JP3154571B2 - Travel position display device provided with voice guidance 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 traveling position display device called a navigation device for displaying the current position of a car or the like together with a map on a display device, and more particularly, to a voice when a vehicle comes near a predetermined location on a route , for example, an intersection. The present invention relates to a travel position display device provided with a voice guidance device for automatically performing guidance by a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a conventional vehicle-mounted traveling position display device. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 101 denotes a direction sensor. The direction sensor 101 uses a geomagnetic sensor for detecting the absolute running direction of the vehicle and an optical gyro for detecting the relative running direction of the vehicle. Reference numeral 102 denotes a distance sensor that generates a pulse corresponding to the number of rotations of a wheel;
Is GPS (Global Positioning S)
system) is a receiver, and the GPS receiver 10
3 can calculate the position (latitude, mildness) of the receiving point by receiving and calculating radio waves transmitted from a plurality of satellites. A CD-ROM player 104 reads map data from a CD-ROM 105 on which map data is recorded. 10
Reference numeral 6 denotes a display / operation unit installed in the vehicle compartment. The display / operation unit 106 is provided on a liquid crystal display 106A for displaying a map, a current traveling position, a direction, and the like of the automobile, and is provided on a front surface of the liquid crystal display 106A. The touch panel 106B includes a switch for instructing enlargement or reduction of a display map, a switch for instructing a route search, a liquid crystal display 10
A switch for selecting a destination from the place names displayed on 6A is provided. Reference numeral 107 denotes an apparatus main body, which is installed in a trunk room or the like.

Next, the configuration of the apparatus main body 107 will be described. Reference numeral 108 denotes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for performing various operations; 109, a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing programs for various operations to be performed by the CPU 108;
Reference numeral 10 denotes a RAM for storing data from the azimuth sensor 101, the distance sensor 102, the GPS receiver 103, the CD-ROM player 104, a calculation result by the CPU 108, and the like.
(Random access memory), 111 is a ROM storing patterns such as characters and symbols to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 106A, 112 is an input interface, 113
Denotes a communication interface, and 114 denotes an image processor. The image processor 114 converts map data, current position data, and the like stored in the RAM 110 into image data to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 106A. Reference numeral 115 denotes an image memory which stores image data converted by the image processor 114, reads out the image data stored in the image memory 115, transmits the read image data to the liquid crystal display 106A, and outputs a map, a current position of a car, and the like. Is displayed. Reference numeral 116 denotes an audio processor.
The voice message created by the voice processor 116 is output from the speaker 117.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned conventional traveling position display device will be described. In FIG. 4, when the output of the direction sensor 101 and the output of the distance sensor 102 are sent to the CPU 108 through the input interface 112,
108 calculates the current position from these data to determine the latitude and longitude of the current position. The current position is corrected based on data from the GPS receiver 103. Based on the current position detected in this way, map data in a predetermined range centered on the current position is stored in the CD-ROM 10 by the CD-POM player 104.
5 and stored in the RAM 110 via the communication interface 113. RAM
A part of the map data stored in 110 is read, converted into image data by the image processor 114, and written into the image memory 115. Image memory 11
The image data stored in 5 is read out by the image processor 114, sent to the liquid crystal display 106A, and a map of a predetermined range centering on the current position is displayed. If the map data read from the RAM 110 includes a character code or a symbol code, a pattern corresponding to the character code or the symbol code is stored in the ROM 11.
1 and characters such as place names and symbols such as schools are displayed on the liquid crystal display 106A together with the map.
Further, the current position displayed on the liquid crystal display 106A is sequentially changed based on the traveling speed and the traveling azimuth sequentially obtained as the vehicle travels. In addition, through
When a route search is instructed and a destination is specified, a route that can be predicted to reach the destination in a short time by the route search is selected, and the route is selected on the map on the liquid crystal display 106A.
The route is displayed. When the current position of the vehicle obtained by the CPU 108 reaches a predetermined point just before the intersection, the voice processor 115 is activated, a predetermined message is created, and the speaker 117 outputs, for example, “about 7”.
Please note that it is an intersection at 00m. Is output.

FIG. 5 shows a display example on the liquid crystal display 106A. In this example, a road map is displayed, and a place name, an intersection name, a road name, and the like are displayed. In FIG. 5, a broken line 118 indicates a route selected by the route search, and a reference numeral 119 indicates an own vehicle mark of the automobile. The vehicle mark 119 indicates the current position and the traveling direction of the vehicle. A dotted line 120 of a black circle indicates a traveling locus of the automobile.

Next, a description will be given of a route search function in the above conventional example. In FIG. 4, touch panel 106B
When the user operates to select the route search function, the device enters the route search mode. In this route search mode, a destination is first input. Designation of the destination is performed by selecting from the place names displayed on the liquid crystal display 106A, or by specifying a point on the map displayed on the liquid crystal display 106A with a fingertip. When you specify a destination,
Route search processing is started. This route search processing is to automatically select a route predicted to be able to reach the destination fastest among a plurality of routes from the current position to the destination. For example, from the current position to the destination, The distance of the
This is performed based on the road type (expressway, national road, prefectural road, ...), road width, and the like.

FIG. 6 shows an example of road data stored in the CD-ROM 105. Unit I, II ...
Is divided into units by latitude and longitude based on the nationwide topographic map, and the roads in each unit are represented as a combination of nodes and links, and for each node, the node number, node latitude, longitude and Set whether or not the node is an intersection node. For each link, set a link number and link distance.
105 stores, for each unit, a node number of each node existing in each unit, latitude, longitude, presence / absence of an intersection node, and the like, a link number of each link existing in each unit, a link distance, and the like. Is recorded.

In FIG. 6, a bold line indicates a guide route selected as a result of the route search, and
→ 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 6 → Unit 1 node 1 → 2 →
This indicates that the route from 3 to 4 is the selected guide route . When the guidance route is selected, approximately 700 m, 300 m before the intersection node (node 4 of unit I),
Guidance points (guide points) A, B, and C are automatically set at 100 m. When the current position reaches the guidance point A as the vehicle travels, a predetermined voice guidance, for example, a voice saying "It is an intersection at about 700 m, please be careful." Similarly, when the vehicle reaches the guidance points B and C, the guidance is given by voice, "It is an intersection at about 300 m, please be careful." And "It is an intersection at about 100 m, please be careful."

FIG. 7 shows a table created by a route search. (A) in FIG. 7 is a table of the unit of path tracking data of the guidance route from the current position to the destination, in the example of FIG. 6, units I, II is by unit through
Written to the road tracking data table. FIG. 4 (B)
This is a table of route tracking data.
After the order of the nodes in each unit of the selected guide route
Written in path order. In the example of FIG. 6, nodes 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 6 of the unit I are written, and subsequently nodes 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 of the unit II are written. FIG.
(C) is a table of guidance point data, which is approximately 700 before the intersection node of the selected guidance route.
m, 300 m, and 100 m, for example, in the case of FIG. 6, a guidance point is set between the nodes 2 and 4 of the unit I and between the nodes 1 and 3 of the unit II.
In the process of traveling along the guidance route displayed on the liquid crystal display 106A, the current position is changed to the guidance point A,
Such voice guidance is performed every time when the voice reaches B and C.

FIG. 8 shows a process for determining whether or not to perform intersection guidance in the conventional example. FIG. 9 shows node 1,
This shows a state in which another link 133 crosses at node 3 (intersection node 132) of the selected guidance route 131 composed of 2, 3, 4, and 5. As shown in FIG. 8, first, in step 121, a route tracking data table for each unit ((A) in FIG. 7) is created by route search. Next, in step 122, a route tracking data table (FIG. 4B) is created from the unit-specific route tracking data. Step 1
At 23, an intersection node is searched from the route tracking data table. Next, at step 124, the turning angle θ at the intersection in the guide route is determined. In the case of FIG. 9, this bending angle θ is the bending angle between the link between the nodes 2 and 3 and the link between the nodes 3 and 4. Next, it is determined whether or not the bending angle θ obtained in step 125 is smaller than the angle of 10 °. If it is determined in step 125 that the turning angle θ is smaller than the angle of 10 °, the process proceeds to step 128, and the process ends without performing the intersection guidance by voice. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 125 that the bend angle θ is not smaller than the angle 10 °, it is determined in step 126 whether the bend angle θ is equal to or greater than 45 °, and if it is determined that the angle is 45 ° or greater. Proceeds to step 129, and performs intersection guidance by voice. In step 126, the bending angle θ is 45
If it is determined that it is not equal to or more than °, the process proceeds to step 127.
In step 127, it is determined whether or not there is another link within ± 60 ° with respect to the traveling direction. If it is determined that there is another link, the process proceeds to step 129, and the guidance of the intersection by voice is performed. If it is determined in step 127 that there is no other link within ± 60 °, the process proceeds to step 128, and the guidance of the intersection by voice is not performed. The guidance point data table shown in FIG. 7C is created including the presence or absence of the voice guidance determined by the above processing.

As described above, in the conventional traveling position display device, the turning angle θ at the intersection of the guide routes is 10 °.
If the driver is smaller than the intersection, the driver will not be confused in the direction to proceed without giving guidance to the intersection. If the bend angle θ is 45 ° or more, or if there is another link within ± 60 ° with respect to the traveling direction, it is possible to guide the user that the intersection is approaching because the driver can pass the intersection without error. Intersection guidance is provided by voice.

[0012]

However, in the intersection guide determination in the above-described conventional traveling position display device,
Even when a minute link with a short distance is connected to the intersection node, the determination is made based on the bending angle between the link connected before the intersection node and the minute link. For example, in the case of the intersection 132 shown in FIG. , Nodes 4 and 5, the links between nodes 2 and 3 are almost 90 ° bent with respect to the links between nodes 2 and 3.
Angle between the link between and the link between nodes 3 and 4
If the angle is smaller than 10 °, voice guidance for the intersection 132 is not performed, so that there is a problem that appropriate intersection guidance cannot be performed. Such nodes
The small link between 3 and 4 is the intersection in case of irregular intersection.
Nodes 3 and 4 may be included within the intersection and within the intersection.
Turn right between the nodes 4 and 5 after a slight turn between
When folding, the sound at the intersection 132 is
Since voice guidance is not provided, perform appropriate intersection guidance
Can not do.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem. Even when a minute link is connected to an intersection node, a voice that can appropriately judge the presence or absence of voice guidance at a guidance point is provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide a travel position display device provided with a guide device.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vehicle position detecting means for detecting a vehicle position, and a set of nodes representing coordinate points and links connecting the nodes. A map data storage medium storing road information, travel position display means for displaying the map read from the map data storage medium and the own vehicle position detected by the own vehicle position detection means in association with each other; and route searching means for searching for a route automatically, is selected by the route searching means
Guide point setting means for automatically setting a predetermined point in front of an intersection on a route as a guide point, voice guidance means for providing intersection guidance by voice when the vehicle position passes the guide point, and an intersection on the route bending angle of the intersection guidance presence determining means for determining whether or not an intersection guidance in the set guidance point based on the size, nodes other than intersection node within a predetermined range around the intersection node in the A minute link determining means for determining whether or not there is a vehicle, and controlling each means, and when the minute link determining means determines that there is a minute link, the intersection guidance presence / absence determining means ignores the minute link and out of a predetermined range. Control means for determining a turning angle with the next node and determining the presence or absence of intersection guidance based on the magnitude of the turning angle. .

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention, the above-described configuration, around the intersection exists in the route searched by the route searching means, nodes other than the intersection node exists within a predetermined range based on the width of the path entering this intersection Whether or not there is a minute link is determined by the minute link determination means, and if it is determined that there is a minute link, the bending angle of the intersection is obtained by ignoring this minute link, and if it is determined that there is no minute link, the intersection Is determined, and the presence or absence of intersection guidance is determined based on the determined bending angle. Based on the determination result, the presence or absence of voice guidance at the guidance point is determined, so that intersection guidance can be appropriately performed.

[0016]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a traveling position display device provided with a voice guidance device according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a vehicle position detecting means for detecting the position of the vehicle, 12 a map data storage medium storing road information as a set of nodes representing coordinate points and links connecting the nodes, and 13 a map data storage medium. travel position displaying means for displaying the read out from the storage medium 12 map detected by the vehicle position detecting unit 11 and a vehicle position to correspond, 14 route search for searching for a route to a destination automatically Means 1
5 is a guide point setting means for automatically setting a predetermined point in front of the intersection on the route selected by the route search means 14 as a guide point, and 16 is an intersection guidance by voice when the vehicle position passes the guide point. Voice guidance means for performing; 17; intersection guidance presence / absence determination means for determining presence / absence of intersection guidance by voice guidance means at a guide point based on the magnitude of a turning angle at an intersection on a route ;
8 is a minute link determination unit that determines whether or not a node other than an intersection node exists within a predetermined range based on the width of a route that enters the intersection around the intersection, and 19 controls these units, If it is determined by the minute link determination means 18 that there is a minute link, this minute link is ignored and a bend angle with the next node outside the predetermined range is obtained. It is a CPU as a control means for making a determination by the determination means 17.

Next, the intersection guidance processing in the above embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, first create a unit of path tracking data table by the route search in the step 21 (corresponding to (A) in FIG. 7). Creating a next routing track data table from the unit of path add <br/> tail data in step 22 (corresponding to (B) in FIG. 7). In step 23, a guidance point data table (corresponding to (C) in FIG. 7) is created from the route tracking data, and an intersection node is searched. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, nodes 1 → 2 → 3 → 3 → 4 →
The node 3 of the black circle on the guidance route 31 following the fifth node 5 is an intersection node 32, and this intersection node 32 has another link 3
3 are connected. Therefore, in the intersection node search in step 23, the intersection node 32 is searched. Next, in step 24, the length (l) is obtained from the road width of the route entering the intersection of the intersection node 32 searched in step 23. In the case of FIG. 3, the length (l) is obtained by multiplying a road width corresponding to the link between the nodes 2 and 3 by a constant K and calculating. Next, the process proceeds to step 25, where it is determined whether or not there is a node within the range of the square centered on the intersection node 32 and having the length (l) obtained in step 24 as one side. Length (l) at step 25
If it is determined that there is no node within the range of the square whose side is, the bend angle θ of the link before and after the intersection node 32 is obtained as in the conventional example. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 25 that the node is within the range of the square having the length (l) as one side, the process proceeds to step 26, and the node in the square having the length (l) as one side is ignored. Then, a bending angle θ with the next node outside the range of the square is obtained. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 3, since the node 4 is within the range of the square having the length (l) as one side, the node 4 is ignored in the step 26 and the next node 5 outside the range of the square is bent. Obtain the angle θ. The bending angle θ obtained in step 26 or step 27 is 10 ° in step 28 as in the conventional example.
In step 29, it is determined whether or not there is another link within ± 60 ° with respect to the traveling direction. Then, at step 30A, the intersection 7
At the 00m, 300m, or 100m guidance point, voice guidance at the intersection is performed. If the conditions are not satisfied, no guidance is performed at step 30B. Including the presence or absence of voice guidance determined by the above processing, FIG.
The guidance point data table shown in FIG. By referring to this table as you travel,
Voice guidance is provided at each guidance point.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, when a minute link exists within a range of a square centered on an intersection, the minute link is ignored and a bend with the next node outside the predetermined range is ignored. Since the angle is obtained and the presence / absence of voice guidance is determined based on the turning angle, it is not necessary to perform intersection guidance in front of the intersection as in the related art, and appropriate voice guidance can be performed.

[0019]

As is clear from the above embodiment, the present invention has an advantage that the presence / absence of voice guidance at a guide point can be appropriately determined even when a minute link is connected to an intersection node. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a traveling position display device including a voice guidance device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an intersection guidance processing operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a road when an intersection guidance process is performed in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing a traveling position display device provided with a conventional voice guidance device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display screen in a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of road data in a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a road data storage table in a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an intersection guidance processing operation in a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a road when performing an intersection guidance process in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Own vehicle position detection means 12 Map data storage medium 13 Travel position display means 14 Route search means 15 Guide point setting means 16 Voice guidance means 17 Intersection guidance presence / absence determination means 18 Micro link determination means 19 CPU (control means)

(56) References JP-A-6-52493 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01C 21/00 G08G 1/00-9/02 G09B 23 / 00-29/14 G09F 27/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vehicle position detecting means for detecting a vehicle position, a map data storage medium storing road information as a set of nodes representing coordinate points and links connecting the nodes, and the map data storage medium Travel position display means for displaying the map read from the vehicle and the own vehicle position detected by the own vehicle position detection means in association with each other; a route search means for automatically searching for a route to a destination; Guide point setting means for automatically setting a predetermined point in front of the intersection on the route selected by the route search means as a guide point, and voice guidance for providing intersection guidance by voice when the vehicle position passes through the guide point Means for determining whether or not to provide intersection guidance at the set guide point based on the magnitude of the turning angle at the intersection on the route. A step, a minute link determining means for determining whether or not a node other than the intersection node exists within a predetermined range centered on the intersection node, and controlling each of the means, and a minute link by the minute link determining means Is determined, the intersection guidance presence / absence determination means ignores the minute link, obtains a bend angle with the next node outside the predetermined range, and determines whether or not there is intersection guidance based on the magnitude of the bend angle. A traveling position display device provided with a voice guidance device having a control unit. 2. The predetermined range set by the minute link determination means is a square range centering on an intersection node and having a side based on the width of a route entering the intersection. A travel position display device provided with a voice guidance device.