JP2008058240A - Navigation apparatus, and method of drawing intersection enlarged view - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation apparatus, and a method of drawing an intersection enlarged view, enabling drawing of the intersection enlarged view capable of certainly guiding a driver even in an integrated intersection where the distance of the link in the intersection is long. <P>SOLUTION: When an intersection determination section 31 determines that the guidance intersection is an integrated intersection having at least one link in the intersection, and a distance determination section 32 determines that the distance of the link in the intersection is a predetermined value or more, a guidance route generating section 25 specifies any one from the enlarged view data of a plurality of patterns in an intersection enlarged view memory 21 based on a guide code attached to an approach point node to the integrated intersection, reads the enlarged view data of the specified pattern, and displays the intersection enlarged view including the whole integrated intersection, thereby certainly displaying a guide arrow at the final right/left turn point. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device and a method for drawing an enlarged intersection, and is particularly suitable for a navigation device that provides guidance by showing an enlarged intersection when entering a guidance intersection.

  In general, in-vehicle navigation devices detect the current position of a vehicle using a self-contained navigation sensor, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, or the like, read out map data in the vicinity of the vehicle, and display it on a screen. Then, the vehicle position mark indicating the vehicle position is superimposed and displayed at a predetermined location on the screen, so that it can be seen at a glance where the vehicle is currently traveling.

  Most navigation devices are equipped with a route guidance function. This route guidance function automatically searches for the route with the lowest cost from the current location to the destination using map data, and uses the searched route as a guidance route to change the color of other roads on the map screen. draw. Further, when the vehicle approaches a guidance intersection on the guidance route within a certain distance, an enlarged view of the intersection is displayed and the intersection is guided to guide the driver to the destination.

  The cost is a value obtained by multiplying a predetermined constant according to the road width, road type (whether it is a general road or a highway), right and left turns, traffic regulations, etc. based on the distance. The degree of appropriateness is quantified. Even if there are two routes with the same distance, the cost differs depending on the search conditions such as whether the driver uses the expressway, whether to give priority to time or priority to distance It becomes. In the route search process, the link cost on various routes from the departure point to the destination is sequentially added, using the points connecting multiple roads such as intersections and branches as nodes and the vector connecting adjacent nodes as links. The route with the lowest total cost is selected.

  Usually, an intersection is represented by one node, and a plurality of links are connected to the intersection node. On the other hand, in map data such as China, there is what is called an integrated intersection. An integrated intersection is one in which a link exists within the intersection. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an integrated intersection. As shown in FIG. 12, an integrated intersection includes one or more links within the intersection.

Usually, an intersection enlarged view is drawn centering on a node entering the guidance intersection. Further, in the enlarged view of the intersection, the display size (scale) is fixed in accordance with a normal intersection. Therefore, when trying to display an enlarged view of an intersection at an integrated intersection, if the distance between the links in the intersection is long, the integrated intersection itself will be larger than the display size, and the guide arrow indicating the right or left turn cannot be expressed in the enlarged enlarged view of the intersection at the integrated intersection. There is a problem. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, if the link at the integrated intersection is long, a guide arrow indicating a right or left turn cannot be expressed, and an enlarged view in which a straight guide arrow is expressed is displayed. For this reason, the user who sees the enlarged view may be mistaken for straight ahead.

In addition, when the distance of the link of the intersection which should be guided and the intersection in front is short, there also exists the technique which displays these two intersections simultaneously (for example, refer patent document 1).
JP 2006-23158 A

However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is applied when the distance between the intersections is short. Even if this is applied to the integrated intersection, the link distance between the intersections is long. There was a problem that the guide arrows indicating right and left turns could not be expressed in the enlarged intersection map.
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and can provide an enlarged view of an intersection that can reliably guide a driver even at an integrated intersection with a long distance between links in the intersection. The purpose is to.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, in the navigation device of the present invention, when the guidance intersection is an integrated intersection having at least one in-intersection link, and the distance of the in-intersection link is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, at least the final right / left turn The intersection enlarged view is drawn so as to include the point.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, when the distance of the link in the intersection of the integrated intersection is long, the intersection enlarged view is drawn so as to include at least the final right / left turn point, so that it is ensured for the driver. The guide arrow can be drawn to guide the guidance direction.

(First embodiment)
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a navigation device 10 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a map recording medium such as a DVD-ROM, which stores various map data necessary for map display and route search. Here, the DVD-ROM 11 is used as a recording medium for storing the map data, but other recording media such as a CD-ROM, a hard disk, and a semiconductor memory may be used. A DVD-ROM control unit 12 controls reading of map data from the DVD-ROM 11.

  Here, the details of the map data recorded on the DVD-ROM 11 will be described. The map data recorded on the DVD-ROM 11 includes road data necessary for various processes such as map display and route search, and enlarged map data of intersections to be guided. Road data is information about nodes corresponding to points where multiple roads such as intersections and branches intersect, and links corresponding to roads, lanes, etc. that connect between a node on the road and other nodes adjacent to it. And information about.

  The information regarding the node includes an intersection flag indicating whether or not each node is an intersection. In particular, when the intersection is an integrated intersection, an intersection flag indicating that the intersection is an integrated intersection is included. Here, the integrated intersection means an intersection having at least one intra-intersection link.

  Information relating to the link includes information such as a link distance, a road attribute flag, a road type flag, and a link cost. The link distance indicates the actual distance of the actual road corresponding to the link. The road attribute flag indicates various attributes relating to the link. For example, the road attribute flag indicates that the link is an intra-intersection link. The road type flag indicates a type indicating whether the actual road corresponding to the link is an expressway or a general road.

  The cost of the link is a value obtained by multiplying a predetermined constant according to the road width, road type, right and left turns, traffic regulations, etc., based on the distance, and quantifies the appropriate degree as a guide route . The enlarged map data of the intersection includes multiple patterns of enlarged map data including the entire integrated intersection. For example, bitmap data indicating at least two directions including straight ahead, right turn, left turn, right Euturn, left Euturn, before right oblique, after right oblique, before left oblique and after left oblique is included.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a position measurement unit that measures the current position of the vehicle, and includes a self-contained navigation sensor, a GPS receiver, a position calculation CPU, and the like. The self-contained navigation sensor includes a vehicle speed sensor (distance sensor) that outputs a single pulse for each predetermined travel distance to detect the travel distance of the vehicle, and an angular velocity sensor such as a vibration gyro that detects the rotation angle (movement direction) of the vehicle. (Relative orientation sensor). The self-contained navigation sensor detects the relative position and direction of the vehicle using these vehicle speed sensor and angular velocity sensor.

  The position calculation CPU calculates the absolute own vehicle position (estimated vehicle position) and vehicle direction based on the relative position and direction data of the own vehicle output from the self-contained navigation sensor. The GPS receiver receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites by a GPS antenna and performs a three-dimensional positioning process or a two-dimensional positioning process to calculate the absolute position and direction of the vehicle (the vehicle direction is The calculation is based on the current vehicle position and the current vehicle position one sampling time ΔT before).

  A map information memory 14 temporarily stores map data read from the DVD-ROM 11 under the control of the DVD-ROM control unit 12. That is, the DVD-ROM control unit 12 inputs information on the current vehicle position from the position measurement unit 13 and outputs an instruction to read out a predetermined range of map data including the current vehicle position, thereby displaying a map display or guidance route. Map data necessary for the search is read from the DVD-ROM 11 and stored in the map information memory 14.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes an operation unit such as a remote controller (remote controller). The user sets various information (for example, a route guidance destination or waypoint) to the navigation apparatus 10 or performs various operations (for example, menu selection). Various operators (buttons, joysticks, etc.) for performing operations, enlargement / reduction operations, manual map scrolling, numerical input, etc. are provided. Reference numeral 16 denotes a remote control interface, which receives an infrared signal corresponding to the operation state from the remote control 15. In addition, although the example using the remote control 15 is described here, a touch panel may be used.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes a processor (CPU) that controls the entire navigation apparatus 10. A ROM 18 stores various programs (guidance route search processing program, route guidance processing program, etc.). Reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM which temporarily stores data obtained during various processes and data obtained as a result of various processes.

  The CPU 17 searches for a travel route connecting the current location and the destination under predetermined conditions using the map data stored in the map information memory 14 in accordance with the guidance route search processing program stored in the ROM 18. For example, the guidance route that minimizes the cost under any of the conditions such as the shortest time, the shortest distance, and the minimum fee is searched. When a transit point is also set, a route with the lowest cost is searched for under a predetermined condition among routes from the current location to the destination through the transit point. The conditions for searching for the guide route can be arbitrarily designated by the user.

  Reference numeral 20 denotes a guidance route memory, which stores guidance route data searched by the CPU 17. The guidance route data corresponds to each node from the current location to the destination, the location of each node, whether each node is an intersection, in particular, an intersection flag indicating whether the intersection is an integrated intersection, and an integrated intersection A guide code indicating in which direction the vehicle travels is stored.

  When searching for a guidance route, if a destination for route search is set by operating the remote controller 15, the CPU 17 stores the destination data in the guidance route memory 20. When a route search instruction is issued by operating the remote controller 15, the vehicle position at that time is set as departure point data and stored in the guidance route memory 20. Then, a travel route connecting the starting point and the destination stored in the guide route memory 20 is searched under specified conditions. For example, the guide route that minimizes the cost under any of the conditions such as the shortest time, the shortest distance, and the shortest charge is searched and set.

  At this time, the CPU 17 uses the map data stored in the map information memory 14 to determine whether the guidance intersection is an integrated intersection and whether the distance between the links in the intersection is a predetermined value or more. When it is determined that the guidance intersection is an integrated intersection and the distance between the links in the intersection is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the CPU 17 determines that the guidance direction at the guidance intersection is straight, right turn, left turn, right u-turn, left u-turn, A guide code indicating one of the nine patterns before right oblique, after right oblique, before left oblique and after left oblique is created in association with the intersection flag and recorded in the guide route memory 20.

  Further, the CPU 17 performs processing for guiding the vehicle to the destination using the map data stored in the map information memory 14 and the guidance route data stored in the guidance route memory 20 according to the route guidance processing program. That is, a guidance route generation unit 25 to be described later is controlled to draw the guidance route thickly on the map screen while changing the color from other roads while the vehicle is traveling. In addition, when the vehicle approaches a guidance intersection on the guidance route within a certain distance, the direction of travel is guided by voice, or the guidance image of the intersection is enlarged and an arrow indicating the direction of travel is displayed. Provide intersection guidance. Details of this route guidance processing will be described later.

  Reference numeral 21 denotes an intersection enlarged map memory (corresponding to the enlarged map data storage unit of the present invention), and enlarged map data of a guidance intersection in the guidance route (a traveling direction arrow for guiding the vehicle toward the destination is drawn. Temporarily stored). The data of this enlarged intersection view is also appropriately read from the DVD-ROM 11 under the control of the DVD-ROM control unit 12. Note that the DVD-ROM control unit 12 may read the enlarged intersection map data relating to all guidance intersections on the guidance route from the DVD-ROM 11 and store them in the enlarged intersection map memory 21, or the current position of the own vehicle may be stored. The enlarged intersection map data relating to the guidance intersection within the predetermined range may be read and stored in the enlarged intersection map memory 21.

  Reference numeral 22 denotes a display controller, which generates map image data necessary for display on the display device 28 based on the map data stored in the map information memory 14. A video RAM 23 temporarily stores map image data generated by the display controller 22. That is, the map image data generated by the display controller 22 is temporarily stored in the video RAM 23, and the map image data for one screen is read and output to the image composition unit 27.

  A menu generation unit 24 generates and outputs a menu image necessary for performing various operations using the remote controller 15. Reference numeral 25 denotes a guidance route generation unit (corresponding to the drawing unit of the present invention). Based on the control from the CPU 17, the processing result of the guidance route search processing program stored in the guidance route memory 20 is used to determine the guidance route. Generate drawing data. That is, the guidance route data stored in the guidance route memory 20 is selectively read out that is included in the map area drawn in the video RAM 23 at that time, and the guidance is overlaid on the map image and highlighted with a predetermined color. Generate route drawing data. Further, when the host vehicle approaches within a predetermined distance from the guidance intersection in front of the guidance route, the enlarged map image of the approaching guidance intersection is generated using the enlarged intersection map data in the enlarged intersection map memory 21.

  A mark generating unit 26 generates and outputs a vehicle position mark to be displayed at the vehicle position after the map matching process, various landmarks to display each point corresponding to the facility, and the like. Note that the map matching process includes the map data read into the map information memory 14, the vehicle position and vehicle orientation data measured by the GPS receiver measured by the position measurement unit 13, and the vehicle estimated by the autonomous navigation sensor. This refers to processing for correcting the position of the vehicle on the road of the map data using the position and vehicle direction data.

  The above-described image composition unit 27 synthesizes and outputs various images. That is, the map image data read by the display controller 22 is overlaid with the image data output from each of the menu generation unit 24, the guide route generation unit 25, and the mark generation unit 26, and image synthesis is performed. Output to. Thereby, the map information around the vehicle position is displayed on the screen of the display device 28 together with the vehicle position mark and various landmarks. When a guidance route is set, the guidance route is displayed on this map, and an enlarged view of the intersection is displayed when the position of the vehicle approaches the vicinity of the guidance intersection. As will be described in detail later, when the guidance intersection is an integrated intersection and satisfies a predetermined condition, image synthesis is performed using the enlarged intersection enlarged view and output to the display device 28.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 17 includes an intersection determination unit 31, a distance determination unit 32, and a guidance direction determination unit 33 as functional configurations. The intersection determination unit 31 determines whether the host vehicle has approached the guidance intersection within a predetermined distance based on the data stored in the map information memory 14 and the guidance route memory 20. Further, when the host vehicle approaches the guidance intersection within a predetermined distance, it is determined whether or not the guidance intersection is an integrated intersection based on the intersection flag given to the entry node to the guidance intersection. .

  Based on the map data in the map information memory 14, the distance determination unit 32 determines whether or not the distance between the links in the intersection included in the integrated intersection is a predetermined value or more. The guidance direction determination unit 33 determines which direction is the guidance direction in the integrated intersection based on the guidance code stored in the guidance route memory 20. For example, the guidance direction determination unit 33 determines whether the guidance direction is a u-turn (right u-turn and left u-turn) or another direction.

  When it is determined by the guidance direction determination unit 33 that the route is other than a u-turn, the distance determination unit 32 determines the distance of the link in the intersection from the entry node to the integrated intersection to the node of the last right / left turn point (screen size). -Depending on the resolution, for example, whether it is 46 meters or more is determined based on the map data in the map information memory 14. Further, the distance determining unit 32, when the guidance direction determining unit 33 determines that it is a u-turn, the distance of the link in the intersection of the route that enters the node of the last right / left turn point is a predetermined value (screen size / resolution) Depending on the map data in the map information memory 14, for example.

  Here, the final right-left turn point is a node on the guidance route in the integrated intersection, and is the node that finally makes a right-left turn or the like. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a final right-left turn point. For example, if a left turn is made within an integrated intersection, the node at the left turn point, that is, the node B in FIG. 3A becomes the final right turn point. Further, when making a u-turn, at least two or more nodes are turned right and left, and in this case, the node that makes the last right or left turn, that is, node C in FIG. 3B is the final right and left turn point.

  The guidance route generation unit 25, when the intersection determination unit 31 determines that the guidance intersection is not an integrated intersection, or the distance determination unit 32 determines that the distance of the link within the intersection is not equal to or greater than a predetermined value, Draw an enlarged view of the intersection. That is, the guidance route generator 25 deforms the guidance intersection based on the map data in the map information memory 14 and draws the guidance direction arrow according to the guidance route data stored in the guidance route memory 20. To do. Here, when a normal intersection enlarged view is drawn, the guide route generation unit 25 draws a node that enters the guidance intersection as a center. In addition, the display size (scale) of the intersection enlarged view is fixed (for example, 45 m × 45 m).

  On the other hand, the guidance route generation unit 25 determines that the guidance intersection is an integrated intersection by the intersection determination unit 31 and the distance determination unit 32 determines that the distance of the link in the intersection is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Draw an enlarged view of the intersection so as to include at least the final right / left turn point. That is, the guidance route generation unit 25 reads the guidance code given to the entry point node from the guidance route memory 20, and based on this guidance code, any one of the enlarged map data of a plurality of patterns in the intersection enlarged map memory 21 is selected. Specify one or the other. Then, the enlarged map data of the specified pattern is read, and an enlarged intersection map of the integrated intersection is drawn. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an enlarged intersection view of the integrated intersection drawn by the guidance route generation unit 25. 4A is an enlarged view of an intersection guiding a left turn, and FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of an intersection guiding a u-turn. In FIG. 4, reference numerals 101 and 102 denote names of intersections.

  Next, operation | movement of the navigation apparatus 10 of 1st Embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the navigation device 10 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 5, the intersection determination unit 31 determines whether or not the host vehicle has approached the guidance intersection based on the data in the map information memory 14 and the guidance route memory 20 (step S1). Here, if it is determined that the host vehicle has not yet approached the guidance intersection, the process of step S1 is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the approaching intersection is approaching, the intersection determination unit 31 determines whether the guidance intersection is an integrated intersection based on the intersection flag assigned to the entry node to the guidance intersection read from the map information memory 14. It is determined whether or not (step S2). Here, when it is determined that the intersection is not an integrated intersection, the guidance route generation unit 25 draws a normal intersection enlarged view (step S3).

  On the other hand, when the intersection determination unit 31 determines that the intersection is an integrated intersection, the guidance direction determination unit 33 determines whether the guidance direction is a u-turn based on the guidance code read from the guidance route memory 20 (step S4). ). Here, when the guidance direction determination unit 33 determines that the turn is a U-turn, the distance determination unit 32 crosses the route that enters the node of the final right / left turn point based on the map data in the map information memory 14. It is determined whether or not the distance of the inner link is greater than or equal to a predetermined value (step S5). Here, when it is determined that the value is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the guidance route generation unit 25 draws a normal intersection enlarged view (step S6).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the guidance route generation unit 25 expands the intersection corresponding to the guidance code from the intersection enlarged view memory 21 based on the guidance code assigned to the entry point node. Data is identified and read (step S7). And the guidance route generation part 25 draws the intersection enlarged view of a guidance intersection using the read intersection enlarged view data (step S8).

  In step S4, when the guidance direction determination unit 33 determines that the guidance direction is other than Euthan, the distance determination unit 32 enters the integrated intersection based on the map data in the map information memory 14. It is determined whether or not the distance of the intra-intersection link from the point node to the node of the final right / left turn point is a predetermined value or more (step S9). If it is determined that the value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S7, and the intersection enlarged view data is read. On the other hand, if the distance determination unit 32 determines in step S9 that the distance of the link in the intersection is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S3, and the guidance route generation unit 25 draws a normal intersection enlarged view. .

  As described above in detail, in the first embodiment, it is determined whether or not the guidance intersection is an integrated intersection, and whether or not the distance between the links in the intersection is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. When both of the conditions are satisfied, the guidance route generator 25 reads the enlarged intersection map data of an appropriate pattern from the enlarged intersection map memory 21 and draws the enlarged intersection map of the integrated intersection. As a result, even if it is a large integrated intersection with a long link distance in the intersection, an enlarged view of the intersection that always includes the final right-left turn point is displayed, and the problem that the guide arrow indicating the right-left turn or the like cannot be drawn can be solved. On the other hand, guidance within the intersection can be reliably performed.

  In the first embodiment, whether to draw a normal intersection enlarged view or an intersection enlarged view of an integrated intersection is determined depending on whether or not the distance of the link in the intersection is an integrated intersection having a predetermined value or more. I am doing so. As a result, if the intersection is an integrated intersection, an enlarged view of the intersection that is easy to see the guidance of the integrated intersection will be drawn, and if it is an ordinary intersection, an enlarged view of the intersection that is easy to see the guidance of the ordinary intersection will be drawn. It becomes possible to provide an easy-to-see intersection enlarged view.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the navigation device 40 according to the second embodiment. The configuration of the navigation device 40 according to the second embodiment is different from the configuration shown in FIG. 1 in that the intersection enlarged view memory 21 is not provided. Moreover, in 2nd Embodiment, the function of the guidance route generation part 41 differs from 1st Embodiment. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of the second embodiment. 6 and 7, the same reference numerals are given to components having the same functions as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  In FIG. 7, the guidance route generator 41 (corresponding to the drawing unit of the present invention) determines that the guide intersection is an integrated intersection by the intersection determination unit 31, and the distance determination unit 32 determines that the distance of the link within the intersection is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. If it is determined, the map size stored in the map information memory 14 is used to adjust the display size so that the entire integrated intersection is displayed on the screen, and the enlarged intersection drawing is drawn. At this time, the guidance route generation unit 41 draws an enlarged intersection view so that the center of gravity of all nodes of the integrated intersection is the center of the screen. Further, the guide route generation unit 41 also draws an arrow indicating the direction to be guided at the final right / left turn point based on the data of the guide route in the guide route memory 20.

  The guidance route generation unit 41 determines that the guidance intersection is not an integrated intersection by the intersection determination unit 31, or the distance determination unit 32 determines that the distance of the link in the intersection is not equal to or greater than a predetermined value. If so, draw a normal enlarged view of the intersection.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an enlarged intersection view of the integrated intersection drawn by the guidance route generation unit 41. 8A is an enlarged view of an intersection guiding a left turn, and FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of an intersection guiding a u-turn. In FIG. 8A, reference numeral 103 denotes the center of gravity of all nodes of the integrated intersection, and the guide route generator 41 calculates this center of gravity based on the map data in the map information memory 14, and the center of gravity is the center of the screen. Draw an enlarged view of the intersection. Reference numeral 104 denotes a vehicle position mark. The image composition unit 27 performs image composition by superimposing the vehicle position mark 104 generated by the mark generation unit 26 on the image data output from the guidance route generation unit 41. Reference numeral 105 denotes a flag indicating the final right-left turn point when making a left turn. In FIG. 8B, 106 indicates a vehicle position mark, and 107 indicates the center of gravity of all nodes at the integrated intersection. Reference numeral 108 denotes a flag indicating the final right / left turn point during the u-turn.

  As another example of the position at the center of the screen, the guidance route generation unit 41 displays an enlarged intersection view of the integrated intersection so that the midpoint of the link of the route that enters the node at the final right / left turn point is the screen center. You may make it draw. For example, in the case of making a left turn as shown in FIG. 3A, since the node B is the final right-left turn point, drawing is performed so that the midpoint of the link 2 of the route that enters is centered on the screen. Further, in the case of making a u-turn as shown in FIG. 3B, since the node C is the final right / left turn point, the middle point of the link 3 of the route to be entered is drawn so as to be the center of the screen.

  As yet another example of the position as the center of the screen, the guidance route generation unit 41 draws an enlarged intersection view of the integrated intersection so that the midpoint between the entry point node and the final right / left turn point node is the screen center. You may do it. For example, in the case of making a left turn as shown in FIG. 3A, the drawing is performed so that the midpoint between the node A that is the entry point node and the node B that is the final right and left turn point node is the screen center. In addition, in the case of making a u-turn as shown in FIG. 3B, the midpoint of the line connecting the node A that is the entry point node and the node C that is the final right-left turn point node is the center of the screen. draw.

  Next, operation | movement of the navigation apparatus 40 of 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the navigation device 40 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 9, the intersection determination unit 31 determines whether or not the host vehicle has approached the guidance intersection based on the data in the map information memory 14 and the guidance route memory 20 (step S21). Here, if it is determined that the host vehicle has not yet approached the guidance intersection, the process of step S21 is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the approaching intersection is approaching, the intersection determination unit 31 determines whether the guidance intersection is an integrated intersection based on the intersection flag assigned to the entry node to the guidance intersection read from the map information memory 14. It is determined whether or not (step S22). Here, when it is determined that the intersection is not an integrated intersection, the guidance route generation unit 41 draws a normal intersection enlarged view (step S23).

  On the other hand, when the intersection determination unit 31 determines that the intersection is an integrated intersection, the guidance direction determination unit 33 determines whether the guidance direction is a u-turn based on the guidance code read from the guidance route memory 20 (step S24). ). Here, when the guidance direction determination unit 33 determines that the turn is a U-turn, the distance determination unit 32 crosses the route that enters the node of the final right / left turn point based on the map data in the map information memory 14. It is determined whether or not the distance of the inner link is greater than or equal to a predetermined value (step S25). Here, when it is determined that the value is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the guidance route generation unit 41 draws a normal intersection enlarged view (step S26).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the guidance route generating unit 41 may display the entire integrated intersection on the screen based on the map data in the map information memory 14, or the integrated intersection The intersection enlarged view is deformed and drawn so that the center of gravity of all the nodes becomes the center of the screen (step S27). In step S24, when the guidance direction determination unit 33 determines that the guidance direction is other than the e-turn, the distance determination unit 32 determines the distance from the entry node to the integrated intersection to the node at the final right / left turn point. It is determined whether or not the distance between the links within the intersection is greater than or equal to a predetermined value (step S28). Here, when it is determined that the value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S27, and the guidance route generation unit 41 draws an enlarged intersection view. On the other hand, if the distance determination unit 32 determines in step S28 that the distance between the links in the intersection is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S23, and the guidance route generation unit 41 draws a normal intersection enlarged view. .

  As described above in detail, in the second embodiment, the guide route generator 41 adjusts the display size so that the entire integrated intersection is displayed on the screen. Even if an enlarged view of the intersection is drawn, the guidance arrow of the final right-left turn point can always be displayed on the screen, and the user can be reliably guided. In addition, since the center of gravity of all nodes of the integrated intersection is the center of the screen, the guidance route generating unit 41 can provide an enlarged view of the intersection that makes it easy for the user to grasp the entire integrated intersection.

  In addition, when the guide route generating unit 41 draws the enlarged intersection view so that the midpoint of the link of the route entering the node of the final right / left turn point is the screen center, the final right / left turn point Will be drawn near the center of the screen. For this reason, a guidance direction arrow is drawn in the vicinity of the center, making it easier for the user who sees the enlarged intersection view to grasp the guidance direction.

  Furthermore, when the guidance route generation unit 41 draws the enlarged intersection view so that the midpoint between the entry point node and the final right / left turn point node is the center of the screen, for example, the integrated intersection is distorted. Even in the case of the shape, the entry point node and the final right / left turn point are drawn at substantially equal positions near the center of the screen. For this reason, even in the drawing of enlarged views of various types of intersections, it is easy to grasp the entrance to the integrated intersection and the final right-left turn point, and the guidance is easy to see.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the navigation device 40 according to the third embodiment is the same as the block diagram shown in FIG. In the third embodiment, the function of the guidance route generation unit 41 is different from that of the second embodiment, but the configuration of the main part is the same as the functional block diagram shown in FIG. To do.

The guidance route generation unit 41 (corresponding to the drawing unit of the present invention) of the third embodiment adjusts the display size to a range including the entry point node to the integrated intersection as the center of the screen and including the final right / left turn point. Draw an enlarged view of the intersection. For example, in the case of turning left as shown in FIG. 3A, the display size is adjusted so that the node A that is the entry point node is centered on the screen and the node B that is the final right and left turn point node is included. . Further, in the case of making a u-turn as shown in FIG. 3B, the display size is adjusted so that the node A that is the entry point node is centered on the screen and the node C that is the final right and left turn point node is included. .

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an enlarged intersection view of an integrated intersection drawn by the guidance route generation unit 41 according to the third embodiment. 10A is an enlarged view of an intersection guiding a left turn, and FIG. 10B is an enlarged view of an intersection guiding a u-turn. In FIG. 10A, reference numeral 109 denotes a vehicle position mark. The image composition unit 27 performs image composition by superimposing the vehicle position mark 109 generated by the mark generation unit 26 on the image data output from the guidance route generation unit 41. Reference numeral 110 denotes an entry point node centered on the screen by the guidance route generation unit 41. Reference numeral 111 denotes a flag indicating a final right-left turn point at the time of a left turn, and 112 denotes an intersection name. In FIG. 10B, reference numeral 113 denotes a vehicle position mark. Reference numeral 114 denotes an entry point node centered on the screen. Reference numeral 115 denotes a flag indicating the final right / left turn point at the time of u-turn, and 116 denotes the name of the intersection.

  As described above in detail, in the third embodiment, the guidance route generation unit 41 adjusts the display size to the range including the final intersection point with the entry node to the integrated intersection as the center of the screen. Since the enlarged view is drawn, it is easy to grasp the entrance to the integrated intersection in the enlarged view of the intersection, and the guide arrow of the final right / left turn point can be drawn reliably. As a result, the user can be reliably guided.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the navigation device 40 according to the fourth embodiment is the same as the block diagram shown in FIG. In the fourth embodiment, the function of the guidance route generator 41 is different from that of the second embodiment and the third embodiment, but the configuration of the main part is the same as the functional block diagram shown in FIG. The description will be made using the same reference numerals.

  The guidance route generation unit 41 (corresponding to the drawing unit of the present invention) of the fourth embodiment is centered on the node of the last right / left turn point and includes the last right / left turn point, except when making a turn at the integrated intersection. Draw an enlarged view of the intersection by adjusting the display size to the range. For example, in the case of making a left turn as shown in FIG. 3A, an enlarged view of the intersection is drawn around the node B that is the final right-left turn point node. In the case of making a u-turn, since the midpoint of the link of the route entering the node at the final right / left turn point, that is, the node C shown in FIG. 3B is the final right / left turn point node, The center point of the link 3 of the route to be entered is drawn as the center of the screen.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an enlarged intersection view of an integrated intersection drawn by the guidance route generation unit 41 according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 11, (a) is an enlarged view of an intersection guiding a left turn, and (b) is an enlarged view of an intersection guiding a u-turn. In FIG. 11A, reference numeral 117 denotes a flag indicating a final right / left turn point at the time of a left turn, and an enlarged intersection view is drawn with this as the center of the screen. In FIG. 11B, reference numeral 118 denotes a vehicle position mark. The image composition unit 27 performs image composition by superimposing the vehicle position mark 118 generated by the mark generation unit 26 on the image data output from the guidance route generation unit 41. Reference numeral 119 denotes a position where the guide route generating unit 41 is set to the center of the screen of the enlarged intersection view, and 120 is a flag indicating the final right / left turn point at the time of the u-turn.

Note that the guidance route generation unit 41 may adjust the display size so as to include the entry point node in addition to the node at the final right / left turn point, and draw an enlarged intersection view of the integrated intersection. It is more preferable to make adjustments so as to include the entry point node, since it becomes easier to grasp the integrated intersection when the user views the enlarged intersection view.

  As described above in detail, in the fourth embodiment, the guidance route generation unit 41 draws an enlarged intersection map of the integrated intersection centering on the node of the final right / left turn point when it is other than the u-turn. Since the person can confirm the guidance direction by looking at the enlarged intersection drawing in which the guide arrow is drawn in the center, it becomes easy to surely know the direction to bend.

  In addition, in the case of a u-turn, the guidance route generation unit 41 draws an intersection enlarged view of the integrated intersection with the center point of the link of the route entering the node of the final right / left turn point as the center of the screen. The right-left turn point and the right-left turn point in front of it are drawn at approximately the same position near the center, so that the guidance for the two right-left turn points to be bent can be drawn at the same time.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, not only an enlarged view of the intersection but also a map image may be displayed at the same time. At this time, the guide route generation units 25 and 41 may draw a map image of a specified scale using the map data, and draw the intersection enlarged view and the map image at the same time by dividing the screen. In this way, the normal map image and the enlarged intersection map are displayed at the same time, so the user can determine where he / she should turn at the next intersection and the next left / right turn point. At the same time, it becomes possible to grasp the map and provide a more convenient guide map.

  In addition, each of the first to fourth embodiments described above is merely an example of a specific example for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is limitedly interpreted by these. It must not be done. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the navigation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the last right and left turning point in 4th Embodiment from 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the intersection enlarged view of the integrated intersection by 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the navigation apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the navigation apparatus which concerns on embodiment in 2nd Embodiment to 4th Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example in 2nd Embodiment to 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the intersection enlarged view of the integrated intersection by 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the navigation apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the intersection enlarged view of the integrated intersection by 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the intersection enlarged view of the integrated intersection by 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of an integrated intersection. It is a figure which shows the prior art example of the intersection enlarged view of an integrated intersection.

Explanation of symbols

10, 40 navigation device 14 Map information memory 17 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Guide route memory 21 Intersection enlarged view memory 25, 41 Guide route generation part 31 Intersection judgment part 32 Distance judgment part 33 Guidance direction judgment part

Claims (15)

A navigation device that displays an enlarged view of an intersection on a screen and guides an intersection when a vehicle approaches a guidance intersection on a guidance route within a certain distance,
An intersection determination unit that determines whether or not the guided intersection is an integrated intersection having at least one in-intersection link based on an intersection flag given to an entry point node to the guidance intersection;
A distance determination unit that determines whether the distance of the link in the intersection is a predetermined value or more;
If it is determined that the guidance intersection is an integrated intersection and the distance between the links in the intersection is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the intersection is enlarged to include at least the final right / left turn point in the integrated intersection. And a drawing unit for drawing the navigation device. An enlarged map data storage unit storing a plurality of patterns of enlarged map data including the entire integrated intersection,
The drawing unit specifies any one of the plurality of patterns based on a guide code given to the entry point node of the integrated intersection, and the enlarged map data storage unit stores the intersection enlarged map data of the specified pattern. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the navigation apparatus reads out the image and draws an enlarged intersection view of the integrated intersection.   Bits indicating at least two directions of the above intersection enlarged map data corresponding to the above guide code: straight turn, right turn, left turn, right u-turn, left u-turn, right diagonal before, right diagonal after, left diagonal before and left diagonal The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the navigation device is map data.   The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the drawing unit draws an enlarged intersection view by adjusting a display size so that the entire integrated intersection is displayed on a screen. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the drawing unit draws the intersection enlarged view so that the center of gravity of all the nodes of the integrated intersection is the center of the screen.   2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the drawing unit draws the intersection enlarged view so that a midpoint of a link of a route entering the node of the final right-left turn point is a screen center. .   The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the drawing unit draws the intersection enlarged view so that a midpoint between the entry point node and the final right-left turn point node is a screen center.   The drawing section draws the intersection enlarged view by adjusting a display size in a range including the final turning point with the entry node to the integrated intersection as the center of the screen. The navigation device described in 1.   The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the drawing unit draws the enlarged intersection drawing centering on a node of the final right / left turn point.   The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the drawing unit draws the intersection enlarged view by adjusting a display size so as to include the entry point node.   The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the drawing unit draws a map image of a specified scale using map data, and draws the intersection enlarged view and the map image simultaneously by dividing the screen. .   2. The distance determination unit according to claim 1, wherein the distance determination unit determines whether a distance of the link from an entry point node to the integrated intersection to a node of the final right / left turn point is a predetermined value or more. Navigation device.   The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance determination unit determines whether or not a link distance of a route entering the node at the final right / left turn point is a predetermined value or more. When the intersection determination unit determines that the guidance intersection is not the integrated intersection, or when the distance determination unit determines that the distance of the link within the intersection is not equal to or greater than a predetermined value, The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the drawing unit draws a normal enlarged view of an intersection. An intersection enlarged map drawing method for guiding a driver to a destination by displaying an enlarged intersection map on a screen when a vehicle approaches a guidance intersection on a guidance route within a certain distance. ,
A first step of determining whether or not the guided intersection is an integrated intersection having at least one in-intersection link based on an intersection flag given to an entry node to the guided intersection;
A second step of determining whether the distance between the links in the intersection is equal to or greater than a predetermined value when it is determined that the guidance intersection is the integrated intersection;
A third step of drawing an enlarged view of the intersection by adjusting to include at least the final right / left turn point in the integrated intersection when the distance of the link in the intersection is determined to be equal to or greater than a predetermined value; An intersection enlarged view drawing method characterized by the above.