JP2008233045A - Navigator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigator capable of presenting suitable guide at cross-points guided. <P>SOLUTION: The navigator includes a position-detecting section 12 for detecting the current position, a path searching section 14 for searching paths from the departure to the destination, a cross-point guided calculating section 15 calculating cross-points guided on the path searched, an out-of-path road detecting section 16 detecting out-of-path roads which are different from paths connected in the same direction as traveling direction at the cross-point guided concerned; a guide data creating section 18 for creating guide data to guide by presenting the number of cross-points existing until the cross-points guided, after passing through the cross-point connected with the out-of-path roads concerned, when distance between the detected out-of-path roads and the current position is within a predetermined distance at guiding timing output guide information, and an output section 19 for outputting guide information, based on the guide data created in the guide data creating section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus that guides a user to a destination, and more particularly to a technique for performing appropriate guidance at a guidance target intersection.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when performing guidance for an intersection, for example, there is known a navigation apparatus that provides guidance by presenting the number of intersections existing up to a guidance target intersection such as “○ th intersection is in the right direction”. As such a navigation device, Patent Document 1 discloses a navigation device that provides guidance by notifying the number of roads that the user will recognize as the number of roads before the intersection.

  The navigation device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a function of determining whether or not an intersection existing up to a guidance target intersection is included in the number of intersections to be guided. That is, in this navigation device, the main control unit calculates the number of roads between the current position and the guidance target intersection when the vehicle approaches the guidance target intersection up to a predetermined distance. In this calculation, a link in the direction opposite to the passing direction (right turn / left turn) according to the guidance route of the guidance target intersection with respect to the traveling road, a link that forms an exit road of an automobile-only road, a central separation Links that cannot be entered due to the presence of a belt and links that form a dedicated lane on the exit road of a road that is running for a left turn are not counted. Further, a plurality of links before the guidance target intersection on the passing direction side of the guidance target intersection with respect to the traveling road connected to the same node on the traveling road are counted as one in total.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a navigation device that can reliably recognize a route. This navigation device acquires the number of traffic lights to the guidance point before the guidance point on the movement route, and executes voice guidance based on the number of traffic lights. Further, when the required time from the own vehicle position to the next traffic signal is shorter than a predetermined guidance completion time, voice guidance is not performed. In addition, in the case of an intersection where there is no traffic light at the guidance point, or when the required time to the guidance point is less than the guidance start limit time, voice guidance based on the number of traffic lights is not performed, but depending on the remaining distance to the guidance point Provide voice guidance. That is, when it is determined that there is a possibility that the number of intersections may not be accurately counted based on the positional relationship between the vehicle position and the intersection, guidance indicating the number of intersections is not performed.

JP 2004-053441 A JP 2002-156242 A

  However, in the above-described conventional navigation apparatus, there are cases where intersections that the user does not recognize as intersections are included in the number of intersections at the time of guidance, and guidance is inappropriate. In addition, since the guidance of the intersection is performed while traveling, depending on the positional relationship between the vehicle position and the guidance target intersection, the number of intersections that have passed through several intersections at the time of guidance and are recognized by the user. May not be counted properly. In such a case, guidance using the number of intersections is not performed, but it is desired to develop a navigation device that can perform guidance by appropriately counting the number of intersections.

  The present invention has been made to meet the above-described demand, and an object thereof is to provide a navigation device capable of performing appropriate guidance at a guidance target intersection.

In order to solve the above problem, a navigation device according to the present invention includes a position detection unit that detects a current position,
A route search unit that searches for a route from the departure point to the destination, a guidance target intersection calculation unit that calculates a guide target intersection on the route searched by the route search unit, and a guide from the current position detected by the position detection unit An out-of-route road detection unit that detects an out-of-route road that exists between the guidance target intersection calculated by the target intersection calculation unit and is a road other than a route connected in the same direction as the traveling direction at the guidance target intersection; If the distance between the off-road road detected by the off-road road detection unit and the current position detected by the position detection unit is within a predetermined distance at the guidance timing for outputting the guidance information, the off-road road A guidance data creation unit for creating guidance data for performing guidance by presenting the number of intersections connected to the off-route road existing up to the guidance target intersection after passing through the intersection And an output unit for outputting the guidance information based on the guidance data created by the guidance data creating section.
Alternatively, if the guidance timing is within a predetermined distance, the intersection where the off-road road is connected is excluded, and the number of intersections connected to the off-road road existing up to the guidance target intersection is shown and guided. A guidance data creation unit for creating guidance data for performing
An output unit that outputs guide information based on the guide data created by the guide data creation unit.

  According to the navigation device of the present invention, if the distance between the road outside the route and the current position is within a predetermined distance at the guidance timing for outputting the guidance information, the vehicle passes through the intersection to which the road outside the route is connected. Or by excluding intersections connected to off-road roads and presenting the number of intersections that exist up to the guidance target intersection, the number of intersections that the user can recognize is appropriate. Can be counted. As a result, appropriate guidance can be performed at the guidance target intersection.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The navigation device includes a drive 1, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 2, a gyro 3, a vehicle speed sensor 4, an operation unit 5, an interface circuit 6, a navigation ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 7, a memory 8, and a display. 9 and a speaker 10 are provided.

  The drive 1 reads map data stored in a recording medium (not shown) and sends it to the navigation ECU 7 via the interface circuit 6. As the recording medium, for example, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or a hard disk (Hard disk) can be used.

  The GPS receiver 2 detects its current position. The current position detected by the GPS receiver 2 is sent to the navigation ECU 7 through the interface circuit 6 as current position data. The gyro 3 detects an angular velocity when the vehicle turns. The angular velocity detected by the gyro 3 is sent to the navigation ECU 7 through the interface circuit 6 as angular velocity data. The vehicle speed sensor 4 detects the moving speed of the vehicle. The moving speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 4 is sent as speed data to the navigation ECU 7 via the interface circuit 6.

  The operation unit 5 includes a remote controller, a button, a touch panel, or the like for accepting a user operation. Information input by operating the operation unit 5 is sent as operation data to the navigation ECU 7 via the interface circuit 6. The interface circuit 6 navigates the map data read from the drive 1, the current position data sent from the GPS receiver 2, the angular velocity data sent from the gyro 3, and the angular velocity data sent from the vehicle speed sensor 4. Control for sending to the ECU 7 is performed.

  The navigation ECU 7 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer. The navigation ECU 7 receives map data, current position data, angular velocity data, velocity data and operation data sent from the interface circuit 6, writes them into the memory 8, and stores these data in the memory. 8 and various processes are executed using the read data. Details of the functions realized by the navigation ECU 7 will be described later.

  The display 9 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays a map, an optimum route, a vehicle mark, an intersection guidance message, a menu screen, and the like according to display data sent from the navigation ECU 7. The speaker 10 outputs a message displayed on the display 9 or a message related to the message by voice according to the voice data sent from the navigation ECU 7.

  Next, details of functions realized by the navigation ECU 7 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the navigation ECU 7. The navigation ECU 7 includes a map data acquisition unit 11, a position detection unit 12, an input unit 13, a route search unit 14, a guidance target intersection calculation unit 15, an off-road road detection unit 16, an average vehicle speed realized by software processing of a microcomputer. It comprises a detection unit 17, a guidance data creation unit 18, and an output unit 19.

  The map data acquisition unit 11 acquires map data from the drive 1 via the interface circuit 6. The map data acquired by the map data acquisition unit 11 is sent to the position detection unit 12, the route search unit 14, the guidance target intersection calculation unit 15, and the off-route road detection unit 16.

  The position detection unit 12 performs autonomous navigation using the current position data sent from the GPS receiver 2 and / or the angular velocity data sent from the gyro 3 and the velocity data sent from the vehicle speed sensor 4. Based on the generated current position data, the current position of the vehicle is detected. The current position of the vehicle detected by the position detection unit 12 is sent to the route search unit 14, the off-route road detection unit 16, and the guidance data creation unit 18 as own vehicle position data.

  The input unit 13 acquires operation data for route search, such as a destination and a transit point, sent from the operation unit 5 and sends the operation data to the route search unit 14. The route search unit 14 uses a current position indicated by the vehicle position data sent from the position detection unit 12 as a departure point, and maps a route to the destination indicated by the operation data sent from the input unit 13. A search is performed based on the map data acquired by the data acquisition unit 11. The route searched by the route search unit 14 is sent to the guidance target intersection calculation unit 15 as route data.

  The guidance target intersection calculation unit 15 calculates the guidance target intersection existing on the route indicated by the route data sent from the route search unit 14 based on the map data acquired by the map data acquisition unit. The guidance target intersection data indicating the guidance target intersection calculated by the guidance target intersection calculation unit 15 is sent to the off-route road detection unit 16.

  The off-route road detection unit 16 extends from the current position indicated by the own vehicle position data sent from the position detection unit 12 to the guidance target intersection indicated by the guidance target intersection data sent from the guidance target intersection calculation unit 15. A map that has been acquired by the map data acquisition unit 11 is a road other than a route that is connected in the same direction as the direction of travel at the guidance target intersection (hereinafter referred to as “road outside the route”). Detect based on data. The off-road road detected by the off-road road detection unit 16 is sent to the guidance data creation unit 18 as off-route road data.

  The average vehicle speed detector 17 sequentially accumulates the speed data sent from the vehicle speed sensor 4 via the interface circuit 6, and calculates the average vehicle speed at the latest past time T1. The average vehicle speed calculated by the average vehicle speed detection unit 17 is sent to the guide data creation unit 18 as average vehicle speed data.

  The guidance data creation unit 18 is configured to move from the current position indicated by the own vehicle position data sent from the position detection unit 12 to the off-road road indicated by the off-road road data sent from the off-road road detection unit 16. The distance is calculated based on the average vehicle speed data sent from the average vehicle speed detection unit 17, and if the calculated distance is within a predetermined distance at the guidance timing for outputting the guidance information, the road outside the route is connected. After passing through the intersection, guidance data for performing guidance by presenting the number of intersections existing until the guidance target intersection is created. The guidance data created by the guidance data creation unit 18 is sent to the output unit 19.

  The output unit 19 sends the guide data sent from the guide data creation unit 18 to the display 9 and the speaker 10 as guide information. As a result, guidance information such as “○ th intersection is in the right direction” is displayed on the display 9, and guidance information such as “○ th intersection is in the right direction” is output from the speaker 10 by voice. The

  Next, the operation of the navigation device configured as described above according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following, the route search by the route search unit 14 ends, the guidance target intersection calculation unit 15 calculates the guidance target intersection, and the off-route road detection unit 16 finishes detecting the road outside the route. Shall.

  In this intersection guidance process, first, the vehicle position is detected (step ST11). That is, the position detection unit 12 detects the current position of the host vehicle. Next, it is checked whether it is the guidance timing of the guidance target intersection (step ST12). Whether or not it is the guidance timing is determined by examining whether or not the vehicle position detected in step ST11 is within a predetermined distance from the guidance target intersection. If it is determined in step ST12 that it is not the guidance timing of the guidance target intersection, the sequence returns to step ST11 and the above-described processing is repeated.

  When it is determined in step ST12 that it is the guidance timing of the guidance target intersection, the distance L that travels during the time T2 from the average vehicle speed during the past time T1 is obtained (step ST13). That is, the guidance data creation unit 18 obtains the average vehicle speed data at the past time T1 from the average vehicle speed detection unit 17, and obtains the distance L when the vehicle travels for the time T2 at the speed indicated by the average vehicle speed data.

  Here, the time T1 can be a fixed value such as 5 seconds, for example, but is determined according to road attributes such as road type such as general road and highway, rank, average vehicle speed, speed limit, or road width. You can also In calculating the distance L, the speed may be determined from the road attribute instead of the average vehicle speed calculated by the average vehicle speed detection unit 17.

  The time T2 may be a fixed value such as 1 second, but may be configured to use a different value depending on the attribute of the road or intersection such as a general road and a roundabout. . The time T2 can be a variable value in consideration of the time for outputting the guidance voice.

  Next, after passing an off-road road existing between the vehicle position and the distance L, guidance is performed (step ST14). That is, the guidance data creation unit 18 determines whether or not an off-road road exists between the vehicle position indicated by the vehicle position data sent from the position detection unit 12 and the distance L, in other words, the vehicle It is checked whether or not an intersection connected to an off-road road existing between the position and the distance L is passed, and when it is determined that the road has passed, the intersection to which the off-road road except the off-road road is connected The guide data presenting the number of items is created and sent to the output unit 19. The output unit 19 sends the guide data sent from the guide data creation unit 18 to the display 9 and the speaker 10 as guide information. The guidance information is displayed on the display 9 and is output from the speaker 10 by voice.

  By the above processing, when the distance from the vehicle position to the off-road road is short, the number of intersections to which the remaining off-road roads are connected after passing through the off-road road connected roads is presented. Guidance is provided. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the road R1 is an off-road road, but since the distance from the vehicle position is short, after passing the intersection to which the road R1 is connected, for example, “turn the second road to the right ”Is given.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the navigation device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, if the distance from the vehicle position to the off-road road is within a predetermined distance, the navigation apparatus is connected to the guidance target intersection from the next intersection to which the off-road road is connected. The guidance is provided by presenting the number of existing intersections.

  Since the configuration of the navigation device according to the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the navigation device according to the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the operation of the navigation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following, the route search by the route search unit 14 ends, the guidance target intersection calculation unit 15 calculates the guidance target intersection, and the off-route road detection unit 16 finishes detecting the road outside the route. Shall. Also, in the following, the same reference numerals as those used in FIG. 3 are attached to the steps for performing the same processing as the intersection guidance processing of the navigation device according to Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. To do.

  In this intersection guidance process, first, the vehicle position is detected (step ST11). Next, it is checked whether it is the guidance timing of the guidance target intersection (step ST12). If it is determined in step ST12 that it is not the guidance timing of the guidance target intersection, the sequence returns to step ST11 and the above-described processing is repeated.

  When it is determined in step ST12 that it is the guidance timing of the guidance target intersection, the distance L that travels during the time T2 from the average vehicle speed during the past time T1 is obtained (step ST13). Next, it is checked whether or not an off-road road exists between the vehicle position and the distance L (step ST21). In other words, the guidance data creation unit 18 transmits the off-route road data sent from the off-road road detection unit 16 during the distance L from the own vehicle position indicated by the own vehicle position data sent from the position detection unit 12. Check if there is an off-road road indicated by. If it is determined in step ST21 that an off-road road exists, the sequence returns to step ST11 and the above-described processing is repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST21 that there is no off-road road, guidance based on the off-road road existing from the vehicle position to the guidance target intersection is then performed (step ST22). That is, the guidance data creation unit 18 checks whether there is an off-road road between the vehicle position indicated by the host vehicle position data sent from the position detection unit 12 and the distance L. When it is determined that it exists, guide data indicating the number of intersections to which the road outside the route except the road outside the route is connected is created and sent to the output unit 19. The output unit 19 sends the guide data sent from the guide data creation unit 18 to the display 9 and the speaker 10 as guide information. The guidance information is displayed on the display 9 and is output from the speaker 10 by voice.

  By the above processing, when the distance from the vehicle position to the off-road road is short, the guidance that shows the number of intersections to which the remaining off-road roads are connected is excluded except for the intersection to which the off-road road is connected. Is called. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the road R1 is an off-road road, but because the distance from the vehicle position is short, except for the intersection where the road R1 is connected, for example, “turn right on the second road” Is given.

  In the above-described intersection guidance process, for example, if the vehicle travels a certain distance from the position indicated by the normal guidance timing without satisfying the conditions for performing guidance such as the existence of roads outside the route, It can be configured to provide guidance regardless of the distance.

  In the navigation device according to Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2 described above, the off-route road detection unit 16 is for entering a resting facility such as a service area or a parking area even if it is an off-route road. A road or a branch road to a specific vehicle type road such as a route bus can be configured not to be detected as an off-route road. However, when a break facility and an expressway exit are provided side by side, it can be configured to detect an off-road road.

  In addition, the off-road road detection unit 16 is a road that is not allowed to enter when viewed from a road that is running due to restrictions such as a right or left turn prohibition, a road in a lane on the opposite side of the running road, A road installed to make a U-turn from the middle road toward the opposite lane or an unpaved road can be configured not to be detected as an off-road road.

  As a road in the lane on the opposite side of the above-described traveling road, a road where the central separation zone of the traveling road disappears from the middle as shown in FIG. The road data defining this road is configured as shown in FIG. In this case, since the road R2 is a road in the lane on the opposite side of the running road, the off-route road detection unit 16 does not detect the off-route road. Whether the road is in the lane on the opposite side of the running road is determined by defining the information in the map data or by the road attribute, route number, route name or connection angle. Can be configured to

  As shown in FIG. 7 (a), as a road installed to make a U-turn from the above-mentioned running road toward the opposite lane, the center separation zone of the running road can make a U-turn. A road that is interrupted along the way can be exemplified. The road data defining this road is configured as shown in FIG. In this case, the road R3 is defined as a road that can turn right on the road data, but when the user sees the actual road, the road R3 is less likely to be recognized as a right-turn road. Not detected as an outside road. The determination as to whether or not the road is for making a U-turn can be configured such that information to that effect is defined in the map data or is determined based on the attribute or shape of the road. When judging by the shape of the road, the off-route road detection unit 16 confirms the road shape of the connection destination of the running road, and when only the road in the opposite lane of the running road is connected, The connected road can be configured not to be detected as an off-road road.

  Further, the off-route road detection unit 16 is a non-route road, and if there is a gate or a gateway where only a specific person or vehicle can enter the off-route road, Since it is often not conscious as a road, it can be configured not to be detected as an off-road road.

  Further, the off-route road detection unit 16 can be configured not to detect an off-route road if the rank is clearly lower than that of the traveling road even if the off-route road. In this case, the rank can be determined based on a road type such as an expressway or a national road, an attribute defining a road width, or a road class (functional class).

  Further, when the branch angle of the outflow route from the guide point is small, such as the Y-shaped branch shown in FIG. 8, when the road R4 that intersects the traveling road at an angle close to a right angle is defined as the off-route road, the user Therefore, when the branch angle of the guidance target intersection is small, the off-route road detection unit 16 routes a road having a large angle with respect to the branch direction of the guidance target intersection even if it is an off-road road. It can be configured not to detect as an outside road. In this case, the guidance data creation unit 18 does not perform guidance based on the number of roads outside the route, or creates guidance data based only on the intersection formed by the road outside the route whose angle is close to the branch direction at the guidance target intersection. Can be configured to With this configuration, effective guidance can be performed.

It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the navigation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the detail of the function implement | achieved by navigation ECU shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the navigation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention centering on an intersection guidance process. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the navigation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the navigation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention centering on an intersection guidance process. It is a figure for demonstrating the example when not detecting an off-road road in the navigation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 or 2 of this invention. In the navigation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 or 2 of this invention, it is a figure for demonstrating the other example when not detecting a road outside a path | route. In the navigation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 or 2 of this invention, it is a figure for demonstrating the further another example when not detecting a road outside a path | route.

Explanation of symbols

  1 drive, 2 GPS receiver, 3 gyro, 4 vehicle speed sensor, 5 operation unit, 6 interface circuit, 7 navigation ECU, 8 memory, 9 display, 10 speaker, 11 map data acquisition unit, 12 position detection unit, 13 input unit , 14 route search unit, 15 guidance target intersection calculation unit, 16 off-road road detection unit, 17 average vehicle speed detection unit, 18 guidance data creation unit, 19 output unit.

Claims (13)

A position detector for detecting the current position;
A route search unit that searches for a route from the departure point to the destination,
A guidance target intersection calculation unit that calculates a guidance target intersection on the route searched by the route search unit;
A road other than a route that exists between the current position detected by the position detection unit and the guidance target intersection calculated by the guidance target intersection calculation unit and connected in the same direction as the traveling direction at the guidance target intersection. An off-road road detection unit for detecting a certain off-road road;
If the distance between the off-road road detected by the off-road road detection unit and the current position detected by the position detection unit is within a predetermined distance at the guidance timing for outputting the guidance information, A guidance data creation unit for creating guidance data for performing guidance by presenting the number of intersections connected to the off-road road existing up to the guidance target intersection after passing through the intersection to which the road is connected;
A navigation device comprising: an output unit that outputs guidance information based on the guidance data created by the guidance data creation unit. A position detector for detecting the current position;
A route search unit that searches for a route from the departure point to the destination,
A guidance target intersection calculation unit that calculates a guidance target intersection on the route searched by the route search unit;
A road other than a route that exists between the current position detected by the position detection unit and the guidance target intersection calculated by the guidance target intersection calculation unit and connected in the same direction as the traveling direction at the guidance target intersection. An off-road road detection unit for detecting a certain off-road road;
If the distance between the off-road road detected by the off-road road detection unit and the current position detected by the position detection unit is within a predetermined distance at the guidance timing for outputting the guidance information, A guide data creation unit for creating guidance data for performing guidance by excluding intersections to which roads are connected and presenting the number of intersections connected to the off-road roads existing up to the guidance target intersection;
A navigation device comprising: an output unit that outputs guidance information based on the guidance data created by the guidance data creation unit. With an average vehicle speed detection unit that detects the average vehicle speed that has traveled in the past,
The guidance data creation unit obtains a distance when the vehicle travels for a predetermined time at the average vehicle speed detected by the average vehicle speed detection unit, and determines whether or not the distance is within a predetermined distance. The navigation device according to claim 2. The guidance data creation unit obtains a distance when the vehicle travels for a predetermined time at a speed corresponding to the attribute of the road constituting the route searched by the route search unit, and determines whether the distance is within the predetermined distance. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the navigation device is characterized. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the off-path road detection unit does not detect an entrance to a rest facility on a highway or a branch road to a specific vehicle type road as an off-road road. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the off-route road detection unit does not detect a road that is prohibited from turning right or left as viewed from the traveling road as an off-route road. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the off-path road detection unit does not detect a road in a lane on the opposite side of the traveling road as an off-road road. The navigation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the off-road road detection unit does not detect a road installed for making a U-turn from the traveling road toward the opposite route as an off-road road. apparatus. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the off-road road detection unit does not detect an unpaved road as an off-road road. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the off-route road detection unit does not detect a road that cannot be entered except by a specific vehicle as an off-route road. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the off-route road detection unit does not detect a road having a lower rank than a road constituting the route searched by the route search unit as an off-route road. The navigation apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the rank is determined by a road type, a road width, or a functional class. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the off-road road detection unit does not detect a road having a large angle with respect to the branching direction of the outflow route from the guidance target intersection as an off-road road.

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