JP2784849B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus suitable for use in navigation of automobiles and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an in-vehicle GPS (Global Positioning System G
lobal Postioning System) Navigation device is GP
An S receiver, a map database device storing road map information in an information recording medium such as a CD-ROM, and a symbol such as a point indicating the position of the own vehicle obtained by the GPS receiver by receiving GPS radio waves from GPS satellites And a display device having a CRT or the like for displaying the absolute speed and absolute position (longitude and latitude) of the map information from the map database device, a processing unit having an operation unit, and the like.

[0003] In this vehicle-mounted GPS navigation device, the absolute speed of the own vehicle obtained from a GPS receiver,
The absolute position (longitude and latitude) and the direction of the speed are displayed on a road on the map read from the map database device, for example, as a point or an arrow symbol.

[0004]

In the above conventional navigation apparatus, when the position of the vehicle is displayed by a symbol such as a point or an arrow, the map is arranged such that the vehicle is located substantially at the center of the map display screen. Generally, an area of map information is read from a database device and displayed. In other words, this is for effectively using the map on the limited display screen. In this case, the map area to be traveled in the future and the map area that has been traveled so far are displayed with the same area, so the display area of the map area required for traveling in the future is reduced, and the map information of the area to be traveled in the future is reduced. There is a disadvantage that it is difficult to obtain more.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an excellent navigation device that can obtain map information in a larger number of traveling directions and can quickly grasp the traveling direction.

[0006]

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, for example, a navigation apparatus according to the present invention includes: a self-position measuring means 12 for obtaining own position information; a map database means 16 for storing map information; This self-position measuring means 1
The self-position obtained in step 2 is stored in the map database means 16.
Self-position display means 20 for displaying on the map information read out from the map, and, when displaying this self-position on the map information, moving away from the display screen center Pc so that the map area in the traveling direction of the self is displayed widely. And a map information display processing means 14 for displaying a self-position at a position opposite to the traveling direction.
The distance L between c and the position opposite to the display screen center Pc in the traveling direction is determined so as to be a fixed ratio to the size on the display screen.

[0007]

According to the navigation apparatus of the present invention, when displaying the self-position on the map information, the distance L between the display screen center Pc and the opposite position in the traveling direction away from the display screen center Pc is determined by the display screen. Since the ratio is determined so as to be a fixed ratio with respect to the upper size (Xd × Yd), map information in more traveling directions can be obtained, and the traveling directions can be quickly grasped.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the navigation device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an embodiment mounted on an automobile, and a well-known GPS receiver 12 is shown.
And the GPS receiver 12 has a connected antenna 12
a, four GPS radio waves W1, W2, W3, W4 from satellites
And outputs position information of the latitude, longitude, altitude, speed, direction, and time of the reception position. The measurement error on the map due to this position information is, for example, 10 m.

Further, a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and an I / O for supplying position information (signal) from the GPS receiver 12 are provided.
A control unit 14 including a microprocessor (MPU) provided with O is provided. The control unit 14 controls the entire apparatus, and stores position information (latitude, latitude, etc.) of the own vehicle output from the GPS receiver 12 to the ROM.
When displaying (longitude) on the map information, a program for displaying the position of the vehicle at an opposite position in the traveling direction away from the center of the display screen so as to display a map area in the traveling direction widely is stored.

The control unit 14 includes one or a plurality of CDs.
A map database device 16 for searching a map describing roads and surrounding buildings in various places stored in the ROM and transmitting the map information (signals) is connected. Further, the control unit 14, the desired read a map or the like, an operation unit 18 for performing filling or the like of the intended travel line on the target road by traveling plan, map information or the operation unit from the map database 16 A display 20 such as a CRT for displaying operation information from the display 18 is connected.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. In the GPS receiver 12, four GPS radio waves W1, W2, W3, W from the satellite are transmitted by the connected antenna 12a.
4 and outputs position information of the latitude, longitude, altitude, speed, direction, and time of the reception position. This position information is supplied to the control unit 14. Further, a CD-ROM storing map information centering on the traveling place is mounted on the map database device 16, and the control unit 14 sends the map information read from the map database device 16 to the display 20, and 20 displays the map information on the screen. At the same time, the control unit 14 controls the position of the own vehicle measured by the GPS receiver 12 so that the absolute two-dimensional position of the latitude and longitude is superimposed on the map, and the map showing the position of the own vehicle is displayed on the display 20. Is displayed on the screen.

When the position of the own vehicle is displayed on the map while being superimposed on the map, the control unit 14 controls the display so as to display a map area in the traveling direction at a position opposite to the traveling direction away from the center of the display screen. I do. FIG. 2 shows a control state for displaying the position of the own vehicle.

The control for displaying the position of the own vehicle at a position opposite to the traveling direction away from the center of the display screen will be described. In the information on the own vehicle obtained from the GPS receiver 12, the longitude is Xp, the latitude is Yp, the speed is V, and the azimuth (direction) is, for example, 3 clockwise with the azimuth being 0 degree.
An angle up to 60 degrees is defined as θ. In the display 20, the horizontal dimension of the screen display surface is Xd, the vertical dimension is Yd, the center of the display screen is Pc, the longitude of the display screen center Pc is Xc, and the latitude is Yc. Further, a self-vehicle position symbol Ms of a circle (の) is displayed at a position opposite to the display screen center Pc by a distance L from the display screen center Pc and opposite to the traveling direction. In this case, Xc = Xp + Lxsin θ and Yc
= Yp + Lycos θ where (X
The control unit 14 performs control so that the own vehicle position symbol Ms is displayed at (p, Yp). Where Lx and Ly are the ground
Horizontal and vertical dimensions are the same in the display area on the figure
It is a longitude width and a latitude width such that

In this control, when map information is read from the map database device 16, the center positions are set to Xc and Yc.
And the longitude such that the horizontal dimension is Xd and the vertical dimension is Yd
X _P, reads the range of latitude Y _P, at the same time the self-car position symbol Ms display screen center Pc than the distance L, such as to be displayed on the 80% offset position. When the offset becomes small, that is, when the own vehicle moves and approaches the display screen center Pc, the map information to be displayed is shifted. In this case, the map information read from the map database device 16 is expressed by X in the horizontal dimension of the screen display surface.
d, longitude fit the longitudinal dimension in the range of Yd X _P, read the range of latitudes Y _P is a matter of course.

FIG. 3 shows a display screen showing the position of the vehicle on an actual display map. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the own vehicle travels (travels) from the right side to the left side of the display map, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which the vehicle travels (travels) from the left side to the right side of the display map. Is shown. As described above, the control unit 14 always performs control to display the own vehicle position symbol Ms at a position opposite to the traveling direction away from the display screen center Pc so as to widely display the map area in the traveling direction. Therefore, map information of more traveling directions is displayed, and traveling becomes convenient, and the traveling direction can be quickly grasped.

In the above embodiment, the GPS receiver 12 is used for measuring the position of the vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same operation can be performed by using Loran C, Omega navigation, or using a speed sensor and a direction sensor. The effect can be obtained.

[0017]

As will be understood from the above description, according to the navigation apparatus of the present invention, when displaying the self-position on the map information, the display screen center Pc and the traveling direction distant from the display screen center Pc. Is determined so as to be a fixed ratio to the size on the display screen, so that more map information in the traveling direction can be obtained,
This has the effect that traveling becomes convenient and the traveling direction can be quickly grasped.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a navigation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a position of a self-vehicle displayed on a display map.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are display screen diagrams showing the position of a self-vehicle on a display map.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 12 GPS receiver 12a Antenna 14 control unit 16 map database device 18 operation unit 20 display Ms own vehicle position symbol Pc display screen center

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A self-position measuring means for obtaining self-position information, a map database means for storing map information, and a self-position obtained by the self-position measuring means on map information read from the map database means. Self-position display means for displaying, when displaying the self-position on the map information, a self-position at a position opposite to the traveling direction away from the center of the display screen so as to widely display a map area in the traveling direction of the self. In the navigation device having a map information display processing means for displaying the, the distance between the center of the display screen and the opposite position in the traveling direction away from the center of the display screen, relative to the size on the display screen The navigation device is characterized in that the ratio is determined so as to be constant.