JP4178430B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device, and can be applied to, for example, a car navigation device. The present invention enables navigation that can appropriately instruct a change of course according to a person receiving the instruction by changing the conditions for instructing the change of course by changing the degree of instructing the change of course. Propose the device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a car navigation device, an optimal route is set up to a destination set by a user, and a vehicle is located at a point that requires a change of course such as an intersection to turn right or an intersection to turn left based on the setting of the route. When approaching, the driver is instructed to change the course such as a right turn or a left turn, so that the vehicle can be definitely guided to the destination.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the conventional car navigation apparatus, there is a problem that the instruction to change the course is not always properly executed.
[0004]
That is, a user who uses such a car navigation apparatus has individual differences in driving, and it is desirable for those who are not yet driving to instruct to change courses as early as possible. On the other hand, for those skilled in driving, repeated instructions and instructions at an earlier time point are troublesome.
[0005]
There are also drivers who desire repeated instructions from an early point regardless of their driving skills.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to propose a navigation device capable of appropriately instructing a course change according to a person receiving an instruction.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve such a problem, the invention according to claim 1 is applied to the navigation device, and the course change instructing means for instructing the course change instructs the course change according to the condition for instructing the course change. By changing the conditions for instructing the change of the route, the frequency and / or timing of the instruction immediately before changing the route is changed for each of the right turn and the left turn. In the left turn, it is determined whether or not the instruction for changing the route is sufficient, and the condition for instructing the change of the route is changed based on the determination result .
[0008]
According to the configuration according to claim 1, the route change instruction means instructs to change the route according to the condition for instructing the change of the route, and by changing the condition for instructing the change of the route, in the right turn and the left turn, Change the frequency and / or timing of the instruction immediately before changing the course, and determine whether the instructions for changing the course are sufficient for each of the right turn and the left turn according to the course change history for the course change instruction. based on the results, by changing the conditions for instructing a change of the course, based on past history, the frequency of instruction, it is possible to change the timing variously, thereby depending on the person who receives the instruction It is possible to instruct change of course appropriately.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
[0010]
(1) First Embodiment (1-1) Configuration of First Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a car navigation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that the first embodiment is a reference example showing the premise configuration of the present application.
[0011]
In this car navigation device 1, a GPS (Global Positioning System) 2 acquires current position information at a fixed time interval and outputs it to the bus BUS. The vehicle speed pulse counter 3 counts the vehicle speed pulse signal SP whose frequency changes in accordance with the vehicle speed of the vehicle, thereby detecting the travel distance of the vehicle in a fixed time unit, and outputs this travel distance information to the bus BUS. Thus, in the car navigation device 1, the current position information obtained from the GPS 2 is corrected by the travel distance information obtained from the vehicle speed pulse counter 3, and the current position information is obtained even when the current position information cannot be obtained from the GPS 2 in a tunnel or the like. It can be detected. Thus, the GPS 2 and the vehicle speed pulse counter 3 constitute current position information acquisition means for acquiring current position information of a vehicle on which the car navigation device 1 is mounted.
[0012]
The joystick 4 constitutes an input means in the car navigation apparatus 1 and notifies a central processing unit (CPU) 5 of a user's operation via a bus BUS.
[0013]
The CD-ROM drive 6 switches its operation in response to a control command input via the CD-ROM interface 7, reproduces the map information recorded on the CD-ROM 8, and outputs it to the CD-ROM interface 7. The CD-ROM interface 7 is an interface of the CD-ROM drive 6, notifies the CD-ROM drive 6 of control commands output to the bus BUS, and maps the map information output from the CD-ROM drive 6 to the bus. Output to BUS.
[0014]
A DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller 9 directly controls the map information output from the CD-ROM drive 6 to the bus BUS to a RAM (Random Access Memory) 10 by controlling a control bus constituting the bus BUS. The RAM 10 constitutes a work area of the central processing unit 5 and records map information reproduced from the CD-ROM 8, further, a route change instruction condition set by the user, and the like.
[0015]
A ROM (Read Only Memory) 11 holds a processing program of the car navigation device 1. The graphic controller 12 controls the operation of the video RAM 13 in accordance with a control command output to the bus BUS, and accumulates image data to be displayed in the video RAM 13. Further, the graphic controller 12 reads out the image data from the video RAM 13 in a predetermined order and outputs it in a signal format suitable for display on the display device 14. In this embodiment, the graphic controller 12 outputs these image data as color signals or video signals.
[0016]
The display device 14 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display panel, and is driven by an output signal of the graphic controller 12 to display a map based on map information read from the CD-ROM 8, a route on the map, and various menu screens.
[0017]
The central processing unit 5 constitutes a control circuit for controlling the overall operation of the car navigation apparatus 1, and secures a work area in the RAM 10 and executes the processing procedure recorded in the ROM 11, thereby allowing each processing through the bus BUS. A control command is issued to the circuit block.
[0018]
That is, when the power is turned on, the central processing unit 5 drives the graphic controller 12 to display a predetermined main menu screen on the display device 14. Further, the display on the main menu screen is switched in response to the operation of the joystick 4, and the CD-ROM drive 6 is driven in response to the switching of the notation, so that, for example, a map of a region desired by the user is displayed on the display device 14. indicate.
[0019]
When the user instructs to search for a route to the destination by the same operation, the optimum route from the current position to the destination is set, and this optimum route is displayed together with the map. In addition, by the same processing, an input of a route specified by the user is accepted and this route is displayed. Furthermore, when a guidance instruction is input by the user, the current position that changes as the vehicle moves is displayed on the map, and for example, an intersection to be turned right or a left turn according to a route set in advance or a route input by the user. When a vehicle approaches an intersection or the like to be directed, the driver is instructed to turn right or left.
[0020]
At this time, the central processing unit 5 outputs these instructions by voice and warning sound according to the guidance condition information held in the RAM 10. In the car navigation device 1, a voice synthesis circuit and a warning sound generation circuit (not shown) can be driven by the central processing unit 5 in order to output these voice instructions and to output a warning sound. .
[0021]
Thereby, the central processing unit 5 constitutes a route acquisition means for acquiring a route of movement to a predetermined point together with the CD-ROM 8 and the like, and a route change instruction means for instructing a change of the route according to the route and the current position information. It is made to compose.
[0022]
In this way, the central processing unit 5 accepts this course change condition setting by selecting a menu on the main menu screen, and thereby instructs each user to change the course according to the conditions set by each person's preference.
[0023]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a display screen that accepts the condition setting for this course change instruction. The central processing unit 5 controls the graphic controller 12 by selecting a menu on the main menu screen to display this condition setting screen, and accepts setting of conditions by operating the joystick 4.
[0024]
Here, the condition setting screen is displayed with each item divided so that a condition can be set for each item instructed to change the course by the car navigation device 1. In addition, as items for instructing the change of the course, a right turn instruction, a left turn instruction, a lane change instruction, and the like are registered.
[0025]
In each item, five detailed setting menus are displayed so that details can be set for five instructions immediately before changing the course.
[0026]
Here, in each detailed setting menu, it is possible to set how many meters before the course change is instructed to change the course. In the first detailed setting menu of the right turn guidance instruction in FIG. Instructed to be 30 [m] before the course change by the user's operation, and similarly in the second and third detailed setting menus, before 100 [m] and 300 [m] before the course change. The case where it was set to indicate is shown.
[0027]
In each detailed setting menu, the presence / absence of an instruction by voice and the presence / absence of a beep sound can be set. In the first detailed setting menu of the right turn guidance instruction in FIG. In the second and third detailed setting menus, a case is shown in which a route change is instructed by a voice instruction. Further, for the instruction by the beep sound, the type of the beep sound can be selected. In the first detailed setting menu of the right turn guidance instruction in FIG. 1, the second type of beep sound is selected as the beep sound type. Will be selected.
[0028]
On the other hand, at the end of each detailed menu, a menu [deletion] that invalidates the setting by the detailed menu is arranged.
[0029]
As a result, the central processing unit 5 can set the instruction frequency and instruction timing within a maximum of five times for each course change instruction item. That is, in the case shown in FIG. 1, for the right turn, three detailed setting menus are set out of the five detailed setting menus, and for the left turn, two detailed setting menus are selected from the five detailed setting menus. Is set, it is instructed to change the course only three times and two times for the right turn and the left turn, respectively. This instruction is also 30 [m], 100 [m], 300 [m] before the timing of changing the course for a right turn and 30 [m] from the timing of changing the course for a left turn. ], A change of course is instructed at a timing before 100 [m].
[0030]
In this way, the central processing unit 5 returns to the original main menu screen when the user sets each detailed menu on the condition setting screen and executes the confirmation operation with the joystick 4, and according to the conditions set on the setting screen. A right turn, a left turn, etc. are instructed, and thereby the degree of instructing a course change can be changed.
[0031]
(1-2) Operation of the First Embodiment In the above-described configuration, the car navigation device 1 uses the current position information obtained from the GPS 2 and the travel distance information obtained from the vehicle speed pulse counter 3 to The current position of the vehicle on which the navigation device 1 is mounted is acquired by the central processing unit 5. Further, the map information is acquired by accessing the CD-ROM 8 according to the current position, the user's instruction, and the like.
[0032]
As a result, in the car navigation device 1, a map around the current position is displayed on the display device 14, and the surrounding road conditions can be provided to the user.
[0033]
On the other hand, when the destination is entered by the user and the route is instructed, the car navigation apparatus 1 uses the map information acquired from the CD-ROM 8 and the current position as a reference for the destination. The optimum route is obtained, and this route is displayed by the user's operation. Depending on the user, a route may be set on a map displayed on the display device 14. In this case as well, the car navigation device 1 acquires and displays this route by a user operation.
[0034]
When a guidance instruction is input by the user for the route acquired in this way, the car navigation device 1 changes the intersection to be turned right, the intersection to be turned left, and the lane by comparing the current position information with the route. When approaching a point that requires a change of course, such as a power point, a change of course is instructed by voice or beep according to the preset settings, so even if a user who is not guided by geography drives, it will definitely arrive at the destination Guide the user to
[0035]
In this instruction, the car navigation device 1 selects an instruction for each instruction item such as a right turn, a left turn, a course change, etc. in a state where a setting screen for accepting a course change instruction condition is selected from the main menu screen in advance (FIG. 1). The degree of instruction according to the frequency and the timing of the instruction can be changed, and an instruction to change the course is issued in accordance with the changed conditions.
[0036]
For this reason, for example, for a user who wishes to repeatedly change the course from the earliest possible time, the instruction frequency is set to be high, and the timing of each instruction is set earlier to receive a course change instruction at the desired frequency and timing. be able to. On the other hand, for users who think that it is troublesome to repeat the course change instruction, the instruction frequency is set lower, and in some cases the instruction timing is set immediately before the course change, and the desired frequency is set. In addition, it is possible to receive a direction change instruction according to timing. Thereby, in the car navigation apparatus 1, it is possible to appropriately instruct a course change according to the person receiving the instruction.
[0037]
In this way, in this embodiment, instructing the change of course, in this embodiment, the instruction frequency and instruction timing can be set for each instruction item such as right turn, left turn, course change, etc. The frequency of instruction can be increased and the timing can be set earlier. As a result, it is possible to appropriately instruct change of the course according to the driver's habits and weaknesses, and the usability is improved accordingly.
[0038]
At this time, each instruction can be selected by voice and beep sound, and the type of beep sound can be selected. Even when instructions are repeatedly received, it is possible to identify these instructions, thereby improving usability.
[0039]
(1-3) Effects of the First Embodiment According to the above configuration, it is possible to change the degree of instruction based on the frequency and timing of instructing a course change by changing the condition instructing the course change. Thus, it is possible to appropriately instruct a change of course according to the person receiving the instruction.
[0040]
(2) Second Embodiment In the car navigation apparatus according to this embodiment, the degree of instruction is adaptively changed according to the course change history with respect to the course change instruction. In the car navigation device according to this embodiment, the processing procedure of the central processing unit is different from that of the car navigation device according to the first embodiment, and the peripheral circuit configuration is different depending on the processing procedure of the central processing unit. Except for this point, the configuration of the car navigation device according to the first embodiment is the same, and the description of the block diagram is omitted.
[0041]
That is, in this car navigation apparatus, the central processing unit detects a change in course such as a right turn or a left turn by the user, and determines whether or not the route is deviated from this detection result. If the route further deviates, the route is newly reset from the current position, and the route is instructed according to the reset route. Thus, the car navigation device can be surely guided to the destination even when the driver makes a mistake in driving.
[0042]
In the car navigation device, the central processing unit records the number of times the route change is instructed, the moving distance, and the history of whether the route has been changed according to the instruction for each instruction item such as right turn, left turn, lane change. Furthermore, the central processing unit executes the processing procedure shown in FIG. 3 at a certain time interval or when the vehicle has stopped moving for a certain time at the destination, resting place, etc. Change the degree of instructions.
[0043]
That is, the central processing unit moves from step SP1 to step SP2, and evaluates the history using a predetermined evaluation function. Here, the central processing unit calculates an evaluation value based on the ratio of errors to the number of instructions by dividing the number of errors by the number of instructions for one instruction item such as a right turn and a left turn.
[0044]
Subsequently, the central processing unit moves to step SP3, where it is determined whether or not the current instruction level is sufficient with reference to the evaluation value. When the number of mistakes is large, the instruction is considered to be insufficient. In this case, the central processing unit moves from step SP3 to step SP4, where the frequency of the instruction is increased and the timing of the instruction is increased. After changing the setting so as to be advanced, the process proceeds to step SP5.
[0045]
On the other hand, if there are no mistakes, the central processing unit moves from step SP3 to step SP5 because the current instruction level is considered appropriate. In this step SP5, the central processing unit determines whether or not this processing procedure has been completed for all the instruction items. If a negative result is obtained here, the central processing unit returns to step SP2 and repeats this processing procedure for the next instruction item.
[0046]
On the other hand, when this processing procedure is finished for all the instruction items, the process proceeds from step SP5 to step SP6 and this processing procedure is finished.
[0047]
According to the above configuration, according to the course change history with respect to the course change instruction, the condition for instructing the course change is changed to change the degree of the instruction, without performing a complicated setting operation. Can appropriately change the course according to the ability of the driver and further according to the degree of fatigue, physical condition, and the like.
[0049]
( 3) Other embodiments
In the second embodiment described above, the case where the number of mistakes is divided by the number of instructions as the evaluation function has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of mistakes is divided by the travel distance. Various evaluation methods can be widely applied, for example, when calculating an evaluation value.
[0052]
In the above-described embodiments, the case where the frequency and timing of instructions are changed has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only one of these may be changed as necessary.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, by changing the conditions for instructing the change of course, the degree of instructing the change of course can be changed, so that the course can be changed appropriately according to the person receiving the instruction. A navigation device capable of giving instructions can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a setting screen of a car navigation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing the car navigation device of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a central processing unit of a car navigation device according to a second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Car navigation apparatus, 2 ... GPS, 3 ... Vehicle speed pulse counter, 5 ... Central processing unit, 8 ... CD-ROM, 14 ... Display apparatus

Claims (1)

Route acquisition means for acquiring a route of movement to a predetermined point;
Current position information acquisition means for acquiring current position information;
A route change instruction means for instructing a change of the route according to the route and the current position information,
The route changing means is
Instructing the change of the route according to the condition for instructing the change of the route,
By changing the conditions for instructing to change the course, change the frequency and / or timing of the instruction immediately before changing the course in each of the right turn and the left turn ,
According to the course change history with respect to the course change instruction, it is determined whether the instructions for changing the course are sufficient for each of the right turn and the left turn,
Based on the determination result, the condition for instructing the change of the course is changed.
Navigation equipment.

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