JP2000046570A - Navigation apparatus for vehicles and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly recognize map information near a route by writing and displaying a road guide map, including building names from building shape map data, retrieving buildings along the route and changing the display mode of the building names. SOLUTION: Relative to a map display a having no guide route, a guide route in a map display b, including searched guide routes, is indicated bolder than other roads with a changed color tone. The names of facilities in a site adjacent the guide route are indicated with letters of e.g. Seikyo, Einan, Nisshin Stn., etc., offset to right or left to avoid masking the guide route. A central processing unit reads the building shape map data from an information memory, detects the site shape of the facilities from coordinate data thereof, judges whether the site contacts the guide route, and if contacting, offsets the indication letters of the facilities name to right or left with indication of the letters Seikyo, Einan, Nisshin Stn., etc., enhanced with bold lines, thus quickly acquiring the map information near the guide route.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicular navigation apparatus and a storage medium which facilitate the recognition of character information of a facility near a set route and enable quick grasp of map information near the route.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional navigation device,
A map around the current location is displayed at the set scale,
When the guide route is searched, the guide route is displayed so as to overlap the map. Therefore, a map displayed when a route is not provided is also displayed when no route is set. Therefore, character information such as a facility name, a facility name with a symbol, and the like, which are displayed on a map, are always displayed in a uniform display form. In addition, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-243393 discloses a technique in which a character overlapping a path is determined, and a character determined to be on the path is offset so as not to overlap the path.

[0003]

However, in the conventional navigation device, the character information is displayed in a uniform display form, and the guidance route and the map information are often displayed in an overlapping manner, so that the screen is complicated. Therefore, the user could not quickly grasp the route and the map information around the route. In addition, if the character determined to be on the route is offset so as not to overlap with the route, the character information existing on the route can be easily recognized, but it is recognized whether or not the information is near the route. Can not.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to be able to easily recognize whether or not information is near a route and to quickly grasp map information near the route.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of a vehicle, an input means for inputting information necessary for searching for a destination or a route, and Display means for displaying road map information; road data, information storage means for storing data necessary for route guidance such as building shape map data including the name of the building, and information inputted by the input means and Route setting means for setting a route to a destination based on data stored in the information storage means; and a route for the building based on the route set by the route setting means and the data stored in the information storage means. Control means for drawing a guide road map including a name and outputting it to the display means, wherein the control means comprises:
It is characterized in that a building along the route is searched from the building shape map data stored in the information storage means, and a display form of the searched building name is changed. Also,
In the present invention, the control means compares a road along the building in the building shape map data with the searched route, searches for a building along a route that matches the two, and searches the searched building. The display form of the object name is changed. Further, in the present invention, the control unit searches for a building along the route from the shape information of the building shape map data stored in the information storage unit, and changes a display form of the searched building name. It is characterized by the following. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the building along the route faces the route. Further, the invention is characterized in that the building along the route exists within a predetermined range from the route. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the change of the display form is a highlighting of a building name and / or a movement in a predetermined direction with respect to a route of the building name. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the building name is moved so as not to overlap the route. Further, the present invention is further characterized in that the display of the name of the building distant from the route is difficult to see. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the display mode is changed in a different manner depending on the presence or absence of a calculated route and whether the vehicle is traveling or stopped. Further, in the present invention, the control unit searches for a building whose name is displayed on a map screen from the building shape map data stored in the information storage unit,
The display form of the building name is changed based on the positional relationship between the searched building and the route.

Further, the storage medium of the present invention includes a step of detecting a current position of a vehicle, a step of inputting information necessary for searching for a destination and a route, and displaying road map information for route guidance. Displaying on the information storage means data necessary for route guidance such as road data, building shape map data including the name of the building, and storing the input information and the information in the information storage means Setting a route to a destination based on the set data and drawing a guide road map including the name of the building based on the set route and the stored data, and outputting the map to the display means. Searching for a building along the route from the building shape map data stored in the information storage means, and changing a display form of the searched building name. And characterized by storing a that program. Further, the storage medium of the present invention includes a step of detecting a current position of the vehicle, a step of inputting information necessary for searching for a destination and a route, and a step of displaying road map information for route guidance on display means. And storing data necessary for route guidance, such as road data, building shape map data including the name of the building, in the information storage means, and input information and data stored in the information storage means. Setting a route to a destination based on the information, and drawing a guide road map including the name of the building based on the set route and data stored in the information storage means and outputting the guide road map to the display means Searching for a building whose name is displayed on the map screen from the building shape map data stored in the information storage means, based on the positional relationship between the searched building and the route. That stores a program and a step of changing the display form of the building name Te characterized.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a vehicle navigation device of the present invention. The navigation device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes an input device 1 for inputting information on route guidance, a current position detection device 2 for detecting information on a current position of the own vehicle, navigation data and route guidance required for route calculation. Required display / voice guidance data and programs (application and / or OS)
Storage device 3 in which information and the like are recorded, a central processing unit 4 which performs display / voice guidance processing necessary for route search processing and route guidance, and controls the entire system, for example, road information which is information related to vehicle travel An information transmitting / receiving device 5 for transmitting and receiving traffic information, detecting information on the current position of the vehicle, and transmitting and receiving information on the current position, and an output device 6 for outputting information on route guidance.

The input device 1 has a function of inputting a destination and instructing the central processing unit 4 to perform a navigation process according to a driver's intention. As a means for realizing the function, a touch switch, a remote controller, or the like that inputs a destination by a telephone number or coordinates on a map, or requests route guidance can be used. It is also possible to add a voice recognition device for enabling voice input and a recording card reader for reading data recorded on an IC card or a magnetic card. In addition, an information center that stores data necessary for navigation and provides information through a communication line at the request of the driver, and a portable type that has data such as map data, destination data, simple maps, and building shape maps A data communication device for exchanging data with an information source such as an electronic device can also be added.

The current position detecting device 2 obtains the current position information of the vehicle using a satellite navigation system (GPS), and detects the traveling direction of the vehicle in an absolute direction by using, for example, geomagnetism. Sensor, a traveling direction of the vehicle, for example, a steering sensor, a relative direction sensor that detects the relative direction by using a gyro sensor,
For example, it comprises a distance sensor for detecting the traveling distance of the vehicle from the number of rotations of the wheels.

The information storage device 3 is an external storage device that stores navigation programs and data, and is composed of, for example, a CD-ROM. The program is a program for performing a process such as a route search, a processing program shown in the flowchart described in the present embodiment, a program for performing a display output control necessary for route guidance, a program for performing a voice output control required for voice guidance, and Necessary data, and display information data necessary for route guidance and map display are stored. The data to be stored include map data,
Building shape map data, search data, guidance data, map matching data, destination data, registered point data,
It consists of files such as road data, genre data, and landmark data including width information, and stores all data necessary for the navigation device. The present invention is also applicable to a type in which only data is stored in a CD-ROM and a program is stored in a central processing unit.

The central processing unit 4 includes a CPU 40 for executing various arithmetic processing, a flash memory 41 for reading and storing programs from the CD-ROM of the information storage device 3,
ROM 42 storing a program (program reading means) for performing program check and update processing of flash memory 41, set point coordinates of destination, road name code No. The RAM 43 temporarily stores the route guidance information searched and the data being processed.
In addition, although not shown, a voice, a phrase, a single sentence, a sound, etc. read from the information storage device 3 based on a voice output control signal from the CPU are synthesized and converted into an analog signal. Processor, which outputs the data to a speaker, a communication interface for exchanging input / output data by communication, a sensor input interface for receiving a sensor signal of the current position detection device 2, and a clock for writing date and time in internal diagnostic information And so on. Note that a program for performing the above-described update processing may be stored in an external storage device. The program according to the present invention and other programs for executing navigation may all be stored in a CD-ROM as an external storage medium, or some or all of these programs may be stored in the ROM 42 of the main unit. Good.

The data and programs stored in the external storage medium are input as external signals to the central processing unit of the navigation apparatus main body and are subjected to arithmetic processing, thereby realizing various navigation functions.

The navigation device according to the present invention has a relatively large capacity flash memory 41 for reading a program from the CD-ROM of the external storage device, as described above.
A small-capacity ROM 42 storing a program (program reading means) for performing a CD boot process is built in.
The flash memory 41 is a non-volatile storage unit that retains stored information even when the power is turned off. Then, as a start-up process of the CD, the program in the ROM 42 which is a program reading means is started, the program stored in the flash memory 41 is checked, and disk management information of the CD-ROM of the information storage device 3 is read. The program loading process (update process)
The determination is performed based on this information and the state of the flash memory 41.

The information transmitting / receiving device 5 is a GPS receiving device that obtains information using a satellite navigation system (GPS);
Using a VICS information receiving device, a mobile phone, a personal computer, etc. to obtain information using FM multiplex broadcasting, radio wave beacon, optical beacon, etc., enables bidirectional information exchange with an information center (for example, ATIS) and other vehicles. It is composed of a data transmitting / receiving device for communicating with the device.

The output device 6 has a function of outputting guidance information by voice and / or screen when the driver needs it, and a function of printing out data or the like subjected to navigation processing by the central processing unit 4. As means for this, a display for displaying input data on a screen and a route guidance screen, a printer for printing out data processed by the central processing unit 4 and data stored in the information storage device 3, and voice guidance for route guidance are provided. It has a speaker to output.

The display is constituted by a simple liquid crystal display or the like, and displays an intersection enlarged map screen based on map data and guidance data processed by the central processing unit 4, a destination name, a time, a distance, a traveling direction arrow and the like. indicate. Since the image data sent to the display is binary image data (bitmap data), a communication line used for serial communication or the like is used instead of a dedicated image signal line. A communication line can also be used. In addition,
The display is provided with a memory for temporarily storing bitmap data.

This display is provided in the instrument panel near the driver's seat, and the driver can check the current position of the own vehicle by looking at the display and obtain information on a route from now on. . Also,
Although illustration is omitted, using a tablet including a touch panel, a touch screen, etc. on the display screen of the display,
By touching or tracing the screen, a point input, a road input, or the like may be performed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the entire system of the vehicle navigation system according to the present invention.
When the CPU 40 of the central processing unit 4 reads the program from the information storage device 3 and starts the route guidance program, the current position detecting device 2 detects the current position and displays a map around the current position with the current position as the center. At the same time, the name of the current position and the like are displayed (step S1). Next, target names such as place names and facility names, telephone numbers and addresses, registered locations,
A destination is set using a road name or the like (step S2), and a route search from the current position to the destination is performed (step S2).
3). When the route is determined, the route guidance / display is repeated until the vehicle arrives at the destination while tracking the current position by the current position detecting device 2 (step S4). If a detour setting is input before arriving at the destination, a search area is set, a re-search is performed in the search area, and route guidance is repeated until the vehicle arrives at the destination.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a building shape map. The information storage device 3 stores building shape map data. The building shape map data includes buildings (general houses, office buildings, condominiums, fire departments, department stores, hospitals, stations, etc.), facilities (towers, parks, amusement parks, playgrounds, etc.), bridges, roads and other various types. This is data for drawing and displaying a so-called building shape. As shown in the figure, data of each of N buildings is stored next to the number N of data of the buildings. The data of each building includes information on the building name, address (address), type, building shape, height, and details. The name is the name of a building, the name of a resident of a private house, the name of the facility if it is a facility, the type of road such as "Chuo-dori" or "National Route 1" if it is a road. The street name, and the address (address) is the address of the building. The shape of the building is represented by the number of coordinates n representing the shape and its coordinate values (x ₀ , y ₀ ), (x ₁ , y ₁ ),.
_n-1 , y _n-1 ), which is the planar shape of a general house, building, or other building, and the planar terrain of a park or road. The type is information on general houses, condominiums, office buildings, public facilities, roads, parks, and the like. The height is information on the floor number and the height (m). For details, for example, in the case of a building for rent, it is information on each occupant. Industry, business description).

Next, a map display method according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 shows a display example of a guide map around the current position at a predetermined scale. FIG. 4A is a map display in the case where there is no guidance route, in which marks indicating the current position and the traveling direction of the vehicle, roads, railways, facility names, and the like are displayed. FIG. 4B is an example of a map display when there is a searched guidance route. The guide route is displayed thicker than other roads or displayed in a different color tone, and the name of the facility on the site adjacent to the route is displayed.
The characters "Eiminami" and "Nisshin Station" have been moved left and right so that they do not overlap or overlap the route. This display processing is performed by the central processing unit 4 by the information storage device 3.
Reads the building shape map data from, detects the site shape of the facility from the coordinate data, determines whether the site is on the route, and if so, moves the character indicating the facility name to the left or right This is done by offsetting. At the same time, the facility names near the route, “Seiko”, “JA”, “Einan”, and “Nisshin Station” are highlighted with a bold line, and it can be accurately recognized whether or not the information is near the route. In addition, map information around the route can be quickly grasped.

FIG. 4C shows another example of display when there is a searched guide route. The guide route is displayed thicker than other roads, and the names of the facilities on the premises that are in contact with the route are displayed, for example, the characters "Seiko", "Sakae Minami", and "Nisshin Station" do not overlap or do not overlap As shown in FIG. 4, the names of the facilities near the route, “Seiko”, “JA”, “Einan”, and “Nisshin Station” are highlighted with thick lines.
This is the same as the case of (b). Furthermore, facility names other than the above, for example, "nursery school", "Chuo Park", "junior high school",
The character "Nisshin Hospital" is displayed in a tone-down state to make it difficult to see, so that the map information near the route can be grasped more quickly than in FIG. 4B. It is also possible to determine whether the vehicle is running or stopped and display the map shown in FIG. 4B while the vehicle is stopped, and switch to the map display shown in FIG. 4C while the vehicle is running.

As another method for determining the object whose display form is to be changed, as shown in FIG. 5, "roads along" exist along the building in the building shape map data (see FIG. 3). Information, and the road along which the building is located is searched from the "road along" information.
If the searched road information is compared with the road information of the searched route and the road numbers are the same, the display form of the building may be changed.

As a method of determining an object whose display mode is to be changed (offset or highlighting), the site of the facility is not limited to the route, overlaps or touches the route as described above. There are some,
Alternatively, it may be determined by a method such that the representative point of the facility is within a predetermined range from the route. Alternatively, these determination methods may be registered, the determination method may be manually selected, and the display mode may be changed based on the selected method. Also, if the display form is changed during route scrolling (scrolling when the position of the vehicle is moved along the route on the screen) or during a demonstration run, the screen can be easily viewed. be able to.

Further, the following method can be adopted as a display method of a building name when there is a searched guidance route. That is, in the building shape map data shown in FIG. 3, display level information for each scale for each building name (information on whether or not the name should be displayed corresponding to the map scale displayed for each building name, For example, in a wide area map, only important names are displayed, and the more detailed maps are, the more names are displayed in accordance with the degree of importance. Therefore, when the user inputs a desired scale, the building name to be displayed on the map screen corresponding to the input scale can be searched from the display level information. Therefore, since it is possible to first search for a building whose name is to be displayed on the map screen and determine whether to change the display form of the name for the searched building, for example, in a wide area, In a map, there are many buildings whose names are not displayed on the map screen, but the processing time required for changing the display form of the names on the map screen can be shortened. The display form of the searched building may be changed in the same manner as described above.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a processing flow for moving the name display position. When the guide route is searched and the facility to be displayed is determined, the building shape map data is read out, the site shape of the facility is determined from the coordinate data, and the center position of the facility is detected (step S11). Next, it is determined whether or not the center position of the facility is on the left side of the guidance route (step S12), and when it is on the left side, the right end position of the facility name to be displayed is detected (step S13). Then
It is determined whether or not the right end position of the detected name overlaps the guidance route (step S14), and if not, the display position is not moved (step S15). On the other hand, when the right end position of the name overlaps the guidance route, the intersection position between the guidance route and the display name is detected (step S16),
Further, the distance between the detected intersection position and the right end of the name is calculated (step S17), and the amount of movement of the display position to the left is calculated based on the distance between the right end of the name and the intersection of the guide route and the name (step S17). Step S18). Next, the display position of the name is moved leftward by the calculated movement amount (step S
19) Display the facility name on the map (step S2)
7).

On the other hand, when the center position of the facility is not on the left side of the route in step S12, the left end position of the displayed facility name is detected (step S20). Next, it is determined whether or not the left end position of the detected name overlaps the guidance route (step S21), and if not, the display position is not moved (step S22). On the other hand, when the left end position of the name overlaps the guidance route, the intersection position between the guidance route and the display name is detected (step S23), and the distance between the detected intersection position and the left end of the name is calculated (step S24). Then, based on the distance from the left end of the name to the intersection of the guide route and the name, the amount of movement of the display position to the right is calculated (step S25). Next, the display position of the name is moved rightward by the calculated movement amount (step S2).
6) Display the facility name on the map (step S2)
7).

In this way, the facility name is not displayed on the guide route. The moving distance of the name is
In addition to the distance until the end of the character coincides with the route as described above, the distance may be set to be a predetermined distance away from the route, so as not to be far away from the facility and to be easily seen.
In the above description, the names are moved in the left-right direction. However, if the names of the facilities overlap with other facility names as a result of the movement, if the names are other names that are not so necessary for route guidance, the display is erased. If it is not preferable to erase the display, the moving direction may be an oblique direction or an up-down direction.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing flow for highlighting the facility names near the guidance route as shown in FIG.
When the guidance route is searched, the position on the screen displaying the route is detected (step S31), and the site where the facility to be displayed is located is detected (step S3).
2). This process reads the building shape map data,
The site of the facility to be displayed is obtained from the coordinate data. Next, it is determined whether the detected site is in contact with the guidance route (step S33). If not, it is further determined whether the guidance route is passing through the corresponding site (step S34). . If the corresponding site is in contact with the guidance route or the guidance route is passing through the site, the site name is highlighted near the route (step S35). If the site does not follow the guide route, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is traveling (step S36). When the vehicle is stopped, the display of the facility name is not changed (step S37). The display of the name is displayed in a tone-down manner to make it difficult to see (step S38), and the highlighted display of the facility name in the site is further raised. In addition, as a method of highlighting,
An appropriate method such as changing the color, enlarging the character, widening the character width, or blinking the character may be adopted.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the facility near the set route is searched, and the character information of the facility is displayed differently from the normal character information display method. The user can easily recognize whether or not the information is in the vicinity of the route, and can quickly grasp the map information in the vicinity of the route.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a vehicle navigation device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the entire system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a main data file.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of character offset and highlight display.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the building shape map data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a character offset processing flow.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing flow for performing character highlighting.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Input device, 2 ... Current position detection device, 3 ... Information storage device, 4 ... Central processing device, 5 ... Information transmission / reception device, 6 ... Output device.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takanori Kaji 10 Takane, Fujii-machi, Anjo, Aichi Prefecture Inside Aisin AW Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyoshi Masuda 10 Takane, Fujii-cho, Anjo, Aichi Prefecture Aisin・ F-term in AW Corporation (reference)

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A current position detecting means for detecting a current position of a vehicle; an input means for inputting information necessary for searching for a destination or a route; and a display means for displaying road map information for route guidance. Information storage means storing data necessary for route guidance, such as road data, building shape map data including the name of the building, etc .; information input by the input means and data stored in the information storage means. Route setting means for setting a route to a destination on the basis of a route, and drawing a guide road map including a name of a building based on the route set by the route setting means and data stored in the information storage means. Control means for outputting to the display means, the control means searching for a building along the route from the building shape map data stored in the information storage means, A navigation device for a vehicle, wherein a display form of a searched building name is changed. 2. The control means compares a road along the building in the building shape map data with the searched route, and searches for a building along a route that matches the two. The vehicle navigation device according to claim 1, wherein a display mode of the building name is changed. 3. The control means searches for a building along the route from the shape information of the building shape map data stored in the information storage means, and changes the display form of the searched building name. The vehicle navigation device according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The vehicle navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the building along the route faces the route. 5. The vehicle navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the building along the route exists within a predetermined range from the route. 6. The vehicular navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the change of the display form is a highlighting of a building name and / or a movement in a predetermined direction with respect to a route of the building name. 7. The vehicle navigation device according to claim 6, wherein the building name is moved so as not to overlap the route. 8. The vehicular navigation device according to claim 6, wherein the display of the name of the building away from the route is made difficult to see. 9. The rain navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the change of the display mode is different depending on the presence or absence of a calculated route, and whether the vehicle is traveling or stopped. 10. A current position detecting means for detecting a current position of a vehicle, an input means for inputting information necessary for searching for a destination or a route, and a display means for displaying road map information for route guidance. Information storage means storing data necessary for route guidance, such as road data, building shape map data including the name of the building, etc .; information input by the input means and data stored in the information storage means. Route setting means for setting a route to a destination on the basis of a route, and drawing a guide road map including a name of a building based on the route set by the route setting means and data stored in the information storage means. And control means for outputting to the display means, the control means is configured to display a building whose name is displayed on a map screen from building shape map data stored in the information storage means. A navigation device for a vehicle, wherein a display mode of a building name is changed based on a positional relationship between a searched building and a route. 11. A step of detecting a current position of a vehicle, a step of inputting information necessary for searching for a destination or a route, a step of displaying road map information for route guidance on a display means, Storing in the information storage means data necessary for route guidance such as road data, building shape map data including the name of the building, and the like based on the input information and the data stored in the information storage means. Setting a route to the ground, drawing a guide road map including the name of the building based on the set route and the stored data, and outputting the guide road map to the display means; and Searching for a building along the route from the stored building shape map data, and changing the display form of the searched building name.憶 the storage medium. 12. A step of detecting a current position of the vehicle, a step of inputting information necessary for searching for a destination or a route, a step of displaying road map information for route guidance on a display means, Storing in the information storage means data necessary for route guidance such as road data, building shape map data including the name of the building, and the like based on the input information and the data stored in the information storage means. Setting a route to the ground, drawing a guide road map including a name of a building based on the set route and data stored in the information storage means, and outputting the guide road map to the display means, The building whose name is displayed on the map screen is searched from the building shape map data stored in the information storage means, and the building is constructed based on the positional relationship between the searched building and the route. Changing the display form of the object name; and a storage medium storing a program having the following.