JP2897809B2 - Vehicle navigation system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicular navigation apparatus capable of searching for a different guide route on a preset guide route.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vehicular navigation device is mounted on a vehicle, searches for a route from a current position to a destination, performs route guidance based on the searched route, and reduces a driver's burden when traveling on an unfamiliar road. It is alleviating. Therefore, the vehicle navigation device has a function of searching for a route from the current position to the destination by inputting the destination, and displays the searched route. Also,
It has a function to detect the current position of the vehicle, displays the route obtained by searching, and displays the current position of the vehicle together with the route obtained by detecting and searching the current position of the vehicle to provide route guidance. It is carried out.

[0003] In such a system that uniquely searches for a route to a destination, a guidance route desired by a driver is not always provided, that is, the driver must pass through a crowded city area. For some reasons, you may not want to travel on the first route found. Therefore, for example, in a vehicle travel guidance apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-165407, the cost of a line segment from a departure point to a destination set on a road map based on digital map data is adjusted. A plurality of routes are sequentially searched in order, and at this time, the cost of a line segment in the previously searched route is apparently increased so that another route different from the previous searched route is searched next. After the processing is not performed, the next route having the minimum cost of the line segment is searched to search and select a route different from the previously searched route.

[0004]

Such a conventional vehicle traveling guide system is effective when it is known in advance that a congested situation is known when searching for a route from a departure point to a destination. If you try to cope with a situation where the driver wants to travel another route due to unexpected traffic congestion or construction during the route, set the destination again with that point as the starting point and go to the destination Must be searched, or another route must be searched and selected as described above to bypass traffic jams or construction sections. In addition, when another route is searched by predicting that the traffic will usually be congested, there is a case where the traffic is not congested and the searched another route is rather congested. In such a case, the destination is set again in order to search another route, and the route to the destination is searched, or another route is searched and selected as described above, and congestion or construction work is performed. You have to detour the section.

As another method for dealing with traffic congestion and construction sections, a method of deviating from the initially set route and re-searching to detour the congestion section and construction section is also considered. Can be This re-search function connects to the preset guidance route from the current vehicle position when it detects that the vehicle has deviated from the guidance route while the vehicle is traveling on the preset guidance route. This is to search for a route to be performed. By using this feature,
In some cases, traffic congestion sections and construction sections can be bypassed. But,
When the guidance route is intentionally deviated and re-search is performed, a route connecting to a preset guidance route is not always found, and in some cases, a case where the deviated route is a dead end may be sufficiently considered. In such a case, it is necessary to drive the vehicle in a different direction from the current route and perform the search again. In addition, even if a connection can be made to a preset route, a connection point is located in a congested section or a construction section, or a route that can always bypass a congested section or a construction section is searched. is not.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and a vehicle capable of easily searching for a guidance route different from the current guidance route even while traveling on a preset guidance route. It is an object to provide a navigation device for a vehicle.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a vehicle navigation device for automatically performing route guidance according to a preset route, a current position detection device for detecting the current position of the vehicle, and map information. And an information storage device storing the route information and an input for inputting a destination and a passing point, and giving an instruction to execute a route search from the current position detected by the current position detecting device to the destination and the passing point. Device, notifying means for outputting information for route guidance, and route searching means for setting a search range in accordance with a route search instruction of the input device and searching for a route from the current position to the destination or a passing point. Route storage means for temporarily storing the route searched by the route search means; route guidance control means for outputting a signal for performing route guidance based on the route to the notifying means; The route search means, when an instruction to execute a route search is issued by the input device, the route stored in the route storage means as a first route, By performing a route search by setting a search range different from the route search range, a second route different from the first route is searched, and the present vehicle A current position detection device for detecting a position, an information storage device storing map information, route information, data costs of roads and branch points, and a cost change coefficient corresponding to a plurality of search conditions, a destination and a passing point An input device for inputting the search condition, instructing to execute a route search from the current position detected by the current position detection device to the destination or the passing point, and outputting information for route guidance. Information Steps, route search means for performing a route search from the current position to the destination or passing point in accordance with a route search instruction from the input means, and route storage for temporarily storing the route searched by the route search means Means, route guidance control means for outputting a signal for performing route guidance based on the route to the notifying means, and a route in which the current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detection device is stored in the route storage means. A central processing unit having a route traveling determination unit that determines whether or not the vehicle is on the route. When it is determined that the data is located above, the change coefficient is selected according to the search condition of the instruction, the cost of the data of the road or the branch point is changed by the change coefficient, and the route search is executed. It is characterized by searching for a low-cost route.

[0008]

In the vehicle navigation system according to the present invention, the route search means sets a search range in accordance with a route search instruction of the input device and searches for a route from the current position to the destination or the passing point. The search means sets a search range different from the search range of the first route by using the route stored in the route storage device as a first route when receiving an instruction to execute a route search by the input device. By performing a route search, a second route different from the first route is searched, so that a route different from the first route can be searched as a second route in response to a driver's request. it can. The information storage device stores map information, route information, data costs of roads and junctions, and cost change coefficients corresponding to a plurality of search conditions. When it is determined that the own vehicle is on the route, the change coefficient is selected according to the search condition of the route search instruction, and the cost of the data of the road or the branch point is changed by the change coefficient to perform the route search. By running
Since the route with the lowest cost is searched, it is possible to set a route according to the traveling situation. For example, if you do not want to travel along the route due to traffic congestion or construction due to an accident, you can easily search for a different route from the current route, and depending on the driving situation, Route guidance that matches

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a vehicle navigation device according to the present invention.
As shown in the figure, an input / output device 1 for inputting / outputting information related to route guidance, a current position detecting device 2 for detecting information related to the current position of the vehicle, navigation data necessary for calculating a route, and a display required for guidance. It comprises an information storage device 3 in which guidance data and the like are recorded, and a central processing unit 4 which performs display guidance processing necessary for route search processing and route guidance and controls the entire system.

The input / output device 1 instructs the central processing unit 4 to perform a navigation process according to the driver's intention so that the driver can input a destination or output guidance information by voice and / or screen when necessary. In addition, it has a function of printing out processed data, data of data communication, and the like. As a means for realizing the function, the input unit inputs a point by a telephone number, coordinates, or the like in order to set a point such as a destination or a passing point,
A touch switch 11 for requesting route guidance or switching modes; an output unit for displaying input data on a screen or automatically displaying route guidance on a screen in response to a driver's request; A printer 13 that prints out data processed by the central processing unit 4 and data stored in the information storage device 3 and a speaker 16 that outputs route guidance by voice are provided.

The display 12 comprises a color CRT or a color liquid crystal display, and is necessary for navigation such as a route setting screen, a section map screen, an intersection map screen based on map data and guidance data processed by the central processing unit 4. In addition to outputting all screens in color display, buttons for setting route guidance, performing guidance during route guidance, and switching screens are displayed on this screen. In particular, the passing intersection information such as the passing intersection name is displayed in color in a pop-up on the section map screen at any time.

The display 12 is provided in an instrument panel near the driver's seat, and the driver can check the current position of the vehicle by looking at the section map and obtain information on the route from now on. it can. Further, the display 12 is provided with a touch panel 11 corresponding to the display of the function buttons, and the above operation is executed based on a signal input by touching the buttons. A switch is provided to switch modes such as guidance and destination setting by pressing a key. The input signal generating means including the key switches and the touch panel constitutes an input unit.

The current position detecting device 2 includes a GPS receiving device 21 and a beacon receiving device 22 using a satellite navigation system (GPS), for example, a data transmitting and receiving device 2 for receiving a GPS correction signal using a cellular phone or an FM multiplex signal.
3. Absolute azimuth sensor 2 composed of geomagnetic sensors
4, a relative direction sensor 25 including a wheel sensor, a steering sensor, a gyro, and the like, a distance sensor 26 for detecting a traveling distance from the number of rotations of the wheels, and the like.

The information storage device 3 stores map data, intersection data, node data, road data, photograph data, destination data, guidance point data, detailed destination data, road name data, branch point data, This is a database in which all data such as address data, display guidance data, voice guidance data, etc. are recorded, and is constituted by an optically readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

The central processing unit 4 executes C
PU 40, a program for performing processing such as route search, a display output control required for route guidance, a program for performing voice output control necessary for voice guidance, and a first ROM 41 storing data required for the program, RAM 4 for temporarily storing route guidance information and data being processed
2. A second ROM 43 storing display information data necessary for route guidance and map display, an image memory 44 storing image data used for screen display on a display, a CP
Image memory 4 based on the display output control signal from U40
4, an image processor 45 for extracting image data, performing image processing and outputting the image data to a display, a voice, a phrase, a single sentence, a sound, etc. read from the information storage device 3 based on a voice output control signal from the CPU. , A voice processor 46 for converting the signal to an analog signal and outputting it to the speaker 16, a communication interface 47 for exchanging input / output data by communication, and a sensor input interface 48 for receiving a sensor signal of the current position detection device 2, A clock 49 for writing date and time in the diagnostic information is provided. Here, the route guidance is configured so that the driver can select either the screen display or the voice output.

The data communication device 5 stores a large amount of route guidance information and transmits / receives data to / from an external information center such as VICS communication and ATIS communication provided by a user's request. The destination information and the individual information are stored in an information storage medium (digital data storage means) such as, and the data transmission / reception unit 51 for transmitting / receiving data for inputting the coordinates of the point using this information, and specifying the point. A telephone transmission unit 52 for automatically making a telephone call to obtain a telephone call for acquiring peripheral information and setting a destination and then making a telephone call with the destination is provided.

FIG. 3 shows the flow of processing of the entire system. First, the current position (departure place) required for a route search
Is acquired by the current position detecting means (step S1).
Next, on the destination setting screen, the destination setting conditions are input via the input device to set the destination (Step S).
2) Carry out a route search by the route search means (step S3) Press the guidance start key of the input device on the searched route to start the route guidance, and measure the position of the own vehicle by the current position detection means. Then, the current position is tracked (step S4). Next, it is detected whether or not a signal for an instruction to search another route has been input via the input device (step S5). If an instruction signal to search another route has been input, another route search processing is performed by the route searching means. Executed (step S
6). If the alternative route search instruction signal has not been input, the guidance unit performs guidance by outputting the notification unit by voice and / or display based on the signal output by the route guidance control unit based on the route that has been set (step S7). .
Further, the distance from the current position to the destination is calculated, and the arrival at the destination is determined based on whether or not this distance has become equal to or less than the predetermined distance (step S8). Is determined and the route guidance ends. On the other hand, if the distance from the current position to the destination is not less than the predetermined distance, the process returns to step S4 to continue the current position tracking.
The detection of the input of the other route search instruction signal is performed by a timer interrupt process.

Hereinafter, the alternative route search processing shown in step S6 of FIG. 3 will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a search range in an initial search from a current position to a destination or the like by generally inputting a point such as a destination, and FIG. 5 is a route guide for the initial search shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the range of search of another route at the time.

When the search range in the initial search is schematically represented, as shown in FIG. 4A, the road density and the like are divided stepwise by local roads, main roads, and main roads, and the map information is hierarchically structured. By connecting the map information to the upper hierarchy in block units from the current location O to the destination D and from the destination D to the current location O, respectively, as shown in FIG.
An elliptical range as shown in (b) is to be searched. However, in the present invention, when roughly expressed in a search range when an instruction to search for another route is given during traveling on the guide route, the present location O and the destination D are centered as shown in FIG. By connecting the map information to the upper layer in block units as shown in FIG.
A circular area as shown in (b) is to be searched. In FIG. 5B, the shape is described as a circle, but the shape is not limited to a circle. As shown in FIG.
The search range when searching for another route is to search for a route that is as different as possible from the currently running route.
The search is performed by expanding the range from the normal search range shown in FIG.

In the navigation device according to the present invention, points such as a destination and a passing point are set, a route is searched, and route guidance is performed based on the route. Various data such as roads and junctions stored in the storage device in advance include road widths, road types such as expressways, national roads, and prefectural roads, signal waiting times at intersections, road restrictions such as no entry and one-way traffic, or roads. The congestion degree and the like are stored as costs based on various information such as those previously converted into data, and a recommended route is calculated based on these costs at the time of initial route search so that the cost is the lowest, for example. While traveling on the route determined by the initial search, if an instruction to search for another route is given by the input device,
As described above, a route different from the current route is recalculated and displayed.

FIG. 6 is an example of a screen display when another route search key is provided during route guidance. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method of calculating another route different from the current route.

As shown in FIG. 6, while traveling on the initially searched route indicated by the bold line, the "alternate route" key 10
When the user wants to deviate from the route currently being guided and go through a different route, the user presses the "alternate route" key 101 to search for a route that makes the route currently being guided as difficult as possible. Can be. The execution key for searching for another route may be the same as the “re-search” key displayed when the user deviates from the route, for example.

As shown in FIG. 7, a route is determined in the initial search, and route guidance is executed based on the route.
It is determined whether or not the vehicle is traveling on the route currently being guided by the route traveling determination means (step S11). If it is on the route, the search condition set by the route search condition setting means is checked (step S12). This search condition is set, for example, by pressing the select key 102 on the screen shown in FIG. 14 displayed after pressing the “Alternate Route” key 101 in FIG. can do. If the designated search condition is "not specified", another route search is executed by increasing the cost of the road data and the branch point data of the currently displayed initial search route (step S1).
3). That is, if an instruction to search for another route is given while traveling on a route, it is assumed that the user does not want to pass the currently guided road, and even if the user does not set conditions, By increasing the cost of the route being guided, it is possible to search for another route that does not pass through the route currently being guided as much as possible. In this case, in the operation of increasing the cost of the route currently being guided, a certain number may be added to the cost of the road data or the branch point data of the currently guided route, or a certain number may be multiplied. . Or about the route you are currently navigating,
The cost of the road information and the branch point information ahead of the vehicle position at the time when the different route search instruction is issued may be set higher as the position is closer to the current position, and the original cost may be set as the distance from the current position increases. . If the search condition specified in step S12 is determined to be the "shortest route", the latest traffic information is acquired from the traffic information acquisition means, and a re-search is performed reflecting the traffic information (step S14). ). Since traffic information is acquired and another route search is performed, information such as traffic congestion information and traffic regulation by construction can be taken in, and a route can be searched based on the latest information. If it is determined in step S12 that the designated search condition is “a route that is easy to run”, another route search is executed by changing the cost relating to ease of travel (step S15). If it is determined in step S11 that the vehicle is not traveling on the currently guided route, another route search is executed at the currently set cost (step S16).

Next, shown in step S13 of FIG.
A specific process of setting the cost of the route currently being guided to a large value, searching for another route, and outputting another route will be described in detail below. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a process of setting a high cost for a route currently being guided and searching and outputting another route. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process for searching and outputting another route by setting so as to exclude the cost of the route currently being guided.

In FIG. 8, when an instruction to start another route search is given by the input means during route guidance (step S2).
1) The data used for the search is read from the storage device (step S22). Here, as the data used for the alternative route search, map data such as all road data and branch point data may be read, or the search is performed from the search range of the initial search as shown in FIG. When various data to be read are read, the search range may be expanded as shown in FIG. 4B, and various data corresponding to the range may be read. Then, the cost of the road data and the branch point data of the currently guided route is set high (step S23). Here, as a method of increasing the data cost, a certain number is added to the cost of the road data or the branch point data of the currently guided route, or the cost is reset by multiplying the cost by a certain number. Based on the cost of the search data set in this way, a new road is searched for by the route searching means (step S24), and a route different from the previous time is output from the route guidance control means to the notifying means, and the notifying means is output. To perform route guidance by voice guidance or display guidance (step S25).

In the case of performing another route search by excluding the route currently being guided from the search target, in FIG. 9, when an instruction to start another route search is given by the operation of the input device (step S31), it is used. The search data to be read is read (step S32). Then, the cost of the road data, the branch point data, and the like of the route currently being guided is set to the maximum value and set so as to be excluded as much as possible from the search target (step S33). Here, it is described as not being searched, but the reason that the cost is set to the maximum value and left is, for example, a single road around the destination, and in order to reach the destination, you must pass through that road. This is because there are cases where it must be done. When the cost of each data is set, a search for a new road is performed (step S34), and a route different from the whole is output by the route guidance control means (step S35).

Next, for a device in which road data is stored in a storage device in a plurality of hierarchical structures based on road types and the like, another route search is performed by excluding connection points of each hierarchy, and another route is output. This will be described in detail below. FIG.
0 is a flowchart of the process of searching and outputting while excluding the connection point of each layer in the route currently being guided. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for schematically explaining a case where a search is performed excluding connection points of each layer in a route currently being guided.

Here, the hierarchical structure is a structure in which map data composed of road data, branch point data, and the like are hierarchically divided according to the degree of detail based on, for example, a road type. That is, for example, at the lowest level, all the road network data stored in the storage device is stored, and a detailed map is formed. As the level becomes higher, detailed roads are deleted based on the type of road, and the highest level is, for example, only expressways. Although the map data of each layer divided in this manner is divided into areas and stored, it is better to keep the data amount of each area of each layer as constant as possible in consideration of processing of data such as search time. Indeed, the area is set small. This is because road data is denser in lower layers and map data is coarser in the above layers. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to the above-described hierarchical structure, and various modifications are possible. In addition, data of connection points for transition between layers and connection between adjacent areas of the same layer are stored in the storage device. This connection point may be an intersection or a point on a road unrelated to the intersection. Thus, when map data is provided in a hierarchical structure and a search is performed, the current location and the vicinity of the destination are searched in a lower hierarchy where the map data is dense, and the map data becomes coarser between the current location and the destination. Search in a certain upper hierarchy. As a search method, for example, a search is started from both the current location and the destination, and in the hierarchy being searched, a direction from the current location to the destination, or a direction from the destination to the current location is considered, or within a preset range. Further, in consideration of the costs of various data, a search is performed up to a connection point connected to a hierarchy higher than the hierarchy currently being searched. Then, a search from this connection point to the connection point to the next higher hierarchy is performed. By repeating this operation, when the connection point from the current location side and the connection point from the destination side are in the same hierarchy, a search between the connection points is performed in that hierarchy, and FIG.
The route is determined as shown in FIG. However, the search method in this hierarchical structure is not particularly limited to the above method, and various modifications are possible as long as data corresponding to connection points between the respective layers are stored.

The processing when another route search instruction is given during route guidance for the route searched as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. When an instruction to start another route search is issued by operating the input device during route guidance (step S41), search data to be used is read (step S42). Then, as shown in FIG. 11B, a process of excluding the connection point of the route currently being guided is performed (step S43), a search for a new route is performed (step S44), and a route different from the previous route is output. (Step S45). Here, the case of excluding the connection point of the route currently being guided in step S43 has been described. However, data relating to cost is added to the connection point similarly to the road data and the branch point data, and the connection point of the route currently being guided is added. May be set to the maximum value. In addition, when excluding the connection points, all the connection points on the currently traveling route may be excluded, or only the two lowest connection points may be excluded. It may be excluded.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of a search process when the search condition can be changed in another route search, and FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a change coefficient as a search condition in another route search.

A search condition is selected on a search condition setting screen as shown in FIG. 14, and a different route search may be performed by changing the cost of the data of the road and the branch point. Will be described in detail.

When an initial route, that is, a point such as a destination is set and a route searched first is guided and another route search is instructed, first, as shown in FIG. 12, route search conditions are acquired. Is performed (step S51). The search conditions in the route search include, for example, those that are based on the shortest time, those that are set based on ease of driving, and those that are stored in advance in the system without specifying those conditions. The user can select and instruct them, including those based only on cost, by inputting them on a display screen or the like. Of course, at the time of searching for another route, an operation for increasing the cost of the road data and the branch point data of the route currently being guided is performed so that the route currently being guided is prevented from passing as much as possible. Then select,
A change coefficient is multiplied to the cost of the data of the road and the branch point based on the acquired search condition (step S52). As shown in FIG. 13, the change coefficient is the shortest time, the ease of driving, and the like for the road type, road width, right / left turn, signal, length, vehicle speed, and other conditions corresponding to the cost of road data and branch point data. Are stored corresponding to the search condition of. At the time of the search, the cost is changed by multiplying the cost of the road or the branch point by these coefficients. For example, when the shortest time is selected as a search condition, a coefficient such as a right or left turn or a signal is doubled, so that a route that turns right or left or a route with many signals becomes difficult to appear. Further, for example, when the condition of ease of driving is set as a condition, a coefficient such as a road type and a road width is 2
By doubling, it becomes difficult to make a detailed road or a route that passes through a narrow road. When no particular condition is specified, all the coefficients are set to 1 so that the cost of the route currently being guided and the costs of other roads and junctions stored in the data are not changed. A route search is performed based on the coefficients determined in this way (step S53).
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration is such that the user can select and instruct a search condition. However, for example, the above-described IC card may store a desired search condition. By performing the processing as described above, it is possible to search for another route according to the user's preference.

In the above embodiment, when a search condition is designated at the time of another route search, the cost of the route currently being guided is set high, and then the cost setting is changed by multiplying the change coefficient according to the search condition. As described above, the cost of the route currently being guided may be increased after multiplying the change coefficient. Further, it is also possible to search for another route by performing only the operation of multiplying the change coefficient by the instruction of the search condition, without performing the operation of increasing the cost of the route currently being guided. In this way, it is not particularly necessary to avoid the vicinity in front of the current position of the vehicle, but it is possible to meet the demand that the user wants to change the course according to his preference and run.

Further, in the above embodiment, it is possible to specify a search condition at the time of searching for another route. However, the search condition can be specified at the time of an initial search. In this case, the change coefficient of each search condition may be changed between the initial search and the search of another route.

In the above-described embodiment, an initial search is first performed by inputting a point such as a destination, and a different route is searched when the user desires while traveling on the route. However, while traveling on a route that has been searched for another route, means may be provided for executing a different route search in response to a key change of "another route" so as to repeatedly output another route. With this configuration, it is possible to select another route according to the user's preference.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the invention described in the claims.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the overall configuration of the vehicle navigation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of processing of the entire system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram generally showing a search range in an initial search from a current position to a destination or the like by inputting a point such as a destination.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a search range of another route at the time of the route search initially performed shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example when another route search key is provided during route guidance.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of calculating another route different from the current route.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a process of setting a high cost for a route currently being guided and searching and outputting another route.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process of searching and outputting another route by setting so as to exclude the cost of the route currently being guided.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a process of searching and outputting while excluding a connection point of each layer in a route currently being guided.

FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating a case where a search is performed by excluding connection points of each layer in a route currently being guided;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a flow of a search process when a search condition can be changed in another route search.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a change coefficient as a search condition in another route search.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a search condition setting screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 input / output device, 2 current position detecting device, 3 information storage device, 4 central processing device, 11 touch switch, 12
... Display, 13 ... Printer, 16 ... Speaker, 2
1 ... GPS receiver, 22 ... beacon receiver, 23 ...
Data transmitting / receiving device, 40 CPU, 41 first ROM,
42 RAM, 43 second ROM, 44 image memory,
45 image processor, 46 audio processor, 47
Communication interface, 48: Sensor input interface, 49: Clock

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01C 21/00 G08G 1/0969 G09B 29/10

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vehicle navigation device for automatically performing route guidance according to a preset route, comprising: a current position detection device for detecting a current position of a vehicle; and an information storage device for storing map information and route information. An input device for inputting a destination or a passing point, and instructing to execute a route search from the current position detected by the current position detecting device to the destination or the passing point, and information for route guidance. Notification means for outputting; a route search means for setting a search range in accordance with a route search instruction of the input device to search for a route from the current position to the destination or a passing point; and a search performed by the route search means. A central processing unit having route storage means for temporarily storing the route, and route guidance control means for outputting a signal for performing route guidance based on the route to the notifying means; The route search means, when instructed to execute a route search by the input device, sets the route stored in the route storage means as a first route and sets a search range different from the search range of the first route. The vehicle navigation device is characterized in that a second route different from the first route is searched by setting a route and performing a route search. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit includes a route traveling determination unit that determines whether a current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detection device is on a route stored in the route storage unit. Then, when the route traveling determination unit determines that the own vehicle is on the route, the route search unit sets the route stored in the route storage unit as a first route, and 2. A search for a second route different from the first route by setting a search range different from the search range and performing a route search.
The vehicle navigation device according to any one of the preceding claims. 3. A vehicle navigation device for automatically performing route guidance according to a preset route, comprising: a current position detection device for detecting a current position of a host vehicle; map information, route information, and data of roads and junctions. An information storage device storing the cost and the cost change coefficient corresponding to a plurality of search conditions, and inputting a destination, a passing point, and the search condition, and from the current position detected by the current position detection device, An input device for giving an instruction to execute a route search to a destination or a passing point; a notifying unit for outputting information for route guidance; and the destination or passing from the current position according to the route search instruction of the input unit. Route search means for searching for a route to a point, route storage means for temporarily storing a route searched by the route search means, and a signal for performing route guidance based on the route. And route guidance control means for outputting a notification means,
A route processing unit for determining whether the current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detection device is on a route stored in the route storage unit. The search means selects the change coefficient in accordance with the search condition of the instruction when the route travel determination means determines that the own vehicle is on the route when there is a route search instruction from the input means. By changing the cost of the data of roads and junctions according to the change coefficient and performing a route search,
A vehicle navigation device for searching for a route with the lowest cost. 4. The route searching means according to claim 1, wherein the route searching means sets a higher cost for the route currently being stored stored in said route storage means and searches for a route having the lowest cost. The vehicle navigation device according to any one of the preceding claims. 5. The route search means has means for acquiring traffic information on each route, and sets a high cost for a route such as congestion or construction by using the traffic information obtained by the means, and The vehicle navigation device according to claim 1, wherein a low route is searched.