JP3155394B2 - Car 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 an in-vehicle navigation system, and more particularly to an in-vehicle navigation system that combines a vehicle position mark at a position corresponding to a vehicle position on a map image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is an in-vehicle navigation device which provides guidance for driving a vehicle so that a driver can easily reach a desired destination. In this in-vehicle navigation device, during traveling, the position and direction of the vehicle are detected and a CD-ROM
Map data around the vehicle position from the V-RAM
, A vehicle position mark is superimposed on a portion corresponding to the current position on the map image in a direction corresponding to the traveling direction of the vehicle, and the VRT is converted into a video signal while converting the image into a video signal. Output to the display device and display on the screen. And, as the current position changes with the movement of the vehicle, the map on the screen is fixed and the vehicle position mark is moved, or conversely, the vehicle position mark is fixed at the center of the screen and the map is scrolled, The map information around the vehicle position can always be understood at a glance.

[0003] The map stored in the CD-ROM is managed in the same manner as an atlas, with the map being divided into regions of longitude and latitude of an appropriate size according to the scale level, with the north facing upward. Each leaf is further divided into four data units. The map data includes (1) a background layer for displaying roads, parks, rivers, etc., (2) a character / symbol layer for displaying municipal names, road names, map symbols, etc., (3) map matching, etc. And a road layer for performing the above. The map image is drawn using a background layer, a character / symbol layer, and the like.

[0004]

Conventionally, a vehicle position mark displayed on a screen uses several fonts as shown in FIGS. 5 (1) to 5 (3) in accordance with the type of a vehicle-mounted navigation device. However, only one type of font is used in one model, and the information that can be provided to the driver by the vehicle position mark includes the current position and the traveling direction of the vehicle based on the combination location and direction on the map image. There was only. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle navigation device that enables a driver to obtain information other than the current position and the traveling direction from a vehicle position mark.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a map information storage means for storing map data, a vehicle position detection means for detecting a vehicle position, and map data stored in the map information storage means are provided. Means for drawing a map image including the vehicle position using the vehicle, means for generating a predetermined vehicle position mark, synthesizing means for synthesizing the vehicle position mark at a position corresponding to the vehicle position on the map image, In-vehicle navigation device provided with a display means for displaying a map image including a
This is achieved by providing a traveling area monitoring means for monitoring the traveling area, and the vehicle position mark generating means generating a vehicle position mark changed according to the traveling area .

[0006]

[Function] Monitors driving areas such as urban areas, suburbs, and highways.
Then, a vehicle position mark changed according to the traveling area is generated and combined with the map image. Thus, the traveling area of the vehicle can be recognized at a glance from the vehicle position mark, and the amusement of the device can be improved.

[0007]

[0008]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an on-vehicle navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a CD-ROM serving as map data storage means, and 2 denotes an operation panel, which has a map search key for calling a map of a desired area on a screen, an enlargement / reduction key, and the like. 3 is multiple GPs
The multi-beam antenna 4 catches the satellite radio wave from the S satellite, and the satellite 4 receives the satellite signal caught by the multi-beam antenna, and determines the vehicle position (absolute coordinates consisting of longitude and latitude), vehicle direction, vehicle speed, etc. by satellite navigation. G to detect
It is a PS receiver. The GPS receiver 4 also has a function of calculating and outputting a PDOP value (geometric accuracy reduction rate) every time the vehicle position is measured. Reference numeral 5 denotes a CRT display device which inputs a video signal and displays a map on a screen together with a vehicle position mark and the like.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a navigation controller constituted by a microcomputer, which displays a map image including a vehicle position on the CRT display device 5 together with a vehicle position mark using the map data stored in the CD-ROM 1. Among them, 11 is a buffer memory for temporarily storing map data read from the CD-ROM 1, and 12 is a CD-RO.
A map image drawing unit that draws a map image of a wide range around the vehicle position on a video RAM (described later) with the north facing upward using the map data stored in M1, a driving condition monitoring unit 13, and a GPS here. Vehicle speed data is input from the receiver 4, and the traveling speed is low (0 to 30km / h), medium speed (30 to 30km / h).
60km / h), high speed (60-100km / h), super high speed (100km / h)
) To determine which speed range the vehicle is in, and outputs the result to a vehicle position mark generation unit described later.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a positioning accuracy monitoring unit which receives a PDOP value from the GPS receiver 4, compares it with a predetermined reference value, determines whether the positioning accuracy is high or low, and outputs the result to a vehicle position mark generation unit. Reference numeral 15 denotes a vehicle position mark generation unit that generates a vehicle position mark directed in the vehicle azimuth direction, and changes the vehicle position mark in accordance with a running situation and positioning accuracy. Reference numeral 15a denotes a vehicle position font memory which stores a large number of vehicle position fonts having different shapes. As shown in FIG. 2, various different fonts are registered according to the speed range. Reference numeral 15b denotes a vehicle position at which a predetermined vehicle position font is read from the vehicle position font memory and output as a vehicle position mark in the vehicle azimuth direction based on the monitoring results obtained by the traveling condition monitoring unit 13 and the positioning accuracy monitoring unit 14. Mark output unit.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a video RAM which has a storage area having a size of nine screens and stores a map image drawn by the map image drawing unit 12. A read control unit that reads one screen centering on the vehicle position from the RAM 16.
A synthesizing section 19 for synthesizing the vehicle position mark generated by 5 is an image converting section for converting an image output from the synthesizing section into a predetermined image signal, outputting the image signal to the CRT display device 5, and displaying the image on the screen.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation controller 10, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen display. The following description will be made with reference to these drawings. After power on,
The GPS receiver 4 receives satellite radio waves from a plurality of satellites existing above the vehicle, periodically measures the vehicle position, measures the vehicle direction and the vehicle speed by satellite navigation, and performs vehicle position data, vehicle direction data, vehicle The speed data and the PDOP value are output to the navigation controller 10.

On the other hand, after the power is turned on, the navigation controller 10 waits until the map image drawing unit 12 completes the first positioning by the GPS receiver 4 (step 101). Data is input, and it is checked whether a single central map including the vehicle position has been drawn in the video RAM 16 (step 10).
2) Since the answer is NO at first, the map data around the vehicle position is read from the CD-ROM 1 and stored in the buffer memory 11 (step 103), and the read map data is used to store the vehicle position in the video RAM 16. , And a map image having a size of nine screens obtained by integrating a central map including eight maps and eight maps surrounding the map is drawn with the top facing north (step 104).

Subsequently, the map image drawing unit 12 outputs the video RA
Read center position data corresponding to the vehicle position on the map image drawn on M16 is given to the read control unit 17, and the read control unit 17 reads an image for one screen centering on the vehicle position from the video RAM 16. (Step 105). On the other hand, the driving situation monitoring unit 13 receives the vehicle speed data from the GPS receiver 4 and determines which of the low speed, the medium speed, the high speed, and the ultra high speed the vehicle is in. The data is output to the mark generator 15 (step 106). Subsequently, the positioning accuracy monitoring unit 14
The PDOP value is input from the PS receiver 4 and compared with a predetermined reference value to determine the level of the positioning accuracy, and the result is output to the vehicle position mark generation unit 15 (step 107).

The vehicle position mark output unit 15b of the vehicle position mark generation unit 15 outputs, for example, a vehicle having a low speed and a low positioning accuracy based on the results of the determination made by the traveling condition monitoring unit 13 and the positioning accuracy monitoring unit 14. At this time, the vehicle position font relating to the low speed is read from the vehicle position font memory 15a, the color is lightened because the positioning accuracy is low, and G
The vehicle is rotated in the direction indicated by the vehicle direction data input from the PS receiver 5, and is output to the synthesizing unit 18 as a vehicle position mark to be synthesized with the current map image (step 108).

The vehicle position mark is read by the synthesizing unit 18 from the video RAM 16 by the read control unit 17.
The image is synthesized with the center of the map image for the screen, converted into a predetermined video signal by the video conversion unit 19, output to the CRT display device 5, and displayed on the screen (step 109,
FIG. 4 (1)). As a result, the vehicle position mark is displayed on the screen at a position corresponding to the vehicle position on the map image along with the map image around the vehicle position, with the vehicle azimuth facing the vehicle. It can be easily confirmed from the vehicle position font that the vehicle is currently traveling at low speed and the color of the vehicle position mark is light, so that the positioning accuracy is low and the vehicle position error is large.

Thereafter, the navigation controller 1
If it is 0, the process returns to step 101 and waits until the next positioning is completed by the GPS receiver 4. Upon completion, vehicle position data is input, and it is checked whether a single central map including the vehicle position has been drawn in the video RAM 16 (step 10).
2) If YES, the process proceeds to step 105, where the read center position data corresponding to the vehicle position on the map image drawn on the video RAM 16 is provided to the read control unit 17, and the read control unit 17 controls the video RAM 16 To read an image for one screen centering on the vehicle position.

Next, the driving situation monitoring unit 13 receives the vehicle speed data from the GPS receiver 4 and determines which of the low speed, medium speed, high speed, and ultra high speed ranges the vehicle is in. Is output to the vehicle position mark generator 15 (step 106). Subsequently, the positioning accuracy monitoring unit 14
The PDOP value is input from the receiver 4 to determine the level of the positioning accuracy, and the result is output to the vehicle position mark generator 15 (step 107).

Thereafter, the vehicle position mark output unit 15b
Is, for example, based on the determination results of the traveling state monitoring unit 13 and the positioning accuracy monitoring unit 14, the vehicle speed becomes medium speed, and
When the positioning accuracy becomes high, the vehicle position font memory 1
5a, the vehicle position font relating to the medium speed is read out, the color is darkened due to high positioning accuracy, and the GPS is used.
The vehicle is rotated in the direction indicated by the vehicle azimuth data input from the receiver 5 and is output to the synthesizing unit 18 as a vehicle position mark to be synthesized with the current map image (step 108).

The vehicle position mark is read by the synthesizing unit 18 from the video RAM 16 by the read control unit 17.
The image is synthesized with the center of the map image for the screen, converted into a predetermined video signal by the video conversion unit 19, output to the CRT display device 5, and displayed on the screen (step 109,
FIG. 4 (2)). As a result, the map image on the screen scrolls in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the vehicle such that the center maintains the vehicle position. The driver can easily confirm the current position and the traveling direction of the vehicle from the position and orientation of the vehicle position mark on the map image, and further that the vehicle speed has increased to the medium speed due to the change in the vehicle position font, and Since the color of the position mark has been darkened, it can be seen that the positioning accuracy is high and the vehicle position error is small.

After step 107, the navigation controller 10 returns to step 101, and thereafter, similarly, every time a new positioning is performed by the GPS receiver 4, the map image on the screen is scrolled and the vehicle is moved to the center of the screen. A vehicle position mark with an azimuth is synthesized. At this time, the font is switched to a vehicle position font according to the speed range of the vehicle speed, and the color is darkened or lightened according to the level of the positioning accuracy.

According to this embodiment, the traveling state monitoring unit 13
In addition to monitoring the running speed of the vehicle, the positioning accuracy monitoring unit 14 monitors the positioning accuracy by satellite navigation, and the vehicle position mark generation unit 15 changes the font according to the running speed, and according to the positioning accuracy. Since the vehicle position mark with the changed color density is generated and combined on the map image, the driver can recognize the traveling speed and the positioning accuracy of the vehicle from the vehicle position mark at a glance. Further, since the vehicle position mark changes variously according to the traveling speed and the positioning accuracy, the amusement of the device is improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle position mark changes with respect to both the traveling speed and the positioning accuracy. However, the change in both the traveling speed and the positioning accuracy depends on the driver's selection. And the change for only one of them may be switched. Further, the level of the positioning accuracy is represented by changing the color depth of the vehicle position mark, but may be represented by changing the font (for example, when the accuracy is lowered, a shaded font is used). ,
By changing the color depth of the vehicle position mark in multiple stages,
The positioning accuracy may be represented in multiple stages such as low, medium, and high.

The monitoring of the running condition is performed not only for the running speed but also for the acceleration and the turning speed.
When sudden acceleration occurs, the vehicle position font with backfire may be used as the vehicle position mark, and when sudden turning occurs, the vehicle position font with the vehicle body tilted may be used as the vehicle position mark. For acceleration, G
The acceleration can be obtained by time-differentiating the vehicle speed data input from the PS receiver, and the obtained acceleration can be compared with a predetermined reference value to monitor whether sudden acceleration has occurred. As for the turning speed, the turning speed per unit time is calculated from the vehicle heading data input from the GPS receiver to obtain the turning speed, and the obtained turning speed is compared with a predetermined reference value to make a sharp turn. It can be monitored whether or not it has occurred. By preparing a number of vehicle position fonts and generating vehicle position marks corresponding to combinations of the three driving situations of speed range, presence / absence of sudden acceleration, and presence / absence of sudden turning, the speed range, presence / absence of sudden acceleration, and sudden turning Presence or absence can also be expressed simultaneously.

Further, the running area may be monitored, and the vehicle position font may be changed according to the running area such as an urban area, a suburb, or a highway. The determination of whether the traveling place is in an urban area or in a suburb is performed by comparing the data amount per unit area of the road layer with a predetermined reference value in the map data of the area including the vehicle position. If it is lower than the reference value, it can be performed as a suburb, and whether or not the traveling road is an expressway can be determined using the road type data included in the road layer. it can.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the vehicle position, the vehicle direction, and the vehicle speed are detected by the satellite navigation has been described as an example. However, when the detection is performed by the self-contained navigation using the direction sensor and the speed sensor. Can be similarly applied.

[0027]

According to the present invention, the running speed of a vehicle,
Monitor driving conditions such as acceleration, turning speed, driving area, etc.
Since the vehicle position mark changed according to the driving condition is generated and combined with the map image, the driving condition such as the driving speed, acceleration, turning speed, driving area, etc. of the vehicle can be understood at a glance from the vehicle position mark. As a result, the amusement of the device can be improved.

[0028]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an in-vehicle navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a vehicle position font stored in a vehicle position font memory.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation controller.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display example.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional example of a vehicle position font.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 CD-ROM 4 GPS receiver 5 CRT display device 10 Navigation controller 12 Map image drawing unit 13 Running condition monitoring unit 14 Positioning accuracy monitoring unit 15 Vehicle position mark generation unit 15a Vehicle position font memory 15b Vehicle position mark output unit 16 Video RAM 17 Read control unit 18 Synthesizing unit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. Map information storage means for storing map data, vehicle position detection means for detecting a vehicle position, and means for drawing a map image including a vehicle position using the map data stored in the map information storage means. Means for generating a predetermined vehicle position mark, synthesizing means for synthesizing the vehicle position mark at a position corresponding to the vehicle position on the map image, and display means for displaying a map image including the vehicle position mark on a screen. In-vehicle navigation systems that monitor driving areas such as urban areas, suburbs, and highways
An on-vehicle navigation device, comprising: an area monitoring unit; and a vehicle position mark generating unit configured to generate a vehicle position mark changed according to a traveling area .