JP2008039547A - Guidance device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To respond to such the risk that a vehicle stops moving because its gas is almost combusted on the way from a destination to a gas station. <P>SOLUTION: In the case where the vehicle can arrive at the destination G from a start point S by using its residual fuel, if a refueling point ES1 exists in an area including the destination G as its center and having the radius of a reachable distance d, the shortest route connecting the start point S to the destination G is output. Meanwhile, if the refueling point ES1 does not exist in the area including the destination G as its center and having the radius of the reachable distance d, a refueling route connecting the start point S to the destination G via a refueling point ES2 is displayed. The reachable distance d is defined as a distance the vehicle can move by using its residual fuel when arriving at the destination G. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a guide device that prompts fuel supply to a moving body, and more particularly to a navigation device and the like.

As a background technology, if the amount of gas remaining at the departure point is not an amount that can be reached from the departure point, a new optimum route to reach the destination via a gas supply station that can be reached with the remaining amount of gas at the departure point A technique for displaying is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-85266 A (page 3-5, FIG. 2)

  In the background art, if the amount of gas remaining at the starting point is an amount that can reach the destination from the starting point, the route that does not pass through the gas supply station even if the amount of remaining gas at the destination is extremely small Is displayed.

  Therefore, the gas may be cut between the destination and the gas supply station, and the vehicle may not move. In particular, when hydrogen or electricity is used in place of gas, there are only a few replenishment stations for replenishing hydrogen or electricity, and the possibility that the vehicle will not move increases.

  A guidance device according to the present invention is a guidance device that prompts fuel supply to the vehicle if the vehicle cannot reach the destination from the current location due to the remaining amount of fuel at the current location. A processing unit for outputting a guidance for prompting fuel supply to the vehicle to the output device if the vehicle cannot reach the fuel supply point from the destination when the destination can be reached with a remaining amount of fuel; It is to be prepared. The interpretation of the lexical terms in the present invention is as follows.

  The “remaining amount of fuel at the current location” is a value indicated by data stored in the storage medium at the current location. As the “current location”, a point at the time of processing can be considered.

  “Fuel” includes gasoline, LP gas, ethanol, hydrogen and electricity. In addition, “fuel replenishment points” include gas (gasoline, LP gas, etc.) stations, hydrogen stations, and electric eco stations.

  The “destination” is a concept including the final destination and the waypoint.

  “Unreachable” means that the process cannot be reached. In this process, a map (having elements such as distance and position), fuel consumption, the remaining amount of fuel at the time of processing, the position of the destination, and the like are used (see, for example, JP-A-2004-85266).

  As "prompt for fuel replenishment to the vehicle", it is conceivable to inform the user that the fuel is insufficient, the destination cannot be reached, the route through the refueling point, etc. 2004-85266).

  The means for determining whether or not the vehicle can reach the refueling point from the destination is not asked. As an example, “whether the vehicle can reach the refueling point” is obtained “using the remaining amount of fuel at the destination”. Further, “the remaining amount of fuel at the destination” is obtained by “using the remaining amount of fuel at the current location and the amount of fuel consumed from the current location to the destination”. In these processes, distance, fuel consumption, destination position, and the like are also used.

  As the “guidance for prompting fuel replenishment to the vehicle”, it is sufficient if it is wide and prompts the user to refuel. The “guidance” is preferably “guidance relating to a refueling route via a fuel refueling point to stop before reaching the destination”. Further, the “refueling point to stop by” is preferably obtained “on the shortest route from the current location to the destination”. Further, “when the destination includes a transit point and a final destination” and “a refueling point to stop by from the transit point to the final destination” are preferably “from the transit point to the final destination”. On the shortest path to the ground. " Its technical significance is to prevent the refueling point from being searched from the transit point back to the departure point.

  In addition, the “guidance” may be guidance that there is not enough fuel or guidance that the destination cannot be reached.

  As “guidance”, guidance by voice, guidance by image, guidance by light, guidance by vibration, and the like can be considered.

  As the “output device”, an audio output device such as a speaker, an image output device such as a liquid crystal display, a light source provided in the vehicle interior, a vibration source provided in the vehicle interior, and the like are conceivable. It does not matter whether the “output device” is provided in the “guidance device”.

  The “processing unit” is a part for realizing specific processing by cooperation with hardware or hardware and software.

  When the “specific processing” is realized “in cooperation with the hardware and software”, the software is “if the vehicle cannot reach the destination from the current location with the remaining amount of fuel at the current location. A guide program for prompting fuel replenishment to the vehicle, wherein data stored in a storage medium allows the vehicle to reach the destination with a remaining amount of fuel at the current location, and the vehicle If it is indicated that the fuel supply point cannot be reached from the destination, it is a “guide program for causing the computer to execute a process for causing the output device to output a guide for prompting fuel supply to the vehicle”. Here, “data stored in the storage medium” may be a flag temporarily stored in a CPU register, RAM, or the like.

  The “guidance program” “determines whether or not the vehicle can reach the refueling point using the remaining amount of fuel at the current location and the amount of fuel consumed from the current location to the destination. It may be “for causing a computer to execute processing”.

  In addition to the above, the guidance device according to the present invention is a guidance device that controls whether or not fuel replenishment to the vehicle is promoted according to the remaining amount of fuel at the current location, and when the destination is set If the vehicle cannot reach at least one fuel supply point from the current location via the destination with the remaining amount of fuel at the current location, a guidance for prompting fuel supply to the vehicle is output to the output device. You may provide the processing part to make. In addition to the above-mentioned interpretation, the interpretation of the lexical phrase according to the present invention is as follows.

  Candidates for “at least one refueling point” are obtained from a destination location, a map, or the like (for example, sorting is performed under a condition that the radius is within 5 km centering on “destination location”). The amount of fuel necessary to reach the “fuel supply point” via the “destination” is obtained from the candidates for the “fuel supply point”, the map, and the fuel consumption. Whether or not the “fuel supply point” can be reached is obtained from the amount of fuel necessary to reach the “fuel supply point” via the “destination” and the “remaining amount of fuel at the current location”.

  In the present invention, if the number of fuel supply points that can be reached by the remaining amount of fuel when the vehicle reaches the destination is less than or equal to a predetermined number, fuel supply to the vehicle is promoted. It has the effect that it can avoid getting stuck after reaching.

  A guidance system according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention is shown in FIGS.

  <Output Example> An output example according to this embodiment is shown in FIGS. When the vehicle can reach the destination G from the departure point S (corresponding to “current location”) with the remaining fuel amount at the time of departure (corresponding to “remaining fuel amount at the current location”), the refueling point ES1 is the destination If it exists in a range having the ground G as the center and the reachable distance d as the radius (see FIG. 1A), the shortest route from the starting point S to the destination G is output (see FIG. 2A). .

  On the other hand, if the refueling point ES1 does not exist within the range having the destination G as the center and the reachable distance d as the radius (see FIG. 1B), the destination S from the destination S via the refueling point ES2 A supply route to G is displayed (see FIG. 2B).

  Here, the reachable distance d is a distance that can be reached by a remaining amount of fuel when a certain vehicle reaches the destination G. The above output examples are realized by the following hardware and software.

  <Hardware Configuration> The hardware configuration of the guidance system according to the present embodiment is shown in FIG. The guidance system 1 includes a guidance device 2, an input device 3, and an output device 4.

  The guide device 2 is connected to the input device 3, the output device 4, and the vehicle 5. The guidance device 2 includes an I / O 10, an HDD 11, a ROM 12, a CPU 13 (corresponding to a “processing unit”), a RAM 14 (corresponding to a “processing unit”), and a GPS receiver 15 (hereinafter referred to as GPS 15).

  In addition to coordinates, nodes, links, link costs, and the like, the HDD 11 stores fuel consumption, replenishment guidance images, replenishment guidance voices, and the like. In addition to the navigation program for navigation, the HDD 11 stores a supply guidance program for supply guidance and the like.

  The ROM 12 stores various basic programs (for example, BIOS etc.) necessary for startup or emergency.

  In addition to internal data and various programs, the RAM 14 stores values from the input device 3, values from the vehicle 5, processing results by the CPU 13, and the like. In the present embodiment, the value from the vehicle 5 is the remaining amount of fuel, speed, direction, and the like.

  <Processing Related to Supply Guide> The process related to the supply guide is shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the CPU 13 executes a replenishment guidance program developed in the RAM 14. At this time, internal data such as fuel consumption is developed in the RAM 14.

  A destination arrival confirmation process is executed (S1). In this process, the amount of fuel consumed from the departure point S to the destination G is calculated. Further, if this consumption amount is less than or equal to the remaining amount of fuel stored in the RAM 14 at the time of processing, it is stored in the RAM 14 that the destination can be reached. On the other hand, if the above-mentioned consumption amount is larger than the remaining amount of fuel stored in the RAM 14 at the time of processing, it is stored in the RAM 14 that the destination cannot be reached.

  Branch processing is executed (S2). In this process, reference is made to the fact that it is possible to reach the destination stored in the RAM 14 in step S1 and that it is impossible to reach the destination.

  If the fact that it is impossible to reach the destination is stored in the RAM 14 (No in S2), a supply route search process (S3) is executed. In this process, the fuel supply point ES2 to be routed before reaching the destination G is searched for along the link corresponding to the shortest route from the departure point S to the destination G. Further, the fuel supply point ES2 is searched for along the link connected to the shortest path described above. When the fuel supply point ES2 is searched, the remaining amount of fuel is set to the maximum value, and the processing from step S1 is executed. That is, these procedures are repeated until a result that the vehicle 5 can reach the destination G from the refueling point ES2 is generated. The fuel supply point ES2 obtained by this processing is stored in the RAM 14.

  On the other hand, if the fact that it is possible to reach the destination is stored in the RAM 14 (Yes in S2), replenishment availability confirmation processing (S4) is executed. In this process, whether or not the fuel replenishment point ES1 exists in a range that can be reached with the fuel remaining amount Rg (hereinafter referred to as the fuel remaining amount Rg) when the vehicle 5 reaches the destination G, that is, to the destination. Whether or not fuel can be replenished after arriving at is stored in the RAM 14.

  Branch processing is executed (S5). In this process, reference is made to whether fuel can be replenished after reaching the destination G stored in the RAM 14 in step S4.

  If refueling after reaching the destination G is impossible (No in S5), the processing from step S3 is executed.

  On the other hand, if fuel can be replenished after reaching the destination (Yes in S5), an output process is executed (S6). In this process, if “No” is not determined at all in the branch process in step S2 and the branch process in step S5, the shortest route from the departure point S to the destination G is output by the output device 4 (FIG. 2). (See (a)). On the other hand, if the determination of “No” is made even once in the branch process in step S2 or the branch process in step S5, a supply route from the departure point S to the destination G via the fuel supply point ES2 is output. 4 (see FIG. 2B). A replenishment guide is output by the output device 4. For example, a replenishment guidance sound or a replenishment guidance image having contents such as “no more fuel after reaching the destination” or “please refuel” is output. At this time, needless to say, those developed from the HDD 11 to the RAM 14 are used as the replenishment guidance image and the replenishment guidance sound.

  Note that step S1, step S2, step S3, and part of step S6 are described in detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-85266.

  <Supply availability confirmation process> The above-described supply availability confirmation process is shown in FIG. The remaining fuel amount Rg is calculated (S11). In step S1, the amount of fuel consumed from the departure point S to the destination G is calculated. When this consumption is subtracted from the remaining amount of fuel stored in the RAM 14 during processing, the remaining amount Rg of fuel is obtained. The remaining fuel amount Rg is stored in the RAM 14.

  The reachable distance d is calculated (S12). Specifically, when the fuel remaining amount Rg obtained in S11 is divided by the fuel consumption developed in the RAM 14, the reachable distance d is obtained. The reachable distance d is stored in the RAM 14.

  A fuel supply point ES1 is searched (S13). Specifically, the refueling point is searched using the destination G as a base point, and the distance between the searched fuel refilling point and the destination G is obtained using a link cost or the like. If the distance between the destination G and the fuel supply point is equal to or less than the reachable distance d stored in the RAM 14 in S2, the fuel supply point becomes a candidate for the fuel supply point ES1. The above procedure is repeated, and the candidate number SR of the fuel supply point ES1 is stored in the RAM.

  The candidate number SR of the fuel supply point ES1 obtained in S13 is compared with the determination threshold value SR0 (S14). In the present embodiment, the determination threshold SR0 is “0” (zero). That is, it is determined whether or not there is a candidate for the fuel supply point ES1.

  If the candidate number SR of the fuel supply point ES1 is larger than the determination threshold value SR0 (“>” in S14), the fact that fuel can be supplied after reaching the destination G is stored in the RAM 14 (S15).

  On the other hand, if the number SR of candidates for the fuel supply point ES1 is equal to or smaller than the determination threshold SR0 (“≦” in S14), the fact that fuel cannot be supplied after reaching the destination G is stored in the RAM 14 ( S16).

  <Effect in this Embodiment> According to this embodiment, if the number of refueling points ES1 that can be reached with the fuel remaining amount Rg when the vehicle reaches the destination G is zero, the replenishment guidance is output. Is done. Therefore, fuel replenishment to the vehicle 5 is promoted, and the vehicle 5 can be prevented from getting stuck after reaching the destination G.

  In the present embodiment, if the number of fuel replenishment points ES1 that can be reached with the remaining amount of fuel Rg when the vehicle reaches the destination G is zero, a replenishment route via the fuel replenishment point ES2 is output. Therefore, it becomes easy to refuel the vehicle 5, and it is possible to more reliably avoid the vehicle 5 from getting stuck after reaching the destination G.

  <Modification 1> In the present embodiment, the remaining fuel amount Rg at the time of reaching the destination G is calculated, but even if the remaining fuel amount Rg is not calculated, the present embodiment Such replenishment guidance is possible. Specifically, when the destination G is set, candidates for the fuel supply point ES1 are specified with reference to the destination G. The amount of fuel consumed to reach the candidate for the refueling point ES1 from the departure point S via the destination G (see FIG. 6) is calculated. This consumption amount is compared with the remaining amount of fuel stored in the RAM 14 during processing. If the remaining amount of fuel is greater than or equal to the consumption, the shortest route from the departure point S to the destination G is output. On the other hand, if the remaining amount of the fuel is smaller than the consumption, a replenishment guide or a replenishment route is output. At this time, the refueling point ES2 is preferably obtained on the shortest route from the departure point S to the destination G.

  <Modification 2> In the present embodiment, the refueling point ES1 and the refueling point ES2 are obtained with their positions as main elements. However, if the opening date and time, the fuel market price, and the like can be prepared as elements related to the fuel supply point, these elements may be considered in order to obtain the fuel supply point ES1 and the fuel supply point ES2.

  <Modification 3> In this embodiment, the determination threshold SR0 is “0”. However, the determination threshold SR0 may be a value other than “0” (for example, “2” to “5”).

  <Modification 4> In the present embodiment, the destination G is the final destination. However, the destination G may be a transit point. When the destination is a transit point, the presence / absence of the fuel supply point ES1 should be determined in consideration of the shortest route from the transit point to the final destination in addition to the reachable distance d.

  <Modification 5> In the present embodiment, various processes are executed by one processing unit including the CPU 13 and the like. However, the various processes may be executed by different processing units.

  <Modification 6> In the present embodiment, the guide device 2 and the output device 5 are provided separately. However, the output device 5 may be incorporated in the guide device 2.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention has an effect that a vehicle can be prevented from getting stuck after reaching a destination, and is useful for a navigation device or the like.

(A) The figure which shows the case where refueling is possible after reaching the destination in this embodiment (b) The figure which shows the case where refueling is impossible after reaching the destination in this embodiment (A) The figure which shows the example of a display of the shortest path | route concerning this Embodiment (b) The figure which shows the example of a display of the replenishment path | route concerning this Embodiment The figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the guidance system which concerns on this Embodiment Flow chart showing the flow of processing related to replenishment guidance in the present embodiment Flow chart showing the flow of replenishment point confirmation processing in the present embodiment The figure which shows the concept of the search which concerns on a modification

Explanation of symbols

2 Guide device 4 Output device 13 CPU ("Processing unit")
14 RAM ("Processing Unit")

Claims (10)

If the vehicle cannot reach the destination from the current location with the remaining amount of fuel at the current location, a guidance device that prompts the vehicle to refuel,
When the vehicle can reach the destination with the remaining amount of fuel at the current location, if the vehicle cannot reach the refueling point from the destination, a guidance for prompting the vehicle to refuel is output. A guide device including a processing unit that causes the device to output. The guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit determines whether or not the vehicle can reach the refueling point by using a remaining amount of fuel at the destination. The processing unit obtains the remaining amount of fuel at the destination by using the remaining amount of fuel at the current location and the amount of fuel consumed from the current location to the destination. Item 3. The guidance device according to Item 2. The guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit uses the guidance as a guidance related to a replenishment route that passes through a fuel supply point that should stop before reaching the destination. The guidance device according to claim 4, wherein the processing unit obtains the fuel supply point to be stopped on a shortest route from the current location to the destination. When the destination includes a transit point and a final destination, the processing unit sets a fuel supply point to stop by from the transit point to the final destination on the shortest route from the transit point to the final destination. The guidance device according to claim 4, wherein the guidance device is calculated as follows. The guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising the output device. A guide device that controls whether or not to prompt the vehicle to refuel according to the remaining amount of fuel at the current location,
When a destination is set, if the vehicle cannot reach at least one refueling point from the current location via the destination with the amount of fuel remaining at the current location, fueling the vehicle is encouraged A guidance device comprising a processing unit that causes an output device to output guidance for the purpose. If the vehicle cannot reach the destination from the current location with the remaining amount of fuel at the current location, a guidance program for prompting the vehicle to refuel,
If the data stored in the storage medium indicates that the vehicle can reach the destination with the remaining amount of fuel at the current location, and the vehicle cannot reach the refueling point from the destination, A guidance program for causing a computer to execute processing for causing an output device to output guidance for prompting fuel replenishment to the vehicle. In order to cause a computer to execute processing for determining whether or not the vehicle can reach the refueling point using the remaining amount of fuel at the current location and the amount of fuel consumed from the current location to the destination The guide program according to claim 9.

Images