JP3608309B2 - Vehicle navigation device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle navigation apparatus mounted on a vehicle .
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a navigation device of this type, a road map (route map) image is displayed on the display based on the road map information by determining the current position of the vehicle using signals from GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites. Various types of displaying a vehicle mark superimposed thereon are known. Further, along with the recent improvement in the accuracy of GPS signals, it is possible to estimate the altitude of the vehicle in addition to the current position of the vehicle.
[0003]
On the other hand, in the field of distance display devices, there are known devices that display a difference in altitude along a moving route on a display unit (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-50788).
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the conventional navigation apparatus includes a CD-ROM or the like that records not only road map information but also map information including contour lines as an in-vehicle database, and displays a road map image with contour lines on a display for driving. It may be possible to provide information on the altitude of the current position of the vehicle to the user.
[0005]
However, if you do this, for those who are familiar with the map represented by the contour line, you can see the altitude of the route the vehicle is traveling on and the situation such as uphill or downhill by looking at the display on the display. However, it is not easy for the general public to grasp them from the contours. In addition, if the road map is displayed with the contour lines added as described above, it becomes difficult to distinguish the road from the contour lines, which impairs the visibility of the display on the display. Furthermore, since the road map image described above needs to be moved sequentially as the vehicle travels, it requires a significant increase in processing capacity to move the contour lines in addition to the road lines.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to suppress the processing capability as compared with the contour display and to enhance the display without impairing the visibility of the display. It is to be able to provide information about.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is mounted on a vehicle, and includes a display, map information storage means for storing road map information, and position coordinate data of the current position of the vehicle. A navigation unit having a current position calculation unit for calculating and an altitude calculation unit for calculating the altitude of the current position, the navigation unit displaying a map image based on the road map information on the display, and the map image A vehicle navigation apparatus configured to superimpose and display a vehicle mark at a position corresponding to the position coordinate data above is assumed. In this, the vehicle unit mark displayed in advance according to the altitude of the host vehicle calculated by the altitude calculation unit is set in advance in the navigation unit with the display color having a different display color for each altitude. The display color of is changed.
[0008]
In the case of the above configuration, since the display color of the vehicle mark is changed according to the altitude, the processing in the navigation unit is performed as compared with the case where contour lines are displayed in addition to the route map of the road as a map image. Capability can be kept low. In addition, since the display color of the vehicle mark on the display screen changes according to the altitude, it is easier to see compared to the case where contour lines are displayed on the display screen. The altitude at the current position of the car can be easily known visually.
[0009]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the navigation unit according to the first aspect of the present invention is preliminarily input and set with a different display form or display color for each altitude as the travel locus mark, and the navigation unit is added to the vehicle mark. The travel path mark is configured to be superimposed on the map image along the travel path of the host vehicle, and the display form or display color of the travel path mark depends on the altitude at each position on the travel path. It is configured to be changed and displayed.
[0010]
In the case of the above configuration, in addition to the change display according to the altitude of the own vehicle mark, the traveling locus mark is also displayed with its display form or display color changed according to the altitude, so not only the altitude of the own vehicle, It is possible to grasp the change in altitude of the travel route up to that time as a change in the shape of the travel locus mark or a change in color. Therefore, it is possible to know the advanced change situation more easily without impairing the visibility.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the navigation unit according to the first aspect of the present invention is configured to display a list representing the correspondence between the display color of the vehicle mark and the altitude on one side of the display screen of the display. It is.
[0012]
In the case of the above configuration, a list of display colors and altitude data displayed on a part of the display screen of the display even if the display color of the vehicle mark on the display represents or does not know well By looking at the vehicle, it becomes possible to easily grasp the current altitude of the vehicle based on the vehicle mark superimposed on the map image.
[0013]
The invention described in claim 4 is mounted on a vehicle, and includes a display, map information storage means for storing road map information, and a current position calculation unit for calculating position coordinate data of the current position of the vehicle. And a navigation unit having an altitude calculation unit for calculating the altitude of the current position, and the navigation unit displays a map image based on the road map information on the display, and the position coordinate data on the map image It is assumed that the vehicle navigation apparatus is configured so that the vehicle mark is superimposed and displayed at a position corresponding to the above. In this, the navigation unit is pre-inputted with a different display form or display color for each altitude as a traveling locus mark, and the navigation unit is set to the traveling vehicle mark along the traveling locus of the own vehicle. In addition, it is configured to be displayed in a superimposed manner on a map image, and the display form or display color of the travel locus mark is changed and displayed according to the altitude at each position on the travel locus. is there.
[0014]
In the case of the above configuration, since the display form or display color of the travel locus mark is changed according to the altitude, the claim is compared with the case where the contour line is displayed in addition to the route map of the road as the map image. As in the case of the invention described in Item 1, it is possible to keep the processing capacity of the navigation unit low. In addition, since the display form or display color of the travel locus mark is displayed on the display screen depending on the altitude, the display screen is easier to see than the contour display, and the contour display is performed. Therefore, even for those who are difficult to understand, it is possible to easily know visually the change in the altitude of the driving route until that time.
[0015]
Further, the invention described in claim 5 is the navigation unit according to the invention described in claim 4, in which a list of display forms or display colors of travel locus marks on a part of a display screen of the display, and each display form or each display color. It is configured to display a list of altitude data corresponding to.
[0016]
In the case of the above configuration, the display form displayed on a part of the display screen of the display or the display form of the travel locus mark on the display or the display color, even if the display color or the display color does not recognize or know well By looking at the list of display colors and altitude data, it is possible to easily grasp the altitude change of the route on which the vehicle has traveled based on the travel locus mark superimposed on the map image.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
<Overall configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a centralized control system for a vehicle to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. 1 is a control unit for centrally controlling the vehicle, and 2 is for controlling information on the current position of the vehicle. It is a navigation unit.
[0019]
The control unit 1 is composed of a microcomputer, through detection signals from various sensors 11, operation commands from various control switches 12, information from an external monitor 13, information from the navigation unit 2, and a voice operation interface 14. In response to the command from the voice dialogue switch 15, the operation of the travel control device 16, various auxiliary devices 17, the display 18, and the like is centrally controlled.
[0020]
That is, the control unit 1 receives detection signals from various sensors 11 for detecting the vehicle movement state, running state, etc., such as a vehicle speed sensor and an engine speed sensor, and receives an anti-skid brake device (ABS) and a four-wheel steering device. (4WS), a four-wheel drive device (4WD), a fuel injection device (EGI), and the like, while controlling the travel control device 16 and receiving operation commands from various control switches 12, a power window, a door lock, a wiper, an air conditioner Operation control of various auxiliary machines 17 such as a shoner is performed. The control unit 1 receives information from an automatic tracking device using a laser or an external monitor 13 such as a rear or front monitor camera, and displays an inter-vehicle distance display, approach warning display or obstacle information on the display 18. Based on information from the navigation unit 2 described later, road map information, current position information, route guidance information, road traffic information, or the like is displayed on the display 18. At the time of these control, said control unit 1 to notify the driver or the like from the speaker of the spoken dialogue switch 15 is converted into voice above the approach warning and congestion information or the like via a voice operated inter off Esu 14 It also encourages response operations.
[0021]
<First Embodiment>
The navigation unit 2 includes a GPS receiver 21, an in-vehicle database 22 composed of, for example, a CD-ROM in which road map information and the like are recorded, the display 18, a VICS (traffic information communication system) unit 23, and the like. The navigation apparatus is configured together with the ground communication unit 24 that performs inter-vehicle communication with other vehicles via ground radio waves.
[0022]
The GPS receiving unit 21 receives a predetermined number or more of signals from GPS satellites by the GPS antenna 21a, and based on the signals from the GPS satellites, stores the data for measuring the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the current position. 2 is input. The in-vehicle database 22 is composed of the above-mentioned CD-ROM and the like and a reading unit thereof. As the CD-ROM, a road map information is recorded, a building that is a marker along the road, a gas station, etc. , It has a record of service information that guides tourist attractions, business hours, telephone directory, etc. Further, the VICS unit 23 includes FM multiplex broadcast and radio beacon receivers, and an optical beacon sensor that performs bidirectional communication of optical signals with the optical beacon, and the FM multiplex broadcast, radio beacon or optical beacon. Is used as an information transmission medium to receive road traffic information (VICS information) from the road traffic information center as an information base and input it to the navigation unit 2. In addition, the terrestrial communication unit 24 can perform inter-vehicle communication between other general vehicles via the terrestrial radio wave from the terrestrial radio antenna 24a, and is also dedicated for use within the frequency band of terrestrial radio. Emergency information such as emergency driving information of emergency vehicles such as police cars, ambulances or fire engines, and information on occurrences of traffic accidents, fires, etc. can be received via the above-mentioned terrestrial radio waves.
[0023]
The navigation unit 2 displays the VICS information as a graphic or a character on the display 18 via the control unit 1 in addition to the basic control described later, or the voice dialogue switch 15 according to the type of the information. A voice is output from a speaker, and when the emergency information is received, a warning by voice is displayed from the speaker of the voice dialogue switch 15 and an identification mark or character information is displayed on the display 18. .
[0024]
The navigation unit 2 includes a current position calculation unit that calculates position coordinate data such as the latitude and longitude of the current position based on data from the GPS reception unit 21 and an altitude calculation unit that calculates the altitude of the current position. In addition, various displays on the display 18 are performed based on the road map data read from the in-vehicle database 22 and the position coordinate data and altitude. FIG. 2 shows a display example based on the first embodiment. A road map image 30 is displayed on the display screen of the display 18 based on the road map data, and the current map on the road map image 30 is displayed. The vehicle mark 31 is displayed at a position corresponding to the position coordinate data of the position. 2, 32 is a signal mark indicating a signal, and 33, 33,... Are additional marks indicating a factory, a convenience store, and a gas station that serve as landmarks in the vicinity.
[0025]
The vehicle mark 31 is displayed in a color set in advance according to the altitude (for example, altitude) of the current position, while the display color and altitude of the vehicle mark 31 are displayed at the right end position of the display screen. A list display 34 showing the correspondence relationship is displayed. This list display 34 represents the display color of a predetermined number of marks 341, 341,... That are the same shape as the vehicle mark 31 and are colored in different colors, and the marks 341 of different colors. It is composed of numerical information 342, 342,... Indicating altitude and an altitude range for each predetermined range (200 m). The color used for this color classification may be an achromatic color or a chromatic color, but chromatic colors such as yellow, red, and green are preferable in consideration of the normal size of the vehicle-mounted display 18 and the distinguishability of the vehicle mark 31.
[0026]
In order to perform such a display, the display color of the vehicle mark 31 is input and set in advance in the navigation unit 2 for each altitude range, and the altitude at the current position of the vehicle calculated by the altitude calculation unit is set. Accordingly, the display color of the vehicle mark 31 displayed on the display 18 is changed.
[0027]
Note that the display (navigation display) as described above on the display 18 is performed via the control unit 1 from the various displays such as the inter-vehicle distance until then by the operation of the control switch 12 by the driver or the like. This is because the control unit 1 causes the display content to be switched to the navigation display.
[0028]
In the case of the first embodiment described above, the current altitude of the own vehicle can be easily understood by seeing which color the display color of the own vehicle mark 31 is, and the display screen includes a road map and an additional mark 33 or the like. Since only the service information is displayed, the visibility of the display screen is not impaired as compared with the case where contour lines are added to the road map. In addition, by looking at the list display 34 on the right side of the display screen, it is possible to easily determine how many meters the altitude range of the display color of the vehicle mark 31 represents. You can easily know the altitude of the car. Further, since the information about the altitude as described above is given to the driver by changing the display color of the vehicle mark 31, the processing for displaying the information about the altitude is much larger than the case where the contour lines are superimposed and displayed. Less.
[0029]
Second Embodiment
FIG. 3 shows a display screen according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the overall configuration and the configuration of the navigation device are the same as those in the first embodiment. Compared to the first embodiment, the travel locus mark 35, as the display control content on the display 18 by the navigation unit 2, 35,... Are added to be displayed.
[0030]
On the road map image 30 'of the display 18 in FIG. 3, in addition to the own vehicle mark 31', a plurality of circle-shaped traveling locus marks 35, 35,... In addition, each travel locus mark 35 is displayed in a state colored in a preset display color according to the altitude at each display position. A list display 36 indicating the correspondence between the display color of the travel locus mark 35 and the altitude is displayed at the position on the left end side of the display 18. A predetermined number of marks 361, 361,..., Which have the same shape as each traveling locus mark 35 and are colored in different colors, and the altitude represented by the display color of each mark 361 having a different color. Numerical information 362, 362,... Indicating the altitude range for each range (100 m) is displayed. The altitude display by color coding may be performed by grayscale display using achromatic colors, or by display using chromatic colors such as yellow, red, green, etc. In consideration of the size and distinguishability of a normal vehicle-mounted display 18 Then, chromatic colors such as yellow, red and green are preferable.
[0031]
In order to perform such display, the navigation unit 2 (see FIG. 1) is preset with the display color of the travel locus mark 35 for each altitude range described above, and is along the travel route calculated by the altitude calculation unit. For each altitude of the host vehicle at each position, the display color of the travel locus mark 35 displayed on the display 18 is sequentially changed according to each altitude.
[0032]
In addition, on the road map image 30 'of the display 18, character information 37 "Please give the ambulance road", a display mark 38 indicating the ambulance, and an arrow mark 39 indicating the traveling direction of the ambulance are displayed. It has come to be. This is because the terrestrial communication unit 24 (see FIG. 1) automatically receives a terrestrial radio wave transmitted from an ambulance via a terrestrial radio wave of a specific dedicated frequency by, for example, an identification ID code, and the received identification ID code is received. The navigation unit 2 receives and analyzes the emergency vehicle type data, message data, position coordinate data, and the like that have been previously formatted in the data format, and displays them on the display 18. Based on such emergency information, the own vehicle, which is a general vehicle, can avoid in advance congestion so as not to be involved in the emergency travel of emergency vehicles such as the ambulance and can reduce the occurrence of traffic congestion.
[0033]
In FIG. 3, 33 ', 33',... Are additional marks indicating a gas station, a landmark building, and a subway. In FIG. 3, 181 is an ON / OFF switch for the power supply of the display 18, 182 is an ON / OFF switch for the ground communication unit 24, 183 is an automatic reception switch for a dedicated frequency from an emergency vehicle, etc., and 184 is a display display type. A menu switch for switching, 185 is a switch for displaying VICS information, and 186 is a display section for the VICS information.
[0034]
In the case of the second embodiment described above, the change in the altitude and the change in the altitude of the host vehicle up to that point can be easily understood by looking at the change in the display color of the travel locus marks 35, 35,. Compared with the case where contour lines are added to the road map, the visibility of the display screen is not impaired. Moreover, by looking at the list display 36 on the left side of the display screen, it is possible to easily determine how many meters the altitude range the display color of the travel locus mark 35 represents. It is possible to easily know the altitude and altitude changes in the driving route of the car. Further, as in the case of the first embodiment, the processing for displaying the information about the altitude can be significantly less than the case where the contour lines are superimposed and displayed.
[0035]
<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments described above, but includes other various embodiments. That is, in the first embodiment, the display color of the vehicle mark 31 is changed according to the altitude, and the display color of the travel locus mark 35 is changed according to the altitude in the second embodiment. You may make it change each display form of said own vehicle mark 31 and the traveling locus mark 35 according to altitude.
[0036]
In the first and second embodiments, the control unit 1 performs switching control between the vehicle status and warning display and the navigation information display using the single display 18. Two or more may be provided, and may be divided into those dedicated to navigation information and those dedicated to displaying various information related to the vehicle.
[0037]
In the second embodiment, the display color of the travel locus mark 35 is changed according to the altitude. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display color of the vehicle mark 31 ′ is also enhanced in addition to the travel locus mark 35. You may make it change according to.
[0038]
Further, in the first and second embodiments, altitude is calculated and estimated based on GPS signals. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and altitude information or contour lines at each point are added to the in-vehicle database 22 in addition to road map information. The included map information may be held, and the altitude corresponding to the current position may be calculated from the altitude information or the map information based on the position coordinate data of the current position based on the GPS signal.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the vehicle navigation device of the first aspect of the present invention, the display color of the vehicle mark is changed on the display screen according to the altitude. Without sacrificing ease, the altitude at the current position of the vehicle can be easily known visually even for those who are difficult to understand with the contour display. In addition, when providing information about altitude, the processing capability of the navigation unit can be kept low compared to the case where contour lines are displayed in addition to the route map of the road.
[0040]
According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, in addition to the change display according to the altitude of the own vehicle mark, the traveling locus mark also changes its display form or display color according to the altitude. Therefore, not only the altitude of the host vehicle but also the change in the altitude of the driving route so far can be grasped as a change in form or a change in color. It is possible to inform the state of high-level change more easily.
[0041]
According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, even if the change in the display color of the vehicle mark on the display does not recognize or know the altitude, By viewing a list of display colors and altitude data displayed on a part of the display screen, it is possible to easily grasp the current altitude of the own vehicle based on the own vehicle mark superimposed on the map image.
[0042]
According to the invention described in claim 4, since the display form or the display color of the travel locus mark is displayed in a different manner depending on the altitude on the display screen of the display, the visibility of the display screen is improved. Without any loss, even those who are difficult to understand with the contour display can easily know the change in the altitude of the travel route of the vehicle until then. Moreover, as compared with the case where contour lines are displayed as a map image in addition to the route map of the road, the processing capability of the navigation unit can be kept low as in the case of the invention of claim 1.
[0043]
Further, according to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the fourth aspect of the invention, the present invention recognizes or knows what type of change the change in the display form or the display color of the travel locus mark on the display represents. Even if not, the vehicle traveled based on the travel path mark superimposed on the map image by looking at the display form or display color displayed on a part of the display screen and the list of altitude data. It is possible to easily grasp the altitude change of the route.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a centralized control system for a vehicle to which first and second embodiments of the present invention are applied.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a display example of a display in the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing a display example of a display in a second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Navigation unit 18 Display 22 In-vehicle database (map information storage means)
30, 30 'road map image 31, 31' own vehicle mark 34 list display 35 traveling locus mark 36 list display

Claims (5)

Mounted in a vehicle, a display, map information storage means for storing road map information, a current position calculation unit for calculating position coordinate data of the current position of the vehicle, and an altitude for calculating the altitude of the current position A navigation unit having a calculation unit, wherein the navigation unit displays a map image based on the road map information on the display and superimposes a vehicle mark at a position corresponding to the position coordinate data on the map image In a vehicle navigation device configured to display,
The navigation unit is pre-inputted with a different display color for each altitude as the vehicle mark,
The navigation device for a vehicle, wherein the navigation unit is configured to change a display color of a vehicle mark to be displayed in accordance with the altitude of the vehicle calculated by the altitude calculation unit. In claim 1,
In the navigation unit, a display form or display color that is different for each altitude is input and set in advance as a travel locus mark,
The navigation unit is configured to superimpose and display a travel locus mark on the map image along with the travel locus of the own vehicle in addition to the own vehicle mark, and the display form or display color of the travel locus mark is displayed in the travel direction. A vehicular navigation device configured to be displayed by being changed according to an altitude at each position on a trajectory. In claim 1,
The navigation unit
A vehicular navigation device configured to display a list representing a correspondence relationship between a display color of an own vehicle mark and an altitude on a part of a display screen of a display. Mounted in a vehicle, a display, map information storage means for storing road map information, a current position calculation unit for calculating position coordinate data of the current position of the vehicle, and an altitude for calculating the altitude of the current position A navigation unit having a calculation unit, wherein the navigation unit displays a map image based on the road map information on the display and superimposes a vehicle mark at a position corresponding to the position coordinate data on the map image In a vehicle navigation device configured to display,
In the navigation unit, a display form or display color that is different for each altitude is input and set in advance as a travel locus mark,
The navigation unit is configured to superimpose and display a traveling locus mark along with the traveling vehicle's traveling locus on a map image, and the display form or display color of the traveling locus mark is displayed on the traveling locus. A navigation device for a vehicle , characterized in that the vehicle navigation device is configured to be changed and displayed according to an altitude at each position. In claim 4,
The navigation unit
It is configured to display a list of display forms or display colors of travel locus marks and a list of altitude data corresponding to each display form or display color on a part of the display screen of the display A vehicle navigation device.

Images