JP2009063424A - Navigation apparatus and sunlight evasion route search method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for searching a route where sunlight does not enter driver's eyes easily. <P>SOLUTION: An on-vehicle navigation apparatus has a function for searching a route. A sunlight influence determination section 108 in the on-vehicle navigation apparatus acquires current date and time, and specifies a region where it is predicted that a vehicle is driving in a time period when a driver is affected by sunlight, based on the current date and time and the calculated current position. A route guidance section 109 determines the costs of a link included in a specified region in respective links for composing a route for connecting the current location to a set destination according to the relationship between the azimuth of the link in the advance direction of the vehicle and the specific azimuth, and searches an optimum route for connecting the current position to the destination according to the determined costs. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus, and relates to a technique for setting a route (route) for route guidance.

  In general, the in-vehicle navigation device is equipped with a route guidance function that can easily travel to a destination without making a mistake on the road. An in-vehicle navigation device equipped with a route guidance function detects the current position by GPS or the like as the vehicle travels, displays the current position together with a road map on the display, or displays the current position from the current position to the destination. To set a simple route. Regarding the route setting, the in-vehicle navigation device searches for a route with the lowest cost connecting the current location to the destination using map data (distance, road width, road type, etc.).

  Some recent in-vehicle navigation devices not only simply search for the lowest cost route from the current location to the destination but set the route, but also travel as much as possible on a detour route that passes through a point with good scenery. Some of them can search for such a route and set the route. Such a vehicle-mounted navigation device is described in Patent Document 1, for example.

JP 2003-185453 A

  By the way, during driving of a vehicle, sunlight from a low altitude such as the morning sun or sunset (so-called western sun) may enter the driver's eyes and the prospects ahead of the vehicle may deteriorate. A conventional vehicle-mounted navigation device cannot search for a route that bypasses a route affected by sunlight.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for searching a route in which sunlight from the sun is difficult for a driver to see in a vehicle-mounted navigation device.

  An in-vehicle navigation device according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is an in-vehicle navigation device having a function of searching for a route, and calculates destination position setting means for setting a destination and a current position on a map. The vehicle is traveling in a time zone in which the driver is affected by the sunlight based on the current position calculation means, the current date and time, and the current position and the current position calculated by the current position calculation means. Vehicle-direction of travel in a link included in the sunlight-affected area among the links constituting the route connecting the current location and the destination The cost of the link is determined according to the relationship between the direction of the link and the specific direction, and the optimum route connecting the current position and the destination is searched according to the determined cost. And a route guidance means for performing electrical.

  According to the vehicle-mounted navigation device of the present invention, it is possible to search for a route that makes it difficult for sunlight from the sun to enter the driver's eyes.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an in-vehicle navigation device 100 to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, the in-vehicle navigation device 100 includes an arithmetic processing unit 1, a display 2, a storage device 3, a voice input / output device 4, an input device 5, a vehicle speed sensor 6, a gyro sensor 7, and a GPS. A receiving device 8, an FM multiplex information receiving device 9, and a beacon receiving device 10 are provided.

  The arithmetic processing unit 1 is a central unit that performs various processes. For example, the present location is detected based on information output from the various sensors 6 and 7 and the GPS receiver 8. Further, map data necessary for display is read out from the storage device 3 based on the obtained current location information. Also, the read map data is developed in graphics, and a mark indicating the current location is superimposed on the map data and displayed on the display 2. In addition, the map data stored in the storage device 3 is used to search for an optimum route (recommended route) that connects the starting point (current location) instructed by the user and the destination. Further, the user is guided using the voice input / output device 4 and the display 2.

  The display 2 is a unit that displays graphics information generated by the arithmetic processing unit 1. The display 2 is composed of a CRT, a liquid crystal display, or the like.

  The storage device 3 is composed of a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, HDD, or IC card. In this storage medium, for example, the map data 310, the solar direction specifying data 400 for specifying the direction of the sun, and the time zone affected by the sunrise or the setting sun according to the position on the map are specified. Sunshine influence time data 600, a special weight table 500 for calculating a link cost in accordance with the influence degree of sunshine, and the like are stored.

  A schematic data structure of the map data 310 is shown in FIG. The map data 310 includes, for each mesh identification code (mesh ID) 311 which is a partitioned area on the map, link data 320 of each link constituting a road included in the mesh area.

  The link data 320 includes, for each link ID 321, coordinate information 322 of two nodes (start node and end node) constituting the link, road type information 323 including the link, link length information 324 indicating the link length, link The travel time 325 includes a link ID (connection link ID) 326 of a link connected to each of the two nodes, peripheral facility information 327 indicating facility information located around each link, and the like. Here, by distinguishing the start node and the end node for the two nodes constituting the link, the upward direction and the downward direction of the same road can be managed as different links. Further, the link travel time 325 may be a link travel time associated with each condition such as date and weather. Further, the map data 310 includes intersection position information, and also includes a node ID of a node corresponding to the intersection. The peripheral facility information 327 includes information for specifying the genre of the facility (for example, a convenience store, a hamburger shop, etc.). Note that the direction of the link can be obtained from the coordinate information 322 including the start node and the end node.

  A schematic data structure of the solar orientation data 400 is shown in FIG. The sun direction specifying data 400 stores data for specifying the sun direction from the position on the map and the date and time. As shown in the figure, the solar orientation specifying data 400 includes solar orientation data 420 that indicates the orientation of the sun at each date and time at the coordinate position 410 for each coordinate position 410 that specifies the position on the map. The coordinate position 410 is a coordinate value such as (longitude, latitude), for example. Further, the coordinate position 410 is data corresponding to an area included in the map data 310.

  As shown in the drawing, the sun direction data 420 includes a record 423 for each date and time 421. Each record 423 stores date and time 421 and sun azimuth 422 in association with each other. The date / time 421 is data for specifying the date / time, and is, for example, a character string of the format “year / day / time”. The date and time 421 is, for example, data for five years from the date of manufacture of the in-vehicle navigation device 100. The sun's azimuth 422 is data for specifying the azimuth angle of the sun and is, for example, a character string such as “270 °” or “271 °”. As for the azimuth angle, with reference to the vehicle position, true north is “0 °”, true east is “90 °”, true south is “180 °”, and true west is “270 °”.

  Furthermore, the schematic data structure of the sunlight influence time data 600 is shown in FIG. The sunlight influence time data 600 stores data for specifying a time zone affected by the sunlight according to the position on the map. As shown in the figure, the sunshine influence time data 600 includes time zone specifying data 620 indicating the time zone affected by the sunshine on each date at the coordinate position 610 for each coordinate position 610 specifying the position on the map. It is out.

  As shown in the figure, the time zone specifying data 620 includes a record 626 for each date 621. Each record 626 includes a date 621, an morning (morning sun) influence start time 622, an morning (morning sun) influence end time 623, an afternoon (sunset) influence start time 624, and an afternoon (sunset) influence end. Time 625 is stored in association with each other. The date 621 is data for specifying the date, and is, for example, a character string of the format “year / month”. The date 621 is, for example, data for five years from the date of manufacture of the in-vehicle navigation device 100. The morning influence start time 622 is data that specifies the start time (sunlight time) of the time zone in which the morning (morning sun) sunlight affects the driver on the day specified by the “year / day” of the date 621. It is. For example, the morning influence start time 622 is time data such as “5:15”. The morning influence end time 623 is data for specifying the end time of a time zone in which the morning (morning sun) sunshine affects the driver on the day specified by “year / day” of the date 621. For example, the morning influence end time 623 is time data such as “7:15”. The morning influence end time 623 is set after a predetermined time (for example, two hours later) after the morning influence start time 622 (sunrise time). The influence start time 624 in the afternoon is data specifying the start time of a time zone in which the sunlight in the afternoon (sunset) affects the driver on the day specified by “year / day” of the date 621. For example, the afternoon influence start time 624 is time data such as “16:10”. The afternoon influence start time 624 is set to a predetermined time (for example, two hours before) in the afternoon influence end time 625 (sunset time). The afternoon influence end time 625 is data that specifies the end time (sunset time) of the time zone in which the sunlight in the afternoon (sunset) affects the driver on the day specified by the “year / day” of the date 621. It is. For example, the influence end time 625 in the afternoon is time data such as “18:10”.

  Furthermore, the schematic data structure of the special weight table 500 is shown in FIG. The special weight table 500 stores data for weighting the links in consideration of the influence of the morning sun and sunset. The special weight table 500 includes a record 550 for each link. In each record 550, mesh ID 510, link ID 520, link orientation 530, and weighting value 520 are stored in association with each other. The mesh ID 510 corresponds to the mesh ID 311. The link ID 520 corresponds to the link ID 321. The link azimuth 530 is data specifying the azimuth angle of the link, and is a character string such as “150 °” or “270 °”, for example. The link direction 530 stores the direction of the traveling direction on the vehicle link obtained from the coordinate information (start node, end node) 322 of the link specified by the corresponding mesh ID 510 and link ID 520. The weighting value 540 is a weighting value of the link specified by the mesh ID 510 and the link ID 510, and is a numeric string such as “100” and “58”, for example. The weighting value 540 stores a value obtained by substituting the corresponding link orientation 530 into a predetermined arithmetic expression (described later).

  Returning to FIG. The voice input / output device 4 converts the message to the user generated by the arithmetic processing unit 1 into a voice signal and outputs it. Also, a process of recognizing the voice uttered by the user and transferring the contents to the arithmetic processing unit 1 is performed.

  The input device 5 is a unit that receives instructions from the user. The input device 5 includes a power button, a scroll key, a hard switch such as a scale change key, a joystick, a touch panel pasted on a display, and the like.

  The vehicle speed sensor 6, the gyro sensor 7, and the GPS receiver 8 are used for detecting the current location (own vehicle position) by the in-vehicle navigation device 100. The vehicle speed sensor 6 measures the distance from the product of the circumference of the wheel and the measured rotational speed of the wheel, and further measures the angle at which the moving body is bent from the difference in rotational speed of the paired wheel. The gyro sensor 7 is constituted by an optical fiber gyro, a vibration gyro, or the like, and detects an angle at which the moving body rotates. The GPS receiver 8 receives a signal from a GPS satellite, and measures the distance between the mobile body and the GPS satellite and the rate of change of the distance with respect to three or more satellites. Measure speed. Further, the GPS receiver 8 acquires the current time by extracting data specifying the current time from the signal received from the GPS satellite.

  The FM multiplex broadcast receiving apparatus 9 receives traffic jam information, regulation information, SA / PA (service station / parking) information, parking lot information, weather information, and the like sent from the FM multiplex broadcast station as FM multiplex broadcast signals.

  The beacon receiving device 10 receives traffic jam information, regulation information, SA / PA information, parking lot information, and the like sent from the beacon.

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the arithmetic processing unit 1. As shown in the figure, the arithmetic processing unit 1 includes a main control unit 101, an input receiving unit 102, a display processing unit 103, a destination setting unit 104, a route search condition setting unit 105, and a current position calculation unit 106. A reception information processing unit 107, a sunlight influence determination unit 108, and a route guidance unit 109.

  The main control unit 101 performs a process of controlling each unit of the arithmetic processing unit 1 in an integrated manner.

  The input receiving unit 102 receives a request from a user input to the input device 5 and analyzes the request content. The input receiving unit 102 notifies the main control unit 101 of data corresponding to the analysis result. For example, the input reception unit 102 receives a request to supply power from the input device 5 or a request to turn off the power, and notifies the main control unit 101 of the request. The input receiving unit 102 receives input data for setting various functions of the in-vehicle navigation device 100 and notifies the main control unit 101 of the input data.

  The display processing unit 103 displays a map or the like on the display 2. Specifically, the display processing unit 103 generates and notifies a drawing command to be displayed on the display 2. When the display processing unit 103 displays a map on the display 2, the map data 310 in the area requested to be displayed (for example, the area near the current position of the in-vehicle navigation device 100) is stored from the storage device 3. A map drawing command is generated so as to draw marks such as roads, other map components, current positions, destinations, and arrows for recommended routes with the specified scale and drawing method. Further, the display processing unit 103 displays on the map displayed on the display 2 a mark indicating the current position of the host vehicle, various setting screens, a recommended route notified from the route guidance unit 111 described later, and the like. .

  The destination setting unit 104 sets a destination. Specifically, the destination setting unit 104 searches for a destination by various search methods (for example, search from a name, search from an address, search from a map, etc.). Then, an instruction to select one destination from the searched destinations is received via the input receiving unit 102, and destination information indicating the destination corresponding to the instruction is stored in the storage device 3. The destination information includes information such as the location of the destination, the facility name of the destination, and the address of the destination.

  The route search condition setting unit 105 sets conditions for searching for a recommended route from the current location to the destination determined by the destination setting unit 104. Here, the route search condition includes a condition that priority is given to a route that avoids the sun and sunset. Other than this condition, for example, prioritize priority roads, prioritize general roads, prioritize national roads, prioritize ferries, search using VICS information, prioritize routes that avoid time restrictions, etc. Conditions may be included. Specifically, the route search condition setting unit 105 generates a screen for setting a route search condition as shown in FIG. 7 and causes the display processing unit 103 to display the generated screen. On the screen to be generated, as shown in the figure, a sun avoidance setting field 210 for setting a condition for giving priority to a route that avoids sunlight, a route search button 220 for starting a route search under the set conditions, Is provided. The route search condition setting unit 105 receives a route search condition input from the user via the input reception unit 102 and stores it in the storage device 3.

  The current position calculation unit 106 calculates the current position of the in-vehicle navigation device 100 (vehicle). Specifically, the current position calculation unit 107 calculates the distance data and the angle obtained by integrating the distance pulse data (S5) measured by the vehicle speed sensor 6 and the angular acceleration data (S6) measured by the gyro sensor 7, respectively. By using the data and integrating the data on the time axis, the present location (X ′, Y ′), which is the position after traveling the vehicle, is periodically calculated from the initial position (X, Y). Further, the current position is matched with the road (link) having the highest shape correlation by performing map matching processing using the calculation result. Further, the current position is corrected periodically using the output (S7) of the GPS receiver 8. When the vehicle is stopped, the current position may be obtained using only the output (S7) of the GPS receiver 8.

  The reception information processing unit 107 stores the traffic jam information and the regulation information (S8, S9) received by the FM multiplex broadcast receiving device 9 and the beacon receiving device 10 in the storage device 3.

  The sunshine influence determination unit 108 performs a process of identifying an area 260 (hereinafter referred to as “sunshine influence area”) in which the morning sun or sunset sunshine is likely to be seen by the driver from the current date and time and the estimated arrival time at the destination. . Specifically, the sunlight influence determination unit 108 determines whether the conditions for prioritizing the route that avoids the sunrise or sunset sunlight among the route search conditions received by the route search condition setting unit 105 are enabled (turned on). Determine whether or not. If it is enabled (turned on), the sunlight influence determining unit 108 acquires the current date and time from the GPS receiver 8. Moreover, the sunlight influence determination part 108 specifies the time zone when the sunlight of a morning sun or the sunset is easy to get into a driver | operator's eyes. For example, the sunshine influence determination unit 108 refers to the solar information table 400, and is affected by the sunshine from the current position (position 410) and the current date and time (date 420) (from the influence start time 440 to the influence end time). Specify the time zone up to 450). At this time, the sunshine influence determination unit 108 determines the distance (linear distance) that the vehicle travels from the current position to the influence start time 440 and the distance that the vehicle travels from the current position to the influence end time 450 (linear distance). ) Then, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the sunlight influence determination unit 108 starts the influence of the vehicle from the closed region of the circle whose radius (R2) is the distance that the vehicle travels until the influence end time 450 with the current position as the center. A region excluding the closed region of the circle whose radius (R1) is the distance traveled up to the time 440 is identified as the sunlight influence region 260.

  However, when the current date and time are included in the time zone affected by the sunlight (the time zone from the influence start time 440 to the influence end time 450), the circle with the radius (R1) is not obtained. . In this case, all the closed areas of the circle having the radius (R2) are set as the sun influence area 260. Further, when the current date and time is after the influence end time 450, neither the radius (R1) nor the radius (R2) is obtained. In this case, it is assumed that the sunlight influence area 260 does not exist.

  Next, the route guiding unit 109 uses the Dijkstra method or the like to minimize the cost (for example, distance, traffic information, influence of sunlight, etc.) of a route connecting two designated points (current location, destination). The route which becomes is searched, and route guidance is performed using the searched route. For example, the route guiding unit 109 gives a special weighting based on the degree of influence of sunlight and a general weighting based on factors other than the degree of influence of sunlight on each link constituting the route connecting the current location and the destination. And the sum of the added values of the special weight value and the general weight value of each link is set as the total cost of the route.

  When performing special weighting based on the degree of influence of sunlight, for example, the route guidance unit 109 sets the sun direction and the vehicle traveling direction (direction) for each link that forms the route connecting the current location and the destination. The closer the azimuth is, the higher the weighting value is assigned. When performing general weighting based on factors other than the influence of sunlight, for example, the route guidance unit 109 is stored in the link data 320 for each link that configures a route connecting the current location and the destination. The link length 324, the road type 323, and the reception information processing unit 107 perform weighting according to traffic jam information and regulation information received from the FM multiplex broadcast receiving device 9 and the beacon receiving device 10. Then, the route guidance unit 109 searches for a route that minimizes the sum of the costs (sum of a special weight value and a general weight value) of the route connecting the two specified points (current location, destination). . Furthermore, as a result of the search, the route guiding unit 109 stores (registers) data specifying the corresponding route in the storage device 3.

  As described above, the route guiding unit 109 can perform weighting for searching for a route that minimizes the cost of the route between two points based on the influence degree of sunlight. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, when the entire route connecting the two points of the current location 250 and the destination (G) is included in the sunlight influence region 260, the route guiding unit 109 configures the route. All links are weighted based on the influence of sunlight. In the illustrated example, the total cost of the route A is “312”, and the total cost of the route B is “297”. Therefore, the route having the minimum influence of sunlight is the route B. In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, when the area around the current location 250 is included in the sunshine influence area 260 and is not included in the sunshine influence area 260 around the destination (G) (at the sunset time during traveling to the destination). The route guidance unit 109 performs a weighting value (W) based on the degree of influence of the sunshine on the link included in the sunshine influence area 260 to link to the link outside the sunshine influence area 260. On the other hand, the weighting value (W) based on the influence degree of sunlight is not performed. For this reason, the weight value of each link comes to be illustrated. In the illustrated example, the total cost of the route A is “210”, and the total cost of the route B is “290”. Therefore, the route with the smallest influence of sunlight is the route A. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, when the area around the current location 250 is not included in the sunshine influence area 260 and is included in the sunshine influence area 260 around the destination (G) In the case where the influence of the sun comes out), the route guiding unit 109 performs the weighting value (W) based on the degree of the sun's influence on the link included in the sun influence area 260 and the sun influence area. For links other than 260, the weighting value (W) based on the influence of sunlight is not performed. For this reason, the weight value of each link comes to be illustrated. In the illustrated example, the total cost of the route A is “230”, and the total cost of the route B is “223”. Therefore, the route having the smallest influence of sunlight is the route B.

  In addition, the route guidance 109 compares the information on the route with the information on the current location, and displays on the display 2 whether to go straight or turn left or right before passing the intersection (turn-by-turn display). The user is notified by voice using the voice input / output device 4. Further, the route guidance unit 109 displays the recommended route on the map displayed on the display 2.

  The arithmetic processing unit 1 having the above functions is realized with a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. 12, for example.

  As shown in the figure, the arithmetic processing unit 1 has a configuration in which devices are connected by a bus 712. The arithmetic processing unit 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 701 that executes various processes such as numerical calculation and control of each device, and a RAM that temporarily stores map data 310, arithmetic data, and the like read from the storage device 3 (Random Access Memory) 702, ROM (Read Only Memory) 703 for storing programs and data, DMA (Direct Memory Access) 704 for executing data transfer between the memories and between the memory and each device, graphics A drawing controller 705 that executes drawing and performs display control, a video random access memory (VRAM) 706 that stores graphic image data, a color palette 707 that converts image data into RGB signals, and an analog signal that converts into a digital signal A / D converter 708 that synchronizes the serial signal to the bus 712 It has a SCI (Serial Communication Interface) 709 which converts the Parallel signal, synchronizes the parallel signals to the bus and PIO (Parallel Input / Output) 710 for mounting to the bus 712, a counter 711 for integrating a pulse signal.

  Next, the operation of the in-vehicle navigation device 100 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the sunlight avoidance route search process performed by the arithmetic processing unit 1 of the in-vehicle navigation device 100.

  The main control unit 101 of the arithmetic processing unit 1 starts the sun avoidance route search process when the vehicle-mounted navigation device 100 is powered on. The power is turned on by a user operating a power button (not shown) provided in the input device 5.

  The destination setting unit 104 of the arithmetic processing unit 1 performs processing for setting a destination (step S101). Specifically, the destination setting unit 104 generates a screen for allowing the user to select a destination search method and causes the display processing unit 103 to display the screen. For example, the screen to be displayed may be a list screen of items such as “search for destination from name”, “search for destination from address”, and “search for destination from map”. At this time, an instruction to select any item from the user is received via the input receiving unit 102, and a search screen corresponding to the received instruction is displayed on the display processing unit 103. When receiving an input for specifying the destination, the destination setting unit 104 searches the map data 310 for a destination corresponding to the input, and stores position information (coordinates) indicating the position of the corresponding destination. Store (set) in the device 3.

  Subsequently, the route search condition setting unit 105 displays a screen for setting a condition for searching for a route to the destination set in step S101 (step S102). Specifically, the route search condition setting unit 105 generates a screen for setting route search conditions as shown in FIG. 7 and causes the display processing unit 103 to display the generated screen.

  The route search condition setting unit 105 sets conditions for searching for a route to the destination set in step S101 (step S103). Specifically, the route search condition setting unit 105 displays a screen for setting conditions in step S102 and then instructs the main control unit to start route search when the route search button 220 is pressed. 101 is notified. At this time, the route search condition setting unit 105 receives the condition set on the screen displayed in step S102 from the input receiving unit 102, and stores (sets) the received condition in the storage device 3. Here, the data to be received is, for example, data specifying whether it is valid (on) or invalid (off) for each condition (for example, data such as “1” for validity and “0” for invalidity).

  The main control unit 101 notified of the instruction to start the route search in step S103 notifies the current position calculation unit 106 of an instruction to calculate the current position.

  At this time, the current position calculation unit 106 calculates the current position of the in-vehicle navigation device 100 (step S104). Then, the current position calculation unit 106 stores the calculated current position (coordinates) in the storage device 3.

  Subsequently, the sunlight influence determination unit 108 enables (turns on) a condition that prioritizes a route that avoids the sunlight of the morning sun or sunset among the route search conditions received by the route search condition setting unit 105 in step S103. It is determined whether or not there is (step S105). Specifically, the sunlight influence determination unit 108 determines that the route is preferred (on) if the priority is given to a route that avoids the sunrise or sunset sunlight, and is invalid if the route is “0”. (Off) is determined.

  In step S105, when it is determined that the condition for prioritizing the route that avoids the sunlight of the morning sun or the sunset is enabled (ON) (step S105; Yes), the sunlight influence determination unit 108 acquires the current date and time ( Step S106). Specifically, the sunshine influence determination unit 108 acquires the current date and time from the GPS receiver 8 and stores the acquired current date and time in the storage device 3. Note that the current date and time acquired here includes information for specifying the year (year), date, and time.

  Subsequently, the sunshine influence determination unit 108 performs a process of specifying the sunshine influence area 260 (step S107).

  Specifically, the sunshine influence determination unit 108 is first acquired in step S106 from the time zone specifying data 620 specified by the coordinate position 610 corresponding to the current position calculated by the current position calculation unit 106 in step S104. A record 626 having a date 621 corresponding to the current date and time is searched. Then, after the search, the time zone affected by the morning sun is identified with reference to the morning influence start time 622 and the morning influence end time 623 stored in the corresponding record 626. When the time zone affected by the afternoon (sunset) sunlight is specified, the sunlight influence determining unit 108 determines the afternoon influence start time 624 and the afternoon influence end time 625 stored in the corresponding record 626. To specify the time zone that is affected by the sunlight in the afternoon (sunset). Here, whether to specify the time zone affected by the sunlight in the morning (morning sun) or the time zone affected by the sunlight in the afternoon (sunset) is determined by, for example, the sunlight influence determining unit 108 in step S106. Judgment is made based on whether the acquired current date and time is noon or noon.

  Next, the sunshine influence determination unit 108 travels from the current position to the morning start time 622 of the vehicle (straight distance), and from the current position to the morning end time 623 of the vehicle. Find the distance (straight line distance). Specifically, the sunshine influence determination unit 108 multiplies the average speed of the vehicle within a predetermined time measured based on the signal acquired from the GPS receiver 8 by (morning influence end time 623-current date and time). The distance (straight line distance) that the vehicle travels by the morning influence end time 623 is obtained. Similarly, by multiplying the average speed of the vehicle within a predetermined time by (morning influence start time 622-current date and time), a distance (linear distance) that the vehicle travels by that morning influence start time 622 is obtained. In addition, when calculating | requiring the distance (linear distance) which a vehicle drive | works by the afternoon influence end time 625, instead of the above-mentioned morning influence end time 623, the sunlight influence determination part 108 uses the afternoon influence end time 625. Use to process. Similarly, when determining the distance (straight line distance) that the vehicle travels by the afternoon influence start time 624, the sunlight influence determination unit 108 replaces the morning influence start time 622 with the afternoon influence start time 624. To process.

  Then, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the sunlight influence determination unit 108 is in the morning (afternoon) influence end time 623 (625) around the current position calculated by the current position calculation unit 106 in step S104. A closed region (first closed region) of a circle having a radius (R2) as the travel distance is specified. Similarly, the sunshine influence determination unit 108 sets the distance that the vehicle travels by the morning (afternoon) influence start time 622 (624) around the current position calculated by the current position calculation unit 106 in step S104 as a radius ( The closed region (second closed region) of the circle designated as R1) is specified. Then, the sunshine influence processing unit 108 specifies the area obtained by removing the second closed area from the first closed area specified here as the sunshine influence area 260 and stores data indicating the specified sunshine influence area 260 as a storage device. 3 is stored. It should be noted that the data indicating the sunshine influence area 260 may be a set of coordinates included in the sunshine influence area 260 or data specifying the boundary of the sunshine influence area 260.

  Subsequent to step S107, the route guiding unit 109 applies to each link constituting the route connecting the current position calculated by the current position calculating unit 106 in step S104 and the destination set by the destination setting unit 104 in step S101. Thus, special weighting based on the influence degree of sunlight is performed (step S108). Specifically, the route guidance unit 109 first acquires the current date and time acquired in step S106 from the solar orientation data 420 specified by the coordinate position 410 corresponding to the current position calculated by the current position calculation unit 106 in step S104. The record 423 having the date 421 corresponding to is searched. Then, after the search, the azimuth 422 of the sun stored in the corresponding record 423 is specified. Further, the data (mesh ID 510 and link ID 520) for specifying the link included in the sunlight influence area 260 specified in step S107 is stored in the special weight table 500. Further, the route guiding unit 109 obtains the link direction 530 of each link stored in the special weight table 500 and stores it in the special weight table 500. The link orientation 530 can be obtained from the coordinate information (start node, end node) 322 of the map data 310, for example. Then, the route guiding unit 109 obtains the angle difference (θ) between the azimuth angles of the sun azimuth 422 specified earlier and the link azimuth 530 found earlier. The route guiding unit 109 obtains a weight value (W) 540 based on the obtained angle difference (θ) and stores it in the special weight table 500. More specifically, the route guiding unit 109 obtains the weighting value (W) 540 by substituting the obtained angle difference (θ) into the mathematical expression “W = k1 · sin (θ) + k2”. Note that k1 and k2 are constants, k1 + k2 is the maximum value of the weighting value (W) 540, and k2-k1 is the minimum value of the weighting value (W) 540. Therefore, the weighting value (W) 540 is a value in the range of (k2−k1) ≦ (weighting value (W) 540) ≦ (k1 + k2). For example, each of k1 and k2 is “50”. Thereby, the route guidance unit 109 can assign a higher weighting value to the link as the azimuth 422 of the sun is closer to the traveling direction of the vehicle (link azimuth 530).

  Following step S108, the route guiding unit 109 searches for a sun avoidance route (route) (step S109). Specifically, the route guidance unit 109 sets a special weighting value 540 based on the influence degree of the sunshine weighted in step S108 for each link constituting the route connecting the current position and the destination, except for the influence degree of the sunshine. Add a general weighting value based on the elements. Then, the route guiding unit 109 searches for a route that minimizes the sum of the costs of the route connecting the current position and the destination, using the added weight value as the cost of each link.

  As a result of the search, the route guiding unit 109 determines the corresponding route as a recommended route (step S111). Specifically, each link (link ID 321) constituting a route that minimizes the total cost of the route connecting the current position and the destination is stored in the storage device 3 in the order in which the vehicle travels.

  Subsequently, the route guidance unit 109 starts route guidance for displaying the recommended route determined in step S111 on the map displayed on the display processing unit 103 (step S112). Specifically, the route guidance unit 109 compares the recommended route information stored in the storage device 3 in step S111 with the current position that the current position calculation unit 106 periodically obtains according to the traveling of the vehicle, and determines the intersection. The user is informed of the direction to proceed before passing through.

  In step S112, after starting route (route) guidance, the route guidance unit 109 ends the sunlight avoidance route search processing.

  In step S105, when it is determined that the condition for prioritizing the route that avoids the sunlight of the morning sun or the sunset is disabled (OFF) (step S105; No), the route guiding unit 109 performs a normal route search. Perform (step S110). Here, the normal route search is a route that minimizes the sum of the costs of the route connecting the current position and the destination, using a general weighting value based on factors other than the influence of sunlight as the cost of each link. Is to explore. The route guiding unit 109 moves the process to step S111 after completing the normal route search in step S110.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said 1st Embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and application are possible.

  For example, in the first embodiment, an area where the vehicle is predicted to travel in a time zone in which the sunlight of the sun or sunset is likely to be noticed by the driver is specified as the sun influence area 260. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, before specifying the sunlight influence area 260, a plurality of routes may be obtained by performing a normal route search using a general weighting value based on factors other than the influence degree of sunlight. A recommended route that is a candidate is searched, and a link that is affected by sunlight in each recommended route may be set as the sunlight-affected region 260. The sunlight avoidance route search process in this case is shown in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the processing from the start of the sun avoidance route search process to step S101 to step S104 is the same as the sun avoidance route search process in the first embodiment.

  In step S104, after the current position calculation unit 106 calculates the current position of the in-vehicle navigation device 100, the route guidance unit 109 uses the general weight value based on factors other than the degree of influence of sunlight. A search is performed (step S1045). At this time, the route guiding unit 109 searches for a plurality of higher-order routes (for example, five routes) having a small total cost of routes connecting the current position and the destination as candidates.

  In step S105, as in the first embodiment, the sunshine influence determination unit 108 determines whether or not a condition that prioritizes a route that avoids the sun or sunset sunshine is enabled (ON) (step S105). Step S105). At this time, if it is determined that it has been disabled (OFF) (step S105; No), the sunshine influence determination unit 108 proceeds to step S111. As a result, in step S111, the route guiding unit 109 can determine the recommended route with the smallest total cost from the candidates searched in step S1045.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S105 that the sunshine influence determination unit 108 is enabled (ON) (step S105; Yes), in step S1045, the candidate routes searched in step S1045 are searched. Each of the sun influence areas 260 affected by the sun is specified (step S107). Specifically, the sunshine influence determination unit 108 determines that the vehicle at the morning (afternoon) influence start time 622 (624) of the sunshine influence time data 600 among the links constituting the candidate routes searched in step S1045. Identify the link (position) that is expected to arrive. Similarly, it is predicted that the vehicle has reached the morning (afternoon) influence end time 623 (625) of the sunlight influence time data 600 among the links constituting each candidate route searched in step S1045. Specify the link (position) to be used. Both links (positions) can be specified using the current date and time acquired in step S106, the link length 324 and the link travel time 325 of each link constituting each route. Then, the sunlight influence determination unit 108 is predicted to arrive at the morning (afternoon) influence start time 622 (624) identified earlier in each candidate route searched in step S1045. And a position between the position (link) predicted to arrive at the morning (afternoon) influence end time 623 (625) specified above is specified as the sunlight influence area 260, respectively.

  In step S108, special weighting based on the degree of influence of sunlight is performed on the link included in the sunlight influence area 260 identified in step S107 (step S108). Further, from among the candidate routes searched in step S1045, a special weighting value weighted based on the influence degree of the sunshine again is used as the cost of each link, and the sum of the costs in the sunshine influence area 260 is minimized. Search for a route.

  The processing in step S111 and step S112 is the same as the sun avoidance route search processing in the first embodiment.

  The first embodiment of the present invention has been described above. According to the above-described embodiment, the in-vehicle navigation device 100 of the present invention performs the above-described sunlight avoidance route search process by the arithmetic processing unit 1 so that the sunlight influence area 260 in which the influence degree of sunlight is reflected more faithfully. As a result, it is possible to provide the user with a recommended route that more accurately reflects the degree of influence of sunlight.

  In the above-mentioned sun avoidance route search process, after identifying the sun influence area 260 affected by the sun in each candidate route searched in step S1045, the processes in steps S108 and S109 are not performed. You may transfer a process to step S111. In this case, in step S111, the route guiding unit 109 determines that the sum of the link lengths 324 of the links included in the sunshine influence area 260 identified in step S107 is the smallest among the candidate routes searched in step S1045. May be determined as a recommended route.

  In the first embodiment, one link is associated with one weight value. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a boundary position may be provided in the middle of the link, and a different weighting value may be associated with each partial link partitioned by the boundary position. Thereby, even when the link direction fluctuates in the middle of the link, it is possible to more accurately reflect the degree of influence of sunlight on the link.

  Specifically, for example, a special weight table 501 shown in FIG. 15 may be prepared instead of the special weight table 500 shown in FIG. As illustrated, the special weight table 501 stores a configuration ratio 560, a link orientation ratio 570, and a weight ratio 580 in association with each record 550 of the special weight table 500 of FIG. However, “−” is stored in the weight value 540 for links having different weight values in the middle of the link. The composition ratio 560 is data indicating boundary positions having different weight values in the links in the links having different weight values in the middle of the link, and indicates, for example, the ratio of the lengths of the respective partial links separated by the boundary positions. Data (a character string representing a ratio such as “3: 4”, “3: 5: 1”). The link azimuth ratio 570 is data indicating the link azimuth of each partial link having a different weighting value in the link specified by the configuration ratio 560. For example, “120 °: 145 °”, “120 °: 88 °: The ratio is expressed as “100 °”. The weight ratio 580 is a weight value for each partial link having a different weight value in the link specified by the configuration ratio 560, and is represented by a ratio of “56:44”, “74: 76: 1”, for example. The Note that “−” is stored in each of the configuration ratio 560, the link ratio 570, and the weight ratio 580 for a link having a uniform weight value in the middle of the link.

  Using the special weight table 501 shown in FIG. 15, the sunshine influence determination unit 108 performs the same process as the process of calculating the weighting value in step S108 described above for each partial link delimited by the boundary position. Thus, different weight values can be associated with each partial link. Specifically, if the link orientation ratio 570 is “A: B” and the composition ratio 560 is “C: D”, “W1” in “W1: W2” with a weight ratio 580 is the sun orientation and the link orientation. Is obtained by substituting the difference between the azimuth angles (A−the azimuth of the sun) into the above-described equation “W = k1 · sin (θ) + k2” and (C / (C + D)). Similarly, for “W2”, (D / (C + D)) is obtained by substituting the angle difference between the azimuth angle of the sun and the link azimuth (B−sun azimuth) into the above formula. It is obtained by multiplying.

  Furthermore, in the said 1st Embodiment, the sunlight influence area | region 260 is specified based on the present location and the present | current time of a vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sunlight specifying area 260 may be specified based on the position of the intermediate point between the current location and the destination and the predicted time to reach the intermediate point. Further, the linear distance between the current location and the destination may be divided into several parts, and a plurality of sunlight specifying areas 260 may be specified based on the position of each divided point and the predicted time to reach each point. .

  Further, in the first embodiment, the sun direction 430 is stored in advance as the solar direction specifying data 400, the morning influence start time 622 (sunrise time), the morning influence end time 623, and the afternoon influence start. Time 624 and afternoon influence end time 625 (sunset time) are stored in advance as sunlight influence time data 600. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sunshine influence determination unit 108 may calculate the sun direction 430 from the current position of the vehicle and the current date and time. In addition, the sunlight influence determination unit 108 determines that the morning influence start time 622 (sunrise time), the morning influence end time 623, the afternoon influence start time 624, and the afternoon influence end time 625 (sunset time) May be calculated from the current position of the vehicle and the current date and time. In this case, the sun's azimuth 430, the morning influence start time 622 (sunrise time), the morning influence end time 623, the afternoon influence start time 624, and the afternoon influence end time 625 (sunset time) Are stored in the storage device 3 in advance.

  Further, the present invention does not limit the data structure of the sunlight influence time data 600 to the data structure as shown in FIG. The sunshine influence time data 600 only needs to store data that allows the driver to specify a time zone that is affected by the sunshine. Therefore, in the present invention, the time zone in which the driver is affected by the sun is not limited to the morning sun or sunset time zone, and may be changed as appropriate according to the season and region.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the sun influence determination unit 108 calculates a special weighting value 540 based on the sun influence degree using a mathematical formula. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the special weight table 500 in which the weight value 540 is associated with the link azimuth 530 and the sun azimuth 430 may be stored in the storage device 3 in advance. . In this case, the sunlight influence determination unit 108 refers to the special weight table 500 and identifies the weight value 540 from the link direction 530 and the sun direction 430.

  In the first embodiment, the route guiding unit 109 obtains the weighting value (W) 540 based on the angle difference (θ) between the link orientation 530 and the sun orientation 430. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the weight value (W) 540 may be obtained based on the link azimuth 530 and a predetermined specific azimuth (for example, the direction of true west (270 °)). Good. The specific direction may be a direction designated by the user, for example, a direction in which a constellation or the moon is easy to see. In this case, the greater the angle difference (θ), the smaller the weighting value (W) 540 is.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, another example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The vehicle-mounted navigation device 100 to which the second embodiment of the present invention is applied is designed so that sunlight from a low altitude such as the morning sun or sunset can travel to the destination through a route that is difficult for the driver to see. Set.

  The in-vehicle navigation device 100 to which the second embodiment of the present invention is applied is similar to the in-vehicle navigation device 100 to which the above-described first embodiment is applied, the arithmetic processing unit 1, the display 2, and the storage. A device 3, a voice input / output device 4, an input device 5, a vehicle speed sensor 6, a gyro sensor 7, a GPS receiver 8, an FM multiplex information receiver 9, and a beacon receiver 10 are provided. .

  Furthermore, the in-vehicle navigation device 100 to which the second embodiment of the present invention is applied has the same function as the in-vehicle navigation device 100 to which the above-described first embodiment is applied. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the arithmetic processing unit 1 of the in-vehicle navigation device 100 includes a main control unit 101, an input receiving unit 102, a display processing unit 103, a destination setting unit 104, A position calculation unit 106. The arithmetic processing unit 1 may include a route search condition setting unit 105, a received information processing unit 107, a sunlight influence determining unit 108, and a route guiding unit 109.

  However, the destination setting unit 104 includes a destination search condition setting unit 1041, a search area specifying unit 1042, a destination candidate search unit 1043, and a destination determination processing unit 1044, as shown in FIG. Have.

  The destination search condition setting unit 1041 sets destination search conditions. The search condition includes a condition such as “search from destinations that can be reached by a route that avoids sunlight”. For example, the destination search condition setting unit 1041 displays a screen for receiving a destination search condition on the display 2 and receives various selections from the user. Specifically, the destination search condition setting unit 1041 generates a search condition setting screen as shown in FIG. 17A and causes the display processing unit 103 to display the generated screen. In the search condition setting screen shown in FIG. 17A, a genre icon 230 for selecting a genre of a destination and a setting for searching for a destination from destinations that can be reached by a route that avoids sunlight. And a sun avoidance setting field 240 for performing. As the genre of the destination, for example, a genre that distinguishes facilities such as “family restaurant”, “coffee shop”, and “convenience store” is used. In addition, the destination search condition setting unit 1041 receives a destination search condition input from the user via the input reception unit 102 and stores the destination search condition in the storage device 3.

  When searching for a destination that can be reached by a route that avoids sunlight, the search region specifying unit 1042 performs processing for specifying a region for searching for a destination. Here, as shown in FIG. 18, an area for searching for a destination that can be reached by a route that avoids sunlight (hereinafter referred to as “destination search area”) includes a peripheral area 295 of the current location 250, and the current location. 250, and a region opposite to the sun (hereinafter referred to as “sunlight avoidance region 296”) having a boundary line 290 as a straight line perpendicular to the direction of the sun. By setting a destination included in such a destination search area, the vehicle can reach the destination by a route that avoids sunlight. Specifically, when specifying the peripheral region 295, the search region specifying unit 1042 specifies a closed region of a circle whose radius is a predetermined distance (for example, 300 m) from the current location 250 as the peripheral region 295. Further, when the sun avoidance area 296 is specified, an area on the side opposite to the sun (as viewed from the vehicle) divided by the boundary line 290 is specified as the sun avoidance area 296.

  The destination candidate search unit 1043 searches for a destination included in the destination search area specified by the search area specifying unit 1042 and included in the destination genre accepted by the destination search condition setting unit 1041. I do. Specifically, referring to the peripheral facility information 327 of the map data 310, the destination included in the destination search area is searched from the destinations (facility) belonging to the genre. The destination candidate search unit 1043 searches for a corresponding destination from a position close to the current location 250, and continues the search until an upper limit number (for example, 30) of destinations is found. However, a range exceeding a predetermined distance (for example, 50 km) from the current location 250 is not searched. The destination candidate search unit 1043 also searches for destinations that belong to the above genre but are not included in the destination search area.

  The destination determination processing unit 1044 performs a process of determining one destination from candidate destinations obtained by the destination candidate search unit 1043 searching. For example, the destination determination processing unit 1044 displays a screen for accepting an instruction to select a destination on the display 2 and accepts an instruction from the user. Specifically, the destination determination processing unit 1044 generates a destination selection screen as shown in FIG. 17B and causes the display processing unit 103 to display the generated screen. The destination selection screen shown in FIG. 17B is provided with a destination icon 260 indicating a destination that is a candidate obtained by searching by the destination candidate search unit 1043. Further, the destination selection screen is provided with a mark 250 indicating the current location, a clock icon 280 indicating the current time, and an orientation icon 270 indicating the orientation on the map. In addition, when a destination is searched from destinations that can be reached by a route that avoids sunlight, the destination selection screen displays a destination that is close to the current location, but is not yet ready for arrival. A destination icon 265 that has been excluded from candidates because it is an unavoidable destination, a boundary line 190 for notifying the user from which area the destination is searched, and the like may be provided. In addition, the destination determination processing unit 1044 receives an instruction to select a destination input from the user via the input receiving unit 102, and notifies the main control unit 101 of data specifying the selected destination.

  The arithmetic processing unit 1 having the functions as described above is realized by a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. 12, similarly to the vehicle-mounted navigation device 100 to which the first embodiment is applied.

  Next, the operation of the in-vehicle navigation device 100 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a destination setting process for avoiding sunlight, which is performed by the arithmetic processing unit 1 of the in-vehicle navigation device 100.

  The main control unit 101 of the arithmetic processing unit 1 starts a destination setting process for avoiding sunlight when the vehicle-mounted navigation device 100 is powered on. The power is turned on by a user operating a power button (not shown) provided in the input device 5.

  The destination search condition setting unit 1041 of the arithmetic processing unit 1 causes the display processing unit 103 to display a screen for setting conditions for searching for a destination (step S201). Specifically, the destination search condition setting unit 1041 generates a search condition setting screen as shown in FIG. 17A and causes the display processing unit 103 to display the generated screen.

  After displaying the search condition setting screen in step S201, the destination search condition setting unit 1041 receives an instruction to specify the genre of the destination (step S202). Specifically, the destination search condition setting unit 1041 notifies the main control unit 101 of an instruction to start searching for a destination when the genre icon 230 is pressed. At this time, the destination search condition setting unit 1041 receives the conditions set on the screen displayed in step S201 from the input receiving unit 102, and stores (sets) the received conditions in the storage device 3. Here, the data to be received is, for example, data that specifies whether the condition “search from destinations that can be reached by a route that avoids sunlight” is valid (on) or invalid (off) (for example, valid Is data such as “1” and invalid is “0”.

  The main control unit 101 notified of the instruction to start searching for the destination in step S202 notifies the current position calculation unit 106 of an instruction to calculate the current position.

  At this time, the current position calculation unit 106 calculates the current position of the in-vehicle navigation device 100 (step S203). Then, the current position calculation unit 106 stores the calculated current position (coordinates) in the storage device 3.

  Subsequently, the search area specifying unit 1042 receives the destination search conditions received by the destination search condition setting unit 1041 in step S202 (“searching from destinations that can be reached by a route that avoids sunlight”). It is determined whether or not is enabled (ON) (step S204). Specifically, the search area specifying unit 1042 determines that the condition is “1” if the condition is “1”, and determines that the condition is invalid (off) if the condition is “0”.

  In step S204, when it is determined that the condition “search from destinations that can be reached by a route that avoids sunlight” is enabled (ON) (step S204; Yes), the search area specifying unit 1042 Acquires the current date and time (step S205). Specifically, the search area specifying unit 1042 acquires the current date and time from the GPS receiver 8 and stores the acquired current date and time in the storage device 3. Note that the current date and time acquired here includes information for specifying the year (year), date, and time.

  Subsequently, the search area specifying unit 1042 performs a process of specifying the destination search area described above (step S206). Specifically, the search area specifying unit 1042 specifies the peripheral area 295 and the sun avoidance area 296. For example, when specifying the peripheral area 295, the search area specifying unit 1042 acquires the current position calculated by the current position calculating unit 106 in step S203 from the storage device 3, and stores a predetermined distance ( For example, a closed region of a circle having a radius of 300 m) is specified as the peripheral region 295. Further, when the sun avoidance area 296 is specified, the current date and time acquired in step S205 is determined from the sun bearing data 420 specified by the coordinate position 410 corresponding to the current position calculated by the current position calculation unit 106 in step S203. The record 423 having the corresponding date and time 421 is searched. Then, after the search, the azimuth 430 of the sun stored in the corresponding record 423 is specified. Then, the search area specifying unit 1042 obtains an orientation perpendicular to the identified sun orientation 430. Further, the search area specifying unit 1042 obtains a straight line (boundary line 290) that passes through the current position and extends in an azimuth perpendicular to the azimuth 430 of the sun. Here, the search area specifying unit 1042 specifies the area on the side opposite to the sun (as viewed from the vehicle) divided by the obtained boundary line 290 as the sun avoidance area 296. The search area specifying unit 1042 specifies the destination search area by combining the specified peripheral area 205 and the sun avoidance area 296.

  The search area specifying unit 1042 stores data indicating the specified destination search area in the storage device 3. Note that the data indicating the peripheral area 295 and the sun avoidance area 296 may be a set of coordinates included in each area, or may be data specifying the boundary of each area.

  Subsequently, the destination candidate search unit 1043 searches for a destination candidate (step S207). Specifically, the destination candidate search unit 1043 is included in the destination search area specified in step S206 and included in the destination genre received by the destination search condition setting unit 1041 in step S202. Search for a destination. For example, the destination candidate search unit 1043 specifies a mesh including the current position by the mesh ID 311, and in order from the link included in the mesh close to the current position, the peripheral facility information 327 of the link. The link having the genre of the destination accepted in step S202 is searched. The destination candidate search unit 1043 specifies the destinations included in the destination search area specified in step S206 from the corresponding destinations. When a predetermined number of candidate destinations are specified, the destination candidate search unit 1044 uses the mesh ID 311 and link ID 321 that specify the link having the specified destination (facility) in the peripheral facility information 327 as the destination. Along with the location information, the destination determination processing unit 1044 is notified.

  The destination determination processing unit 1044 displays destination candidates on the display 2 (step S208). Specifically, the destination determination processing unit 1044 receives the destination information together with the mesh ID 311 and the link ID 321 from the destination candidate search unit 1043, as shown in FIG. A selection screen is generated, and the generated screen is displayed on the display processing unit 103. The destination selection screen includes a destination icon 260 indicating a destination candidate specified by the destination information around the link (road) that can be specified by the mesh ID 311 and the link ID 321.

  Subsequently, the destination determination processing unit 1044 performs a process of determining one destination from the destination candidates displayed on the display 2 in step S208 (step S209). Specifically, the destination determination processing unit 1044 corresponds to the destination icon 260 when an instruction to press any destination icon 260 on the destination selection screen is received via the input receiving unit 102. The main control unit 101 is notified of the destination (destination information) to be performed. Thereafter, the main control unit 101 ends the destination setting process for avoiding sunlight.

  In step S204, when the search area specifying unit 1042 determines that the condition “search from destinations that can be reached by a route that avoids sunlight” is invalid (off) (step S204; No), the destination setting unit 104 performs a process of setting a normal destination. For example, when receiving an input for specifying the genre of the destination, the destination setting unit 104 searches for a destination candidate belonging to the genre (step S210), and as a result of the search, the corresponding destination candidate Is displayed on the map (step S211). Furthermore, when the destination setting unit 104 receives an instruction to select one destination from the destination candidates via the input reception unit 102, the destination setting unit 104 selects a destination (destination information) corresponding to the instruction, Notify the main control unit 101. Thereafter, the main control unit 101 ends the destination setting process for avoiding sunlight.

  The second embodiment of the present invention has been described above. According to the above-described embodiment, the in-vehicle navigation device 100 of the present invention travels on a route that is not easily affected by sunlight from a low altitude such as the morning sun or sunset, when the arithmetic processing unit 1 executes the above processing. And reachable destinations.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an in-vehicle navigation device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the map data memorize | stored in the memory | storage device. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the sun direction specific data memorize | stored in the memory | storage device. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the sunlight influence time data memorize | stored in the memory | storage device. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the special weight table memorize | stored in the memory | storage device. It is a figure which shows the function structure of an arithmetic processing part. It is the example of a screen display of the screen for setting the conditions of route search. It is a conceptual diagram of a sunlight influence area | region. It is a conceptual diagram of a sunlight influence area | region in case the whole path | route which connects between two points of the present location and the destination is contained in a sunlight influence area | region. It is a conceptual diagram of a sunlight influence area | region when it is contained in the sunlight influence area 260 around the present location, and is not contained in the sunlight influence area around the destination. It is a conceptual diagram of a sunlight influence area | region when it is not included in the sunlight influence area | region around the present location, and is included in the sunlight influence area | region around the destination. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of an arithmetic processing part. It is a flowchart of a sunlight avoidance route search process. It is a flowchart of the sunlight avoidance route search process in the case of searching for a plurality of candidate recommended routes. It is a figure which shows another structural example of the special weight table memorize | stored in the memory | storage device. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the destination setting part in 2nd Embodiment. (A) It is the example of a screen display of the screen for receiving the search condition of a destination. (B) It is the example of a screen display of the screen for receiving the instruction | indication which selects the destination. It is a conceptual diagram of a sunlight avoidance area | region. It is a flowchart of the destination setting process which avoids sunlight.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Operation processing part, 2 ... Display, 3 ... Memory | storage device, 4 ... Voice input / output device, 5 ... Input device, 6 ... Vehicle speed sensor, 7 ... Gyro sensor 8 ... GPS receiver, 9 ... FM multiplex broadcast receiver, 10 ... beacon receiver, 100 ... vehicle-mounted navigation device, 101 ... main control unit, 102 ... input reception , 103 ... Display processing part, 104 ... Destination setting part, 105 ... Route search condition setting part, 106 ... Current position calculation part, 107 ... Reception information processing part, 108・ Sunlight influence determination unit, 109... Route guidance unit, 260 .. Sunlight influence region, 310... Map data, 311... Mesh ID, 321. Data, 500 ... Special weight table 600 ... sunshine influence time data, 701 ··· CPU.

Claims (9)

An in-vehicle navigation device having a function of searching for a route,
Destination setting means for setting the destination;
Current position calculation means for calculating the current position on the map;
Sunlight-affected area in which the vehicle is predicted to travel in a time zone in which the driver is affected by sunlight based on the current date and time and the current position calculated by the current position calculation means Sunshine influence area specifying means for specifying,
Of the links constituting the route connecting the current location and the destination, in the links included in the sunlight-affected area, the link depends on the relationship between the direction of the link in the traveling direction of the vehicle and a specific direction. A route guidance means for searching for an optimum route connecting the current position and the destination according to the determined cost, and performing route guidance;
A vehicle-mounted navigation device comprising: The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 1,
The route guidance means includes
Among the links constituting the route connecting the present location and the destination, in the links included in the sunlight-affected area, the direction of the link in the traveling direction of the vehicle and the direction of the sun with respect to the vehicle position , Determine the cost of the link according to the angle difference of, and search for the route of the lowest cost connecting the current position and the destination, and route guidance,
An in-vehicle navigation device characterized by the above. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 1 or 2,
Storage means for storing time zone specifying data for specifying the time zone in which the driver is affected by the sunlight of the morning sun or sunset,
The sunshine influence area specifying means is:
From the time zone specification data, specify the time zone corresponding to the current date and time and the current location, to specify the sun influence region,
An in-vehicle navigation device characterized by the above. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 2 or 3,
Storage means for storing the direction of the sun in association with the current date and current position,
The route guidance means includes
Based on the current date and time acquired by the sunshine influence area specifying means and the current position calculated by the current position calculating means, the sun direction stored in the storage means is specified, and the cost of the link is determined. decide,
An in-vehicle navigation device characterized by the above. An in-vehicle navigation device having a function of setting a destination,
Search condition setting means for accepting an instruction to search for a destination that the driver can reach by reaching a route that is not easily affected by the sun or sunset sunlight;
A search area specifying means for specifying an area to search for a destination based on a specific orientation based on the vehicle position when the instruction is received;
A destination determining means for searching for a destination from the identified area and determining a destination from the searched destinations;
A vehicle-mounted navigation device comprising: The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 5,
The specific orientation is the orientation of the sun relative to the vehicle position.
An in-vehicle navigation device characterized by the above. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 6,
The search area specifying means includes
Using the vehicle position as a reference, specify an area in the direction opposite to the sun's direction as an area for searching for a destination.
An in-vehicle navigation device characterized by the above. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 6 or 7,
Storage means for storing the direction of the sun in association with the current date and time and the current position;
A current position calculating means for calculating the current position on the map,
The search area specifying means includes
When the instruction is accepted, the current date and time is acquired, and the sun that identifies the azimuth of the sun stored in the storage means based on the current date and time and the current position calculated by the current position calculation means Based on the direction of the, specify the area to search for the destination,
An in-vehicle navigation device characterized by the above. A sunlight avoidance route search method in an in-vehicle navigation device having a function of searching for a route,
The in-vehicle navigation device includes a control unit,
The control unit is
A destination setting step for setting a destination;
A current position calculating step for calculating a current position on the map;
Sunlight-affected area in which the vehicle is predicted to travel in a time zone in which the driver is affected by sunlight, based on the current date and time and the current position calculated in the current position calculation step. A sun-affected area identifying step for identifying
Of the links constituting the route connecting the current location and the destination, in the links included in the sunlight-affected area, the link depends on the relationship between the direction of the link in the traveling direction of the vehicle and a specific direction. A route guidance step for performing route guidance by searching for an optimum route connecting the current position and the destination according to the determined cost,
Sunlight avoidance route search method characterized by performing.

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