JP2002365081A - Route guiding system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a route guiding system which can improve the legibility of a guidance image without making the operation of the device complicated. SOLUTION: On the screen of the displaying section 27 of this route guiding device, the spectrum analyzer corresponding to the audio voice being reproduced and outputted is displayed. The display control section 16 of this device controls the displaying section 27 to display the guidance image including an arrow indicating the advancing direction of a vehicle along the running route which is the object of route guidance by superimposing the picture upon the spectrum analyzer. When the vehicle approaches an intersecting point at which the vehicle turns right or left, the control section 16 controls the displaying section 27 to stop the display of the spectrum analyzer and change the color of backlight. Then the section 16 controls the section 27 to display a guidance image including a figure indicating the remaining distance to the intersecting point, countdown bars visually indicating the remaining distance, and the arrow indicating the advancing direction of the vehicle at the intersecting point in the area in which the spectrum analyzer was displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention utilizes a display screen provided in an in-vehicle device (for example, an audio device) other than a navigation device to display a guide image including an arrow indicating a traveling direction. The present invention relates to a route guidance device that performs route guidance processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an on-vehicle navigation device includes:
A map display function that displays a map, such as around the vehicle position, on the screen, a route search function that searches for a route to a destination or a stopover specified by the user, and a vehicle that follows the route set by the route search It is equipped with a route guidance function for guiding travel.

[0003] In addition, using a display screen provided in another in-vehicle device such as an audio device such as a radio broadcast receiver or an MD (mini-disc) player, a guide image including an arrow indicating a traveling direction is displayed. There is also a route guidance device that performs a route guidance process. Such a route guidance device reduces the processing load by specializing the function of the route guidance process, simplifies the configuration of the device by using the display screen of another device, and has a lower level than a general navigation device. We are trying to increase the price.

[0004]

When using the display screen of another vehicle-mounted device, the above-described conventional route guidance device divides the display area of the display screen and provides route guidance to one side. An image and an image related to the operation state of the in-vehicle device are displayed on the other side, or a guide image for route guidance and an image related to the operation state of the in-vehicle device are switched and selectively displayed. , The display control was performed.

[0005] However, the display screen provided on a vehicle-mounted device such as an audio device often has a display area not so large. For this reason, when the display area is divided and each image is displayed, the display area that is not so large originally is further divided and displayed, so that the display area used for displaying the route guidance image is reduced, and the guidance is reduced. There was a problem that the image was difficult to see.

Further, when an image related to the operation state of an audio device or the like and a guide image for route guidance are selectively displayed, a large display area can be used, so that the visibility of the guide image is improved. However, since it is necessary to perform a complicated operation of switching the image to be displayed each time, it is not an effective solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a route guidance apparatus capable of improving the visibility of a guide image without complicating the operation. It is in.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a route guidance apparatus according to the present invention uses a route guidance instructing means based on a vehicle position detected by a vehicle position detecting means. A first image for instructing the direction of travel of the vehicle along with the intersection guidance for instructing the position of the next arriving right / left intersection and the right / left turn direction, and indicating the traveling direction by the display control means. One of the second image and the second image for performing the intersection guidance is displayed on the display screen of the in-vehicle device other than the navigation device.

[0009] Since the first image or the second image is superimposed on the display screen of the vehicle-mounted device, it is possible to display a route guidance image by using a large display area. The visibility can be improved.
Further, since an operation for switching the image to be displayed is unnecessary, the operation does not become complicated.

It is desirable that the above-mentioned first image is an arrow visually indicating the traveling direction of the vehicle. By indicating the traveling direction of the vehicle with a simple form of an arrow, the route guidance processing can be reliably performed with a small processing load. It is desirable that the above-described second image is a number indicating a distance to a right / left turn intersection and an arrow visually indicating a right / left turn direction. By presenting the specific distance to the right / left intersection, the position of the next right / left intersection can be surely grasped. In addition, by indicating the left / right turn direction using a simple form of an arrow, the route guidance processing at an intersection can be reliably performed with a small processing load, as in the case of the above-described first image.

The above-mentioned second image has a band-shaped image visually indicating the distance to the right / left-turn intersection, and the length of this band-shaped image is associated with the distance to the right / left-turn intersection. desirable. This makes it possible to intuitively grasp the distance to the left / right turn intersection based on the length of the belt-shaped image.

Further, it is desirable that the above-mentioned on-vehicle apparatus performs a frequency component display process for displaying each signal level of a plurality of divided frequency bands of an audio signal in association with a band image. Generally, in-vehicle devices such as audio devices often display a frequency component (so-called “spectrum analyzer display”) in which the signal levels of a plurality of divided frequency bands of an audio signal correspond to a band image. It is believed that the spectrum analyzer display is highly entertaining and does not provide much needed information. The route guidance device of the present invention displays a route guidance image superimposed on this portion. Thus, even when a guidance image for route guidance is displayed using the display screen of the in-vehicle device, it is possible to minimize a decrease in the amount of information on the in-vehicle device.

It is desirable that the first image and the second image are displayed on a display screen in correspondence with colors that can be distinguished from each other. Thereby, the first image and the second image
It is possible to easily and visually recognize that the display content has been switched between the image and the image, and it is possible to surely grasp that the right / left intersection is approaching.

The display screen of the in-vehicle device is combined with lighting for illuminating the display contents, and it is desirable that the above-mentioned identifiable colors are realized by making the colors of the lighting different. By a simple process of changing the color of illumination, it is possible to realize a display corresponding to colors that can be distinguished from each other.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A route guidance apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a route guidance device according to the present embodiment. The route guidance device 1 shown in FIG. 1 utilizes a display unit 27 provided in the audio device 2 as an in-vehicle device,
It performs a predetermined route guidance process, and includes a route guidance processing unit 11, a CD-ROM 12, a disk reader 13, an operation unit 14, a vehicle position detection unit 15, and a display control unit 16.

The route guidance processing unit 11 is required to perform a process of searching for a traveling route connecting a predetermined departure point and a destination, and a route guidance process of guiding a vehicle to travel along the searched traveling route. The processing is performed. The route guidance processing unit 11 of the present embodiment displays a guide image for indicating a general traveling direction along a traveling route, a guidance image for guiding the traveling direction at a right / left intersection, and the like on the display unit 27 of the audio device 2.
The route guidance processing is performed by superimposing and displaying the information.

The CD-ROM 12 is a storage medium storing map data necessary for route guidance processing such as route search and route guidance. The map data may be stored using a storage medium (for example, a DVD-ROM or the like) other than the CD-ROM. The disk reader 13 can load one or more CD-ROMs 12 and reads map data from any one of the CD-ROMs 12 under the control of the route guidance processing unit 11.

The operation unit 14 includes various operation keys for giving an operation instruction to the route guidance device 1, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation state of the key to the route guidance processing unit 11. The vehicle position detecting unit 15 includes, for example, a GPS receiver, a distance sensor, an angle sensor, and the like, detects the own vehicle position, and outputs the detected position together with the positioning time.

The display control unit 16 performs control for superimposing and displaying a guide image for performing route guidance on a display screen of a display unit 27 provided in the audio device 2. Display control unit 1
6 will be described later in detail. Next, the configuration of the audio device 2 will be described.
The audio device 2 shown in FIG. 1 is an MD (mini disc)
It is configured to include a player 21, a radio tuner 22, an operation unit 23, an audio control unit 24, an amplifier 25, a speaker 26, and a display unit 27.

In this embodiment, the audio device 2
(Excluding the speaker 26) and the components included in the route guidance apparatus 1 are collectively housed in one housing, and the housing is housed in a dashboard in the vehicle compartment. And The MD player 21 reproduces and outputs an audio signal recorded on the MD. The radio tuner 22 receives a radio broadcast such as an FM broadcast, reproduces and outputs an audio signal corresponding to the audio of the broadcast program.

The operation unit 23 has a plurality of operation keys corresponding to various functions of the MD player 21 and the radio tuner 22, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation state of the keys to the audio control unit 24. . The audio control unit 24 controls the MD player 21 and the radio tuner 22 according to an operation signal output from the operation unit 23.
And outputs an audio signal output from the MD player 21 or the like to the amplifier 25. In addition, the audio control unit 24 performs a process of displaying the operation state of the audio device 2 on the display unit 27.

The amplifier 25 amplifies the audio signal with a predetermined gain and outputs the amplified audio signal to a speaker 26. Speaker 26
Outputs a sound corresponding to the amplified audio signal. The display unit 27 is disposed on the front side of the housing of the audio device 2, and displays the operation state of the audio device 2 (for example, the reception frequency of the radio tuner 22), and displays a plurality of divided frequency bands of the audio signal. A predetermined spectrum analyzer display (frequency component display) for displaying each signal level corresponding to the band image is performed.

The display unit 27 displays a guidance image for performing route guidance on the image indicating the operation state of the audio device 2 based on the control of the display control unit 16 in the route guidance device 1. The display unit 27 of the present embodiment is configured by using, for example, a liquid crystal display element or the like, and can switch the color of a backlight (illumination) for illuminating display contents. Then, the display control unit 16 in the above-described route guidance device 1 determines that the vehicle approaches the right / left turn intersection existing on the traveling route, the remaining distance to the right / left turn intersection, and the traveling direction (right / left turn) at the right / left turn intersection. When the direction is output from the route guidance processing unit 11, the display of the spectrum analyzer is stopped and the color of the backlight of the display unit 27 is changed, and the area where the spectrum analyzer display is performed is turned to the right / left turn intersection. The control is performed to display an image indicating the remaining distance of the vehicle or an arrow indicating the traveling direction at the intersection where the vehicle is turning left or right.

The above-described vehicle position detecting section 15 serves as vehicle position detecting means, the route guidance processing section 11 serves as route guidance instructing means,
The display control unit 16 corresponds to a display control unit. The route guidance device 1 of the present embodiment has such a configuration, and the operation will be described next.

FIG. 2 shows a display unit 27 in the audio device 2.
5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the route guidance device 1 when displaying a guidance image at the time of route guidance using the information. The audio device 2 reproduces and outputs an audio sound, and displays a predetermined spectrum analyzer on the display unit 27 corresponding to each signal level of a plurality of divided frequency bands of the audio signal. The following description will be made.

The display controller 16 obtains information on the travel route to be route-guided from the route guidance processor 11 and superimposes a guide image indicating the traveling direction along the travel route on the spectrum analyzer display. The display is controlled (step 100). FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a guide image indicating a traveling direction along a traveling route. As shown in FIG. 3, the spectrum analyzer display is performed in a predetermined area a in the display screen of the display unit 27, and an arrow 100 (as a guide image indicating a traveling direction along the traveling route) is displayed in the predetermined area a. (Corresponding to the first image). The visibility of the arrow 100 is improved by bordering the outer edge of the arrow 100 with a predetermined display color (for example, white). In this way, by indicating the traveling direction of the vehicle with a simple form of an arrow, the route guidance processing can be reliably realized with a small processing load.

Next, the display control unit 16 determines whether or not the vehicle has approached a right / left intersection on the travel route (step 101). Specifically, when the vehicle approaches within a predetermined distance (for example, within 300 m) from the right / left intersection, the information on the remaining distance to the right / left intersection and the traveling direction at the right / left intersection is indicated by the route guidance processing unit. The display control unit 16 performs the determination process of step 101 based on the presence or absence of such information. If the vehicle is not approaching the right / left turn intersection, a negative determination is made in step 101. In this case, the process returns to step 100, and the subsequent processing is repeated.

When a vehicle approaches a left / right turn intersection,
An affirmative determination is made in step 101, and the display control unit 16
Stops the spectrum analyzer display and
Control for changing the color of the backlight is performed (step 10).
2). A specific example of changing the display color of the backlight will be described later.

Next, the display control unit 16 displays a number specifically indicating the remaining distance to the right / left turn intersection in the predetermined area a where the spectrum analyzer display was performed (step 103), and displays the spectrum analyzer display. Using a display pattern, a predetermined countdown bar (corresponding to a band image) that visually indicates the outline of the remaining distance is displayed (step 104).

The display control unit 16 is provided with the route guidance processing unit 1.
Based on the information obtained from No. 1, control is performed to superimpose and display a guidance image indicating the traveling direction of the vehicle at the right / left turn intersection on the display area of the countdown bar (step 10).
5). Next, the display control unit 16 determines whether or not the vehicle has passed through a right / left turn intersection (step 106). Specifically, when the vehicle has passed through a right / left turn intersection, the route guidance processing unit 11 notifies that fact,
The display control unit 16 performs the determination process of step 106 based on the presence or absence of this notification.

If the vehicle has not passed through the right / left turn intersection, a negative determination is made in step 106. In this case, the flow returns to step 103, and the subsequent processing is repeated. Specifically, the number indicating the remaining distance to the right / left turn intersection and the display content of the countdown bar are updated as needed according to the traveling state of the vehicle.

When a vehicle passes through a right / left turn intersection,
An affirmative determination is made in step 106 described above, and the display control unit 16 sets the backlight of the display unit 27 to the original color (step 107). Then, the above-described step 10
After returning to 0, the subsequent processing is repeated.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of a guide image indicating the remaining distance to the right / left turn intersection and the traveling direction at the right / left turn intersection. As shown in FIG. 4A, the display of the spectrum analyzer in the predetermined area a is stopped, and the remaining distance 102 indicating the remaining distance to the right / left intersection by a specific number in the predetermined area a and the remaining distance are visually displayed. Is displayed.

Specifically, the countdown bar 104
Are formed by stacking rectangles in a substantially triangular shape using a display pattern of a spectrum analyzer display. In addition, as indicated by hatching in FIG.
Is set to a color different from that of the spectrum analyzer display. This allows
It is easy to distinguish between the spectrum analyzer display and the countdown bar display.

An arrow 106 indicating the traveling direction at the intersection where the vehicle turns right and left is superimposed on the display area of the countdown bar 104. As with the arrow 100 shown in FIG. 3 described above, the visibility of the arrow 106 is improved by bordering the outer edge of the arrow 106 with a predetermined display color. In this way, the route guidance processing can be reliably realized with a small processing load by indicating the traveling direction at the intersection where the vehicle is turning right or left by using a simple form of an arrow. Note that the above-described remaining distance 102, countdown bar 104, and arrow 106 correspond to the second image.

Further, as shown in a pseudo manner by the presence or absence of hatching on the entire display screen, the above-described guide image of the traveling route shown in FIG. 3 (with hatching) is shown in FIG. In the case of displaying the guidance image at the right / left turn intersection (without hatching), the color of the backlight of the display unit 27 is switched so that the difference between the two can be easily identified.

FIG. 4B shows how the display contents are updated when the remaining distance to the right / left intersection changes as the vehicle travels. As shown in FIG. 4 (B), the number indicated by the remaining distance 102 changes from 0.3 km to 0.1 km as the vehicle advances. The display color of the countdown bar 104 also changes sequentially from the lower row in accordance with the change in the remaining distance, and the length of the portion where the upper display color is not changed becomes shorter, so that the right / left intersection is obtained. It is visually shown that the remaining distance to is small. Such a change in the display content of the countdown bar 104 makes it easy to intuitively grasp the distance to the right / left turn intersection, and reliably grasps the position of the next right / left turn intersection by the numerical value indicated by the remaining distance 102. can do.

As described above, the route guidance device 1 of the present embodiment
Displays a guide image for instructing the traveling direction of the vehicle or a guide image for intersection guidance on the display screen of the display unit 27 provided in the audio device 2 when performing the route guidance processing. Therefore, it is possible to display a route guidance guidance image using a large display area, and it is possible to improve the visibility of the guidance image. Further, since there is no need to perform an operation of switching an image to be displayed on the display screen, the operation does not become complicated.

Further, since the guide image is superimposed and displayed on the area where the spectrum analyzer is displayed, it is possible to minimize a decrease in the amount of information in the display relating to the operation status of the audio device 2. In particular, the countdown bar is displayed using the display pattern of the spectrum analyzer display, and the remaining distance to the right / left turn intersection is visually shown. There is also the advantage that they can be compatible without any problem.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment described above,
As shown in FIG. 4, the countdown bar 104 is formed by stacking rectangles in a substantially triangular shape, and the display color is sequentially changed from the bottom side of the substantially triangular shape with the change in the remaining distance to the intersection where the vehicle turns right or left. By doing so, the distance to the left / right turn intersection was visually indicated, but the shape of the countdown bar is not limited to a substantially triangular shape, and various other modifications are possible.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a modification of the shape of the countdown bar. As shown in FIG. 5A, the countdown bar 104a may be formed and displayed using only one column of the display pattern in the spectrum analyzer display. Also in this case, as shown in FIG. 5B, the display color is sequentially changed from the bottom side of the countdown bar 104a in accordance with the change in the remaining distance to the left / right turn intersection, thereby displaying the right / left turn. The distance to the intersection can be shown visually.

In addition to the modification shown in FIG. 5, a countdown bar may be formed by using a display pattern of two or more columns in the spectrum analyzer display. Regardless, the countdown bar may be formed using a unique shape.

In the above-described embodiment, the display color is sequentially changed from the bottom side of the countdown bar 104 in accordance with the remaining distance to the right / left turn intersection. May be performed. In the above-described embodiment, the color of the backlight of the display unit 27 is different between the case of displaying the guidance image in the traveling direction of the vehicle (see FIG. 3) and the case of displaying the guidance image at the intersection of right and left turns (see FIG. 4). By switching the display contents, it is possible to easily visually recognize that the display contents have been switched. However, the method of visually expressing the change in the display contents is not limited to this, and various modifications may be made. Can be considered. For example, the arrow 100 included in the guidance image of the traveling direction
The display content may also be changed by a method of setting the display color of the arrow 106 and the display color of the arrow 106 included in the guide image at the right / left turn intersection to different colors, or a method of blinking and displaying the guide image at the right / left turn intersection. It can be expressed visually.

In the above-described embodiment, the route guidance device 1 uses the display unit 27 provided in the audio device 2 to display a guide image of the traveling direction of the vehicle or a right-left intersection at the area where the spectrum analyzer display is performed. Although the guide image is displayed in a superimposed manner, the guide image may be superimposed and displayed in a display area other than the area where the spectrum analyzer display is performed. For example, when an image showing the state of rotation of the disk or the number of playback tracks is displayed while the sound recorded on the MD is being played back, the guide image may be displayed over this area. .

The on-vehicle device used in combination with the route guidance device 1 is not limited to an audio device, and various other combinations are conceivable. For example, when a display unit for displaying the setting contents of the air conditioner and the like and the current time is installed on a dashboard or the like of the vehicle, the route guidance apparatus 1 is displayed using such a display unit.
May be displayed in a superimposed manner.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, one of the first image for instructing the traveling direction of the vehicle along a predetermined traveling route and the second image for performing intersection guidance is provided. Is displayed on the display screen of the in-vehicle device other than the navigation device, so that the route guidance image (the first image and the second image) can be displayed by using a large display area. The visibility of the image can be improved. Further, since there is no need to perform an operation of switching the image to be displayed on the display screen, the operation does not become complicated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a route guidance device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the route guidance device when displaying a guidance image at the time of route guidance using a display unit in the audio device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a guide image indicating a traveling direction along a traveling route.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of a guidance image indicating a remaining distance to a right-left intersection and a traveling direction at the right-left intersection.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a modification of the shape of the countdown bar.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 route guidance device 2 audio device 11 route guidance processing unit 12 CD-ROM 13 disk reader 14, 23 operation unit 15 vehicle position detection unit 16 display control unit 21 MD player 22 radio tuner 24 audio control unit 25 amplifier 26 speaker 27 display Department

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle position detecting means for detecting a vehicle position, and based on the vehicle position detected by the vehicle position detecting means, instructing a traveling direction of a vehicle along a predetermined traveling route, and A route guidance instructing unit that performs intersection guidance for instructing a position of an incoming right / left intersection and a right / left turning direction; and one of a first image for instructing the traveling direction and a second image for performing the intersection guidance. And a display control means for superimposing and displaying on a display screen of an in-vehicle device other than the navigation device. 2. The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the first image is an arrow visually indicating a traveling direction of the vehicle. 3. The route guidance according to claim 1, wherein the second image is a number indicating a distance to the right / left turn intersection and an arrow visually indicating the right / left turn direction. apparatus. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second image has a band-shaped image visually indicating a distance to the right / left turn intersection, and the length of the band-shaped image corresponds to the distance. Route guidance device characterized by the above-mentioned. 5. The route guidance according to claim 4, wherein the in-vehicle device performs a frequency component display process for displaying each signal level of a plurality of divided frequency bands of an audio signal in association with a band image. apparatus. 6. The route according to claim 1, wherein the first image and the second image are displayed on the display screen in correspondence with colors that can be identified from each other. Guidance device. 7. The display device according to claim 6, wherein the display screen of the in-vehicle device is combined with illumination for illuminating display contents, and the mutually distinguishable colors are realized by differentiating the colors of the illumination. Route guidance device characterized by the above-mentioned.