JP2012149950A - System and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system enabling a driver to recognize an approach to an alarm target and the like by visual observation.SOLUTION: A system comprises: a GPS detector; position storing means for storing the position information of an alarm target; and a control portion for outputting an alarm to a main display area R1 and the like of a cover portion 6 when the position information of the alarm target stored in the position storing means and a present position of a vehicle which is obtained by position obtaining means indicate a predetermined approach relationship. Furthermore, the system comprises storing means for storing the position information of a mark target at a position where a driver can visually recognize during traveling of a path to the alarm target and a mark target specifying information (a photograph information) helping the driver to specify the mark target. The notification control of controlling means outputs the photograph information in a sub display area R3, when the position information of the mark target stored in the storing means and the present position of the vehicle which is detected by the GPS detector indicate the predetermined approach relationship.

Description

  The present invention relates to a system and a program for notifying information about an approach when a current position is in a predetermined approach relationship with an alarm target.

  In recent years, many vehicle speed measuring devices for measuring the speed of an automobile have been installed around the road. As an example of a vehicle speed measuring device, microwaves in a predetermined frequency band are emitted toward a vehicle, and the reflected wave is received to measure the traveling speed of the vehicle.

  In order to detect the presence of such a vehicle speed measuring device, a microwave detector configured to detect a microwave emitted from the vehicle speed measuring device and output an alarm is conventionally known.

  Also, some vehicle speed measuring devices cannot be detected by a conventional microwave detector. As an example, there is a type in which a loop-shaped coil is embedded in the ground and a vehicle speed is determined while detecting the vehicle passing over the coil, as called a loop type. Others detect the speed of the vehicle using light other than microwaves. Therefore, when the installation position information of the vehicle speed measurement device is stored in advance and the current position acquired by GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like approaches the stored installation position (when a predetermined approach relationship is reached). There is an in-vehicle electronic device such as a radar detector that issues a warning regardless of whether or not microwaves are detected (Patent Document 1). These various vehicle speed measuring devices are installed at locations where traffic accidents occur frequently or at places where speeds are likely to occur and traffic accidents are likely to occur, so it is particularly dangerous to notify these locations to the driver in advance. Safe driving that complies with traffic regulations can be encouraged at the place.

  As specific notification modes, for example, “Left direction 1 km ahead expressway H system”, “Immediately ahead general road N system” and the contents specifying the target content as voice information Outputting from a speaker or displaying characters or images representing them on a display unit is performed.

  In addition, the target location to be alarmed is not limited to a fixed vehicle speed measuring device or an N system (automobile number automatic reading device) where the installation location is pinpointed. There are various crackdown areas where the position cannot be pinpointed and check areas.

  Then, when the vehicle approaches the area registered as the target location, the in-vehicle device performs an audio notification such as “Please note that it is a control area” or a notification using a display device. In the case where the target location such as the “control area” cannot be pinpointed, information indicating the positional relationship between the current location and the target location, such as the remaining distance to the target location, is not notified.

  These “policing areas” and the like are performed in places where speed is too high and accidents are likely to occur. When driving for the first time or driving in an area that does not usually drive very much, the driver knows in advance the existence of such a dangerous place by knowing the existence of the “control area”. You can drive safely, especially by driving carefully in the vicinity.

  In addition, in this type of in-vehicle electronic device, it is possible to know that the user is approaching the alarm target by changing the notification contents as the alarm target is approached. For example, in the case of notification by voice, when the distance to the alarm target becomes a specific one, such as “1 km ahead”, “500 m ahead”, “immediately ahead”, etc. There is something that notifies the distance. Further, in the case of notification using the display unit, there are some that indicate the remaining distance to the alarm target with specific numbers.

  Furthermore, some of these types of in-vehicle electronic devices have a function of notifying by voice such as “passed” or “out of control area” when passing the alarm target. Thereby, it can know that it passed through dangerous places, such as an accident frequent occurrence zone.

JP 2008-64588 A

  However, the conventional alarm in this type of in-vehicle electronic device outputs a uniformly determined alarm when the distance between the two is set based on the relationship between the position information of the alarm target and the current position. Yes. The notification content that is output as a sound when the current position of the vehicle is in a predetermined approach relationship with the alarm target is a uniform one registered in advance corresponding to the type of the alarm target. That is, for example, “In the above example,“ Left direction 1 km ahead ”,“ 500 meters ahead ”,“ immediately ahead ”and other information indicating the positional relationship between the current position and the alarm target, and“ Expressway H system ”,“ General road N system ”,“ High-speed loop coil ”,“ Enforcement area ”, and other information that identifies the target type is stored as audio information and stored in accordance with the notification content. I try to play the message that I kept.

  The driver believes in the notification from the in-vehicle electronic device and will drive with caution, but the driver's psychology, if possible, the surroundings obtained by the driver's eyes directly with the actual driving, if possible There is a request to confirm that the content of the notification from the in-vehicle electronic device is correct based on the scenery of the vehicle. And by being able to perform such confirmation, the reliability of the on-vehicle electronic device is improved, and a sense of security can be obtained even with a uniform alarm.

  Although the notification content is changed depending on the positional relationship between the alarm target and the vehicle, the notification content is fixed and fixed for each type of alarm target. Therefore, even if it is known that there is an alarm target in the surrounding area, it may be unclear whether it is actually approaching the location of the alarm target or whether it has passed.

  In particular, when the presence of an alarm target cannot be confirmed directly by eye, even if the in-vehicle electronic device notifies that it has passed, it cannot be said that the notification is 100% reliable. For this reason, the driver continues an unfavorable state of continuing driving in an uneasy state. For example, in the case of an invisible thing such as a “control area”, even if it is informed that it is a “control area”, it does not actually exist as a device / facility like a vehicle speed measurement device. I don't know where the site is (the location registered as an alarm target), and I'm not always controlling at the location of the alarm target. Even if you pass before that, you may not recognize the fact.

  In addition, for example, in the case where the device / facility is visible, such as a vehicle speed measurement device or N system, if the driver knows the form of the device, the driver moves to the vicinity of the alarm target. When it comes, you can actually confirm and recognize the target device / facility with your eyes. Therefore, the driver can understand that the previous notification is “this is it”, can recognize that he / she is approaching the alarm target, and has passed, and can drive safely.

  In reality, however, the vehicle speed measuring device is sometimes mixed with the scenery, and it is sometimes installed in a state in which it is difficult to visually confirm the presence of the device from the traveling driver. Therefore, even if it is a device / facility where the alarm target is pinpointed, the approach to the device or the like cannot be visually confirmed, and it may be anxious.

  (1) In order to solve the above-described problems, a system according to the present invention stores position acquisition means for acquiring both current positions, position storage means for storing position information of an alarm target, and storage in the position storage means. In the in-vehicle electronic device comprising: the position information of the alarm target, and a control unit that performs notification control on the notification unit when the current position of the vehicle acquired by the position acquisition unit indicates a predetermined approach relationship. Marking target specifying information that is useful for the driver to specify the mark target for the mark target that is in a position that the driver can visually recognize while traveling along the route to the target and has a predetermined positional relationship with the alarm target. Storage means for storing is provided, and the notification control of the control means is notified using the mark target specifying information when a set notification condition is satisfied.

  The position acquisition means corresponds to the GPS receiver 8 in the embodiment. The position acquisition means of the present invention has a function of acquiring position information about the current position of the vehicle from an external device / equipment as well as position detection means for detecting the current position like the GPS receiver of the embodiment. Including those. Examples of the external device / device include an electronic device having a position detection function (GPS receiver) such as a car navigation device, a GPS antenna unit, and the like.

  The position information storage means and the storage means correspond to the database 19 in the embodiment. In this way, there are cases where it is built in the device, and some or all information is stored in an external device such as a server, and the necessary information is obtained by accessing the server by communication. is there.

  In the present invention, when the set notification condition is satisfied, the driver notifies the landmark object (facility that can be easily specified during driving) that the driver can visually recognize while traveling on the route to the alarm target. The target object can be easily visually recognized during traveling. Since the alarm target is in a predetermined positional relationship from the mark target, the driver can estimate the presence position of the alarm target with reference to the mark target visually confirmed. For this reason, even if the target of the alarm is an installation, etc., it exists in a place where it is difficult to see, or there is no specific facility / installation such as a crackdown area, etc. Even so, the driver can recognize (including guess) the location of the alarm target and can drive with confidence. Further, by visually recognizing the notified mark target, the driver also increases the reliability of the vehicle-mounted electronic device, and accordingly, the reliability of the notification content when the alarm notification of the alarm target is performed is also improved.

  Since the mark target is in a position that the driver can visually recognize while traveling on the route to the alarm target, the mark target is not limited to being present along the road along the route to the alarm target. That is, for example, when the mark target is ahead of the warning target in the direction of travel (the alarm target is in front of the mark target), or when the mark target is slightly off (recessed) from the route However, if the driver can confirm the actual object to be marked, and can guess and understand the location of the alarm object from there, it will serve as the mark object.

  (2) It is preferable that the mark object is in front of the position of the alarm object and obstructs the field of view to the alarm object. Objects that obscure the field of view include curved roads, signboards, plants, and disturbing traffic signs. If an alarm target is set ahead of the target that obstructs the field of view, the driver may not be able to recognize the alarm target immediately before traveling or may miss it. On the other hand, when a mark target is set at such a position as in the present invention, the presence of the mark target is recognized from the relatively near side, and it can be easily understood that there is an alarm target ahead.

  (3) The mark object specifying information may be configured to include at least one of image information indicating the mark object, character information indicating the mark object, and audio information indicating the mark object.

  (4) The mark target specifying information may be image information indicating the mark target, and the image information may be photographic information including both the position of the mark target and the position of the alarm target. Since both the mark object and the alarm object are included in one piece of photographic information, the driver who sees it can easily understand the positional relationship between the two.

  (5) The mark object specifying information is image information indicating the mark object, and the image information is in front of the position of the alarm object, and may be photographic information of an object that blocks the field of view of the alarm object. . By providing / notifying the location that obstructs the field of view as the photographic information as photographic information, the driver can easily and reliably compare with the scenery that is actually traveling, and can visually recognize the landmark object.

  (6) The mark target specifying information is image information indicating the mark target, and the notification control of the control unit is configured to update the image information indicating the mark target as the distance to the mark target or the alarm target decreases. The display area should be enlarged. In this way, the driver can intuitively understand that the driver is approaching the landmark object. When changing the display area according to the distance to the landmark object, to specify the positional relationship between the current position and the landmark object, such as absolute position information such as longitude and latitude, and relative position information with respect to the alarm object. Is stored, and the display area is controlled based on the stored information. By the way, since the positional relationship between the alarm target and the current position is obtained in order to perform alarm control for the alarm target, in order to switch the display area according to the distance to the mark target, the mark from the current position is used. It is necessary to obtain the distance to the object and the distance to the alarm object, respectively, which increases the load on the control unit. Since the alarm object and the mark object are in a predetermined positional relationship, in many cases, when the object is close to the alarm object, it can be said that the object is also close to the mark object. Therefore, even if the change of the size of the display area of the image information indicating the mark target is controlled based on the distance from the current position to the alarm target, the change of the size of the display area accompanying the approach to the mark target In addition to obtaining the same effect, it is not necessary to obtain the distance to the mark object, so the load on the control means can be reduced. In particular, when the location of the mark target and the alarm target are close, even if the display area is changed based on the distance to the alarm target, the display area is changed based on the distance to the mark target. It is preferable because an effect equivalent to the effect given to the person can be obtained.

  (7) The image information indicating the mark target may include image information that identifies the type of the alarm target related to the mark target. In this way, the driver can intuitively understand what the alarm target is related to while confirming the presence of the mark target.

  (8) The mark target specifying information may be character information, and the notification control of the control means may be performed by outputting voice by voice synthesis based on the character information. By recording the character information, it is possible to easily add and register the appearance feature for specifying the mark object and the specific additional information. Moreover, since the character information (text data) is stored in the storage means, the memory capacity to be used can be reduced. And when informing, since it can be converted into audio data and output, the driver can obtain appropriate unique information while driving forward without looking at the display part of the in-vehicle electronic device. it can. Of course, since it is character information, it is preferable to output it to the display unit because the driver can confirm the content of the voice output.

  (9) A plurality of the mark objects are associated with one alarm object, and the order of appearance of the mark objects until reaching the alarm object is stored in an identifiable manner. It is preferable to notify the mark target information based on the order of appearance. In this way, the landmark object changes during traveling, the alarm target can be visually recognized from a relatively long distance, and it can be intuitively understood that the alarm target is approaching.

  (10) It has positional relationship storage means for storing positional relationship specifying information for specifying the positional relationship between the landmark object and the alarm target, and the notification control of the control means is specified by the positional relationship specifying information. The positional relationship can be notified. The positional relationship specifying information for specifying the positional relationship includes information indicating the relative positional relationship between the mark target and the alarm target (for example, the direction of the alarm target from the mark target, the distance from the mark target to the alarm target, etc. In other words, the positions of the mark object and the alarm object are stored and held as absolute position information, respectively, and when the notification control is performed, the positional relationship between the two is determined and notified based on the absolute position information. good. By notifying the positional relationship, the driver who has visually recognized the mark target can easily and accurately estimate the position of the alarm target. The information specifying the positional relationship may be registered as one of the mark target specifying information and the information related to the alarm target. In this case, the positional relationship storage means is configured to be shared by storage means for storing the mark target specifying information. Further, as in the invention (11) below, when storing the position information of the mark object, the storage means for storing the position information and the positional relationship storage means can also be used.

  (11) The storage means stores the position information of the mark object, and the predetermined notification condition is that the position information of the mark object stored in the storage means and the current position of the vehicle acquired by the position acquisition means are predetermined. It is possible to indicate a close relationship. As the mark object approaches, information about the mark object can be appropriately notified. In particular, when the position of the alarm object and the mark object are separated or when a plurality of mark objects are associated with one alarm object, the notification control is performed based on the proximity relationship with the mark object, It is possible to notify the mark target at an appropriate timing. The position information of the mark object may be absolute position information or relative position information (for example, based on the alarm object), but in order to obtain the approach relationship, the absolute position indicates the position relationship of the current position. Since it can obtain | require easily, it is preferable.

(12) On the premise of the invention of (11) above, the notification control of the control means indicates that the position information of the alarm target and the current position of the vehicle acquired by the position acquisition means indicate a predetermined approach relationship. As a condition, notification of the landmark object related to the alarm object may be performed. By doing in this way, it can control that only the mark object is notified.

  (13) The predetermined notification condition may be a case where the position information of the alarm target stored in the position storage unit and the current position of the vehicle acquired by the position acquisition unit indicate a predetermined approach relationship. In this way, it is possible to easily perform control when notifying the information on the mark target, and reliably notify the mark target associated with the alarm target.

  (14) When the notification control of the control means performs the notification of the alarm target and the notification of the landmark object related to the alarm target, the respective notifications are performed close in time or space. Good. Notifying in the vicinity means the degree to which the driver feels relevance between the notified contents. For example, “notifying in close proximity in time” means that the screen is switched and displayed at regular intervals, the notification is continuously performed by sound, the sound is notified after the screen is displayed, or the sound is displayed simultaneously with the display of the screen. It means to notify. Informing spatially close means, for example, displaying on the same screen. Notifying in the vicinity may include a case where notification is made at the same time. In this way, it is easily understood that the alarm target being notified and the mark target are related.

  (15) A program of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to realize a function as control means in the system according to any one of (1) to (14).

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily visually recognize the mark object, and by confirming the presence of the mark object, the driver can understand that the notification content of the in-vehicle electronic device is correct and can feel secure. Furthermore, the driver can infer that the alarm target exists at a location-related location with reference to the position of the mark target.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the radar detector which is preferable one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of a radar detector. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a standby screen, a radar scope, and a GPS alarm. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the alarm screen in a radar wave alarm function. It is a figure which shows an example of image data. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a GPS warning function. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a GPS warning function.

  1 and 2 show the configuration of a radar detector which is a preferred embodiment as an electronic device constituting the system of the present invention. The radar detector is usually mounted on the dashboard. As shown in FIG. 1, the radar detector has a solar panel 2 and a switch unit 3 disposed on the upper surface of the case body 1, and microwaves in a frequency band emitted by the speed measurement device are placed inside the front surface of the case body 1. A microwave receiver 4 to be detected is arranged. On the other hand, the display unit 5, the alarm lamp 6, the infrared communication device 7, and the remote control receiver 16 are arranged on the rear side of the case main body 1 (the side arranged behind the vehicle (driver side). A GPS receiver 8 is disposed on the upper surface side inside the main body 1. Further, an adapter jack 9 is disposed on one side surface of the case main body 1, and a power switch 10 and a DC (not shown) are disposed on the other side surface. In addition, a speaker 20 is built in the case body 1.

  In the present embodiment, the display unit 5 is a 2.4 inch small liquid crystal display, and the rear surface side of the case body 1 (side disposed on the vehicle rear side (driver side)) is used as the display surface. The height H on the rear side of the case body 1 on which the display unit 5 is mounted is larger than the height H0 of other parts.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the infrared communication device 7 transmits and receives data to and from a communication device incorporating an infrared communication device such as a mobile phone 12. The adapter jack 9 is a terminal for connecting the memory card reader 13. By connecting the memory card reader 13 to the adapter jack 9, the data stored in the memory card 14 attached to the memory card reader 13 can be taken inside, or the contents of the memory of the database 19 and the control unit 18 can be transferred to the memory card 14. Can be written on. More specifically, in the data stored in the memory card 14, the alarm target information, which is information related to a new target or other alarm target, or a position where the driver can visually recognize the route to the alarm target while traveling. When there is update information such as mark target information that is information related to a certain mark target, the control unit 18 stores (downloads) the update information in the database 19 built in the apparatus, and updates the data in the database 19. The function of the memory card reader 13 may be configured to be built in the main body case 1.

  The database 19 is a nonvolatile memory (for example, EEPROM) in the microcomputer of the control unit 18 or externally attached to the microcomputer. The database 19 includes alarm target information that is information related to a certain alarm target at the time of shipment, and mark target information that is information related to a mark target at a position where the driver can visually recognize the route leading to the alarm target. It is registered, and the data about the alarm target added after that can be updated as described above. Data update can also be performed via the infrared communication device 7. The specific contents of the alarm target information and the mark target information and the alarm function using them will be described later.

  The DC jack is for connecting a cigar plug cord (not shown), and is connected to a cigar socket of the vehicle via the cigar plug cord so that power can be supplied. The wireless receiver 15 receives incoming radio waves having a predetermined frequency. The remote control receiver 16 performs data communication with a remote control (portable device: handset) 17 by infrared rays and performs various settings for the device. The switch unit 3 is also connected to the control unit 18 (not shown) so that the same setting as the remote controller 17 can be performed. The remote controller 17 includes a play button, a standby switching button, a setting button, a selection button, a cancel button, an enter button, and up / down / left / right cross buttons.

  The control unit 18 is a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a nonvolatile memory, an I / O, and the like, and is connected to each unit described above as shown in FIG. 2 and based on information input from each unit described above. Predetermined processing is executed and the above-described units are controlled to output predetermined alarms / messages and information. Note that these basic configurations can be basically the same as the conventional ones. In the present embodiment, processing that is not particularly described is performed by the main CPU.

  The functions of the radar detector of the present embodiment are stored on the EEPROM of the control unit 18 as a program executed by the computer included in the control unit 18 and are realized by being executed by the computer included in the control unit 18. Functions realized by the computer by the program of the control unit 18 include a GPS log function, a standby screen display function, a radar scope display function, a GPS alarm function, a radar wave alarm function, a wireless alarm function, and the like.

The GPS log function is a function of storing the current position detected by the control unit 18 by the GPS receiver 8 every second in the memory card 14 as a position history in association with the detected time and speed (vehicle speed). This position history is a function of recording in the NMEA format, for example.
The standby screen display function is a function for displaying the speed, latitude, longitude, and altitude of the host vehicle detected by the GPS receiver 8 on the display unit 5 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the radar scope display function is also referred to as an alarm target (target, target, etc.) within a predetermined range (for example, within a range of about 1 km) from the current position detected by the GPS receiver 8. ) Is retrieved from the position information stored in the database 19 and the relative positional relationship between the vehicle position and the position of the alarm target is displayed on the display unit 5. In FIG. 3B, “W” on the left side indicates the west, “E” on the right side indicates the east, and “N” on the upper side indicates the north direction, and the horizontal line connecting “W” and “E” and “N” The icon at the intersection of the vertical line extending downward from "" indicates the vehicle position. Also, icons having characters such as “L”, “RD”, “P”, and “N” indicate the type and position (existing location) of the alarm target.

  When pressing of a standby switching button provided on the remote controller 17 is detected during execution of the standby screen display function as shown in FIG. 3A, the radar scope display function is switched to as shown in FIG.

  The control unit 18 performs a GPS alarm function, a radar wave alarm function, a radar wave alarm function according to an event that occurs during execution of the standby screen display function or the radar scope display function (hereinafter, these functions are collectively referred to as a standby function). Processing for realizing each function such as a wireless alarm function is executed.

  The radar wave warning function is displayed when the microwave receiver 4 detects a signal corresponding to a microwave in a frequency band emitted from a speed measurement device (mobile radar or the like (hereinafter simply referred to as “radar”)). This is an alarm function for displaying an alarm screen on the unit 5 and outputting an alarm sound from the speaker 20. For example, when the microwave receiver 4 detects microwaves in the microwave frequency band emitted by the radar, as shown in FIG. 4, a schematic diagram or a photograph of the radar stored in the database 19 is displayed on the display unit 5 as an alarm screen. In addition to the display, the voice data stored in the database 19 is read out, and a voice “Radar. Speed attention” is output from the speaker 20. During sound output, the alarm lamp 6 is turned on.

  The wireless alarm function is a function for issuing an alarm so that the wireless receiver 15 does not interfere with traveling or the like when a radio wave emitted by an emergency vehicle or the like is received. In the radio alarm function, the control radio, car radio, digital radio, special radio, police radio, police phone, police activity radio, wrecker radio, heli tele radio, fire helicopter radio, fire fight radio, emergency radio, expressway radio , Scans the frequency of security radio, etc., and when the radio is received at the scanned frequency, a schematic diagram showing that the radio corresponding to the frequency stored for each radio type is received in the database 19 is displayed as an alarm screen The voice data stored in the database 19 for each wireless type is read out, and an alarm sound indicating the wireless type is output from the speaker 20. For example, when a control radio is received, a voice is output like “control radio. Speed attention”. During sound output, the alarm lamp 6 is turned on.

  The GPS alarm function is a process executed at a predetermined time interval (1 second interval) by an event from a timer included in the control unit 18, the current position detected by the GPS receiver 8, the alarm target information stored in the database 19, and This is a function for determining whether or not an alarm condition is satisfied using the landmark information target information and issuing an alarm when the alarm condition is satisfied.

[Alarm target and mark target]
An example of an alarm object is a drowsy driving accident point, vehicle speed measurement device (radar type / H system / loop coil / LH system), mobile vehicle speed measurement area, speed limit switching point, control area, inspection area, Stationary monitoring area, N system, traffic monitoring system, intersection monitoring point, signal ignorance suppression system, police station, accident-prone area, on-vehicle frequent occurrence area, sudden / continuous curve (highway), branch / junction point (highway) , ETC lane advance guidance (highway), service area (highway), parking area (highway), highway oasis (highway), smart interchange (highway), PA / SA petrol station (highway), tunnel (Highway), highway radio reception area (highway), prefectural border notice, roadside station, viewpoint park There are various types such as

  The target of the mark is not the target of the alarm itself, but the position that the driver can visually recognize while traveling on the route to the target of the alarm (including immediately before and immediately before the target of the alarm), such as the appropriate position of the route before the target of the target It is a facility or installation that can be easily identified and recognized. An example of this landmark object is “XX viaduct”, “XX signboard”, “XX public hall”, “XX parking lot”, and the like. Furthermore, when the alarm target cannot be confirmed during travel (it is difficult to confirm), the landmark object is visible to the driver at an appropriate position (including immediately before) on the route before reaching the alarm target. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to a so-called box or the like such as a specific facility / installation, and for example, a certain place may be specified. As an example, “Exiting point with XX Inter Exit General Road”, “In front of XX Intersection”, or even a “curved place (the point beyond which you cannot see from a distance)” Some block the view to the alarm target position immediately before the alarm target position. As a thing that obstructs the field of view, it may be obstructed by the shape and structure of the road, such as “curve road entry side”, but besides this, there are other roadside plants (overgrown flowers, There are also natural objects such as leaves and branches) and artificial installations such as signs, traffic signs and / or traffic lights. In short, the visual field is obstructed by the positional relationship between the mark object and the alarm object.

  The mark target is not set for all the alarm targets registered in the database 19, and there is an alarm target that is not associated with the mark target. The alarm target that is not associated with the mark target is subjected to conventional general alarm processing. Further, in the case of an alarm target associated with a mark object, the number of mark objects to be associated is one or more, and the number of registrations is arbitrary. When there are a plurality of mark objects, the order of appearance of the mark objects up to the alarm object is stored in an identifiable manner.

  The location of the landmarks and the alarms are as follows: “immediately after passing the XX viaduct”, “before the XX overpass”, “after the XX signboard”, “after passing the XX public hall 200m ahead ".

[Alarm information to be registered in the database 19]
The alarm target information stored in the database 19 is information related to each alarm target, and includes position information including longitude and latitude for specifying the position of the alarm target, and an alarm target useful for the driver to specify the alarm target. There is specific information. In the present embodiment, the position information is absolute position information using longitude / latitude. This is preferable because the relative positional relationship with the current position detected by the GPS receiver 8 can be easily obtained. However, the absolute position information may be relative position information from the reference position in addition to the longitude and latitude, or the position information of the mark target related to the alarm target may be set as the absolute position information, so that the relative position from the mark target Information may be used.

  The alarm target specifying information includes type information indicating the type of the alarm target, character information indicating the position of the alarm target, audio information indicating the alarm target, image information indicating the alarm target, and the like. Audio information, image information, and the like indicating an alarm target are not stored as alarm target information for individual alarm targets, but are stored in a predetermined storage area as common information separately, if corresponding to the type information of the alarm target. You can also. When the alarm is issued, the control unit 18 can read out the type information stored as the alarm target information, acquire corresponding image information, audio information, and the like from the type target, and output an alarm.

  As common image information, there is image data such as a schematic diagram in which the type of alarm target can be easily understood. The schematic diagram is also a mark for enabling the type of the alarm target to be intuitively understood from the visual sense. For example, there is a vehicle speed device, a police car, a policeman, or the like created as an image in 3D or the like. These schematic diagrams are drawn and output on the display unit 5 at the time of notification, so that the type and content of the alarm target currently notified by the driver can be understood intuitively. Then, as will be described later, by drawing the vehicle icon at the vehicle position on the display area of the display unit 5 and drawing the schematic diagram at the position of the location to be alarmed, what position at what position It is more preferable because there is an intuitive understanding of whether there is an alarm target.

  The common audio information is, for example, the relative positional relationship such as “Left direction 1km ahead Expressway H system”, “Immediately ahead general road N system”, the type of alarm target, etc. from the speaker 20 as audio information. Data for output. In the present embodiment, the contents to be notified are recorded as text data, and desired text data is voice-synthesized (TTS) using a voice synthesizer and output as voice information from a speaker.

  On the other hand, some image information is unique to the alarm target, such as photograph information obtained by capturing the alarm target itself. As for the sound information, information unique to the alarm target may be registered. Such unique image information is registered as alarm target information for each alarm target. Since the speech information is output using speech synthesis, the alert content specific to the alarm target is registered as text data. This text data can also be used for data that is directly output to the display unit 5 as character information. As an example of the contents registered as the text data, for example, there is an explanation (phrase) indicating other characteristics on the appearance of the alarm target. Thereby, a characteristic phrase can be output as a sound for each alarm target.

[Mark target information to be registered in the database 19]
Further, the alarm target position information is an absolute position using longitude / latitude or the like for comparison with the current position. The control unit 18 can notify the position of the alarm target by displaying the position information such as the longitude / latitude on the display unit 5. However, it is difficult for the driver who sees the longitude and latitude to recognize where the alarm target is actually located. Therefore, in this embodiment, character information indicating the position of the alarm target that can be understood by the driver is registered. The character information indicating the position of the alarm target may indicate a relative positional relationship with the mark target, such as a direction of the alarm target from the mark target, a distance from the mark target to the alarm target, and the like. . Of course, other positions may be specified.

  In the database 19, in addition to the information related to the alarm target (position information of the alarm target, information for specifying the alarm target), the mark target information related to the mark target for the alarm target is stored in association with the information related to the alarm target. . The mark target information includes position information including longitude / latitude for specifying the position of the mark target, and mark target specifying information useful for the driver to specify the mark target.

  The mark object specifying information stored in the database 19 includes image information, character information, audio information, and the like indicating the mark object. If the character information or voice information is to identify the feature of the appearance of the mark object or the location where it is present, the driver can easily find the mark object when informing based on such information. Therefore, it is preferable.

  The image information indicating the mark object includes photo information obtained by photographing the mark object. In this case, it is preferable that the adjacent roads and other surroundings are also taken together. By doing so, when such photographic information is displayed on the display unit 5, the driver can easily recognize the landmark object while viewing the corresponding scenery while traveling. As this photographic information, a raw photograph taken so as to include a mark object or a composite photograph information created by combining image data (mark M) at an appropriate position of the raw photograph as shown in FIG. 5 is used. The mark M corresponds to the type information of the alarm target related to the mark target. By displaying the composite photo data on the display unit 5, the driver who sees it can understand at a glance what the mark target is and what type of alarm target is ahead. Further, in the example of FIG. 5, the appropriate position where the mark M is arranged is fixed at the lower left of the photographic information, but the position is arbitrary. In addition, when the location of the alarm target is in the photo information, it is preferable to create composite photo information in which the mark M is arranged at a location corresponding to the location of the alarm target. By doing so, the driver can easily understand the location of the alarm target, which is preferable.

  Here, the image information indicating the mark target is registered in the database 19 in advance as composite photo information obtained by combining the mark M at a predetermined position in the photo information. However, the image information indicating the mark target is a photograph without a mark. When the alarm is output to the display unit 5 as information, the mark M separately prepared and stored for each type may be read out and overlaid on the photo information. Since the type information indicating the type of the alarm target is registered as the alarm target specifying information, the type information about the alarm target to be notified is acquired, the mark M corresponding to the type information is read, and the This can be realized by reading out photo information, which is one of the mark target specifying information associated with the alarm target, and outputting it to a predetermined position of the layer to be drawn.

  Incidentally, in the photographic information illustrated in FIG. 5, FIG. 5A shows the equipment of “public hall etc.” built along the road in FIG. Therefore, in the case of FIG. 5A, a viaduct may be reflected on the entire screen, and its presence can be recognized at a glance. On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 5B, in the case of a driver who passes for the first time as well as a driver who does not pass through the vicinity of the driver, even if the photograph information is viewed, it is easy to see which building in the photograph information is the landmark. May not be understood. In consideration of such cases, when there are multiple facilities in the photo information, the mark is a mark such as an arrow or a circle to indicate the target facility / building. It is good to create composite photo information that combines the above and register it. Of course, if the landmark object is “public hall, etc.”, even if you do not know which public hall is specifically, if you look at the photo information where the place including the landmark object is photographed as shown in FIG. It is possible to determine whether or not you are at the place while driving. And in the present invention, it is only necessary to finally know that the alarm target is approached or passed through the alarm target, and it is not always possible to uniquely identify the mark target. Also good. In other words, in the case of FIG. 5 (b), even if you do not know the facility or building of the “public hall etc.” that is the landmark, you can match the actual scenery with the surrounding facilities and buildings, including the facility that is the landmark. It is possible to reliably recognize that the mark object is approaching or has passed through. Therefore, the presence position of the alarm target can be specified by the relative positional relationship with the mark target, so that the driver can easily determine whether or not the driver is approaching the alarm target.

  In addition, if the mark target is something that is difficult to check while driving, and if it blocks the alarm target at a predetermined position such as in front of it, the image information indicating the mark target is a photograph of the target that blocks the view Information. Especially for curves, signboards, overgrown plants, and disturbing traffic signs, by taking a picture of the scene, when the driver actually approaches the landmark, the photograph displayed on the display unit 5 It can be easily understood that the scenes of the two match, and it is possible to know that it is approaching the mark object, and that there is an alarm object after that even if the alarm object cannot be directly visually recognized.

  Further, the image information indicating the mark target may be photographic information including both the position of the mark target and the position of the alarm target. By doing so, the positional relationship between the mark object and the alarm object can be understood on one screen. In addition, since the mark target is set so that the driver can visually recognize it even from a distance, it is easy to find the presence of the alarm target by finding the mark target.

  In addition, when there are a plurality (M) of mark objects in one alarm object, the image information indicating the mark objects is photographed together with the plurality (N: N ≦ M) of mark objects. It would be better to use photo information. In particular, one of a plurality of landmark objects photographed together may be a blockage of the field of view to the alarm target. The driver can visually recognize a landmark object that is different from the landmark object that obstructs the field of vision as the vehicle travels, and then can visually recognize the landmark object that obstructs the field of vision, and is surely approaching the alarm object. It is possible to know the presence of an alarm target (such as immediately after a mark target that obstructs the field of view).

  The mark target specifying information can be registered as character information or voice information in addition to the image information as described above. As text information, “XX Public Hall”, “After ○○ Signboard”, “After Passing the Railroad Overpass”, “In front of XX Town Intersection”, “National Highway No. XX”, etc. It is better to include the location of the target), and there are additional explanations such as place names, facility names, etc. This character information is displayed on the display unit 5 when notifying the mark target, or is output from the speaker 20 as voice information using text-to-speech synthesis. In this respect, it can be said that the character information is also used as voice information. In addition, as for the sound information, it is of course possible to individually register the description of each landmark object as sound data.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the database 19 stores map data. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, this map data is used to show a rough layerout of the road as shown in an overhead view when the positional relationship between the vehicle position and the alarm target is shown. Therefore, it is not detailed data including facilities and houses as in car navigation, but simple data such as a road network (and a railway network as necessary).

[Alarm processing using information on alarm targets and mark targets]
Next, alarms using information related to alarm targets and mark targets registered in these databases 19 will be described. The control unit 18 obtains the distance and other positional relationships between the alarm target position information (longitude / latitude) and the mark target position information (latitude / longitude) and the latitude / longitude of the current position detected by the GPS receiver 8. If the positional relationship becomes an alarm condition (for example, within 500 m), a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 5 and an approach warning sound indicating that is output from the speaker 20.

  6 and 7 show an example of an alarm screen using the display unit 5. In the illustrated example, an alarm based on the alarm target specifying information and an alarm based on the mark target specifying information are simultaneously displayed on the display unit 5. First, the layout of the screen area adopts a configuration in which a strip-shaped icon display area R2 is arranged below the rectangular main display area R1 that occupies most of the screen area. The icon display area R2 includes an icon indicating the operation state of the apparatus, such as an icon I1 indicating that GPS is being received, and an icon I2 for notifying the type of alarm target. Such display is performed by a control command from the control unit 18. Further, the current time is drawn on the right end of the icon display area R2. The date and other information may be drawn instead of the time.

  The main display area R1 mainly indicates the positional relationship between the alarm target and the own vehicle, and is an area for displaying an object having a predetermined shape at each position. The display unit 5 draws each image or the like in a plurality of layers. Specifically, a background color is drawn on the lowermost layer. The background color is drawn with gradation so that the near side (the vehicle side: the lower side of the screen) becomes brighter, and the color is varied depending on the positional relationship with the alarm target. Here, as shown in FIG. 6 (a) and FIG. 7 (a), when an alarm target exists but is separated by a certain distance or more (for example, 500 m or more), green is used as a base, and FIG. ), As shown in FIG. 7B, when the distance to the alarm target is less than a certain distance, the base color is changed to a different color (for example, “yellow”). Furthermore, when approaching, the driver can easily understand that he / she is approaching by changing the color as appropriate, such as based on red.

  The control unit 18 calls the corresponding map data in the displayed space, and draws the map data (schematic road map) on the layer existing on the background color layer. And the control part 18 draws various objects in the layer above the drawing layer of the map data. An object (hereinafter referred to as “vehicle object”) Gob indicating the vehicle position is drawn at a predetermined position below the main display area R1. The vehicle object Gob of the present embodiment is composed of a triangular pyramid or a quadrangular pyramid polygon. When the control unit 18 draws the own vehicle object Gob, the apex of the triangular pyramid or the quadrangular pyramid is directed forward in the traveling direction of the vehicle. The own vehicle object Gob is drawn so as to appear to float in the air (shade is drawn below). In the following description, the control unit 18 draws each object and other images on the display screen of the display unit 5 even when there is no particular notice.

  Further, when an alarm target exists in the displayed space, the alarm target object is drawn at a corresponding position on the screen. At this time, there are often a plurality of alarm targets registered in the database 19 in the vicinity. In this case, the one that satisfies the condition is the actual alarm target, the alarm target object Kob is drawn at the position on the display screen corresponding to the position where the alarm target exists, and the control unit 18 draws an object corresponding to the detected type of alarm target at a corresponding position in space as a POI (Point Of Interest) object Iob.

  Both the alarm target object Kob and the POI object Iob are expressed in three dimensions (solid). The control unit 18 draws the POI object Iob at a position on the screen corresponding to the existence position. The POI object Iob is usually a simple shape such as a sphere or a cube. The surface is given a predetermined color and a symbol (alphabet, mark, etc.) indicating the type of the target. Further, since this POI object Iob is also in a suspended state, the control unit 18 draws a shadow below the POI object Iob. Since the display mode (shape) of these POI objects Iob has a simple shape, it is referred to as a simple object.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the colors are classified according to the degree of urgency (importance). As an example of color coding,
There are three types of urgency level: red urgency level medium: yellow urgency level low: blue.

  As a target with a high degree of urgency, there is a vehicle speed measuring device such as a loop coil or an H system. The target with medium urgency includes, for example, an N system (automatic car number reading device). Examples of the target with a low degree of urgency include a service area on a highway, a place related to traffic such as a road station installed on a side of a general road, and the like.

  The alarm target object Kob has a three-dimensional shape imitating a display mode related to an actual alarm target. In FIG. 6, since the alarm target is a control area, the alarm target object Kob is drawn as an object imitating a police car and a cone. In FIG. 7, since the alarm target is a mobile vehicle speed measurement area, it is drawn as an object simulating a radar (portable speed measurement device) for measurement.

  Further, the control unit 18 draws information related to the alarm target in a message area ME prepared at a position above the main display area R1. This message area ME includes a name (“control area” in FIG. 6 and “mobile speed measurement area” in FIG. 7) that identifies the type of alarm target, and a distance (“ 627m "," 388m ", in FIG. 7," 733m "," 386m ").

  Also, the color of the name that specifies the type of alarm target displayed in the message area ME may be color-coded according to the degree of urgency. Specifically, the color is the same as the color of the simplified object. Thereby, the driver can know whether the detected object is highly urgent from the color of the message.

  The information displayed in the message area ME may be fixed display or scrolled. By moving like scrolling, you can get more attention. Furthermore, another information can be smoothly displayed by scrolling or switching.

  Further, a sub display region R3 is formed at a predetermined position below the main display region R1. These display areas R1, R2, and R3 are drawn on different layers in that order from the bottom. The control unit 18 calls the predetermined information stored as the mark target specifying information and draws it in the sub display area R3. Here, the control unit 18 calls and draws image information indicating the corresponding landmark object. This notification of the mark target using the sub display area R3 may be output when the current position and the position of the mark target are in a predetermined relationship (set remaining distance). However, it may be output based on the positional relationship of the alarm target. In the latter case, comparison between the current position and the position of the mark target (monitoring of the position of the mark target) is unnecessary, and the control is simplified.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the image information of the mark target specifying information and the image information of the alarm target specifying information are simultaneously drawn on the display unit 5 (notified spatially in close proximity). Is not limited to this, and each may be output separately. In that case, it is preferable that the driver can easily understand the relationship between the alarm target and the mark target that are drawn by notifying in time proximity. Specifically, the output may be alternately drawn. In that case, the alarm target alarm screen and the mark target notification screen are switched and displayed at regular intervals, the voice notification is continuously performed, the voice is notified after the screen is displayed, the screen display At the same time, voice can be notified.

  The condition for performing notification using part or all of the mark target specifying information can be, for example, when the current position is in a predetermined positional relationship (for example, within 1 km) with the position information of the mark target. . In this case, only the relationship with the mark target is not associated with the presence or absence of satisfaction of the alarm condition of the alarm target associated with the mark target (the current position is close to a predetermined distance from the position information of the alarm target). It may be determined independently or may be associated with satisfaction of the alarm condition of the alarm target.

  Based on the relative relationship between the current position, the position of the alarm object, and the position of the mark object, the current position approaches the mark object to a predetermined distance, but the alarm object associated with the mark object is at least a predetermined distance. There may be situations where the alarm conditions are not met due to the distance. In such a case, assuming that the alarm condition of the alarm target is satisfied, in the case of such a situation, the notification of the target object is not performed, and after the current position becomes a predetermined relationship with the position information of the alarm target, It is advisable to notify the mark object together with the alarm. On the contrary, when the current position and the position information of the mark object are in a predetermined positional relationship, the alarm object related to the mark object may be warned together with the notification of the mark object.

  On the other hand, if the current position and the position information of the mark target are in a predetermined relationship without satisfying the alarm condition of the alarm target, only the notification of the mark target is performed. Will occur, but the alarm condition will not occur, but running as it is will satisfy the alarm condition relatively soon, and the alarm target alarm and the notification of the mark target will be performed closely Become.

  Further, when there are a plurality of alarm targets in the surrounding area, simply notifying the mark target close to the current position may result in a mark target unrelated to what is drawn as the alarm target object Kob. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 18 notifies the mark target related to the alarm target drawn as the alarm target object Kob.

  The notification of the mark target may be performed by changing the notification mode as the current position approaches the position of the mark target. Specifically, as for image information, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the display area of the sub display region R3 is gradually expanded as it approaches. The notification mode (display area here) accompanying this approach is switched, but the current position is compared with the position of the mark target, and the display area is switched to the corresponding display area when it reaches a predetermined distance. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display area of the sub display region R3 may be switched according to the remaining distance between the current position and the position of the alarm target.

  Further, since the mark target specifying information includes character information and voice information in addition to the image information, the control unit 18 displays the character information when the current position is in a predetermined positional relationship with the position information of the mark target. The information is displayed on the display unit 5 or audio information is output from the speaker. By notifying by voice information, the driver can know the notification contents without looking at the device (display unit 5).

  Moreover, the display of character information and the output of voice information are performed at appropriate timings. That is, it may be performed at the same timing or at different timings. For example, when character information displayed on the display unit 5 is directly output as speech information by speech synthesis, it is preferable to continue displaying the character information after the speech information is output. By doing so, the driver who has recognized the presence of the mark object by outputting the voice information can visually and intuitively understand the content from the character information and the image information by looking at the display unit thereafter.

  In addition to the above-described notification of the mark target, the control unit 18 notifies information indicating the positional relationship between the alarm target position information and the position information of the mark target. Specifically, there are the direction of the alarm target from the mark target (forward, immediately after passing, immediately after, near side, right direction,...), The distance from the mark target to the alarm target, and the like.

  In addition, when a plurality of landmark objects are registered in relation to the alarm object, the control unit 18 stores the mark information identification information until the alarm object is identified so that the order of appearance of the landmark objects can be identified. Are notified based on the order of appearance. That is, the control unit detects the next mark object to be passed from the current position information and the position information of the mark object, and notifies the mark object, and if the mark object passes, the mark object for the next mark object is detected. Read and output information for identification.

  In the embodiment described above, the information to be notified of voice information is registered as text data and notified using speech synthesis. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The phrase or word voice data may be stored after being broken down into words and reported in combination.

  In this embodiment, the example of the radar detector has been described. However, the present invention can be implemented as a function of various in-vehicle electronic devices. For example, you may incorporate as a function of a navigation apparatus, a drive recorder, and a car audio. Further, the control unit 18 is provided with a function for setting the priority order of each function and alarm based on an instruction from the driver from the remote controller 17 or the like, and the control unit 18 performs processing in the set priority order. You may comprise.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment and modification, the apparatus includes a database 19 that stores various types of information, and the control unit 18 accesses the database 19 to read out necessary information and performs various types of processing. The invention is not limited to this. That is, part or all of the information registered in the database 19 is registered in the server. The radar detector and other electronic devices / devices may have a function of communicating with the server, and the control unit 18 may access the server as appropriate, acquire necessary information, and execute a process. Furthermore, at least a part of the function of the control unit 18 may be placed on a server, the function may be executed on the server, and an electronic device owned by the user may acquire the execution result.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case main body 2 Solar panel 4 Microwave receiver 5 Display part 6 Lamp 7 Infrared communication device 8 GPS receiver 9 Adapter jack 10 Power switch 11 Mobile phone 12 Memory card reader 14 Memory card 15 Wireless receiver 16 Remote control receiver 17 Remote control 18 Control unit 19 Database 20 Speaker

Claims (15)

Position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the vehicle;
Position storage means for storing position information of the alarm target;
Control means for performing notification control on the notification means when the position information of the alarm target stored in the position storage means and the current position of the vehicle acquired by the position acquisition means indicate a predetermined approach relationship;
In a system comprising:
For mark target identification that is useful for the driver to identify the mark target for the mark target that is in a position that the driver can visually recognize while traveling on the route to the alarm target and that has a predetermined positional relationship with the alarm target. Comprising storage means for storing information;
The notification control of the control means is a system in which notification is performed using the mark target specifying information when a set notification condition is satisfied.   The system according to claim 1, wherein the mark object is in front of the position of the alarm object and obstructs the field of view to the alarm object.   The mark object specifying information includes at least one of image information indicating the mark object, character information indicating the mark object, and audio information indicating the mark object. system.   2. The mark object specifying information is image information indicating the mark object, and the image information is photographic information including both the position of the mark object and the position of the alarm object. The system of any one of -3.   The mark target specifying information is image information indicating the mark target, the image information is in front of the position of the alarm target, and is photographic information of a target that obstructs the field of view of the alarm target. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The mark object specifying information is image information indicating the mark object,
The notification control of the control means increases the display area of the image information indicating the mark object as the distance to the mark object or the alarm object becomes shorter. The described system.   The system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the image information indicating the mark target includes image information for specifying a type of the alarm target related to the mark target. The mark target specifying information is character information,
The system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the notification control of the control means outputs voice by voice synthesis based on the character information. A plurality of the mark objects are associated with one alarm object, and the order of appearance of the mark objects until reaching the alarm object is stored in such a manner that it can be specified,
The system according to claim 1, wherein the notification control of the control means performs notification of the mark target information based on the appearance order. A positional relationship storage means for storing positional relationship specifying information for specifying the positional relationship between the landmark object and the alarm target;
The vehicle-mounted electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the notification control of the control unit notifies the positional relationship specified by the positional relationship specifying information. The storage means stores position information of the mark target,
11. The predetermined notification condition is when the position information of the mark object stored in the storage means and the current position of the vehicle acquired by the position acquisition means indicate a predetermined approach relationship. The system according to any one of the above.   The notification control of the control means is performed by notifying the mark target related to the alarm target on condition that the position information of the alarm target and the current position of the vehicle acquired by the position acquisition means indicate a predetermined approach relationship. The system according to claim 11, wherein:   The predetermined notification condition is when the alarm target position information stored in the position storage means and the current position of the vehicle acquired by the position acquisition means indicate a predetermined approach relationship. The system according to any one of 1 to 10.   The notification control of the control means is characterized in that when performing notification of the alarm target and notification of the landmark object related to the alarm target, the respective notifications are performed close in time or space. Item 14. The system according to any one of Items 1 to 13.   The program for making a computer implement | achieve the function as a control means in the system in any one of Claims 1-14.