JP2003254775A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation device capable of appropriately performing a map matching when a user carries the device for use. <P>SOLUTION: A self position determining means 10 of a processing unit 2 classifies a display map area into an area in parallel to a driveway, an area adjacent to the driveway, and an area far from the driveway, and determines in which area the current position is located. In this case, the processing unit 2 determines, for example, that the current position is located in the predetermined area far from the driveway but including a footpath, the current position is map-matched to the footpath since the user carrying the navigation device is most likely walking on the road. By changing a map matching method according to an area the current position locates, the map matching can be appropriately performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device having a map matching function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been provided a car / portable navigation device which can be used as a navigation system for pedestrians by taking a navigation device used in a vehicle out of the vehicle.

[0003]

Normally, in a car navigation system, the position of the own vehicle is measured by receiving radio waves from GPS satellites. However, due to the problem of measurement accuracy, the position of the own vehicle on the road. The map matching technology is used to correct the position. With this map matching technology, the position of the vehicle can be accurately displayed on the road on the map even if the position accuracy is slightly poor.

However, if the navigation device used in the vehicle compartment is taken out of the vehicle compartment and used, the current position will be displayed on the road dedicated to the vehicle on the map, or the pedestrian road where the vehicle cannot travel will be displayed. When walking, there is a problem that it is displayed on a road that has nothing to do with it.

In this case, map matching is executed on the pedestrian map by storing the pedestrian map in addition to the vehicle map and downloading the pedestrian map by the communication device. However, if the user brings the navigation device into the vehicle and uses it, it will be map-matched to the sidewalk adjacent to the roadway or the sidewalk away from the roadway, and it will be greatly displaced from the actual position. It causes trouble.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device capable of appropriately executing map matching when a user carries and uses it.

[0007]

According to the invention of claim 1, the usage pattern detecting means detects a usage pattern of the navigation device, for example, whether the navigation device is mounted in a vehicle. Further, the own position discriminating means discriminates an area where the own position is located based on the present position detected by the present position detecting means. Then, the arithmetic processing means changes the map matching method according to the usage pattern detected by the usage pattern detection means and the own position area detected by the own position determination means. This allows
Map matching can be appropriately performed according to the usage pattern of the navigation device and the current position, and the display accuracy of the current position can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the user uses the navigation device after removing it from the vehicle, the appropriate map matching method differs depending on the positional relationship between the roadway and the sidewalk. The arithmetic processing means changes the map matching method based on the relationship between the roadway and the sidewalk. As a result, the display accuracy of the current position can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the own position determining means determines that the own position is located in a predetermined area including a sidewalk parallel to the road, the user brings the navigation device into the vehicle. In such a case, the arithmetic processing means performs map matching with the roadway because it is highly likely that the vehicle is used in.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the own position determining means determines that the own position is located in a predetermined area including a sidewalk adjacent to the road, the user brings the navigation device into the vehicle. In this case, the arithmetic processing means cancels the map matching because there is a possibility of both the case of using the vehicle and the case of actually using the sidewalk while walking.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the own position determining means determines that the own position is located in a predetermined area including a sidewalk away from the road, the user may walk on the sidewalk. Therefore, in such a case, the arithmetic processing means performs map matching with the sidewalk.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the map suitable for displaying on the display means differs depending on the current position, the display means displays according to the own position area judged by the own position discriminating means. By selecting a map, an appropriate map can be displayed according to its own position.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, when the own position discriminating means judges that the own position is located in a predetermined area including a sidewalk parallel to the road, the arithmetic processing means maps the road. Therefore, the display means displays the map for the vehicle so that an appropriate map can be displayed.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, when the own position discriminating means judges that the own position is located on the sidewalk adjacent to the road, the arithmetic processing means cancels the map matching. An appropriate map can be displayed by simultaneously displaying both the vehicle map and the sidewalk map.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, when the own position discriminating means determines that the present position is located in a predetermined area including a sidewalk away from the road, the arithmetic processing means performs map matching with the sidewalk. Therefore, the display means can display an appropriate map by displaying the pedestrian map.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, when the user brings the navigation device into the vehicle and uses it, it is necessary to perform map matching on the roadway. When it is determined that the vehicle is located, the map matching can be appropriately performed by performing the map matching on the roadway.

According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, when the user brings the navigation device into the vehicle and uses it, the arithmetic processing means performs map matching with the roadway. In such a case, the display means uses the navigation device. When it is determined that the form detecting means is located inside the vehicle, an appropriate map can be displayed by displaying the roadway.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows the electrical configuration of the navigation device. In FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 mainly includes an arithmetic processing unit (corresponding to arithmetic processing means) 2. The arithmetic processing unit 2 includes a CPU (central processing unit) that performs various judgments and controls necessary for route guidance, a ROM that stores various programs for the CPU, and a RAM (not shown) as a working memory. And a built-in navigation device 1 for detecting a mode in which the navigation device 1 is used, a storage device 4, a current position detection device 5, an image display unit 6, an audio output unit 7, an operation unit 8 and The communication device 9 is connected. Here, the arithmetic processing unit 2 is configured to include its own position discriminating means 10. The self-position determining means 10 determines the method of map matching as described later based on the current position detecting means 5 and the pedestrian map data in the storage device 4 or the map data downloaded from the communication device 9. ing.

The present position detecting means 5 are GPS (Global Positioning) for detecting the position of the vehicle based on radio waves from a well-known gyroscope, distance sensor and satellite.
System) and a GPS receiver (none of which is shown). Since these sensors and the like have errors with different properties, they are used while being interpolated by a plurality of sensors and the like. Depending on the accuracy, it may be configured by a part of the above-mentioned sensors, a geomagnetic sensor, a steering rotation sensor,
You may use each wheel sensor etc.

The storage device 4 is a traveling history data storage unit 4
a, the audio data storage unit 4b, map data, and so-called map matching data for improving the accuracy of position detection are stored. Since the data amount is large, it is common to use a CD or a DVD. A storage medium such as a card or a (fixed) storage means such as a hard disk may be used. Here, in the present embodiment, a pedestrian map data storage unit 4d is provided as a map data storage unit in addition to the conventional vehicle map data storage unit 4c, and a conventional vehicle is used as a map matching data storage unit. In addition to the road data storage unit 4e, a pedestrian road data storage unit 4f is provided.

The image display section 6 responds to a command from the arithmetic processing section 2 to indicate its own position marker indicating the current position obtained by the current position detecting means 5, map data input from the storage device 4, and a map. It is possible to display the additional data such as the guide route displayed above in an overlapping manner.

The usage pattern detecting means 3 is for judging whether or not the navigation device 1 is mounted on a vehicle, and is composed of, for example, a limit switch which is turned on when the navigation device 1 is mounted on a fixture provided in the vehicle.

The arithmetic processing unit 2, when displaying the map data acquired from the storage device 4 on the image display unit 6, displays the facility name,
The font data stored in the storage device 4 can be used to display the character data such as an address and the like in a desired character size. The font data can be displayed in an arbitrary size such as an outline font, and it is possible to own a plurality of fixed-size font data as an image.

When the destination is input by operating the operation unit 8, the arithmetic processing unit 2 automatically selects the optimum route from the current position to the destination and displays a guide route. It also has a guide function. As such a method for automatically setting the optimum route, the Dijkstra method or a method conforming to it is used.

The navigation device 1 is provided with a power supply circuit (not shown). The power supply circuit supplies power to each of the electronic circuits while the battery voltage is stabilized. In this case, when the navigation device 1 is powered off, the secondary battery is charged by the power supply circuit, and when the power supply circuit is disconnected from the battery, the secondary battery supplies power to the electronic circuits. It has become so.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart briefly showing an operation related to the present invention among the operations of the arithmetic processing unit 2. In FIG. 2, when the usage pattern detecting unit 3 detects that the navigation device 1 is installed in the vehicle (S1: YES), the arithmetic processing unit 2 determines whether map download is necessary. (S2). Normally, the storage device 4
The vehicle map stored in the vehicle map data storage unit 4c is selected (S3), but if there is no vehicle map including the detected current position as described later, or if it is stored in the storage device 4. If a detailed map that does not exist is required, the latest map data is downloaded from the management center by the communication device 9 (S4).

Subsequently, the current position detection means 5 starts the detection of the current position (S5), and on the vehicle road map stored in the vehicle road data storage unit 4e of the storage device 4 as in the conventional case. Map matching is performed (S6). As a result, the vehicle position marker is displayed on the road of the map as shown in FIG.

Then, after confirming that the power of the navigation device 1 is not turned off (S7: NO), the above-described operation is repeated until the power is turned off. As a result of the above operation, the user can confirm the current position of the own vehicle by the vehicle own position marker displayed on the image display unit 6.

By the way, when the navigation device 1 is mounted in a vehicle, the vehicle position marker is displayed on the roadway of the map by map matching as described above.
However, when the pedestrian removes the navigation device 1 from the vehicle and carries it, when he or she walks on the sidewalk adjacent to the roadway or walks on the sidewalk away from the roadway, the map matching is executed. The pedestrian's own position marker may be displayed on the roadway and may be displaced from the actual current position.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the map matching is appropriately performed when the user carries the navigation device 1 and uses it as follows. That is, when the user removes the navigation device 1 from the vehicle in order to use the navigation device 1 outside the vehicle, the usage pattern detecting means 3 detects that the navigation device 1 has been removed from the vehicle (S1: NO). It is determined whether or not the map needs to be downloaded based on (S8). Normally, the pedestrian map stored in the pedestrian map data storage unit 4d of the storage device 4 is selected (S10), and when the pedestrian map including the current position is not stored in the storage device 4, Alternatively, if detailed display of a map that is more detailed than the map stored in the storage device 4 is required, it is determined that the map needs to be downloaded (S8: YES), and the pedestrian map is downloaded from the management center. (S9). In other words, when climbing a mountain or using it in a large park or amusement park, it is necessary to obtain highly accurate map information such as a mountain trail or an amusement park.
In this case, if information about passage through a gate such as a railway or position information about the surroundings is available, map matching or position correction can be performed on the track based on the information. Then, the current position detection is started (S11), and a method for map matching is determined based on the current position.

Here, in the present embodiment, when a pedestrian carries and uses the navigation device 1, the inside of the map displayed on the image display unit 6 as shown in FIG. (Area indicated by A in the drawing), sidewalk part adjacent to the roadway (area indicated by B in the drawing), area where there is only a sidewalk away from the roadway (area indicated by C in the drawing), large space for pedestrians only (Not shown), and based on the current position obtained by the current position detecting means 5, it is determined in which area the current position is located, and the map is determined based on the determination result. I am trying to change the matching method.

That is, based on the determination result, it is determined whether map matching is performed on the vehicle map, the pedestrian map, or not. The reason is that when the user carries the navigation device 1, the current position detecting means 5
When the current position detected by is located on the roadway or a place close to the roadway, there are cases where the user brings the navigation device 1 into the vehicle for use and when the user actually walks on the sidewalk. Therefore, even if the current position is located on the sidewalk, uniform map matching with the pedestrian map leads to a decrease in the display accuracy of the pedestrian own position marker. Also, if map matching is performed when the vehicle is located in a wide space where only pedestrians can enter, the display position of the pedestrian's own position marker will be greatly displaced from the actual position.

However, when the navigation device 1 detects that the navigation device 1 is detached from the vehicle (S1: NO), when the current position detection is started (S11), the current position is walking. It is determined whether the area is a map matching area on the pedestrian map (S12), and if "YES", the map matching is performed on the pedestrian map (S13).
That is, when a pedestrian walks in an area including a sidewalk portion away from the road, it is possible to improve the display accuracy of the pedestrian own position marker by performing map matching on the pedestrian map. At this time, since only the pedestrian map is displayed on the image display unit 6, the user can easily grasp the current position and can check the walkable road.

Further, it is determined that the current position is not a region for map matching on the pedestrian map (S12: N
O), and when it is determined that the area is the map matching area on the vehicle map (S15: YES), the map matching is performed on the vehicle road map (S16). That is,
When the current position is on a sidewalk parallel to the road, the navigation device 1 removed from the vehicle by the user
Since it is highly likely that the vehicle is brought into the vehicle and used, it is possible to improve the display accuracy of the own position marker by performing map matching on the vehicle map. At this time, since only the vehicle map is displayed on the image display unit 6 (see FIG. 5), the user can easily recognize the current position and can confirm the road on which the vehicle can travel. it can.

If it is determined that the navigation device 1 is not removed from the vehicle (S1: NO) and the area is not the map matching area on the vehicle map (S15: NO), the map matching is performed. Cancel (S1
7). That is, when the current position is located on a sidewalk adjacent to the road, whether the user is using the navigation device 1 by bringing it into the vehicle, or whether the pedestrian is actually walking on the sidewalk. Either possibility is predicted, and in such a case, if the map is matched with either the vehicle map or the pedestrian map, the display position of the pedestrian's own position marker may be greatly displaced. Therefore, the map matching is canceled. Similarly, if the current position is a large space where only pedestrians can enter, and if map matching is performed on the pedestrian map, the current position will be greatly shifted. The display accuracy of the marker can be improved. At this time, since both the vehicle map and the pedestrian map are displayed on the image display unit 6 at the same time (see FIG. 6), a map suitable for walking can be displayed. Then, the arithmetic processing unit 2 uses the navigation device 1
The above operation is repeatedly executed until the power source is turned off (S14: YES).

According to such an embodiment, when the map matching is performed with the navigation device 1 removed from the vehicle, the map matching is switched based on the positional relationship between the roadway and the sidewalk. Therefore, appropriate map matching can be executed according to the current position. Therefore, the display accuracy of the pedestrian self-position marker can be improved as compared with the configuration in which the map matching is uniformly performed on the sidewalk. Further, since the map displayed on the image display unit 6 is switched according to the map matching method, the user can easily grasp the current position.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The same parts as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. The description is omitted.
The second embodiment is characterized in that it is determined whether the navigation device 1 is mounted in the vehicle or removed from the vehicle based on the state of a charger that charges the navigation device 1.

In FIG. 7 schematically showing the navigation device 1 and the charger, the charger 11 is composed of a constant voltage regulator 11a and a state signal generator 11b, and the state signal generator 11b is a battery, Acc. Alternatively, based on ON / OFF of the IG signal, it is determined whether the vehicle is mounted on a vehicle or is carried by a pedestrian, and the navigation device 1 is notified of the determination result. Then, the usage pattern detection means 3 of the navigation device 1 determines the usage pattern of the navigation device 1 according to the notification from the charger 11.

According to the second embodiment as described above, the usage pattern is determined based on the status signal from the charger 11, so that it is compared with a mechanical configuration such as a limit switch. Therefore, the reliability of the product can be improved.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The third embodiment is characterized by detecting that the user has brought the navigation device 1 into the vehicle.

That is, the navigation device 1 is a Blueto
In addition to having the oth (registered trademark) communication unit 1a, the vehicle-side communication device 21 also has the Bluetooth communication unit 21a, and can communicate with each other by Bluetooth. The Bluetooth communication means 21a of the communication device 21 on the vehicle side is adapted to transmit the detection state of the state signal generator 21b, and based on the reception, the navigation device 1 allows the user to bring the navigation device 1 into the vehicle. It's designed to judge. In this case, when it is determined that the user has brought the navigation device 1 into the vehicle based on the determination result, map matching is performed on the roadway, and
The roadway is displayed on the image display unit 6.

According to such an embodiment, it is possible to reliably detect that the navigation device 1 detached from the vehicle is being used in the vehicle, and therefore it is possible to appropriately perform map matching on the roadway. In addition to being able to properly display the roadway, it is possible to further enhance the reliability of the display of the pedestrian self-position marker.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified or expanded as follows.
Estimate the current usage pattern (vehicle movement, walking, public transportation, etc.) based on the movement route and movement speed of the current position,
Map matching suitable for that may be executed, and a map suitable for it may be displayed.

The bicycle may be attachable to the bicycle with an attachment kit. In this case, map matching may be performed by a method suitable for running a bicycle, or a bicycle map may be displayed. The present invention may be applied to a cradle-mounted navigation device. In this case, the usage pattern may be determined based on a change in the state of the I / O interface that exchanges signals with the cradle.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a switching control operation of map matching of the navigation device.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an image display section showing a display state of a road map and a sidewalk map.

FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a switching region for map matching.

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a roadway map.

[Figure 6] Figure equivalent to Figure 3 showing a sidewalk map

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 1 is a navigation device, 2 is a calculation processing unit (calculation processing unit), 3 is a usage pattern detection unit, 6 is an image display unit (image display unit), and 10 is a self-position determination unit.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G09B 29/10 G09B 29/10 AF term (reference) 2C032 HB22 HC08 HC11 HC26 HC27 HD03 HD21 HD29 2F029 AA02 AA07 AB01 AB07 AC02 AC14 AC18 AD05 5H180 AA01 AA21 BB04 BB08 BB13 CC12 FF04 FF05 FF14 FF22 FF25 FF27 FF32

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A display unit for displaying a map and a current position, a current position detecting unit for detecting the current position, a usage pattern detecting unit for detecting a pattern being used, and a current detected by the current position detecting unit. A self-position discriminating unit that discriminates an area where the self-position is located based on the position, and a map matching method is changed based on the usage pattern detected by the usage pattern detection unit and the self-position region detected by the self-position determination unit. A navigation device comprising: 2. The arithmetic processing means, when the usage pattern detecting means detects removal from the vehicle and the own position judging means judges that the own position is located in a predetermined area including a sidewalk, The map matching method is changed based on the positional relationship between the roadway and the sidewalk.
The described navigation device. 3. The arithmetic processing means, when the own position discriminating means judges that the own position is located in a predetermined area including a sidewalk parallel to the road, map-matches with the road. The navigation device according to claim 2. 4. The calculation processing means cancels the map matching when the own position determination means determines that the own position is located in a predetermined area including a sidewalk adjacent to a roadway. The navigation device according to claim 2 or 3. 5. The arithmetic processing means, when the self-position determining means determines that the self-position is located in a predetermined area including a sidewalk away from the road, map-matches the sidewalk. The navigation device according to claim 2. 6. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit selects a display map according to the own position area determined by the own position determination unit. 7. The display means displays a vehicle map when the own position determination means determines that the own position is located in a predetermined area including a sidewalk parallel to a roadway. The navigation device according to claim 6. 8. The display means displays both the vehicle map and the sidewalk map when the own position determination means determines that the own position is located in a predetermined area including a sidewalk adjacent to the roadway. The display is performed at the same time.
The described navigation device. 9. The display means displays a pedestrian map when the own position determination means determines that the own position is located in a predetermined area including a sidewalk away from a roadway. The navigation device according to any one of claims 6 to 8. 10. The usage pattern detecting means has a function of judging whether the usage pattern is located inside the vehicle, and the own position judging means detects that the usage pattern detecting part is located inside the vehicle. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein map matching is performed on the roadway when the navigation is performed. 11. The navigation device according to claim 10, wherein the display unit displays a roadway when it is determined that the usage pattern detection unit is located inside the vehicle.