JP4169613B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a navigation device has a function of notifying a driver of a traveling direction when passing a branching point such as an intersection, and an arrow or the like at an intersection on a map where the traveling direction is displayed on a display unit to a user. In addition to displaying and superimposing, it is considered that the traveling direction is notified by voice (for example, see Patent Document 1). According to such voice notification, the user need not look at the display unit and can concentrate on driving.
[0003]
Furthermore, it is desirable that notification at such a branch point or the like is performed to some extent before the branch point. Therefore, for example, when the distance from the current position to the next intersection that should be turned to the right is, for example, 100 m, the user is notified with a voice that is stored in advance such as “100 m ahead intersection is in the right direction”.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-62-267900
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the notification by voice as described above, if the distance between the intersection and the intersection is short, such as in an urban area, even if it is notified that the intersection is 100m ahead, the intersection should be turned. There was a problem that it was difficult to understand.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device capable of providing easier-to-understand notification at a branch point or the like.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the navigation apparatus according to the present invention, a voice storage means in which a plurality of predetermined voices are stored in advance, a detection means for detecting the current position, an input means for inputting voice, a map When the distance between the current position and the branch point on the route searched by the route detection means is within a predetermined distance, the route search means for searching the route from the current position to the destination based on the information. A voice input is requested after notifying the traveling direction by voice, the voice inputted by the input means is stored in the storage means in association with the position of the branch point, and the current position is stored in the storage means. And a notification means for synthesizing and notifying the voice stored in the storage means and the predetermined voice stored in the voice storage means when approaching the branch point by a predetermined distance.
[0010]
The predetermined voice stored in the voice storage means is a voice that guides the traveling direction at the branch point.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a navigation device according to an embodiment. Reference numeral 1 denotes a control circuit composed of a microcomputer or the like, which controls the entire navigation device based on a program written in the ROM 2. In addition to the program for controlling the control circuit 1, the ROM 2 stores voice and the like for informing the user of the traveling direction, which will be described later. A GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 3 receives radio waves from GPS satellites, measures the current position, and outputs measurement data to the control circuit 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes a map storage unit that reads map information from an optical disk on which map information is written and outputs the map information to the control circuit 1. The map information stored on the optical disk is used for drawing for drawing a map for calculating a route for calculating a vehicle position, a route and the like, and a map image to be displayed on the display unit 5 described later. There is a map, and position information such as an intersection is stored at a predetermined point in the route calculation map. The display unit 5 is a liquid crystal monitor, and displays a map read from the map storage unit 4 and a current position measured by the GPS receiving unit 3 based on control of the control circuit 1. Reference numeral 6 denotes a RAM which stores the voice input from the voice input unit 7 and the current position measured by the GPS receiving unit based on the control of the control circuit 1. Reference numeral 8 denotes an audio output unit that outputs audio such as a traveling direction at an intersection based on the control of the control circuit 1.
[0013]
Here, the voice stored in the ROM 2 will be described.
[0014]
The ROM 2 stores in advance electronic voice that guides the user in the direction of travel at the intersection. That is, the distance to the intersection such as “100m ahead”, “200m ahead”… “2km ahead”, the direction of travel at the intersection such as “right”, “left”, “straight”, and “intersection” A branch point shape such as “T time path” and other electronic voices for guiding operations to the user are stored.
[0015]
Next, the operation of the navigation device in the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit 1.
[0017]
When the power of the navigation device is turned on, the navigation device stores in the map storage unit 4 the route between the current position detected by the GPS receiver 3 and the destination input by the user via an input unit (not shown). A search is performed based on the map information being stored (step S1).
[0018]
Along with the movement of the navigation device, the distance between the current position detected by the GPS receiver 3 and the intersection on the route obtained in step S1 is calculated based on the map information, and the distance between the current position and the intersection is predetermined. It is monitored whether it is within a distance (for example, 100 m) (step S2). It is desirable that the predetermined distance can be arbitrarily changed by the user. When it is determined that the distance to the intersection is a predetermined distance (Y in step S2), it is determined whether or not the sound corresponding to the intersection position is stored in the RAM 6 (step S3).
[0019]
If it is determined that the electronic sound corresponding to the intersection position is not recorded (N in Step S3), the electronic sound related to the distance to the intersection stored in the ROM 2 (for example, “100 m ahead”) and the electronic sound related to the traveling direction (For example, “right direction”) and an electronic voice (for example, “intersection”) related to the shape of the branch point are read out and synthesized by a voice synthesis unit (not shown) provided in the control circuit 1, and “100m ahead intersection right direction”. ”Is notified to the user via the audio output unit 8.
[0020]
After notifying the direction of travel, an electronic voice saying “Do you want to record the intersection information is not recorded?” Is read from the ROM 2 and output from the voice output unit 8 to determine whether or not to record the information about the intersection. Ask the user. When recording is desired (Y in Step S5), when the user inputs “Yes” via the voice input unit 7, the voice is recognized by a voice recognition unit (not shown) provided in the control circuit 1 and can be recorded. Migrate to
[0021]
Then, while moving a predetermined distance (for example, 100 m) after passing through the intersection, the name of the feature at the intersection, for example, “post office” is input and inputted by the user via the voice input unit 4 (step). (Y of S6), the voice recognition unit recognizes “yubinkyoku”, converts the input voice into electronic voice, and stores the converted electronic voice and the position of the intersection in association with each other in the RAM 6 (step S7). ).
[0022]
If there is no input while traveling a predetermined distance after passing the intersection (N in step S6), the recordable state is canceled.
[0023]
In step S3, if it is determined that the electronic voice corresponding to the intersection position is recorded (Y in step S3), the electronic voice stored in the RAM 6 corresponding to the stored intersection (for example, “ The post office ") and the electronic voice in the direction of travel at the intersection (for example," It is in the right direction ") are read from the ROM 2, and the connection between the electronic voice stored in the RAM 6 and the electronic voice in the direction to proceed is complemented. Voice (for example, “the intersection where there is”) to be read out from the ROM 2, these are synthesized, and an electronic voice “the intersection with the post office is in the right direction” is notified to the user via the voice output unit 8. (Step S8).
[0024]
In the above-described embodiment, when an intersection feature is input by a user's voice, it is converted into an electronic voice by voice recognition and stored in the RAM 6, but the user's voice may be stored as it is. .
[0025]
In the above example, voice input is performed during travel. However, the input timing is not limited to this, and may be performed during simulation travel, for example.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when information on an intersection is input by a user and guidance is performed at the intersection from the next time, notification is made with the input information, so that the user can easily recognize which intersection is being guided. become able to.
[0027]
In addition, since voice can be input within a predetermined distance after passing the intersection, it can be input after it has passed through the intersection and it is in a safe state, and whether or not the intersection that has passed is the desired intersection Since it is possible to input after confirming, it is possible to prevent an input error.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a navigation device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit 1 of the navigation device of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Control circuit 2 ROM
3 GPS receiver 4 Map storage 5 Display 6 RAM
7 Audio input unit 8 Audio output unit

Claims (2)

A voice storage means in which a plurality of predetermined voices are stored in advance, a detection means for detecting the current position, an input means for inputting the voice, and a route search for searching a route from the current position to the destination based on map information And when the distance between the current position and the branch point on the route searched by the route detection means is within a predetermined distance , the voice is informed of the traveling direction at the branch point, and the input of the voice is requested. Storage means for storing the voice input by the means in association with the position of the branch point, and when the current position approaches the branch point stored in the storage means for a predetermined distance, it is stored in the storage means A navigation apparatus comprising: an informing means for synthesizing and informing a voice and a predetermined voice stored in the voice storage means. It said predetermined audio stored in the audio storage means, the navigation device according to claim 1, wherein a voice for guiding the traveling direction at the branching point.

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