JP4145497B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device that displays a map image around a vehicle position.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, an in-vehicle navigation device is based on a map display function that displays a map of the vehicle position and the like on the screen, a route search function that searches for a route to a destination or waypoint specified by the user, and a route search. A route guidance function that guides the traveling of the vehicle along the set route is provided.
[0003]
The map image displayed by the navigation device includes character strings indicating place names and road names, traffic information obtained by FM multiplex broadcasting, etc. (for example, arrows indicating traffic jam information), and locations of various facilities such as convenience stores. Various information such as a facility mark is included, and useful information for the drive can be obtained.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the conventional navigation apparatus, when various information such as character strings such as place names, traffic information, and facility marks as described above are included and displayed in a one-screen map image, the amount of information is too large. In some cases, it was crowded and the visibility of the map image was impaired.
[0005]
In contrast, there are cases where the display screen is divided into left and right directions and a map image is displayed in each area, and each piece of information is distributed and arranged on either the left or right map image. Since two map images are displayed side by side, there is a problem that it is difficult to grasp the positional relationship between the vehicle position and various information around it.
[0006]
The present invention was created in view of the above points, and its purpose is to easily grasp the positional relationship between the vehicle position in the map image and various types of information without impairing the visibility of the map image. It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device that can be used.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, in the navigation device of the present invention, map data necessary for drawing a map image is stored by a map data storage unit, and on the basis of this map data, the map drawing unit is used to A map image symmetrical in the vertical direction is drawn in the drawing area corresponding to each of the area and the lower area, and various information corresponding to the map image is distributed and arranged in each of the upper area and the lower area. The map image drawn by the drawing means is displayed by the map display means.
[0008]
By drawing a map image that is symmetrical in the vertical direction, a map image that looks like a mirror image of the map image in the lower area is displayed in the upper area, so the vehicle position displayed on the map image can be Can be aligned. Thereby, since the positional relationship between the vehicle position and various information can be intuitively recognized, the positional relationship between the various information and the vehicle position can be easily grasped. In addition, since various types of information are distributed and arranged in the upper and lower regions of the display screen, the amount of various types of information contained in the upper and lower map images can be reduced. There is no loss of value.
[0009]
In addition, a band-like area where no map image is displayed is secured between the upper area and the lower area of the display screen described above, and the map drawing means arranges information whose display position can be arbitrarily changed in this band-like area. It is desirable to do. By providing the band-like region, it becomes easy to understand the division between the upper and lower map images. In addition, information whose display position can be arbitrarily changed has been conventionally displayed on a map image dispersed in the peripheral area of the display screen, but the map image is hidden by collecting and arranging them in a band-shaped area. The visibility of the map image can be further improved.
[0010]
Further, it is desirable to set the area of the lower region of the display screen described above to be larger than the area of the upper region. This makes it easier to see the map image in the lower region, and the information arranged on the map image is also easier to see. For this reason, for example, information that is considered to be higher in priority is placed on the map image in the lower area, and information that is considered not to be higher in priority is placed on the map image in the upper area. As described above, the arrangement state of each information can be set according to the priority.
[0011]
In addition, among the various types of information described above, the arrangement state setting means for setting what is arranged in the lower area and what is arranged in the upper area according to the user's instruction, and the user operates, It is desirable to further include input means for instructing the arrangement state to the arrangement state setting means. Thereby, each user can determine the priority of each information according to his / her preference, and can customize the arrangement state of various information according to this priority.
[0012]
Further, it is desirable that the map drawing means described above draws a map image by a bird's eye view display. By performing the bird's-eye view display, a map image that can be viewed far away is displayed, so that the traveling direction of the host vehicle can be easily confirmed. In addition, the sense of depth generated by performing bird's-eye view display makes it easier to grasp the positional relationship between the vehicle position and various information in a map image that is displayed symmetrically in the vertical direction.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a navigation device according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the navigation device of the present embodiment. The navigation device shown in FIG. 1 includes a navigation controller 1, a DVD 2, a disk reader 3, a remote control (remote control) unit 4, a vehicle position detector 5, a display device 6, a beacon transmitter / receiver 7, and an FM multiplex broadcast receiver 8. It consists of
[0014]
The navigation controller 1 controls the overall operation of the navigation device. The navigation controller 1 realizes its function by executing a predetermined operation program using a CPU, ROM, RAM, or the like. The detailed configuration of the navigation controller 1 will be described later.
[0015]
The DVD 2 is an information storage medium that stores map data necessary for map display, route search, and the like.
The disc reader 3 can be loaded with one or more DVDs 2 and reads map data from any of the DVDs 2 under the control of the navigation controller 1. The loaded disc is not necessarily a DVD but may be a CD. Further, both DVD and CD may be selectively loaded.
[0016]
The remote control unit 4 includes various operation keys such as a joystick for designating up / down / left / right directions, a numeric keypad, and a determination key for confirming various settings, and outputs a signal corresponding to the operation content to the navigation controller 1.
The vehicle position detection unit 5 includes, for example, a GPS receiver, an orientation sensor, a distance sensor, and the like, detects the vehicle position (longitude, latitude) at a predetermined timing, and outputs a detection result.
[0017]
The display device 6 displays various information such as a map image around the vehicle position based on the image data output from the navigation controller 1.
The beacon transmitter / receiver 7 performs two-way communication with radio wave beacons mainly installed on highways via radio waves, and transmits light to / from optical beacon transceivers mainly installed on general roads. By carrying out two-way communication via, traffic information sent from a VICS (Road Traffic Information Communication System) center is received. The FM multiplex broadcast receiver 8 receives traffic information included in multiplexed data superimposed on a general FM broadcast. The traffic information received by the beacon transmitter / receiver 7 and the FM multiplex broadcast receiver 8 includes traffic information indicating how much the specific part of the road is congested, event information indicating accidents, freezing of roads, etc. Information on traffic regulations is included.
[0018]
Next, a detailed configuration of the navigation controller 1 will be described. 1 includes a map buffer 10, a map readout control unit 12, a map drawing unit 14, an arrangement state setting unit 16, a VRAM 18, a vehicle position calculation unit 20, a route search processing unit 22, a guidance route memory 24, a guidance The route drawing unit 26, the input processing unit 28, the operation screen generation unit 30, the image composition unit 32, and the reception data buffer 34 are configured.
[0019]
The map buffer 10 temporarily stores map data read from the DVD 2 by the disk reader 3.
The map reading control unit 12 outputs a request for reading a predetermined range of map data to the disk reading device 3 in accordance with the vehicle position calculated by the vehicle position calculating unit 20 or a request from the input processing unit 28.
[0020]
The map drawing unit 14 displays a map image including various information such as place names and traffic information based on the map data stored in the map buffer 10 and the traffic information stored in the reception data buffer 34. Generate image data. The map drawing unit 14 of the present embodiment divides the drawing area in the vertical direction corresponding to each of the upper area and the lower area of the display screen of the display device 6 and draws a map image that is substantially symmetrical in the vertical direction. Yes.
[0021]
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a map image drawing method. As shown in FIG. 2A, the map drawing unit 14 first draws a map image corresponding to the lower region (1). In the present embodiment, the map image is generated as a bird's eye view in which a viewpoint is set at a predetermined position behind the vehicle position. Next, the map drawing unit 14 corresponds to the upper region (2) by inverting the map image of the lower region (1) in the vertical direction and further reducing it in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 2 (B). A map image is generated.
[0022]
Further, a band-like region (3) where no map image is displayed is secured between the lower region (1) and the upper region (2). Information (for example, a time, a direction, an address corresponding to the current vehicle position, etc.) capable of arbitrarily changing the display position is arranged in the belt-like region (3).
[0023]
Further, for information whose display positions are almost fixed, such as place names, traffic information, and facility marks, the lower area (1) and the upper area (2) are based on the arrangement state set by the arrangement state setting unit 16. Distributed to each other. In the following description, information whose display position is almost fixed is referred to as “position designation information”.
[0024]
The arrangement state setting unit 16 sets whether to arrange various kinds of position designation information in the drawing area corresponding to the upper area or the lower area of the display screen in accordance with a user operation instruction using the remote control unit 4. To do. For example, in this embodiment, a place name, traffic information, etc. are arranged in a drawing area corresponding to the lower area, and a facility mark indicating the location of a facility such as a convenience store is arranged in the drawing area corresponding to the upper area. The following description will be made on the assumption that the arrangement state is set in.
[0025]
The VRAM 18 temporarily stores map image data output from the map drawing unit 14.
The vehicle position calculation unit 20 calculates the vehicle position and the vehicle direction based on the detection data output from the vehicle position detection unit 5, and when the calculated vehicle position is not on the road of the map data, A map matching process for correcting the vehicle position is performed.
[0026]
The route search processing unit 22 searches for a travel route that connects a departure point and a destination (or waypoint) designated by the user under predetermined conditions. For example, a travel route that minimizes the cost under various conditions such as the shortest distance and the shortest time is set as the guide route. Guide route data indicating the content of the guide route set by the route search processing unit 22 is stored in the guide route memory 24.
[0027]
The guide route drawing unit 26 selects, from the guide route data set by the route search processing unit 22 and stored in the guide route memory 24, the one included in the map drawn in the VRAM 18 at that time, and selects the guide route. Guide route image data to be displayed overlaid on the map is generated.
[0028]
The input processing unit 28 outputs commands for performing operations corresponding to various operation instructions input from the remote control unit 4 to each unit in the navigation controller 1.
The operation screen generation unit 30 creates image data for displaying various operation screens (for example, operation screens for setting the arrangement state described above) in accordance with instructions from the input processing unit 28.
[0029]
The image composition unit 32 performs image composition by superimposing the map image data read from the VRAM 18 corresponding to the vehicle position and the like and the image data output from the operation screen generation unit 30, and displays the composite image data on the display device 6. Output to.
The reception data buffer 34 stores traffic information received by the beacon transceiver 7 and the FM multiplex broadcast receiver 8.
[0030]
The map buffer 10 described above is the map data storage means, the map drawing unit 14 is the map drawing means, the display device 6, the VRAM 18, and the image composition unit 32 are the map display means, the arrangement state setting unit 16 is the arrangement state setting means, The remote control unit 4 and the input processing unit 28 correspond to input means, respectively.
[0031]
The navigation device of the present embodiment has such a configuration. Next, the operation of the navigation device when displaying a map image around the vehicle position will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the navigation device. Note that the series of processing shown in FIG. 3 is repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals.
[0032]
Based on the vehicle position calculated by the vehicle position calculation unit 20, the map reading control unit 12 sends a request for reading a predetermined range of map data to the disk reading device 3. As a result, a predetermined range of map data is read from the DVD 2 by the disk reader 3 and stored in the map buffer 10 (step 100).
[0033]
Next, the map drawing unit 14 uses the map data stored in the map buffer 10 to generate map image data for displaying a map image in a drawing area corresponding to the lower area of the display screen, and stores it in the VRAM 18. Store (step 101). As described above, the map image corresponding to the lower region is generated as a bird's eye view in which a viewpoint is set at a predetermined position behind the vehicle position.
[0034]
When the map image data corresponding to the lower area is generated, the map drawing unit 14 generates map image data for displaying the map image in the drawing area corresponding to the upper area using the map image data. And stored in the VRAM 18 (step 102). As described above, the map image data corresponding to the upper area is generated by inverting the map image data corresponding to the lower area in the vertical direction and further performing a reduction process in the vertical direction.
[0035]
Next, the map drawing unit 14 obtains the setting of the arrangement state of the position designation information from the arrangement state setting unit 16, and based on this setting, distributes and arranges the position designation information in either the upper region or the lower region. The image data to be displayed is generated and stored in the VRAM 18 (step 103). As described above, in the present embodiment, place names, traffic information, and the like are arranged in the drawing area corresponding to the lower area, and facility marks indicating the location of facilities such as convenience stores are arranged in the drawing area corresponding to the upper area. The arrangement state is set so that.
[0036]
Next, the map drawing unit 14 generates image data for displaying information (information whose display position can be arbitrarily set) arranged in a belt-like region secured between the upper region and the lower region, The data is stored in the VRAM 18 (step 104).
In this way, the image data generated by the map drawing unit 14 and stored in the VRAM 18 is read by the image composition unit 32 and output to the display device 6. The display device 6 displays a map image based on the image data output from the image composition unit 32 (step 105). Thereafter, the process returns to step 100 described above, and the subsequent processing is repeated.
[0037]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of the map image displayed in step 105. As shown in FIG. 4, a map image displayed in a bird's eye view is displayed in the lower area, a vehicle position mark 100 indicating the vehicle position, traffic congestion information 102 indicated by an arrow of a predetermined color, “○ Location designation information such as a place name such as “Town 3” is arranged. Further, in the upper area, a map image obtained by reversing and reducing the map image of the lower area in the vertical direction is displayed, and on this map image, a vehicle position mark 100 indicating the own vehicle position, A facility mark (for example, a facility mark 120 indicating a parking lot) indicating the location of various facilities such as a parking lot, a convenience store, a gas station, and a parking lot is arranged. In the belt-shaped area, a clock 110 indicating the current time, a drive guide 112 indicating information useful for driving (for example, a remaining distance to the destination, etc.), a compass 114 indicating a direction, and various other “display positions arbitrarily” “Changeable information” is arranged.
[0038]
Thus, in the navigation device of the present embodiment, a map image that is symmetrical in the vertical direction is drawn, and a map image that is a mirror image of the map image in the lower area is displayed in the upper area. The positional relationship between the designation information and the vehicle position can be easily grasped. In addition, since the position designation information is distributed and arranged in the upper area and the lower area of the display screen, the amount of information contained in the upper and lower map images can be reduced, and the visibility of the map image is improved. There is no loss.
[0039]
In addition, a predetermined band-like area is provided between the upper and lower areas of the display screen, and information that can change the display position is concentrated in this band-like area. Can be easily understood, and the map image is not hidden by the information, so that the visibility of the map image can be further improved.
[0040]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible within the range of the summary of this invention. For example, the setting of the arrangement state of the position designation information is not limited to the above-described content, and the user can freely set it according to his / her preference. For example, in the above-described embodiment, facility marks indicating the locations of facilities such as convenience stores are arranged on the map image in the upper area. However, depending on the user, these facility marks have a priority over other information. In some cases, the facility mark may be considered high, and in such a case, the facility mark may be set to be arranged in the lower region.
[0041]
In the above-described embodiment, the areas of the upper region and the lower region are different, but the areas may be equal. In this case, since the map image of the upper region can be generated simply by inverting the map image of the lower region in the vertical direction, the processing can be simplified.
[0042]
In the above-described embodiment, the map image is displayed as a bird's eye view, but is not limited to this, and may be a planar map image.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a map image that is a mirror image of the map image of the lower area is displayed in the upper area, so that the positional relationship between the vehicle position and various information is intuitively recognized. It is possible to easily grasp the positional relationship between the vehicle position and various information. In addition, since various information is distributed and arranged in the upper area and lower area of the display screen, the amount of various information contained in the upper and lower map images can be reduced, and the visibility of the map image can be reduced. There is no loss.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a map image drawing method.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the navigation device.
4 is a diagram showing a specific example of a map image displayed in step 105. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Navigation controller 2 DVD
3 Disc reader 4 Remote control unit 5 Vehicle position detector 6 Display device 7 Beacon transmitter / receiver 8 FM multiplex broadcast receiver 10 Map buffer 12 Map readout controller 14 Map drawing unit 16 Arrangement state setting unit 18 VRAM
20 Vehicle position calculation unit 28 Input processing unit 32 Image composition unit 34 Received data buffer

Claims (5)

Map data storage means for storing map data necessary for drawing a map image;
Based on the map data, the map image that is symmetrical in the vertical direction is drawn in the drawing areas corresponding to the upper area and the lower area of the display screen, and various information corresponding to the map image is displayed in the upper area. And map drawing means distributed in each of the lower regions,
Map display means for displaying the map image drawn by the map drawing means;
A navigation device comprising: In claim 1,
Between the upper area and the lower area of the display screen, a belt-like area where the map image is not displayed is secured,
The navigation apparatus characterized in that the map drawing means arranges information in which the display position can be arbitrarily changed in the band-like region. In claim 1 or 2,
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower area has a larger area than the upper area. In any one of Claims 1-3,
Among the various types of information, an arrangement state setting means for setting what is arranged in the lower area and what is arranged in the upper area according to a user instruction;
An input means for instructing an arrangement state to the arrangement state setting means by a user operation;
A navigation device comprising: In any one of Claims 1-4,
The navigation apparatus characterized in that the map drawing means draws the map image by a bird's eye view display.

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