JP3216483B2 - Route search display 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 travel position display 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 route search display device for searching for a route to a destination and displaying a search route on the display device. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows an outline of a vehicle-mounted traveling position display device. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a direction sensor,
The direction sensor 1 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 2 denotes a distance sensor that generates a pulse corresponding to the number of rotations of the wheels, and 3 denotes various sensor signals such as an on / off signal of a brake switch, a parking switch, and the like, and a power supply voltage monitoring signal. Reference numeral 4 denotes a sensor signal processing unit for processing sensor signals such as a direction sensor 1 and a distance sensor 2. Reference numeral 5 denotes a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver. The GPS receiver 5 receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of satellites and performs calculations. By doing so, the position (latitude, longitude) of the receiving point can be obtained. Reference numeral 6 denotes a CD-ROM drive. The CD-ROM drive 6 reads map data from a CD-ROM 7 on which map data is recorded. Reference numeral 8 denotes a display / operation unit provided in the vehicle interior. The display / operation unit 8 is provided on a liquid crystal display 8A 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 8A. The touch panel 8B includes switches for instructing enlargement and reduction of a display map,
A switch for instructing a route search, a switch for selecting a destination from the place names displayed on the liquid crystal display 8A, and the like are provided. Reference numeral 9 denotes an apparatus main body. Next, the configuration of the apparatus main body 9 will be described.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a C for performing various operations.
PU (Central Processing Unit), 11 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing programs for various calculations performed by the CPU 10, 12 is an azimuth sensor 1, a distance sensor 2, a GPS
A memory (DRA) for storing data from the receiver 5, the CD-ROM drive 6, etc., and the calculation results in the CPU 10, etc.
M) and 13 are backup memories (SRAM) for holding necessary data even when the power supply to the apparatus main body 9 is stopped, and 14 is a pattern of characters and symbols displayed on the liquid crystal display 8A. A stored memory (Kanji, font ROM), 15 is an image processor for forming a display image based on map data, current position data of the vehicle, and the like, 16 is map data output from the CPU 10, current position data, A memory (VRAM) for synthesizing kanji, kanji such as town names and road names output from the font ROM 14 and fonts and storing an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 8A, and 17 for converting output data of the VRAM 16 into color signals This is an RGB conversion circuit, and color signals are output from the RGB conversion circuit 17 to the liquid crystal display 8A. Reference numeral 18 denotes a communication interface.

FIG. 2 shows a format of data stored in the CD-ROM 7, and reference numeral 20 denotes a disk label,
1 is a drawing parameter, 22 is map management information, and 23 is a map. The map stores background data, character data, road data, and the like.
Data for each unit map divided by longitude is stored. In the figure, a figure describing a wide area roughly and a figure describing a narrow area in detail are set. Each leaf is composed of map display levels A, B and C describing the same area. Map display levels A, B, and C are B,
C is described in more detail than B. Each of the map display levels A, B, and C is composed of map display level management information and a plurality of units. The unit describes a divided area obtained by dividing the area at each map display level into a plurality of areas. Each unit includes a unit header, a character layer, a background layer, a road layer, an option layer, and the like. The text layer contains the place names, road names,
The facility name and the like are recorded, the background layer records data for drawing roads, facilities, and the like, and the road layer stores coordinate points (nodes) describing roads including intersections as shown in FIG. And data related to lines (links), such as node numbers of nodes, latitude and longitude, link numbers of links, link distances, and the like. In FIG.
Circles (○) indicate nodes, and lines between nodes indicate links. A black circle (丸) of the node number: 4 indicates an intersection node. The data recorded in the road layer is not directly involved in the map display, but is used as road network information for map matching. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 24 denotes route search data. The route search data 24 includes search data recorded for each layer from layer 0 for a narrow area to layer n for a large area. The search data of each layer is composed of node connection data 25, link estimated transit time (link cost) data 26, and route display data 27. The node connection data 25 includes, as shown in FIG.
This is data indicating which node y is connected to, for example, data indicating that node c is connected to nodes a, d, f, and y. The link cost data 26 indicates the link cost of the link between the nodes as shown in FIG. 4. For example, the link cost of the link between the node a and the node c is “5”, and the link cost of the node a The link cost of the link between the node a and the node b is “10”, and the link cost of the link between the node a and the node d is “20”. The link cost is obtained from link cost = link distance / set speed, and the set speed is set according to the road type and the road width as shown in FIG. 5, for example. The route display data 27 records data for displaying the route selected by the route search on the display map.

[0005] In FIG. 1, the output of the azimuth sensor 1 and the output of the distance sensor 2 are transmitted to the CPU 10 via the sensor processing unit 4.
Sent to The CPU 10 calculates the current position of the vehicle, and obtains the latitude and longitude of the current position. Also GPS
The current position is corrected based on the data from the receiver 5. The map data of the unit corresponding to the current position is read from the CD-ROM 7 by the CD-ROM drive 6 based on the current position obtained in this manner, and the map data is stored in the memory (DRAM) 12 via the communication interface 18. Is stored. A part of the map data stored in the DRAM 12 is read by the CPU 10,
The image data is converted into image data by the image processor 15 and written into the image memory 16. The image data stored in the image memory 16 is converted into color signals by the RGB conversion circuit 17 and sent to the liquid crystal display 8A, where a map of a predetermined range centering on the current position is displayed. If the map data read from the DRAM 12 contains character codes and symbol codes, patterns corresponding to these character codes and symbol codes are read from the kanji and the font ROM 14, and characters such as place names are displayed on the liquid crystal display 8A together with the map. , School, etc. are displayed. Further, the current position displayed on the liquid crystal display 8A is sequentially changed based on the traveling speed and traveling azimuth sequentially obtained as the vehicle travels.

Next, a conventional route search operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, a destination is set in step A. This destination setting is
For example, by inputting the address of the destination, or by specifying a point on the map displayed on the display device 8, or by selecting a desired place name from a place name index displayed on the display device 8 Will be In step B, it is determined whether to start a route search. This determination is made based on whether or not the route search switch on the touch panel 8B of the display device 8 has been operated. If it is determined in step B that the route search switch has been operated, the process proceeds to step C, where a route search is performed. In this route search, as shown in FIG. 4, the link costs of all the routes from the departure point (current position node) X to the destination node Y are added, and the route with the lowest link cost is selected. In the case of 4, the total link cost of the link X → a → c → d → f → g → y (1
(0 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 35) is the smallest, so that a route connecting the links X → a → c → d → f → g → y is selected. The route selected in step C of FIG. 9 is displayed, for example, in red on the display map of the display device 8 in step D. FIG. 10 shows FIG.
10 shows the route search step C in more detail. In FIG. 10, first, in step a, the departure node and the destination node closest to the departure and destination positions are selected. FIG. 4 shows that the node X is selected as the departure node and the node Y is selected as the destination node. Next, in step b, route search data including the departure node X is read from the CD-ROM 7, and in step c, a route search on the departure place side is performed. This route search is as described above.
This is to select the route with the lowest total link cost. Next, in step d, as a result of the search in step c, it is determined whether or not connection has been made to the target node. The distance from the departure point to the destination is relatively short, and the destination node Y is included in the data read from the CD-ROM 7 in step b.
Is included, the answer is yes in step d, but if the destination is far from the departure point, step d
Is determined as No, and the process proceeds to Step e. In step e,
The route search data including the destination node Y is read from the CD-ROM 7, and a route search on the destination side is performed in step f. In step g, it is determined whether or not the route selected by the route search on the destination side in step f is connected to the search route on the departure side. If the result of this determination is no, the search hierarchy is raised by one rank in step h in FIG. If the read data in step b and step e is the route search data of layer 0, the rank is raised to layer 1 in step h. Next, in step i, the starting node and the destination node are reset, and the process returns to step b.

FIG. 6 shows that the distance between the starting point and the destination is long,
FIG. 11 is a diagram for easily understanding the operation in the case where it is determined as No in step d and step g in FIG. 10, wherein the route selected in the route search on the departure side is not connected to the destination node, and If the route selected in the search is not connected to the route searched in the departure route search, the route search data 28 of the hierarchy 1 is read and the departure node 2
9. The destination node 30 is set. When the route indicated by the solid line is searched by the route search in the hierarchy 1, the determination is yes in step d in FIG. 10 and the process proceeds to step j. In step j, the route from the departure point to the destination is formed. The display data of the selected route is created, and the route search ends.

FIG. 11 shows a display example on the liquid crystal display 8A. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 31 denotes a host vehicle mark, and the host vehicle mark 31 indicates a current position and a traveling direction of the host vehicle. 32 indicates a route searched by the route search, 33 indicates the direction of the destination at the current position, and 34 indicates the distance from the current position of the vehicle to the destination. Reference numeral 35 denotes a touch switch for displaying or erasing the distance to the destination on the liquid crystal display 8A.

[0009]

However, in the above conventional example, only the map and the route to the destination are displayed on the display device, and the information required by the driver, such as a gas station or a store along the route, is required. And whether there is an auto repair shop or not. In addition, if the scale of the map displayed on the display device is changed, the position of the gas station is displayed on the display map. However, the operation for changing the scale of the display map must be performed, which is inconvenient.

[0010] The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and not only displays a route searched by a route search on a display device, but also displays facility information required by a driver. Is provided.

[0011]

[MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS] To achieve the above object
Next, the route search and display device of the present invention calculates the current position of the vehicle.
Current position calculating means, and the current position calculating means
Display means for displaying a map corresponding to the current position,
Destination input means for inputting a destination; and
Route search means for searching for a route to a destination, and this route
Information on facilities existing along the route searched by the search means
Facility searching means for searching the storage means from the storage means.
The storage means is map data and facility information corresponding to this map data.
And the display means displays the above information for each type of facility.
Distinguishing between multiple distance ranges from the current position
The facility information of the above facilities that exist within each distance range and
The number of facilities is displayed.

[0012]

According to the present invention, the route to the destination input by the destination input means is searched by the route search means, and facility information such as a gas station existing along the searched route is searched by the facility search means. And the searched facility information is displayed on the display means.

[0013]

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show an embodiment of the present invention.
It will be explained together. FIG. 7 shows a processing flow of the route search in the present embodiment. In step S1 in FIG. 7, a destination is input. The setting of the destination can be performed, for example, by inputting the address of the destination or by using the display device 8.
By specifying the point on the map displayed in,
Alternatively, it is performed by selecting a desired place name from a place name index displayed on the display device 8. In step S2, a map of the traveling direction from the current position of the vehicle to the destination is stored in the CD-R.
Read from OM7 and expand the display map. Step S3
Then, an arrow (arrow 33 in FIG. 8) indicating the destination local position from the current position of the vehicle is displayed. In step S4, a route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination is searched. The process of this route search is the same as in the conventional example. In the next step S5, the searched route is displayed on the liquid crystal display 8A. In FIG. 8, a route 37 indicates a route to a destination searched by the route search. In step S6, it is determined whether or not the facility information is to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 8A. It is determined whether or not the touch switch "information" 36 arranged on the liquid crystal display 8A has been operated. If it is determined that the "information" 36 has been operated, a search for facility information is performed in step S7. The “facility information” is facility information recorded on a character layer in the unit shown in FIG. 2, such as a gas station, a store (such as a convenience store), a post office,
This is information indicating the type of facility such as an auto repair shop, the location of the facility, and the like.Searching for facility information refers to gas stations that exist along the route searched by the route search,
This is to search for facilities such as stores, post offices, and auto repair shops. For example, to search for facilities along the route from the current position to the destination, or within 2 to 5 km from the current position. A facility located along a route in a range of 5 to 10 km is searched and sorted for each facility type. In step S8, the facility information extracted by the facility information search is displayed on the liquid crystal display 8A as shown in FIG.
To be displayed. In FIG. 8, there is one gas station within 2 km along the route from the current position to the destination.
2 in 5km range, 3 in 5-10km range and 1 convenience store within 5km
It indicates that there is an eave, and there is one in the range of 5 to 10 km. Step S9 is a step of determining whether or not the touch switch “information” 36 has been turned off.
If it is determined in step 9 that the touch switch "information" 36 has been turned off, in step 10, the facility information displayed on the liquid crystal display is deleted, and the process ends.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the facility information required by the driver such as a gas station existing along the route to the destination searched by the route search is searched and displayed on the liquid crystal display 8A. You can do it. Even if the position of a gas station or the like is not displayed on the liquid crystal display 8A, the driver can easily understand how long the vehicle should travel along the route to find the gas station or the like. In the above embodiment, by changing the scale of the display map in the state shown in FIG. 8, the position of the gas station or the like can be displayed in the display map.

[0015]

According to the present invention, the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, and has an advantage that the facility information existing along the route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination can be displayed on the display means. It is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a format of a CD-ROM of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing road data recorded on a CD-ROM of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a route search method according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a memory that stores a set speed for link cost calculation in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a hierarchical structure for a route search in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a route search in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a display diagram showing a display example of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a route search performed by a conventional route search display device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a route search performed by a conventional route search display device.

FIG. 11 is a display diagram showing a display example of a conventional route search display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 direction sensor 2 distance sensor 5 GPS receiver 6 CD-ROM drive 7 CD-ROM 8 display / operation unit 8A liquid crystal display 8B touch panel 9 device body 10 CPU 15 image processor

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-216404 (JP, A) JP-A-6-307878 (JP, A) JP-A-4-104399 (JP, A) JP-A-6-331379 (JP) JP-A-7-105492 (JP, A) JP-A-5-323871 (JP, A) JP-A-5-34167 (JP, A) JP-A-6-20197 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01C 21/00 G08G 1/0969 G09B 29/00-29/10

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A current position calculating means for obtaining a current position of a vehicle, a display means for displaying a map corresponding to the current position obtained by the current position calculating means, a destination input means for inputting a destination, Map data and corresponding to this map data
Storage means for storing a route from the current position to the destination; and a facility information existing along the route searched by the route search means.
And a facility search means for searching from said storing means distribution,
The display means displays the current position for each type of facility.
Each of the distance ranges,
A route search and display device for displaying facility information and the number of facilities of the facilities existing within the facility . 2. The storage means stores map data and facility information corresponding to the map data, and the display means displays a map corresponding to the current position of the vehicle obtained by the current position calculation means, and searches for a route. The means searches for a route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination , and information on facilities existing along this route
Is searched by the facility search means, and the display means
For each type, it is divided into a plurality of distance ranges from the current position.
Of the above facilities located within the respective distance ranges.
A facility information display method characterized by displaying facility information and the number of facilities .