JP2009198508A - Route guidance device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a route guidance device capable of easily recognizing each image of objects to be displayed, even if the images of the objects displayed on a display device overlap each other. <P>SOLUTION: In case icons are forced to be displayed overlapped, when displaying icons for indicating facilities, such as, landmarks on a map, with the icon at the foreground where the icon as a whole being displayed are successively switched and displayed each predetermined time, with regard to a plurality of icons which are displayed at the same position or at a partially overlapped position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a map display device and a route guidance device, for example, a map display device and a route guidance device that display landmarks together with map information on a display device.

2. Description of the Related Art Vehicle navigation devices that acquire a travel route to a destination through route search or communication with an information provider station and guide the acquired travel route are widely used.
In this navigation device, the current position of the vehicle is recognized using GPS or the like, a road map of a predetermined area including the current position of the vehicle is displayed on the display device, and the acquired travel route and the current position of the vehicle are displayed. Thus, the travel route is guided.
In the conventional navigation device, when the vehicle approaches a route change point such as an intersection existing in the travel route, the shape of the route change point is enlarged so that the direction to change the route can be reliably recognized. An enlarged view (intersection enlarged view) to be displayed is displayed on the display device instead of the road map being displayed (or together with the road map). A landmark (object image) such as a gas station is displayed in the enlarged view of the intersection as facility information that is present around the displayed intersection and serves as a mark for changing the course.

However, with conventional navigation devices, when displaying an enlarged view of an intersection, if the landmark display is concentrated near the intersection due to the scale of the enlarged view or the number of landmark data, the landmarks overlap and become difficult to see. It was. In addition, the shape of the road and the route were obscured, making it meaningless as a route guide.
The above problem is particularly problematic when displaying an enlarged view of an intersection, but even when displaying a normal road map, the problem similarly occurs depending on the scale of the road and the number of facilities displayed together with the map.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a map display device capable of easily recognizing each facility when displaying the presence of a specific facility on a road map.
In addition, a second object of the present invention is to provide a route guidance device that can easily recognize each facility even when images displayed on the display device overlap.
In addition, the present invention provides a route guidance device that displays an enlarged intersection, facilitates recognition of each facility even when images displayed on the facility overlap, and can more reliably recognize the course change direction. This is the third purpose.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, map image storage means for storing data for displaying a road map, and data for image display of the presence of a specific facility on the road map stored in the map image storage means When performing image display based on the data stored in the object information storage means, the display device, and the object information storage means, the facility display is performed by changing the image display form every predetermined time. The division display control device is provided in the map display device to achieve the first object.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the map display device according to the first aspect, the time-division display control means automatically displays different types of facilities at regular time intervals.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the map display device according to the first aspect further comprises a current position detecting unit, and the time-division display control device performs facility display according to a distance from the detected current position. It is characterized by that.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a map image storage means for storing data for displaying a road map, and an image for displaying the presence of a specific facility on the road map stored in the map image storage means. Object information storage means for storing data, a display device, display control means for displaying the road map of a predetermined area on the display device, and displaying a facility of a specific facility existing in the predetermined area, A route guidance device having a judging means for judging whether or not the facility display images overlap each other on the display device, and the display control means, when the judging means judges that the images overlap, The second object is achieved by sequentially switching and displaying the entire image displayed.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the route guidance device according to the fourth aspect, the map image storage means stores information for enlarging and displaying an intersection, and the display control means is the display device. The intersection is enlarged and displayed in order to achieve the third object.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the route guidance device according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the priority order determining means for determining the priority order of the plurality of overlapping images and the priority order determining means determine the priority order. Priority order changing means for changing the priority order at predetermined intervals, wherein the display control means performs facility display so that an image with a high priority level is superimposed on an image with a low priority level. To do.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the route guidance device according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the priority order determining means for determining the priority order of the plurality of overlapping images, and the display control means include the priority order The entire image is switched and displayed at predetermined intervals in the order of priority determined by the determining means.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the route guidance device according to the sixth or seventh aspect, the predetermined interval is each time a predetermined time elapses or a predetermined distance is traveled. To do.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the route guidance device according to the sixth, seventh, or eighth aspect, the predetermined interval is determined according to the priority determined by the priority determining means. It is characterized by being.

According to the present invention, when executing image display based on the data stored in the object information storage means, the facility display is performed by changing the image display form every predetermined time, so that each facility can be easily recognized. Can do.
Further, according to the present invention, when it is determined that the images displayed on the facility overlap, the images displayed on the facility are overlapped on the display device because the entire displayed image is sequentially switched and displayed for a plurality of overlapping images. Even in this case, each facility can be easily recognized.
In addition, the intersection can be enlarged and displayed on the display device, and even when the images displayed on the facilities are overlapped, each facility can be easily recognized and the course changing direction can be more reliably recognized.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus which is a route guidance apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which represented the data structure of the point database notionally. It is explanatory drawing which represented notionally the data structure of the landmark database. It is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the intersection enlarged display processing. It shows the data contents of the priority setting table in the intersection enlarged display process and the display state of the display. It is a flowchart showing the processing operation | movement of the intersection enlarged view display process in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It represents the data contents of the priority setting table and the display state of the display in the intersection enlarged display process of the second embodiment.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the map display device and route guidance device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.
(1) Outline of Embodiment When displaying facilities by displaying an icon indicating a facility such as a landmark on a map, when the icons must be displayed in an overlapping manner, a plurality of icons are displayed at the same position or one For a plurality of icons displayed at positions where the parts overlap, the foremost icon displayed as a whole is sequentially switched and displayed every predetermined time.

(2) Details of Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device that uses a map display device according to this embodiment and a navigation device that is a route guidance device.
As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device includes a current position recognition unit 46, a map management unit 52, a screen management unit 32, a map drawing unit 54, a map data reading unit 50, a communication management unit 51, a route calculation unit 56, a route. A calculation unit 30 having a guide unit 58, an overall management unit 60, a voice output management unit 38, and an input management unit 34 is provided.
A display (display device) 10, operation keys 12, joystick 20, touch panel 21, audio output circuit 36, GPS sensor 40, distance sensor 42, direction sensor 44, and data storage unit 48 are connected to the arithmetic unit 30. Yes. The joystick 20 is connected by radio such as infrared communication.
Among these units, other parts except for the joystick 20 and the GPS sensor 40, the distance sensor 42, and the direction sensor 44 that function as a part of the current position recognition unit are accommodated in the navigation device body.

The display 10 connected to the calculation unit 30 functions as a display device. As the display 10, a CRT, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or the like is used. You may use the hologram apparatus which projects a hologram on the windshield of a vehicle.
The display 10 provides various route guidance information sent from the image management unit 20 of the calculation unit 30, that is, a map of the current location and the destination, the location of the destination, the current location of the vehicle, a route search, or information provision The travel route obtained by communication with the station, the photograph image of the feature at the guide point, etc. are drawn and displayed by the image management unit 20 based on the map database (DB) 481 of the data storage unit 48 and other data. It has become so. The display 10 displays an enlarged view of an intersection that enlarges and displays the route change point when approaching a point that requires a route change such as an intersection.

An operation key 12 and a joystick 20 for performing various operations such as a menu key and a current location key are arranged in the vicinity of the display 10 on the front surface of the navigation device. A touch panel 21 is disposed on the surface of the display 10. The operation contents of the operation keys 12, the joystick 20, and the touch panel 21 are recognized by the input management unit 34 included in the calculation unit 30, and the overall management unit 60 and the screen management unit 32 perform menu screens and destinations corresponding to the operation contents. Various screens such as a setting screen are displayed on the display 10.
The screen displayed on the display 10 has a hierarchical structure, with the menu screen on the top layer and displayed by operating the menu key 12. On the navigation menu screen, for example, a designation key for designating destination setting, place name search, etc. is displayed. When the destination setting key is designated, a ski area, golf course, etc. are further displayed as lower layer screens. Designation keys for designating a place and the like are displayed, and the screens are sequentially displayed up to the lowest layer screen by designating each designation key (pressing a corresponding part of the touch panel 21 or operating with a joystick). Yes.
As another input operation device (not shown), a microphone for inputting voice and a voice recognition device may be arranged and connected to the input management unit 34.

The calculation unit 30 includes a current position recognition unit 46. The current position recognizing unit 46 functions as current position recognizing means for recognizing the current position of the vehicle together with the GPS sensor 40, the distance sensor 42, the direction sensor 44, and other sensors (not shown) connected thereto.
A GPS (Global Position System) sensor 40 is a sensor that measures the absolute position (coordinates expressed by latitude and longitude) of a vehicle using an artificial satellite for GPS. For the distance sensor 42, for example, various methods are used such as detecting and counting the number of rotations of the wheel, or detecting acceleration and integrating twice. The azimuth sensor 44 is, for example, a geomagnetic sensor that detects the azimuth of the vehicle by detecting geomagnetism, a gyroscope such as a gas rate gyroscope or an optical fiber gyroscope that detects the rotational angular velocity of the vehicle and integrates the angular velocity to determine the azimuth of the vehicle, A wheel sensor, etc., which is arranged on the wheel of the vehicle and detects the turning of the vehicle by the output pulse difference (movement distance difference), etc. is used. As other sensors, a beacon receiving device that receives position information from beacons arranged on the road is used.
The current position recognition unit 46 recognizes the current position where the vehicle is currently running or stopped by recognizing coordinate data based on latitude and longitude using information from each of these sensors.
The GPS receiver 261 and the beacon receiver 262 can measure the position independently (that is, they can function alone as the current position recognizing means together with the current position recognizing unit 46), but in other cases The position measurement is performed by a combination of the distance sensor 264 and the direction sensor 263. A wheel sensor or the like that calculates the amount of displacement is used.

The data storage unit 48 includes a map DB (database) 481, an intersection DB 482, a road DB 483, a search route storage unit 484, a point DB 485, a landmark DB 486, an intersection drawing DB 487, and a priority setting for determining and storing landmark priorities. A table 488 is provided. Although not shown, the data storage unit 48 is a region information storage unit in which information about each region such as photo information of characteristic points, hotels in each region, and tourist information is stored, and route guidance by voice. Audio data and other various data are stored.
As the data storage unit 48 in the present embodiment, various storage media such as flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM, IC card, hard disk, CD-ROM, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, DVD (digital versatile disk), and the like are used.
Note that the data storage unit 48 does not have to be composed of one type of storage medium, and a different storage medium may be used for each data. For example, the search route storage unit 484 and / or the priority setting table 488 are used in route search and are frequently used in route guidance. The RAM (not shown) or another RAM may be used), and other data is stored in a large-capacity storage medium such as a CD-ROM, hard disk, or DVD. You may make it do.

Here, the map DB (database) 481 is composed of drawing data for drawing a map on the display 10. Each drawing data is hierarchized for each predetermined scale of the map, for example, from 1 / 1,000,000 to 1/1000. That is, a hierarchical database is constructed from the top layer, such as Japan, Kanto region, Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku.
The intersection DB 482 includes an ID number identifying the intersection, the name of the intersection and its coordinate position (latitude, longitude), data identifying the road constituting the intersection (road ID), data indicating the presence or absence of a signal, and each It consists of detailed map presence / absence data indicating the presence / absence of a detailed map of an intersection.
The road DB 483 includes road IDs for identifying each road as data necessary for route guidance, road thickness, road length, data indicating the coordinates of the start and end points of the road, prohibition information such as entry prohibition, It is composed of guidance-unnecessary information, the number of nodes, the head address of node sequence data, and the like.
The search route storage unit 484 stores a recommended travel route to be guided to the purpose. This travel route is acquired by a normal route search in the route calculation unit 56, and receives a travel route from an external information providing station, personal computer, information providing server, etc. to the target via the communication management unit 51. There is a case to get in.

The point DB 485 stores various types of information related to display objects such as facilities. The point DB 485 sets a destination to be a route search target in the purpose setting process when a landmark is displayed in the enlarged view of the intersection in the present embodiment, and when the landmark is displayed together with the map DB 481 on the display 10. Used in cases.
FIG. 2 conceptually shows the data structure of the point DB 485. As shown in FIG. 2, the point DB 485 includes a data number (NO) for specifying each display object, coordinates indicating the position of the display object (east longitude, north latitude), and a specific display object. A facility name, a telephone number, and a landmark ID representing a name are stored.
Here, the landmark is a picture such as an icon that functions as an object image, classifies each display object from a specific viewpoint, and symbolically represents the display object corresponding to each classification. The landmark ID is an ID (identifier) assigned to identify each landmark as the object image.

The landmark DB 486 stores image data for functioning as object information storage means and displaying the landmark on the display 10.
FIG. 3 conceptually shows the data structure of the landmark DB 486. As shown in FIG. 3, the landmark DB 486 stores landmarks composed of image data, landmark IDs of the landmarks, and priorities.
The priority is for determining a priority indicating the order in which the images are displayed in a superimposed manner when the landmarks overlap each other when they are displayed. When the total number of landmarks is m, any non-overlapping number from 1 to m is stored as the priority. The smaller the numerical value, the higher the priority, and the landmark having a higher priority than the image having the lower priority is displayed on the upper side.
When determining the priority order of the landmarks to be displayed, the priority order is determined in descending order of priority.

  As mentioned above, landmarks are classified into hierarchies such as public facilities, government offices, municipalities, etc., based on their functions, roles, usage status, etc. The landmark image determined for each is stored. In FIG. 3, the landmark type representing the classification state of the landmark is displayed on the left side of the drawing. This is a display for easily understanding the classification state of the landmark. It is not stored in the landmark DB 486. However, in order to display the landmark type and landmark (and at least one of the landmark ID and the priority according to the user's request) on the display 10 and output the same from the communication management unit 51, etc. The landmark types shown in FIG. 3 may also be stored in the landmark DB 486.

The intersection drawing DB 487 functions as a map image storage means in the present embodiment, and as a data for drawing a detailed view of the intersection, an intersection enlarged view and a display object to be displayed in the intersection enlarged view as a mark at the intersection The data number (NO) of the object is stored.
The data number corresponds to the data number stored in the point DB 485 shown in FIG. The landmark ID and coordinates corresponding to the data number are read from the point DB 485, and the landmark corresponding to the landmark ID is read from the landmark DB 486, thereby corresponding to the position in the enlarged view where the display object exists. A landmark is displayed.

The priority order setting table 488 is a table that stores the order in which the landmarks to be displayed are overlapped when the landmarks to be displayed overlap in the intersection enlarged view display processing in the present embodiment. Functions as a determination means.
The priority order setting table 488 stores data numbers, priorities, and previous priorities. The data number is read from the intersection drawing DB 487 and stored. As for the priority, the landmark ID corresponding to the data number is read from the point DB 485, the priority corresponding to the landmark ID is read from the landmark DB 486, and this priority is high (the numerical value of the priority is small). Priorities are determined and stored in descending order of priority. The priority determined from this priority is only the first, and the priority is changed at every predetermined interval (every time a predetermined time has passed or every predetermined distance is traveled) (priority changing means). The priority is stored in the previous priority.

The audio output circuit 36 connected to the arithmetic unit 30 includes an audio output IC that outputs audio as an electrical signal, a D / A converter that converts the output of the audio output IC from digital to analog, and a converted analog signal. And an amplifier for amplifying the signal. A speaker 18 is connected to the output end of the amplifier.
The sound output surface of the speaker 18 is also arranged on the front surface of the navigation device body 1. However, the speaker 18 may be additionally connected to an on-vehicle audio speaker, or may be substituted with an audio speaker.

  The arithmetic unit 30 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a timer as a time measuring means, and the CPU stores the RAM as a working area in the ROM. By executing various programs, destination setting processing, route search processing for searching for a travel route from the current location to the set destination, communication management processing for transmitting / receiving various data, searched or received travel routes Various processes such as a route guidance process for guiding by display or voice, and an enlarged intersection map display process according to the present embodiment are performed. The calculation unit 30 functions as a time-division display control device that performs facility display using landmarks by changing the image display form at predetermined time intervals in the intersection enlarged map display process.

A data storage unit 48 is connected to the map data reading unit 50, and stored data such as a map DB 481 and an intersection drawing DB 487 are read.
The map drawing unit 54 draws various image data such as a map, a road, a building, a guide symbol, an enlarged intersection view, a landmark, a current location display symbol, and a travel route. The map management unit 52 manages the map data reading unit 50 and the map drawing unit 54.
The screen management unit 32 is connected to the display 10, manages the map drawing unit 54, and outputs image data drawn by the map drawing unit 54 to the display 10.
The input management unit 34 is connected to an operation key 12, a joystick 20, and a touch panel 21, which are various keys for a user to specify and select various processes and operations, and recognizes and manages input data. Yes.
The voice output management unit 38 is connected to the voice output IC of the voice output circuit 36, and the data storage unit 48 provides guidance voice for guiding the travel route to the destination calculated and searched by the route calculation unit 56. Is read out and output. In addition to the guidance voice for the route change point, the voice output management unit 38 also provides voice data for various guidance such as sightseeing guidance for specific points, facility guidance, and other navigation device operation guidance such as destination setting processing. It is designed to output.

The communication management unit 51 is a portable electronic device such as a wireless telephone communication using a car phone or a mobile phone, a multimedia communication such as a facsimile communication or a personal computer communication, a communication using a VICS or ATIS for obtaining road traffic information, and an electronic notebook. Various types of data are transmitted to and received from an external device through infrared communication with the device and other various types of communication.
For example, the communication management unit 51 can transmit a starting point and a destination by communication with an information providing station and receive a travel route between the two points searched by the information providing station. It is also possible to receive various types of data such as upgraded or updated map information, road information, intersection information, point information, and intersection drawing information from the information providing station. The contents of the data storage unit 48 are updated based on the received data.

Next, the operation of the navigation device of this embodiment configured as described above will be described.
The calculation unit 30 of the navigation apparatus acquires a travel route to the destination by route search of the route calculation unit 56 or data communication of the communication management unit 51 and stores it in the search route storage unit 484.
While the vehicle is traveling toward the destination, the current position recognition unit 46 recognizes the vehicle current location at all times or periodically, displays a map around the vehicle current location on the display 10, and also obtains the acquired destination. The travel route guidance by image display is performed by displaying the vehicle location mark indicating the current travel route and the current vehicle location. Further, the calculation unit 30 “at the predetermined distance on the travel route, for example, a predetermined distance in front of a point to change course such as an intersection (for example, 600 m in front and 200 m in front) is“ m ahead in the left direction ”. Voice guidance of the driving route is performed with guidance voices such as “Go straight at the next intersection” and “Left next intersection”.

On the other hand, the calculation unit 30 determines whether or not the current position of the vehicle has reached a certain distance in front of the intersection or the like where the course should be changed, for example, 200 m in front, and when it reaches, the intersection enlargement is displayed on the display 10. The figure display process is executed.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the intersection enlarged display process. FIG. 5 shows the data contents of the priority setting table 488 and the display state of the display 10 in the intersection enlarged display process.
The computing unit 30 first acquires intersection drawing data for an intersection or the like whose course is to be changed from the intersection drawing DB 487. That is, an intersection enlarged view such as an intersection to be guided and a data number are read from the intersection drawing DB 487 and stored in a RAM work area (not shown) (step 10).

Then, when the landmark corresponding to the read data number is displayed at the coordinate position of the display object (facility, etc.), the calculation unit 30 determines whether there is a landmark that causes the images to overlap. Is determined (step 11).
Whether the landmark A and the landmark B overlap each other is determined by the following method. The coordinates of the landmark A are (Xa, Ya), the coordinates of the landmark B are (Xb, Yb), and the landmark size is vertical P × horizontal Q. In this case, the arithmetic unit 30 determines that both landmarks A and B overlap when the following expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied. Here, f (m) is a function for converting the distance between the coordinates into the length in the enlarged intersection view displayed on the display 10, and is a function using the scale of the enlarged intersection view as a variable.
f (| Xb−Xa |) <P (1)
f (| Yb−Ya |) <Q (2)

  In the present embodiment, since the landmarks are configured to have the same size of vertical P × horizontal Q, the above formulas (1) and (2) are used. However, when the sizes differ depending on the landmarks, When the size of the landmark A is vertical Pa × horizontal Qa and the size of the landmark B is vertical Pb × horizontal Qb, the value P on the right side in the above equation (1) becomes | Pb−Pa |. The value Q on the right side of is | Qb−Qa |. In this case, each size of the landmark is stored in the landmark DB 486.

When the landmarks overlap (step 11; Y), the calculation unit 30 secures an initial flag area in a predetermined area of the RAM and sets this flag to 1 (step 12).
Then, the arithmetic unit 30 determines whether or not the display change timing has come (step 13). As the display change timing, in the present embodiment, a point in time after a predetermined time has elapsed after the landmark is displayed is adopted. Whether a predetermined time has elapsed is determined using a timer (not shown). In this case, the calculation unit 30 determines that the display change timing has come when t seconds (for example, 1 second, 2 seconds, etc. are arbitrary) have elapsed since the previous display.

Note that when the calculation unit 30 determines whether or not the display change timing has come, it is also possible to display the landmark as the display change timing and then set the time when the vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance. In this case, whether or not the vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance is determined using the distance sensor 42. In this case, the calculation unit 30 determines that the display change timing has come when the vehicle travels Rm (eg, 5 m, 10 m, 20 m, etc., arbitrarily) from the previous display.
In addition, as the display change timing, the display change is performed when both of the elapse of the predetermined time and the travel of the predetermined distance in the present embodiment are satisfied, or when either the elapse of the predetermined time and the travel of the predetermined distance are satisfied. You may make it perform.

  When the display change timing is not reached (step 13; N), the arithmetic unit 30 continues to display the enlarged intersection and the landmark already displayed on the display 10.

On the other hand, when the display change timing comes (step 13; Y), the calculation unit 30 determines whether or not the initial flag is 1 (step 14).
When the initial flag is 1 (step 14; Y), that is, when an enlarged intersection map is first displayed, the arithmetic unit 30 first changes the initial flag to 0 (step 15), and sets the priority order setting table (display). A state to be displayed on the screen is created (step 16).
FIG. 5A conceptually shows the state of the priority table set first. In FIG. 5A, landmark types such as a bookstore and TEL are displayed in the data number column. This is for easy understanding of the explanation. The actual priority table 488 has an intersection. The data number read in step 10 from the drawing DB 487 is stored.
The calculation unit 30 reads the landmark ID corresponding to the data numbers for all landmarks determined to be duplicated in step 11 from the point DB 485, and reads the priority corresponding to the landmark ID from the landmark DB 486. Data numbers are stored in the priority setting table 488 in descending order of priority, and priorities are determined and stored in the order of 1, 2, 3,... In descending order of priority (priority determining means).
As shown in FIG. 5A, when the initial flag is 1 in Step 14 (; Y), since it is the first time, the previous priority is not stored.

Next, the computing unit 30 displays the enlarged facility map on the display 10 by performing facility display on the enlarged intersection map (step 17). That is, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the arithmetic unit 30, in the enlarged view of the intersection, the landmarks with the priority order 1 in order from the landmark with the lowest priority order stored in the priority order setting table 488. The facility display is displayed repeatedly. The display position of each landmark is the coordinate position of a display object (facility, etc.) corresponding to the data number stored in the priority order setting table 488, and this coordinate is read from the point DB 485.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, the landmark of the bookstore with the highest priority (priority 1) is displayed at the top, and the entire landmark is not hidden by other landmarks. Is displayed.
When an enlarged view of the intersection is displayed, a travel route (route) 80, a traffic light mark 81 (if present), and a vehicle position mark 82 are also displayed. The priority is lowered in the order of the position mark 82, the traffic light 81, and the travel route 80, so that the travel route is the lowest.
As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the display 10 has a travel route 80 overlaid on the enlarged intersection, and a vehicle position mark 82, a traffic light mark 81, and a plurality of landmarks. 70 is displayed. Further, the landmarks are displayed on the traffic signal mark 81 in the order of post office, gas station, telephone office, and bookstore.
In addition, when the landmark drawing data of the intersection used as the display target also includes a landmark that does not overlap, the landmark is also displayed on the enlarged intersection view. If the landmark overlaps with the route 80, it is displayed above the route 80.

After displaying the above enlarged view of the intersection, etc., the calculation unit 30 sets the current state as the previous saved state at the next time (step 18). That is, the arithmetic unit 30 stores the priority order stored in the priority order of the priority order setting table 488 in the previous priority order.
And the calculating part 30 judges whether the display of an intersection enlarged view is cancelled | released (step 19). This determination is made based on whether or not the vehicle has passed the intersection. If the vehicle has passed the intersection, it is determined that the enlarged intersection display is to be canceled (step 19; Y), and the arithmetic unit 30 returns to the main routine.
On the other hand, when the vehicle has not passed through the intersection (step 19; N), the process returns to step 13 to display the current display state until the display change timing is reached, that is, until a predetermined time t elapses after the enlarged view of the intersection is displayed. Continue (step 13; N).

When the initial flag is not 1 (step 14; N), that is, in the case of the second and subsequent display, the calculation unit 30 calculates the content to be displayed in the forefront from the previous storage state stored in step 18. (Step 20).
That is, the calculation unit 30 is a priority change target (a landmark other than the route 80, the traffic light mark 81, and the own vehicle position mark 82, and in the example shown in FIG. 5, a bookstore, a telephone station, a gas station, a post office) 4) is stored as a new priority value obtained by subtracting 1 from the previous priority order in the priority order setting table 488, and when the value obtained by subtracting 1 is 0, the number of objects to be changed (overlapping land) The number of marks) is stored as a priority value in a new priority (priority changing means). In the example of FIG. 5, since the number of overlapping landmarks is 4, as shown in FIG. As a result, the landmark displayed on the top surface last time and displayed as a whole is displayed on the bottom surface in the next (current) landmark.
As described above, the priority order of the vehicle position mark 82, the route 80, and the traffic light mark 81 that are not to be changed is the same as the previous priority order.

  Next, the computing unit 30 displays the updated new intersection enlarged view on the display 10 (step 21). That is, the arithmetic processing unit 30 displays an enlarged intersection map and the like in the same manner as described in step 17 according to the priority order of the priority order setting table 488 updated in step 20 (time division display control). In the case of the example of FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 5D, an enlarged view of an intersection, a route 80, a traffic light mark 81, a vehicle position mark 82, each landmark (bookstore), a landmark (post office), a landmark (Gas station) and landmark (telephone station) are displayed in an overlapping manner in the order of the top.

When the display change in step 20 is completed, the arithmetic unit 30 proceeds to step 18 and, as shown in FIG. 5E, priorities in the priority order table 488 (priority order in FIG. 5C) are prioritized. Store in rank.
Hereinafter, by repeating the corresponding processing in the order of steps 13, 14, 20, 21, and 18 until the vehicle passes through the intersection, even if the landmarks overlap each other, the topmost landmark to be displayed is predetermined. Therefore, the user such as the driver can recognize the meaning and content of each landmark more accurately.

  When it is determined in step 11 that there are no overlapping landmarks (step 11; N), the arithmetic unit 30 displays the enlarged intersection map and the landmarks on the display 10 without creating a priority setting table. (Step 22), the display is continued until the intersection is passed (Step 23; N). When the intersection is passed (Step 23; Y), the process returns to the main routine.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the contents stored in the priority order setting table 488 are different in that they are data numbers and priorities as illustrated in FIG. 7A, and the other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment described above. It is the same as the form.
In the second embodiment, without changing the priority order in the priority order setting table, the next highest landmark is read in order of priority at each display change timing and overwritten on the current display screen. It is. By doing so, it is only necessary to overwrite the already displayed image with the landmark to be newly displayed at the highest level, and the screen display state can be switched efficiently.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the intersection enlarged view display process in the second embodiment. FIG. 7 shows the data contents of the priority order setting table 488 and the display state of the display 10 in the intersection enlarged display process of the second embodiment.
The computing unit 30 first acquires intersection drawing data for an intersection or the like whose course is to be changed from the intersection drawing DB 487. That is, an enlarged intersection drawing such as an intersection to be guided and a data number are read from the intersection drawing DB 487 and stored in a RAM work area (not shown) (step 31).

Then, when the landmark corresponding to the read data number is displayed at the coordinate position of the display object (facility, etc.), the calculation unit 30 determines whether there is a landmark that causes the images to overlap. Is determined (step 32). Whether the landmark A and the landmark B overlap each other is determined in the same manner as in the first embodiment when the landmark sizes are the same or different.
If the landmarks do not overlap, step 41 and step 42 are processed in the same manner as step 22 and step 23 in the first embodiment. That is, an enlarged view of the intersection is displayed until the vehicle passes the intersection, and the intersection Return to the main routine at the point of passing.

When the landmarks overlap (step 32; Y), the arithmetic unit 30 stores the number of landmarks overlapping in a predetermined area of the RAM as n (overlap number = n) (step 33).
And the calculating part 30 produces a priority setting table, displays an intersection enlarged view etc. on the display 10 according to the priority of the created priority setting table, and sets each landmark to the numbers 1 to 3 corresponding to the priority. n (step 34).
That is, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the calculation unit 30 creates the priority setting table of the present embodiment, and landmark IDs corresponding to the data numbers for all the landmarks determined to be duplicated in step 32. Is read from the point DB 485, and the priority corresponding to the landmark ID is read from the landmark DB 486. The data numbers are stored in the priority setting table 488 in descending order of priority, and priorities are determined and stored in the order of 1, 2, 3,... In descending order of priority (priority determining means).
Note that the data number column in the example of FIG. 7A describes the type of landmark for explanation as in FIG. 5A, but the data number read in step 31 is actually used. Is stored.
The priority order setting table 488 also stores data numbers of the travel route (route) 80, the traffic signal 81 (if present), and the vehicle position mark 82, which are necessary as in the first embodiment. Since it is the minimum condition, the landmark in this embodiment is excluded from the target to be displayed in the foreground.

Further, the arithmetic processing unit 30 displays an enlarged view of the intersection on the display 10 as illustrated in FIG. 7B according to the created priority order. That is, the arithmetic unit 30 displays the landmarks with the priority order of 1 in order from the landmarks with the lowest priority order stored in the priority order setting table 488 on the intersection enlarged view. The display position of each landmark is the coordinate position of a display object (facility, etc.) corresponding to the data number stored in the priority order setting table 488, and this coordinate is read from the point DB 485.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 7B, the travel route 80 is overlapped on the enlarged intersection view on the display 10, and the vehicle position mark 82, the traffic light mark 81, and the plurality of landmarks are superimposed thereon. 70 is displayed. Further, the landmarks are displayed on the traffic signal mark 81 in the order of post office, gas station, telephone office, and bookstore.
In addition, when the landmark drawing data of the intersection used as the display target also includes a landmark that does not overlap, the landmark is also displayed on the enlarged intersection view. If the landmark overlaps with the route 80, it is displayed above the route 80.

Next, the arithmetic unit 30 takes the counter area j for switching the landmark to be displayed in the foreground in the RAM, stores j = 0 (step 35), and further adds 1 to j (step 36).
Then, the landmark having the priority order j in the created priority order setting table is displayed on the front (time division display control) (step 37). That is, the calculation unit 30 reads the data number corresponding to the priority j from the priority setting table 488, reads the landmark ID and coordinates of this data number from the point DB 485, and sets the landmark corresponding to the landmark ID to the land. Read from the mark DB 486. Then, the read landmark is displayed by overwriting the corresponding coordinate position on the display screen currently displayed on the display 10 (the screen drawn by the map drawing unit 54).

Now, in the state where the intersection enlarged view of FIG. (B) is displayed as the display screen of the display 10 (j = 1), the telephone station with the priority 2 (j = 2) in the priority setting table is the highest. When displaying on the front, the landmark of the telephone office is read from the landmark DB 486 and overwritten on the corresponding coordinate position on the display screen of FIG. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3C, the next landmark (telephone station) can be displayed in the foreground only by overwriting the landmark of the central office while leaving other landmarks displayed. .
Further, in the display screen (j = 2) in FIG. (C), when the next display change timing is reached, the landmark of the gas station with priority 3 (j = 3) is overwritten on the display screen in FIG. (C). As a result, the display screen of FIG.
As is clear from the relationship between FIGS. (C) and (d) and the priority order setting table 488 in FIG. (A), the priority order and the landmark display order in this embodiment do not necessarily match. The priority in the present embodiment is to determine the display order when the landmarks are first displayed (in this case, match), and the order of the landmarks displayed on the top surface at every display change timing thereafter. It is for determining.

Next, as in Step 19 of the first embodiment, the calculation unit 30 determines whether or not to cancel the display of the enlarged intersection map depending on whether or not the vehicle has passed the intersection (Step 38), and passes the intersection. In such a case, it is determined that the intersection enlarged map display is cancelled (step 38; Y), and the process returns to the in-routine.
On the other hand, when the vehicle does not pass through the intersection (step 38; N), the calculation unit 30 determines whether or not the display change timing has come (step 39). As the display change timing, in the present embodiment, the time when a predetermined time has elapsed after the landmark is displayed is adopted as in the first embodiment, but it is also possible to set it as the time when the vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance.
When the display change timing is not reached (step 39; N), the calculation unit 30 continues to display the enlarged intersection and the landmark already displayed on the display 10.

On the other hand, when the display change timing is reached (step 39; Y), the calculation unit 30 determines whether the value of j is n (step 40). If j = n is not satisfied (; N), the process proceeds to step 36. The overwriting process (step 37) is performed so as to return and display the entire landmark of the next priority.
On the other hand, when j = n (step 40; Y), since the display on the foreground has been completed for all the landmarks, the calculation unit 30 returns to step 35 and once sets j = 0, and then in step 36. By adding 1 to j, the bookstore landmark of priority 1 is displayed in the foreground. Note that this state is different from the state illustrated in FIG. 7B, and it is not the landmark of the telephone office that is displayed directly below the landmark of the bookstore, but is displayed on the top surface on the previous display screen. The post office's landmark will be displayed directly below the bookstore landmark.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the contents of the priority setting table are not changed, and it is not necessary to overwrite all overlapping landmarks on the enlarged intersection map. That is, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to efficiently and sequentially change the landmarks displayed as a whole simply by overwriting the landmarks to be newly displayed on the top surface on the current display screen.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in each claim.
For example, in the embodiment, when the priority indicating the order in which the landmarks are overlapped when the landmarks overlap is determined first, the priority is determined according to the priority stored in the landmark DB 486 (steps 16 and 34). In the present invention, the priority order may be determined from the front of the travel route (in the order closer to the vehicle). In other words, the landmarks of the display objects that are close to the vehicle when the enlarged intersection map is first displayed may be given higher priority.
Moreover, you may set so that a priority may become high, so that it is near an intersection. The priority order in this case is calculated from the coordinates corresponding to the data number in the intersection enlarged view display process.
Further, the priority drawing may be determined for each intersection in the intersection drawing DB 487. In this case, priorities can be determined in the order in which a user such as a driver can easily confirm at the vehicle position where the enlarged intersection view is displayed. Furthermore, priority may be determined for each road entering the intersection. For example, if you want to turn down the priority in the order of the course change direction before, the course change direction back, the opposite side of the course change direction, the reverse side of the course change direction, and turn right at the intersection, Is the highest, followed by the lower priority in the order of right back, left front, and left back.

Further, in the embodiment and each modification described above, the size of the landmark is displayed in the enlarged view of the intersection at a predetermined size (P × Q is constant or Pn × Qn is determined for each landmark). However, the display size may be changed according to the priority order. In this case, the higher the priority, the larger the display.
Furthermore, the display change timing may be changed according to the priority order. In this case, in the first embodiment, the display time (or the travel distance for which the display is continued) is changed in accordance with the initial priority order in the first embodiment, and in the priority order setting table in the second embodiment. To do.
Furthermore, both the display size and the display change timing may be changed according to the priority order. The higher the priority is, the larger the display size (or the longer the travel distance for which display is continued).

In the embodiment described above, when an enlarged intersection view is displayed, the enlarged intersection view and the data number stored in the intersection drawing DB 487 of the data storage unit 48 are used. That is, the case where image data for displaying an enlarged intersection is separately stored as an enlarged intersection map has been described. In the present invention, the map data stored in the map DB 481 is actually displayed by image processing. You may make it do. Moreover, you may make it display the enlarged view of an applicable intersection using intersection DB482 and road DB483.
In the case of both the above modifications, the map DB 481 or the intersection DB 482 and the road DB 483 function as the map image storage means in the present invention.

  In the embodiment described above, the case where the route change point is displayed in an enlarged manner has been described by taking the display of an enlarged intersection map or the like as an example. In addition to the point guidance, when the map drawing data stored in the map DB 481 is displayed on the display together with the landmarks, similarly, when the landmarks overlap, the landmarks are determined in the priority order and displayed in the foreground. May be sequentially switched and displayed.

The traffic light mark 81, the travel route (route) 80, and the vehicle position mark 82 are excluded from being sequentially displayed on the foreground even if they overlap with the landmark, but in the present invention, they may be sequentially displayed on the front. . In this case, as the first priority, the travel route 80 is the lowest, the traffic light mark 81, and then the vehicle position mark 82.
Further, an intersection guide point mark for guiding the intersection may be displayed together with the enlarged intersection view. In this case, the intersection guide point mark may be sequentially displayed on the foreground, or may be excluded from the target.

  In the embodiment below, the landmark is the display target. However, the name (facility name) of the displayed countermeasure object may be read from the point DB 485 together with the landmark and displayed together with the landmark. In this case, in determining whether or not the landmarks overlap (steps 11 and 32), it is determined whether or not the landmarks to be displayed are overlapped and the corresponding facility is displayed in the foreground. The name is also displayed in the foreground.

In this embodiment, when the priority order is determined, the priority stored in the landmark DB 486 is used, but this priority is fixed as a default value, and the user can change the setting according to his / her preference. You may be able to. In this case, the landmark and the priority are displayed on the display 10, and the user changes the priority while viewing this display.
In addition, since the priority cannot take a duplicate value as described above, it is possible to change it so that the user's confidence does not overlap. However, the priority other than that changed by the user is automatically corrected. Also good. In the case of automatic correction, for example, it is assumed that there are n landmarks, the priorities 1 to n are displayed, and the user has changed the priority of the landmark of priority k to j. In this case, if j <k, a value obtained by adding 1 to the current (prior to change) priorities j to k−1 is set as a new priority, and if j> k, the current (prior to change) priority k. A value obtained by subtracting 1 from .about.j is set as a new priority.

In the embodiment described above, the case where the data number and the priority order are stored in the priority order setting table 488 has been described. However, in the present invention, the priority order, the landmark ID, and the coordinates (data specifying the position to be displayed) ) May be stored.
Further, priority order, landmarks, and coordinates (data specifying a position to be displayed) may be stored.

In the embodiment described above, it has been described whether or not the landmarks overlap, and the order of priority is set for the overlapping landmarks to sequentially change the display order, but without detecting the overlap of the landmarks, The facility display may be performed by changing the image display form based on the landmark to be displayed.
In this case, in the flowchart shown in FIG. On the other hand, in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the processing of steps 32, 41, and 42 is eliminated, and the number of landmarks to be displayed is n in step 32. Then, the computing unit 30 creates a priority setting table from all landmarks to be displayed in step 16 or step 34.
In this way, non-overlapping landmarks are always displayed as a whole regardless of the set priority, and overlapping landmarks are switched sequentially according to their priority. Will be displayed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Display 12 Operation key 18 Speaker 20 Joystick 21 Touch panel 30 Calculation part 32 Screen management part 34 Input management part 38 Audio | voice output management part 40 GPS sensor 42 Distance sensor 44 Direction sensor 46 Current position recognition part 48 Data storage part 50 Map data reading part 51 Communication Management Unit 52 Map Management Unit 54 Map Drawing Unit 56 Route Calculation Unit 58 Route Guidance Unit 60 Overall Management Unit 80 Traveling Route (Route)
81 Traffic light mark 82 Own vehicle position mark

Claims (9)

Map image storage means for storing data for displaying a road map;
Object information storage means for storing data for image display of the presence of a specific facility on the road map stored in the map image storage means;
A display device;
When performing image display based on data stored in the object information storage unit, a time-division display control device that performs facility display by changing the image display form every predetermined time is provided. Map display device.   The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the time-division display control means automatically displays different types of facilities at regular time intervals. Equipped with current position detection means,
The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the time-division display control device performs facility display according to a distance from the detected current position. Map image storage means for storing data for displaying a road map;
Object information storage means for storing data for image display of the presence of a specific facility on the road map stored in the map image storage means;
A display device;
Display control means for displaying the road map of the predetermined area on the display device and displaying the facility of a specific facility existing in the predetermined area;
Determination means for determining whether or not the facility display image overlaps the display device,
The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein when the determination unit determines that the images overlap, the display control unit sequentially switches and displays the images displayed as a whole for the plurality of overlapping images. The map image storage means stores information for enlarging and displaying an intersection,
The route guidance device according to claim 4, wherein the display control unit displays the intersection on the display device in an enlarged manner. Priority order determining means for determining the priority order of the plurality of overlapping images;
Priority order changing means for changing the priority order determined by the priority order determining means at predetermined intervals;
The route guidance apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the display control means performs facility display so that an image having a high priority is superimposed on an image having the low priority. Priority order determining means for determining the priority order of the plurality of overlapping images;
6. The route guidance device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the display control means switches and displays the entire image at predetermined intervals in the order of the priority determined by the priority determination means. .   8. The route guidance device according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined interval is every time a predetermined time elapses or every predetermined distance is traveled.   The route guidance device according to claim 6, 7, or 8, wherein the predetermined interval is determined according to the priority determined by the priority determining means.

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