicle; and an image for extracting a facility from the image data photographed by the photographing means. Data extraction means, facility position measurement means for measuring the current position detected by the current position detection means and the position of the facility photographed by the photographing means based on the image data extracted by the image data extraction means, A navigation device comprising: a system control unit that adds data to the map database storage unit so that the facility exists at the location of the facility measured by the facility position measurement unit. 6. A facility data storage means for storing facility data including facility logos and information related thereto, wherein the image data extracting means converts the facility logos from the image data photographed by the photographing means. The system control means extracts the facility data stored in the facility data storage means when the logo of the facility extracted by the image data extraction means is stored in the facility position measured by the facility position measurement means. 6. The navigation device according to claim 5, wherein data is added to the map database storage means so that the facility data stored in the storage means exists.