JP2008185940A - Navigation system and point selection method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the latitude/longitude value of a point by using a printed map and a reading apparatus without printing, on the map, a pattern read by the reading apparatus such as an electronic pen. <P>SOLUTION: A navigation system 1 has: a sheet member 3 on which a prescribed pattern 27 convertible into coordinate values indicating the position on the sheet member 3 is printed and which is superposed on a map 11; a reading apparatus 4 which reads a land mark and a prescribed point in the map 11 in a state where the sheet member 3 is superposed on the map 11, and generates read coordinate values; a storage means 53 which stores the latitude/longitude value of the land mark; and a point calculating means 68. The point calculating means 68 makes the latitude/longitude value of the landmark stored in the storage means 53 correspond to the read coordinate value of the landmark generated by the reading apparatus 4 and, further, calculates the latitude/longitude value of the prescribed point read by the reading apparatus 4 from the latitude/longitude value of the landmark on the basis of the relative relationship between two read coordinate values generated by the reading apparatus 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation system and a point selection method.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a map information processing system comprising paper on which position information is recorded in a dot pattern, and an electronic pen that acquires the position information by reading the dot pattern and converts it into electronically readable position information. is doing. In this map information processing system, paper position information acquired by the electronic pen is converted into coordinates on the electronic map.

  In Patent Document 2, a transparent sheet on which a dot pattern capable of providing position information to indicate the position of an input locus is printed is mounted on the front surface of a personal computer display, and the dot pattern of the transparent sheet is read by input means to input locus data. Is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-294942 (Claims etc.) JP2003-256137A (summary etc.)

  It is expected that the latitude and longitude values of points read by an electronic pen or the like can be obtained by applying the technology such as Patent Document 1 to paper on which a map is printed. If this latitude / longitude value becomes available in the navigation system, the user need not select a point on the liquid crystal screen of the navigation system.

  However, when a dot pattern is printed on the paper medium itself on which the map is printed in this way and is read by the electronic pen, it is necessary to print the dot pattern on all the paper media read by the electronic pen. In addition, a database for changing the position information indicating the position in the paper medium generated by the electronic pen by reading the dot pattern into the latitude and longitude values of the point read by the electronic pen is required. This database needs to be created at least for each paper medium. Therefore, enormous work is required to make various published map books correspond to the electronic pen.

  The present invention provides a navigation system and a point selection method capable of obtaining a latitude / longitude value of a point using a printed matter of the map and the reading device without printing a pattern read by the reading device such as an electronic pen on the map. With the goal.

  The navigation system according to the present invention is a sheet member on which a predetermined pattern that can be seen through the map in a state of being superimposed on the map and that can be converted into coordinate values indicating the position on the sheet member, and the sheet A reading device that reads the landmarks and predetermined points in the map in a state where the member is superimposed on the map and generates these read coordinate values on the sheet member, a storage means for storing the latitude and longitude values of the landmarks, and point calculation Means. The point calculation means associates the latitude / longitude value of the landmark stored in the storage means with the reading coordinate value of the landmark generated by the reading device, and further, two reading coordinate values generated by the reading device. Based on the relative relationship, the latitude and longitude values of a predetermined point read by the reading device are calculated from the latitude and longitude values of the landmarks.

  The navigation system according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the above-described configuration of the invention. That is, the storage means stores the landmark name and the latitude / longitude value in association with each other. The point calculation means associates the latitude and longitude values selected from the storage means based on the landmark names with the landmark reading coordinate values read by the reading device.

  The navigation system according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the components of the above-described invention. That is, the point calculation means recognizes the name of the landmark based on the handwriting by the reading device, and the reading device calculates the latitude and longitude values associated with the name of the landmark that matches the recognized name in the storage means. Corresponds to the read coordinate value of the read landmark.

  The navigation system according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the components of the above-described invention. That is, the storage means and the point calculation means are provided in the navigation main body that can communicate with the reading device.

  The navigation system according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the components of the above-described invention. That is, the point calculation means calculates the distance at the sheet member of the two points read by the reading device using the two reading coordinate values generated by the reading device, and calculates the distance obtained by enlarging the distance by the scale of the map. The latitude / longitude value at a predetermined point is calculated as the relative distance between the two points read by the reading device.

  The navigation system according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the components of the above-described invention. That is, a reference line, a reference mark, or a character for superimposing the sheet member on the map in a predetermined direction is printed. Further, the point calculation means uses the two reading coordinate values generated by the reading device based on the relationship between the coordinate values for the reference line, the reference mark or the characters printed on the sheet member, and the landmark read by the reading device. The relative direction of a predetermined point with respect to is determined, and the latitude and longitude values of the predetermined point are calculated.

  The navigation system according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the components of the above-described invention. That is, the reference line, the reference mark, or the character is printed sideways with respect to the sheet member. Further, the point calculation means determines the relative direction of the predetermined point with respect to the landmark read by the reading device, assuming that the reference line, the reference mark, or the characters are in the east-west direction.

  The point selection method according to the present invention is a sheet member that can be seen through the map in a state of being superimposed on the map, and a predetermined pattern that can be converted into a coordinate value indicating a position on the sheet member is printed. The sheet member is read by the reading device, and the read coordinate value of the landmark whose latitude and longitude values are stored in the storage means is associated with the latitude and longitude value stored in the storage means and the read coordinate value Based on the relative relationship between the reading coordinate value of the landmark read by the reading device and the reading coordinate value of the predetermined point, the latitude / longitude value of the predetermined point read by the reading device is calculated from the latitude / longitude value of the landmark And a step of performing.

  In the present invention, the latitude and longitude values of a point can be obtained using a printed matter of the map and the reading device without printing a pattern read by the reading device such as an electronic pen on the map.

  Hereinafter, a navigation system and a point selection method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the navigation system will be described by taking a car navigation system as an example. The point selection method will be described by taking the operation of the car navigation system as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a car navigation system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The car navigation system 1 is printed on a map sheet 2 as a printed matter on which a map is printed, a transparent sheet 3 as a transparent sheet member on which a dot pattern as a predetermined pattern to be described later is printed, and a transparent sheet 3. An electronic pen 4 as a reading device that reads a dot pattern, and a navigation main body 6 that is installed on, for example, a dashboard of an automobile and is connected to the electronic pen 4 by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable 5. The electronic pen 4 and the navigation body 6 can communicate with each other by being connected by the USB cable 5.

  Note that the electronic pen 4 and the navigation main body 6 can communicate with each other by being connected by a cable other than the USB cable 5, or communicate with each other by wireless communication such as Bluetooth or wireless LAN (Local Area Network). It may be possible.

  A map 11 of a predetermined scale is printed on the map sheet 2 in FIG. This map 11 is printed so that the upper edge of the map sheet 2 is north. Further, in this map 11, characters indicating the names of landmarks such as the station A and the police station are printed horizontally in the respective locations. Note that a plurality of maps may be printed on the map sheet 2. The scales of the plurality of maps may be different from each other.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the print contents of the transparent sheet 3 in FIG. On the transparent sheet 3, as shown in FIG. 2A, a plurality of horizontal reference lines 21, a plurality of scale marks 22, a destination mark 23, and a reference setting mark 24 can be read by a person. It is printed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, a dot pattern 27 composed of a plurality of dots 26 that can be read by the electronic pen 4 is printed on the transparent sheet 3. The plurality of dots 26 are printed on top of readable information such as the plurality of scale marks 22, the destination mark 23, and the reference setting mark 24 by using ink that absorbs infrared rays, for example.

  Each dot 26 constituting the dot pattern 27 is printed at a position shifted in any of the upper, lower, left, and right directions with reference to the intersections of the plurality of vertical dotted lines and the plurality of horizontal dotted lines shown in FIG. . The plurality of dots 26 can obtain a coordinate value indicating a reading position in the transparent sheet 3 by combining, for example, 6 × 6 dots 26. This coordinate value is, for example, a two-dimensional coordinate value composed of an x element and a y element with the upper left corner of the transparent sheet 3 as a reference. With this coordinate value, the reading position by the electronic pen 4 on the map sheet 2 can be uniquely specified. The actual transparent sheet 3 has a plurality of dots 26 printed at a density (for example, 3 mm mail interval) finer than that shown in FIG. In this case, the position in the transparent sheet 3 can be specified, for example, in units of 3 millimeters by a two-dimensional coordinate value.

  Also, the plurality of vertical dotted lines illustrated in FIG. 2B are substantially parallel to the left and right edges of the transparent sheet 3, and the plurality of horizontal dotted lines are substantially parallel to the upper and lower edges of the transparent sheet 3. . Therefore, one element (the x component element in FIG. 2) of the two-dimensional coordinate value obtained by the dot pattern 27 changes when the reading position moves in the left-right direction of the transparent sheet 3, and the other element (The y-component element in FIG. 2) changes when the reading position moves in the vertical direction of the transparent sheet 3. Therefore, when the transparent sheet 3 is superimposed on the map sheet 2 as shown in FIG. 3 described later, the x-axis direction of the coordinate value becomes the east-west direction of the map 11, and the y-axis direction of the coordinate value becomes the north-south direction of the map 11.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the transparent sheet 3 is overlaid on the map sheet 2. In FIG. 3, the transparent sheet 3 and the map sheet 2 have the direction of the horizontal reference line 21 of the transparent sheet 3 and the direction of horizontal characters (characters such as A station and police station) in the map 11 of the map sheet 2. Overlapped to match. Thereby, the x-axis direction of the coordinate value of the transparent sheet 3 matches the east-west direction of the map 11, and the y-axis direction of the coordinate value of the transparent sheet 3 matches the north-south direction of the map 11. As will be described later, the user reads a landmark and a desired point in the map 11 with the electronic pen 4 in this overlapping state.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic pen 4 in FIG. The electronic pen 4 has a pen-shaped housing 31 as shown in FIG. In this housing 31, as shown in FIG. 4, an infrared LED (Light Emitting Diode) 32, an infrared camera 33, a pen pressure sensor 34, a USB I / F (Universal Serial Bus Interface) 35, and a microcomputer to which these are connected. 36, an unillustrated battery for supplying power to these is disposed.

  The microcomputer 36 of the electronic pen 4 includes a timer 37, a memory 39 for storing read data 38, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), and the like. The CPU reads and executes a program (not shown) stored in the memory 39. Thereby, the handwriting data generation part 40, the memory management part 41, the transmission part 42, etc. are implement | achieved by the microcomputer 36 of the electronic pen 4. FIG.

  The infrared LED 32 emits infrared light. The infrared camera 33 is, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, and periodically outputs infrared reception pattern data to the microcomputer 36. The infrared LED 32 and the infrared camera 33 are disposed toward the pen tip of the electronic pen 4. Therefore, in a state where the pen tip of the electronic pen 4 is in contact with the map sheet 2, for example, the infrared light emitted from the infrared LED 32 toward the pen tip is reflected by the map sheet 2, and the infrared camera 33 receives the infrared light receiving pattern data by this reflected light. Are periodically output to the microcomputer 36. The writing pressure sensor 34 detects writing pressure acting on the pen tip of the electronic pen 4 and outputs writing pressure data to the microcomputer 36.

  A USB cable 5 is connected to the USB I / F 35. The USB I / F 35 transmits / receives data to / from another device (for example, the navigation main body 6 in FIG. 1) connected to the other end of the USB cable 5. The USB I / F 35 outputs the received data to the microcomputer 36 and transmits data supplied from the microcomputer 36.

  A timer 37 in the microcomputer 36 measures time and elapsed time.

  The handwriting data generation unit 40 analyzes data of each infrared pattern periodically supplied from the infrared camera 33 and generates a read coordinate value corresponding to the dot pattern 27 in each pattern.

  The transmission unit 42 manages communication by the USB I / F 35 and supplies, for example, read data 38 stored in the memory 39 to the USB I / F 35 as transmission data.

  The memory management unit 41 manages the read data 38 stored in the memory 39. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the read data 38 stored in the memory 39. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the read data 38 stored in the memory 39. In the following description, when the read data 38 in FIG. 5 is distinguished from the read data 38 in FIG. 6, the read data 38 in FIG. 5 is referred to as landmark read data 38, and the read data 38 in FIG. This is referred to as read data 38 for use.

  5 and 6 has a plurality of reading coordinate values, a plurality of times, and a plurality of writing pressure values. The read coordinate value is a read coordinate value generated by the handwriting data generation unit 40 based on the infrared pattern. The time is a time measured by the timer 37. The pen pressure value is a value detected by the pen pressure sensor 34. The read data 38 accumulates and stores a plurality of read coordinate values generated periodically by the handwriting data generation unit 40.

  In the landmark reading data 38 in FIG. 5, in the state of FIG. 3, the user writes the characters “A station” on the transparent sheet 3 with the electronic pen 4, and checks the A station in the map 11 with the electronic pen 4. The read data 38 is generated by checking the scale mark 22 of “1: 10000” with the electronic pen 4 and further checking the reference setting mark 24.

  Further, the point selection read data 38 in FIG. 6 is obtained by the user using the electronic pen 4 in the state shown in FIG. 3 with a predetermined point on the map 11 (a point corresponding to a point “◯” in FIG. 3. ) And the read data 38 generated by checking the destination mark 23.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the navigation body 6 in FIG. The navigation body 6 includes a gyro sensor 51 that detects acceleration of vehicle movement, a GPS receiver 52 that receives radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite (not shown), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 53, a key device 54, A touch panel 55, a liquid crystal device 56, a USB I / F 57 to which the USB cable 5 is connected, a microcomputer 58 to which these are connected, and the like. The HDD 53 as storage means stores navigation data 59 having the latitude and longitude values of landmarks, a coordinate conversion table 60, received data 61, association data 62, scale data 63, destination data 64, guidance route data 65, and the like. .

  Further, the microcomputer 58 of the navigation body 6 includes a memory not shown, a CPU not shown, and the like. The CPU reads and executes a program (not shown) stored in the HDD 53. Thereby, the microcomputer 58 of the navigation body 6 realizes functions as a current position generation unit 66, a reception unit 67, a guide route generation unit 68, a UI (User Interface) unit 69, and the like.

  The current position generation unit 66 generates a latitude / longitude value of the current position of the vehicle based on the radio wave received by the GPS receiver 52, or a latitude / longitude obtained by correcting the latitude / longitude value with a movement amount based on the acceleration of the gyro sensor 51. Or generate a value.

  The UI unit 69 controls display by the liquid crystal device 56. In addition, the UI unit 69 acquires operation data from the key device 54 or the touch panel 55 and executes processing according to the operation data, or instructs the guidance route generation unit 68 to perform processing according to the operation data. For example, when the UI unit 69 determines that an operation for displaying a guidance route has been performed, the map 11 display data in the guidance route data 65 and the navigation data 59 is read from the HDD 53, and the guidance route is superimposed on the map 11 to the liquid crystal device 56. Display.

  The receiving unit 67 manages communication by the USB I / F 57. Then, the receiving unit 67 acquires the received data 61 of the USB I / F 57 and stores it in the HDD 53. Thus, the reception data 61 received by the USB I / F 57 is stored in the HDD 53. As described above, the USB I / F 35 of the electronic pen 4 is connected to the USB I / F 57 of the navigation body 6 by the USB cable 5. The USB I / F 35 of the electronic pen 4 transmits read data 38. In this case, the read data 38 acquired by the receiving unit 67 is stored as the received data 61 in the HDD 53 of the navigation body 6.

  The coordinate conversion table 60 is for converting the read coordinate values generated by the electronic pen 4 into predetermined data. The coordinate conversion table 60 is, for example, information on a plurality of scale marks 22, destination marks 23, and reference setting marks 24 in FIG. And instruction data corresponding to each mark. The instruction data indicates one type of scale if the scale mark 22 is used, indicates the setting of the destination if the destination mark 23, and indicates the reference if the reference setting mark 24 is used. Is used to instruct the setting of landmarks.

  The navigation data 59 includes, for example, map display data, a plurality of node data, a plurality of link data, a plurality of facility data, and the like. The map display data is data for displaying the map 11 on the liquid crystal device 56. For example, the map display data is obtained by converting the map 11 in the map sheet 2 into data. The node data is data of intersections and corner points in the road map 11, and has attribute data such as names of the points (for example, names of intersections) and latitude / longitude values. The link data is data associated with a road section connecting the intersections and has attribute data such as the name of the road and information on connected nodes. The facility data is data relating to a facility (for example, a station or a police station) existing in the road map 11, and has attribute data such as a name of the facility and a latitude / longitude value of the location.

  The guide route generation unit 68 uses the navigation data 59 to search for a guide route from the current location to the designated destination, for example, and generates a guide route. In particular, when the reception data 61 corresponding to the read data 38 generated by the electronic pen 4 is stored in the HDD 53, the guide route generation unit 68 generates the destination data 64 based on the reception data 61, and Generate a guide route to the destination. The guide route generation unit 68 stores the generated guide route data 65 in the HDD 53. In addition, when generating the destination data 64 from the read data 38, the guide route generation unit 68 generates association data 62, scale data 63, and the like and stores them in the HDD 53. The association data 62 is data that associates the latitude / longitude value of the landmark selected by the electronic pen 4 with the read coordinate value. The scale data 63 is data indicating the scale of the map 11 extracted from the coordinate conversion table 60 and read by the electronic pen 4.

  The program executed by the CPU (not shown) of the navigation main body 6 described above is recorded in the HDD 53 after the navigation main body 6 is shipped, even if it is recorded in the HDD 53 before the navigation main body 6 is shipped. May be. A part of the program may be recorded in the HDD 53 after the navigation main body 6 is shipped. The program recorded in the HDD 53 after the navigation main body 6 is shipped may be a program installed on a computer-readable recording medium such as a memory card or a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory). In addition, a program downloaded via a transmission medium such as the Internet may be installed. The same applies to a program executed by a CPU (not shown) of the electronic pen 4.

  Further, the coordinate conversion table 60 and the navigation data 59 are stored in the HDD 53. In addition to this, for example, even if the coordinate conversion table 60 and the navigation data 59 are recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a memory card or a CD-ROM that can be attached to and detached from the navigation main body 6, the navigation main body 6 communicates. It may be recorded in a server device on a transmission medium such as the Internet or a network. In particular, the coordinate conversion table 60 and the navigation data 59 may be recorded on different recording media or different server devices.

  The coordinate conversion table 60 is stored in a recording medium that can be attached to and detached from the navigation main body 6 such as a memory card, so that it can be provided to the user together with the map sheet 2 and the like, for example. In this case, when the user changes the map sheet 2 and changes the memory card attached to the navigation main body 6 in accordance with the change, the reading coordinate value generated by the electronic pen 4 and the table are changed in the car navigation system 1. It is possible to maintain consistency. Further, the coordinate conversion table 60 supplied with one memory card may be used in common for a plurality of map sheets 2 and the like.

  Next, the operation of the navigation system according to the embodiment having the above configuration will be described. Here, in particular, with the transparent sheet 3 overlaid on the map sheet 2, the landmarks and desired destination points in the map 11 are read with the electronic pen 4, thereby navigating the destinations used for searching for the guidance route. The operation when setting the main body 6 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the guide route generation unit 68 in FIG. 7 when a destination is set by the electronic pen 4.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the transparent sheet 3 is superimposed on the map sheet 2 such that the plurality of horizontal reference lines 21 are aligned with the horizontal characters in the map 11. In this state, the user writes the letters “A station” on the transparent sheet 3 using the electronic pen 4, checks the A station in the map 11, checks the scale mark 22 of “1: 10000”, The reference setting mark 24 is checked. The handwriting data generation unit 40 of the electronic pen 4 analyzes data of a plurality of infrared patterns periodically generated by the infrared camera 33 during this work, generates a plurality of read coordinate values corresponding to each pattern, and manages the memory. Supplied to the unit 41.

  When a new reading coordinate value is supplied, the memory management unit 41 acquires the current time from the timer 37, acquires the writing pressure data from the writing pressure sensor 34, and stores and stores these in the memory 39. Thereby, the landmark read data 38 shown in FIG. 5 having a plurality of read coordinate values indicating the handwriting by the electronic pen 4 is stored in the memory 39.

  When the USB I / F 35 of the electronic pen 4 is connected to the USB I / F 57 of the navigation body 6 via the USB cable 5, the USB I / F 35 of the navigation body 6 can communicate with the USB I / F 57 of the navigation body 6. The transmission unit 42 of the electronic pen 4 reads the read data 38 from the memory 39 of the electronic pen 4 and supplies it to the USB I / F 35. The USB I / F 35 of the electronic pen 4 transmits the supplied read data 38 to the USB I / F 57 of the navigation body 6 via the USB cable 5. The receiving unit 67 of the navigation main body 6 acquires data received by the USB I / F 57 and stores it in the HDD 53. Thus, the reception data 61 having the same content as the landmark read data 38 in FIG. 5 is stored in the HDD 53 of the navigation body 6.

  When the reception data 61 is stored in the HDD 53, the guide route generation unit 68 of the navigation body 6 executes the flowchart of FIG. The guide route generation unit 68 first determines whether or not the received data 61 is for setting a reference (step ST1) and whether or not the destination is set (step ST2). The guide route generation unit 68 searches the received data 61 using, for example, the coordinate conversion table 60, and there is a read coordinate value within the range of coordinate values obtained from the dot pattern 27 printed over the reference setting mark 24. In this case, it is determined that the reference is set in step ST1, and if there is a read coordinate value within the range of coordinate values obtained from the dot pattern 27 printed over the destination mark 23, the target is determined in step ST2. Judge that it is to set the ground. If there is no reading coordinate value within any range, the setting process of the destination based on the received data 61 is not executed, and the determination process by steps ST1 and ST2 is repeatedly executed. .

  As described above, when the landmark read data 38 of FIG. 5 is stored as the reception data 61, the guide route generation unit 68 uses the read coordinate value when the reference setting mark 24 in the reception data 61 is checked, It is determined that the reference is set (Yes in step ST1). The guide route generation unit 68 starts a landmark setting process as a reference. In this landmark setting process, the guide route generation unit 68 generates association data 62 and scale data 63 and stores them in the HDD 53.

  In the generation process of the association data 62, the guide route generation unit 68 first sets a plurality of read coordinate values for handwritten input of landmark names in the read data 38 stored in the HDD 53 in a virtual two-dimensional space. (Step ST3). The guide route generation unit 68 may map all the read coordinate values in the read data 38 in a virtual two-dimensional space.

  Note that the user writes the characters “A station” on the transparent sheet 3 using the electronic pen 4 to generate the landmark read data 38 in FIG. The scale mark 22 of “1: 10000” is checked, and further, the reference setting mark 24 is checked. In general, a time interval longer than the time interval generated between writing the characters “A station” occurs between the time when the characters “A station” are written and the time when the station A is checked. For example, the guide route generation unit 68 acquires the time in order from the top of the read data 38 and detects a time interval longer than a predetermined time interval set between these time intervals. What is necessary is just to acquire and map the reading coordinate value.

  After mapping the plurality of read coordinate values in the virtual two-dimensional space, the guide route generation unit 68 performs a character recognition process on the mapping data (step ST4). The guide route generation unit 68 recognizes the character “A station” based on a plurality of read coordinate values in FIG. 5 by, for example, character recognition processing by pattern matching. Note that when the character cannot be recognized, the guide route generation unit 68 may end the reference landmark setting process by interruption.

  When the character is recognized, the guide route generation unit 68 extracts the latitude / longitude value of the landmark candidate having a name that matches the recognized character from the navigation data 59 (step ST5). For example, when the character “A station” is recognized, the guide route generation unit 68 extracts the latitude and longitude values of the facility data associated with the facility name “A station” in the navigation data 59.

  Thereafter, the guide route generation unit 68 associates the extracted latitude and longitude values with the read coordinate values when the position of the landmark in the map 11 in the read data 38 stored in the HDD 53 is checked. (Step ST6). As a result, the HDD 53 stores the association data 62 in which the latitude / longitude value of the landmark designated by the user with the electronic pen 4 is associated with the read coordinate value obtained by the dot pattern 27 overlapping the landmark. .

  When the association data 62 is stored in the HDD 53, the guide route generation unit 68 starts the generation process of the scale data 63. The guide route generation unit 68 searches the received data 61 using, for example, the coordinate conversion table 60, and the read coordinate value within the range of the coordinate value obtained from the dot pattern 27 that is printed so as to overlap with any one of the scale marks 22 is obtained. It is determined whether or not it exists (step ST7).

  The landmark read data 38 in FIG. 5 includes read coordinate values when the scale mark 22 of “1: 10000” is checked. The guide route generation unit 68 determines that there is a read coordinate value that specifies the scale mark 22 based on the read coordinate value, and the scale “1: 10000” associated with the determined scale mark 22 in the coordinate conversion table 60. Is stored in the HDD 53 as the scale data 63 (step ST8).

  Through the above processing, the association data 62 and the scale data 63 are stored in the HDD 53 of the navigation body 6 based on the landmark read data 38. Thereafter, the UI unit 69 reads the stored data stored in the HDD 53 and displays it on the liquid crystal device 56 (step ST9). Thereby, the user can know that the predetermined landmark designated in the map 11 using the electronic pen 4 and the transparent sheet 3 is registered as a reference.

  When setting the destination, as shown in FIG. 3, the user places a desired point on the map 11 (for example, a circle in FIG. 3) with the electronic pen 4 with the transparent sheet 3 superimposed on the map sheet 2. ) Is checked. Further, the user checks the destination mark 23. Accordingly, the point selection read data 38 shown in FIG. 6 is stored in the memory 39 of the electronic pen 4.

  The transmission unit 42 of the electronic pen 4 reads the point selection read data 38 and transmits it to the reception unit 67 of the navigation body 6. The receiving unit 67 stores the newly received point selection read data 38 as received data 61 in the HDD 53.

  In addition, when the reception data 61 is stored in the HDD 53, the guide route generation unit 68 sets whether or not the reception data 61 sets a reference (step ST1) and the destination. Whether or not (step ST2). When the point selection read data 38 of FIG. 6 is stored as the reception data 61, the guide route generation unit 68 uses the read coordinate value when the destination mark 23 in the reception data 61 is checked to determine the destination in step ST2. Judge that it is to set the ground. The guide route generator 68 starts the destination setting process. In this destination setting process, the guide route generation unit 68 generates the destination data 64 and stores it in the HDD 53.

  In the destination setting process, the guide route generation unit 68 first reads a plurality of read coordinate values indicating the position of the destination in the read data 38 stored in the HDD 53, and sets a point designated by the electronic pen 4. The representative coordinate value shown is generated (step ST10). For example, the guide route generation unit 68 may calculate an average value of a plurality of read coordinate values for setting a destination, and set a coordinate value based on the average value as a representative coordinate value. In the case of a circle in FIG. 6, the center of the circle is the representative coordinate value.

  After generating the representative coordinate value indicating the destination, the guide route generation unit 68 calculates the direction and distance of the destination relative to the landmark (steps ST11 and ST12). The guide route generation unit 68 calculates a relative distance and a relative direction using the read coordinate value in the association data 62 stored in the HDD 53 and the representative coordinate value, for example.

  The relative distance may be calculated by the following procedure, for example. That is, the guide route generation unit 68 first calculates the distance between the two points on the transparent sheet 3 using the landmark reading coordinate value in the association data 62 and the representative coordinate value. Next, the guide route generation unit 68 expands the distance between the two points on the transparent sheet 3 using the scale data 63. For example, when the scale data 63 is “1: 10000”, the guide route generation unit 68 multiplies the distance between the two points on the transparent sheet 3 by “10000” and calculates the relative distance between the two points. .

  Moreover, what is necessary is just to calculate a relative direction in the following procedures, for example. That is, the guide route generation unit 68 first calculates each element of the read coordinate value in the association data 62 from each element of the two-dimensional representative coordinate value. Thereby, the relative positional relationship of the representative coordinate values in the two-dimensional space based on the coordinate values is obtained using the read coordinate values in the association data 62 as a reference.

  Next, the guide route generation unit 68 determines the direction of the destination based on the landmark based on the relative positional relationship of the coordinate values. As described above, when the transparent sheet 3 is superimposed on the map sheet 2 as shown in FIG. 3, the x-axis direction of the coordinate value is the east-west direction of the map 11. The guide route generator 68 determines the relative direction of the destination based on this relationship. In FIG. 3, when “Station A” is a landmark, the destination indicated by a circle is a relatively south direction.

  After calculating the relative distance and relative direction of the destination with respect to the landmark, the guide route generation unit 68 calculates the latitude and longitude values of the destination (step ST13). Specifically, the relative distance is divided into a latitude component indicating the north-south direction and a longitude component indicating the east-west direction based on the angle in the relative direction, and each component is added to the latitude-longitude value in the association data 62. The guide route generation unit 68 stores the latitude / longitude value of the destination generated by the calculation in the HDD 53 (step ST14). Accordingly, the latitude and longitude values of the destination based on the landmark read data 38 in FIG. 5 and the point selection read data 38 in FIG. 6 are stored in the HDD 53 as the destination data 64.

  The UI unit 69 of the navigation body 6 reads the destination data 64 from the HDD 53 and displays it on the liquid crystal device 56 (step ST15). The UI unit 69 reads the map display data in the navigation data 59 together with the destination data 64, for example, and causes the liquid crystal device 56 to display the mark indicating the destination and the map 11 in an overlapping manner.

  Thereafter, when a route search is instructed by a user operation on the touch panel 55 or the key device 54, the guidance route generation unit 68 uses the destination data 64 and the navigation data 59 in the HDD 53 to reach the destination from the current position, for example. Search for guidance routes. In addition, the guide route generation unit 68 stores the guide route generated by the search in the HDD 53. As a result, the guide route data 65 is stored in the HDD 53.

  In addition, when the vehicle in which the navigation main body 6 is installed starts to move or a predetermined guidance start operation is performed, the UI unit 69 of the navigation main body 6 starts route guidance based on the guidance route data 65 stored in the HDD 53. To do. The UI unit 69 causes the liquid crystal device 56 to display a mark indicating the current position generated by the current position generation unit 66 and a part of the guidance route on the map 11 based on the navigation data 59, for example. When the current position approaches the corner of the guide route, the UI unit 69 notifies the user of the fact by voice or the like and guides the route.

  As described above, in the car navigation system 1 of this embodiment, the transparent sheet 3 on which the dot pattern 27 is printed is overlaid on the map 11, and predetermined landmarks and destinations in the map 11 are specified by the electronic pen 4. Read the point. The HDD 53 of the navigation body 6 stores the latitude and longitude values of the landmarks as the navigation data 59, and the guide route generation unit 68 associates them (steps ST3 to ST6). Further, the guide route generation unit 68 determines the latitude of the destination (predetermined point) read by the electronic pen 4 from the latitude and longitude values of the landmarks based on the relative relationship between the two read coordinate values generated by the electronic pen 4. The longitude value is calculated (steps ST10 to ST13). Note that the electronic pen 4 may read other points other than the destination used for generating a guidance route such as a departure place or a stop-by place.

  Therefore, the car navigation system 1 can read the map 11 on which the dot pattern 27 is not printed with the electronic pen 4 and obtain the latitude and longitude values of points (such as destinations) in the read map 11. That is, without printing the pattern read by the electronic pen 4 on the map 11, the car navigation system 1 can obtain the latitude and longitude values of a point such as a destination using the map sheet 2 of the map 11 and the electronic pen 4. it can.

  Moreover, for example, when a pattern read by the electronic pen 4 is printed on the map 11, it is not necessary to associate the map 11 with the coordinate value of the dot pattern 27 in the car navigation system 1, and the map 11 and the read coordinate value are not correlated. There is no need to ensure consistency. Moreover, the electronic pen 4 only needs to convert the dot pattern 27 printed on the transparent sheet 3 into a read coordinate value. For example, as in the case of converting the dot pattern 27 printed on a map book composed of a plurality of pages. It is not necessary to have the ability to convert many patterns into coordinate values. The number and coordinate values of the dot pattern 27 that the electronic pen 4 needs to convert are reduced to the minimum necessary.

  In this embodiment, the navigation data 59 of the HDD 53 stores the name in association with the latitude / longitude value of the landmark, and the guide route generation unit 68 selects from the navigation data 59 based on the name of the landmark. The latitude / longitude value to be read is associated with the read coordinate value of the landmark read by the electronic pen 4. Therefore, the car navigation system 1 can obtain the latitude and longitude values of a predetermined point in the map 11 using the landmark displayed on the map 11 or a landmark known to the user.

  In this embodiment, the guidance route generation unit 68 recognizes the name of the landmark based on the handwriting by the electronic pen 4 and associates it with the name of the landmark that matches the recognized name in the navigation data 59. The corresponding latitude and longitude values are associated with the read coordinate values of the landmarks read by the electronic pen 4. Therefore, the user can designate the name of the landmark by the handwriting of the electronic pen 4. For example, when the user selects a landmark point with the electronic pen 4, the user can use the electronic pen 4 to specify the name of the landmark by handwriting.

  In this embodiment, the HDD 53 and the guide route generation unit 68 are provided in the navigation body 6 that can communicate with the electronic pen 4. Therefore, the user does not have to select, for example, a landmark name in the navigation body 6. For example, before the electronic pen 4 communicates with the navigation body 6, the user can specify the name of the landmark, the landmark, and a predetermined point using the electronic pen 4.

  In this embodiment, the guide route generation unit 68 calculates the distance on the transparent sheet 3 between the two points read by the electronic pen 4 using the two reading coordinate values generated by the electronic pen 4. The latitude / longitude value of a predetermined point is calculated using the distance obtained by enlarging this distance by the scale of the map 11 as the relative distance between the two points read by the electronic pen 4.

  Therefore, the guide route generation unit 68 can obtain the latitude and longitude values of the points read by the electronic pen 4 by calculation. That is, the guide route generation unit 68 does not require special information other than the scale of the map 11 in order to calculate the relative distance between the two points. Moreover, the guide route generation unit 68 can automatically calculate the relative distance from the landmark to the predetermined point.

  In this embodiment, the transparent sheet 3 is printed with a horizontal reference line 21 for superimposing it on the map 11 in a predetermined orientation, and the user can determine the orientation of the horizontal reference line 21 and the map 11 in the map 11. The transparent sheet 3 is placed on the map sheet 2 so that the direction of the horizontal characters matches. Further, the guide route generation unit 68 determines the relative direction of the point such as the destination with respect to the landmark, assuming that the reference line 21 printed on the transparent sheet 3 is the east-west direction, and calculates the latitude and longitude values of the point. To do.

  Therefore, the guide route generation unit 68 does not require special information to determine the relative directions of the two points. In addition, the guide route generator 68 can automatically calculate the relative direction of a predetermined point based on the landmark. Furthermore, compared with the case where the outline of the map 11 or the edge of the paper on which the map 11 is printed and the edge of the transparent sheet 3 are aligned, the user can accurately align the transparent sheet 3 with the map 11, As a result, a more probable value can be obtained as the latitude and longitude values of points such as the destination.

  The above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. is there.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the map 11 is printed on the map sheet 2. In addition, for example, the map 11 may be printed on a bound printed material such as a map book as long as the map 11 is drawn at a certain scale. A plurality of maps 11 may be printed on one map sheet 2.

  The transparent sheet 3 is transparent. In addition, for example, the transparent sheet 3 only needs to be visible through the map 11 when superimposed on the map 11, and may be translucent. Further, the transparent sheet 3 may be one that can be attached to the map 11 such as the map sheet 2 with glue or the like. As such a stickable sheet, for example, there is a transmissive liquid crystal sheet to be attached to a liquid crystal device.

  The plurality of horizontal reference lines 21 printed on the transparent sheet 3 may be a plurality of vertical reference lines 21. In addition, for example, in the transparent sheet 3, a reference mark such as a frame or a registration mark or a character is used to align the direction of the transparent sheet 3 with the direction of the map sheet 2 instead of the plurality of reference lines 21. Etc. may be printed.

  Instead of the dot pattern 27, the transparent sheet 3 may be printed with a barcode encoded with a coordinate value indicating a position in the transparent sheet 3, a QR (Quick Response) code, or the like.

  The size of the transparent sheet 3 may be different from the size of the map sheet 2 or the size of the map 11. The said transparent sheet 3 should just have the length of the diagonal line more than the distance between the landmark designated on the map 11, and a predetermined point.

  The transmission unit 42 of the electronic pen 4 is connected to the navigation body 6 by the USB cable 5 after reading the read data 38 of FIG. In addition to this, for example, the transmission unit 42 may sequentially transmit data read in a state where the electronic pen 4 and the navigation main body 6 are connected by the USB cable 5. In the case of this modification, the electronic pen 4 displays a landmark, a scale mark 22, a destination mark 23, a reference setting mark 24, etc. in the map 11 based on an instruction for each step in the flowchart of FIG. You may read in order. In addition to this, for example, the electronic pen 4 may read the information once or may be divided into three or more times.

  In the above embodiment, the latitude / longitude value stored in the association data 62 is extracted from the navigation data 59 based on the characters handwritten by the electronic pen 4. In addition to this, for example, the latitude and longitude values stored in the association data 62 may be extracted from the navigation data 59 by landmark selection in the navigation body 6. The latitude / longitude value stored in the association data 62 may be acquired from a memory separate from the navigation main body 6 or from the Internet.

  In the above embodiment, the guidance route generation unit 68 of the navigation body 6 confirms and sets that various marks have been read by the electronic pen 4 based on the coordinate conversion table 60. In addition to this, for example, the coordinate conversion table 60 may be eliminated, and the guide route generation unit 68 may make various settings based on the operation of a switch (not shown) provided in the electronic pen 4.

  In the above embodiment, the guide route generation unit 68 recognizes the characters written using the electronic pen 4 to obtain the name of the landmark. In addition to this, for example, the guide route generation unit 68 may obtain the name of the landmark based on an operation on the navigation body 6. The operation on the navigation body 6 may be, for example, a facility selection operation using the touch panel 55 or an input key, an operation based on voice recognition, or the like.

  In the above embodiment, the guide route generation unit 68 uses the electronic pen 4 to obtain a scale. In addition to this, for example, the guide route generation unit 68 may obtain a scale based on an operation on the navigation body 6.

  In the above embodiment, the guide route generation unit 68 determines the relative distance and the relative direction of a predetermined point based on one landmark, and calculates the latitude and longitude values of that point. In addition to this, for example, the guide route generation unit 68 may calculate the latitude and longitude values of a predetermined point based on two or more landmarks. When the direction of a predetermined point is determined based on two or more landmarks, it can be determined by trigonometry or the like. Therefore, the reference line 21 or the like need not be printed on the transparent sheet 3.

  In the above embodiment, the dot pattern 27 of the transparent sheet 3 superimposed on the map 11 is read by the pen-shaped electronic pen 4. In addition to this, for example, the pattern of the transparent sheet 3 may use a reading device that is portable with the map 11 such as a mobile phone terminal with a camera.

  In the above embodiment, the read data 38 read by the electronic pen 4 is transmitted to the navigation body 6 and used for route search and route guidance by the navigation body 6. In addition to this, for example, the read data 38 read by the electronic pen 4 is transmitted to a portable device such as a mobile phone terminal or a portable information terminal and used for route search and route guidance in the portable device. Also good. Furthermore, the route searched by the navigation main body 6 may be used for route guidance by the mobile device.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be suitably used in a navigation system that generates a guidance route by setting a destination or the like and guides along the guidance route.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a car navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the print contents of the transparent sheet in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the transparent sheet is superimposed on the map sheet. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the electronic pen in FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of read data stored in the memory. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of read data stored in the memory. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the navigation main body in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by the guide route generation unit in FIG. 7 when setting a destination with the electronic pen.

Explanation of symbols

1 Car navigation system (navigation system)
3 Transparent sheet (sheet member)
4 Electronic pen (reading device)
6 Navigation body 11 Map 21 Reference line 27 Dot pattern (predetermined pattern)
53 HDD (storage means)
68 Guide route generator (point calculation means)

Claims (8)

A sheet member on which a predetermined pattern that can be seen through the map in a state of being superimposed on the map and that can be converted into a coordinate value indicating a position on the sheet member is printed;
A reading device that reads the landmarks and predetermined points in the map in a state where the sheet member is superimposed on the map, and generates these read coordinate values in the sheet member;
Storage means for storing the latitude and longitude values of the landmarks;
The latitude / longitude value of the landmark stored in the storage means is associated with the reading coordinate value of the landmark generated by the reading device, and the relative relationship between the two reading coordinate values generated by the reading device. Based on the latitude and longitude values of the landmarks, point calculation means for calculating the latitude and longitude values of the predetermined point read by the reading device;
A navigation system comprising: The storage means stores the name of the landmark and a latitude / longitude value in association with each other,
The point calculation means associates a latitude / longitude value selected from the storage means based on the name of the landmark with a reading coordinate value of the landmark read by the reading device;
The navigation system according to claim 1. The point calculation means recognizes the name of the landmark based on handwriting by the reading device, and the latitude and longitude values associated with the name of the landmark that matches the recognized name in the storage means, Corresponding to the reading coordinate value of the landmark read by the reading device,
The navigation system according to claim 2.   The navigation system according to claim 3, wherein the storage unit and the point calculation unit are provided in a navigation main body capable of communicating with the reading device. The point calculation means calculates the distance at the sheet member of the two points read by the reading device using the two reading coordinate values generated by the reading device, and expands the distance by the scale of the map. Calculating the latitude / longitude value of the predetermined point as the relative distance between the two points read by the reading device,
The navigation system according to claim 1. On the sheet member, a reference line, a reference mark or a character for superimposing it on the map in a predetermined orientation is printed,
The point calculation means uses the two reading coordinate values generated by the reading device based on the relationship of the coordinate values with respect to the reference line, reference mark, or character printed on the sheet member, so that the reading device Determining a relative direction of the predetermined point with respect to the read landmark, and calculating a latitude and longitude value of the predetermined point;
The navigation system according to claim 1. The reference line, reference mark or character is printed sideways with respect to the sheet member,
The point calculation means determines the relative direction of the predetermined point with respect to the landmark read by the reading device, assuming that the reference line, the reference mark or the character is in the east-west direction;
The navigation system according to claim 6. A sheet member that can be seen through the map in a state of being overlaid with the map, and on which the reading member reads a sheet member on which a predetermined pattern that can be converted into a coordinate value indicating a position on the sheet member is printed A step of acquiring a reading coordinate value of a landmark in which latitude and longitude values are stored in the storage means;
Associating the latitude and longitude values stored in the storage means with the read coordinate values;
The latitude / longitude value of the predetermined point read by the reading device from the latitude / longitude value of the landmark based on the relative relationship between the reading coordinate value of the landmark read by the reading device and the reading coordinate value of the predetermined point. A step of calculating
The point selection method characterized by having.

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