JP2001153667A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation device capable of easily confirming a road name of the screen of a display part. SOLUTION: When its own vehicle mark 32 agrees with a road, and the road is a road 33a on which the vehicle is traveling at present, a road name 34a is displayed at a position on the road 33a regularly separated forward by a specified (fixed) distance from its own vehicle mark 32.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device mounted on a vehicle for guiding the route of the vehicle to a destination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, navigation devices have been mounted on many vehicles because of convenience and low cost. This navigation device measures the current position of the vehicle using a GPS receiver, a gyroscope, or the like, and obtains the results shown in FIGS.
As shown in (c), a current position mark (hereinafter, referred to as a vehicle mark) 11 of a vehicle and a road map 1 around the current position are shown.
2 is displayed on the screen 13 of the display unit to guide the route of the vehicle to the destination. At this time, a road name 15 is added to each road 14 displayed on the screen 13 of the display unit, so that the traveling of the vehicle on the unfamiliar land can be more highly supported.

Conventionally, the road name 15 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b) and (c), it is displayed at a fixed position on each road 14. As shown in FIG. 10, it is also possible to secure a road name display space 13a at an upper portion or a lower portion (upper portion in FIG. 10) of the screen 13 of the display unit, and to display the name of the road 15 which is currently traveling there. Have been done. This latter method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-222125, in which a road space is displayed at the bottom of the screen while a display space is secured.

[0004]

However, in the method of displaying the road name 15 at a fixed position on each road 14 as shown in FIG. 9, the method shown in FIG. 9 (a) → (b) →
When the road 14 advances as shown in FIG. 9C, the own vehicle mark 11 overlaps the road name 15 as shown in FIG. 9A, and the road name cannot be confirmed, or the road name as shown in FIG. Fifteen
(National Highway 20) may be displaced from the screen 13 of the display unit, and the road name may not be able to be confirmed. On the other hand, FIG.
In the method of securing the display space 13a at the top and bottom of the screen 13 of the display unit and displaying the road name 15 as shown in FIG.
The vehicle name 11 overlaps the road name 15 or the road name 15
Does not deviate from the screen 13, but there is a problem that it is difficult to recognize the road name only by looking at the vicinity of the own vehicle mark 11 where the viewpoint is easy to place.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device that makes it easy to confirm a road name on a screen of a display unit.

[0006]

A first navigation apparatus according to the present invention is a navigation apparatus which displays a measured current position on a screen of a display unit together with a road map around the current position and guides a course to a destination. When a road on the screen of the display unit is a road that matches the current position mark, the road name is displayed at a position on the road that is separated from the current position mark by a specific distance ahead.

In the first device, when the road name is at the branch point, it is preferable to display the road name at a position further away so as not to cross the branch point.

A second navigation apparatus according to the present invention is a navigation apparatus for displaying a measured current position on a screen of a display unit together with a road map around the same to guide a course to a destination. If the road is out of the current position mark or when scrolling, find the shortest point with the road based on the specific position on the screen,
A road name is displayed at the shortest point position.

In the second apparatus, when the road on the screen of the display unit is a road deviating from the current position mark, the specific position on the screen is preferably the current position mark or the center of the screen. On the other hand, when scrolling, the specific position on the screen is preferably the center of the screen. Further, a point where an ellipse gradually expanding around a specific position on the screen comes into contact with the road first can be set as the shortest point from the specific position. Further, when there are a plurality of shortest points, it is preferable to display the road name at the shortest point in front of the road.

A third navigation device according to the present invention is a navigation device for displaying a measured current position on a screen of a display unit together with a road map around the same to guide a course to a destination. When the road is a road deviating from the current position mark or when scrolling, a road name is displayed at the center of the displayed road.

A fourth navigation device according to the present invention is a navigation device which displays a measured current position on a screen of a display unit together with a road map around the same to guide a course to a destination. Is bent at a branch point, the same road name is displayed on the road with the same road name ahead and behind the branch point.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a navigation device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the navigation device of the present invention. The navigation device includes a measuring unit 21, a control unit 22, an input unit 23, and a display unit 24.
And a map information storage medium 25, which is mounted on a vehicle (not shown).

The measuring section 21 has a GPS receiver, a gyroscope and the like, and repeatedly measures the current position of the vehicle on which the navigation device is mounted, for example, once a second. The input unit 23 has a plurality of keys (not shown)
Various information such as an operation mode of the navigation device, a departure place and a destination of the vehicle are input. The map information storage medium 25 is composed of a CD-ROM or the like, and stores road maps and road names in various places. The display unit 24 is composed of an LCD display or the like, and displays various information such as a menu when an operation mode is selected and a road map and a road name read from the map information storage medium 25.

The control unit 22 comprises a CPU or the like, and controls the entire navigation device. At the time of route guidance, the navigation device-equipped vehicle (hereinafter referred to as own vehicle) measured by the measurement unit 21 is used. According to the current position, road maps around the current position are sequentially read from the map information storage medium 25, and the road maps shown in FIGS. 1 (a), (b), (c), and (d) are read.
As shown in FIG. 2, the road map 31 and the current position mark (hereinafter referred to as the own vehicle mark) 32 of the own vehicle are displayed on the display unit 2.
4 is sequentially displayed on the screen 24a, and the route of the own vehicle is guided to the destination input by the input unit 23.

At this time, the control unit 22 simultaneously reads the road name 34 from the map information storage medium 25 and
A road name 34 is displayed on each road 33 in the road map 31 of a, for example, in the form of a road sign (symbol). At this time, if the road coincides with the own vehicle mark 32 and the road is the road 33a on which the own vehicle is currently traveling, the road 33a which is always separated from the own vehicle mark 32 by a specific (constant) distance ahead. The road name 34a is displayed at the upper position.

FIGS. 1 (a), 1 (b), 1 (c) and 1 (d)
Road 33 on the screen 24a of the display unit 24 as the vehicle travels
Shows that the vehicle travels in the order of (a) → (b) → (c) → (d). Regarding the road 33a on which the own vehicle runs, the road 33a which is always a certain distance forward from the own vehicle mark 32 Road name 34a (Route 20) in the form of a road sign at the upper position
Is displayed. In this way, the road name 34a is always displayed at a certain distance in front of the own vehicle mark 32 where a person can easily place the viewpoint (the person places the viewpoint in front of the own vehicle mark or the own vehicle mark). This makes it easier to confirm the name of the road currently running. In addition, according to this method, it is not necessary to secure a space for displaying the road name at the top or bottom of the screen of the display unit.
The map display space can be enlarged, making the map easier to read.

As described above, when the road name 34a is displayed on the road 33a at a fixed distance in front of the own vehicle mark 32, the road name is indicated by a dotted line 41 in FIG. In the case of a T-junction as shown in FIG. 2, as shown in FIG. 2, the road name 34a (National Highway 16) may be displayed at a position further away so as not to reach the junction. In this way, the branch point is not hidden by the road name 34a, and the branch point can be easily confirmed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining another road name display operation in the embodiment of the present invention. This display operation is a road name display for a road 33b other than the road on which the vehicle travels. When the own vehicle mark 32 deviates from the road 33b and the road 33b is a road other than the road on which the own vehicle is currently traveling, as shown in FIG.
The shortest point with the road 33b is determined based on the specific position a, in this example, the center of the screen 24a, and the road name 34b (National Highway 56) is displayed at the shortest point in the form of a road sign. At this time, the specific position of the screen serving as the reference of the shortest point is the screen 24
The vehicle mark 32 may be used instead of the center of a. When the road name 34b is displayed on the road 33b in this manner, the road name is displayed at a position where the line of sight is easily accessible, so that it is easy to confirm the road names other than the road on which the own vehicle runs.

The method of displaying the road name by finding the shortest point as described above can be applied to scrolling. Although not shown, at the time of scrolling, the shortest points are obtained for both the road 33a on which the vehicle travels and the road 33b other than the road on which the vehicle travels based on the center of the screen 24a of the display unit 24. The road name is displayed at the shortest point position of.

The road 33 other than the road on which the vehicle runs
Regarding b, as shown in FIG. 4, a road name 34b may be displayed at the center of the displayed road 33b to facilitate confirmation of the road name. This method of displaying at the center can be applied also at the time of scrolling. At the time of scrolling, although not shown, both the road 33a on which the own vehicle runs and the road 33b other than the road on which the own vehicle runs are displayed. Display each road name at the center.

FIGS. 3 and 4 also show scrolling.
If the display method is adopted, the road name is always displayed even when scrolling, so that the road name can be easily confirmed without scrolling more than necessary.

By the way, as shown in FIG.
When the shortest point is obtained from a specific position of the road and the road name is displayed, the circle is gradually enlarged from the specific position on the screen 24a as shown in FIG. In other words, the road name 34 is displayed at the intersection of 33. On the other hand, the visual field range of a human is an ellipse. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, an ellipse, not a circle, is expanded from a specific position on the screen 24a, and the point where the ellipse first contacts the road 33 is defined as the shortest point from the specific position.
4 may be displayed. By doing so, the road name is always displayed within the visual field range, so that it becomes easier to confirm the road name. Here, when there are a plurality of shortest points as indicated by P1 and P2 in FIG. 6, the road name 34 is displayed at the position of the shortest point P2 in front of the road where the line of sight is more easily directed.
Then, as for the road 33b other than the road on which the vehicle travels, the road name 34b is normally displayed in front of the vehicle mark 32.

In FIG. 6, for the road 33b other than the road on which the vehicle runs, the shortest point indicated by the ellipse is the road name 34.
b, the search for the shortest point by the ellipse is also applied during scrolling, and the road 33a on which the vehicle travels is displayed.
The road name can be displayed at the shortest point of the ellipse for both the road 34b and the other road 34b. Further, the above-described method of selecting the shortest point when there are a plurality of shortest points, that is, the method of selecting the shortest point in front of the road is also applied to the case where the shortest point is searched for using the perfect circles in FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining still another road name display operation in the embodiment of the present invention. This display operation is performed when a road having the same road name is bent at a branch point such as a T-junction or a crossroad. In that case, as shown in FIG. 7, the same road name 3 in the form of a road sign is respectively provided on the road 33c having the same road name in front and behind the branch point D1.
4c (National Route 16) is displayed. If you do this,
A road with the same road name can be easily checked at a branch point.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail. According to this embodiment, since the road name is always displayed at a position where the line of sight naturally turns, it becomes easy to confirm the road name, and T
Even when the road is bent at a branch point such as a junction or a crossroad, the same road name can be easily confirmed by displaying the same road name on the road with the same road name ahead and behind the branch point. Become.

When the distance of the displayed road is short, the display of the road name can be omitted. Further, in the above embodiment, the device of the present invention is described as being mounted on a vehicle. However, the device can be carried and used by a user.

[0027]

As described in detail above, according to the navigation device of the present invention, the road name can be easily confirmed on the screen of the display unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view for explaining a first road name display operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a modification of the first road name display operation.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a second road name display operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a third road name display operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of searching for the shortest point in a second road name display operation.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining another example of the shortest point search method.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a fourth road name display operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a navigation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining a first example of a conventional road name display method.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining a second example of a conventional road name display method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 24 display part 24a screen 31 road map 32 current position mark (own vehicle mark) 33, 33a road 34, 34a road name

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A navigation device for displaying a measured current position on a screen of a display unit together with a road map around the same to guide a course to a destination, wherein a road on the screen of the display unit matches a current position mark. In the case of a road, a navigation device displays the name of the road at a position on the road that is away from the current position mark by a specific distance forward. 2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the road name is at a junction, the road name is displayed at a further position so as not to be at the junction. 3. A navigation device for displaying a measured current position on a screen of a display unit together with a road map therearound to guide a course to a destination, wherein a road on the screen of the display unit deviates from a current position mark. In the case of a road or a scroll, a shortest point with the road is determined based on a specific position on the screen, and a road name is displayed at the shortest point. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein when the road on the screen of the display unit is a road deviating from the current position mark, the specific position on the screen is the current position mark or the center of the screen. Navigation device. 5. When scrolling, a specific position on the screen is:
The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the navigation device is located at the center of the screen. 6. The method according to claim 3, wherein a point where an ellipse gradually expanding around a specific position on the screen comes into contact with the road first is the shortest point from the specific position. A navigation device as described. 7. The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein when there are a plurality of shortest points, a road name is displayed at the shortest point in front of the road. 8. A navigation device for displaying a measured current position on a screen of a display unit together with a road map therearound and guiding a route to a destination, wherein a road on the screen of the display unit deviates from a current position mark. A navigation device for displaying a road name at the center of a displayed road when the road is an open road or when scrolling. 9. A navigation device for displaying a measured current position on a screen of a display unit together with a road map therearound and guiding a course to a destination, wherein a road having the same road name is bent at a branch point. In this case, the navigation device displays the same road name on a road having the same road name in front of and behind the branch point.