JP4255000B2 - Car navigation system and map image display method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to in-vehicle navigation, and more particularly to a technique for improving visibility when a map image is displayed in bird's-eye view.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is an in-vehicle navigation device that displays a map image on a display device and performs route guidance and the like. As a display mode of the map image in this navigation device, there are two-dimensional display that displays two-dimensionally and bird's-eye display that displays three-dimensional images of buildings and the like.
[0003]
Here, when the bird's-eye view is displayed, there is no problem when the road shape ahead is a straight line, but when it is curving forward or when making a right or left turn at a front intersection, the road that will be the course There was a problem that the image was behind the building image and the shape of the road ahead could not be grasped.
[0004]
With respect to such problems, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, when a road is behind a building, the building is displayed in a translucent manner.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 9-318381 A [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-112343
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Here, the advantage of bird's-eye view display is that it makes it easier for the driver and the like to intuitively understand the map by displaying an image similar to the sight that the driver and passengers actually see while driving. . Therefore, if the front side of the road that is the path is uniformly made translucent as in the prior art, the advantage may be lost.
[0007]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to display an easy-to-see road as a course without impairing the visibility when the bird's-eye view is displayed.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An in-vehicle navigation device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a vehicle position calculation unit that calculates a vehicle position, a unit that acquires map data ahead of the vehicle position calculated by the vehicle position calculation unit, Based on the acquired map data, display control means for displaying an image of a road and a three-dimensional building on a display device, and the transparency of the three-dimensional building in front of the road that becomes the course after a right turn or a left turn, Means for determining according to the vehicle position and the distance to the intersection where the vehicle turns to the right or left, and the display control means is based on the determined transparency and before the road that will be the course after the right or left turn. The image of the building in is displayed transparently.
[0009]
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises means for storing route guidance information for guiding a route to the destination. The intersection where the right turn or the left turn is determined based on the route guidance information.
[0010]
In a preferred embodiment, a winker detection means for detecting a winker operation is further provided. Then, the intersection where the right turn or the left turn is determined based on the winker operation detected by the winker detection means.
[0011]
In a preferred embodiment, it further comprises means for receiving traffic regulation information. And the said display control means determines whether the said transparent display is performed based on the said traffic regulation information.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an in-vehicle navigation system according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
An overall configuration diagram of this system is shown in FIG. The system includes a navigation device 1, an input device 2 that receives an operation from a user, a display device 3 such as a liquid crystal display, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 4, a vehicle speed sensor 5, a direction sensor 6, A wireless receiver 7 and a drive device 8 for reading data from a CD-ROM 9 or the like are provided.
[0014]
The navigation device 1 is configured by, for example, a computer system including a microprocessor and a memory, and each component or function described below is realized by executing a computer program, for example.
[0015]
The navigation device 1 includes a current position calculation unit 11, a regulation information storage unit 12, a winker operation detection unit 13, a display control unit 14, a route search unit 15, and a map data acquisition unit 16. The route search unit 15 further includes a storage unit 17 for route information obtained by the route search.
[0016]
The current position calculation unit 11 is based on the GPS data from the GPS receiver 4, each data measured by the vehicle speed sensor 5 and the direction sensor 6, and the current position (own vehicle position) and progress of the vehicle on which this system is mounted. Calculate the bearing.
[0017]
The restriction information storage unit 12 stores information related to traffic restriction received by the wireless receiver 7. The traffic regulation information includes, for example, road closure, lane regulation, speed limit, and the like.
[0018]
The winker operation detection unit 13 detects that a winker operation has been performed. For example, the winker operation unit 13 detects that the winker has been released (turned on) and the direction in which the winker was issued (right or left). Further, the winker operation unit 13 also detects that the winker has been returned (turned off).
[0019]
When the winker operation unit 13 detects the winker operation, the winker operation unit 13 notifies the display control unit 14 of a winker operation detection. This blinker operation detection notification includes, for example, information indicating that the blinker operation has been detected (turned on or off) and the direction of the detected blinker operation (right or left).
[0020]
The route search unit 15 uses the map data read from the CD-ROM 9 to search for a route from the departure point (or current location) to the destination, and sets a recommended route. The recommended route is set by, for example, finding all routes connecting the starting point and the destination, and searching for the route with the minimum cost (for example, the shortest total distance) by using Dijkstra method. Do.
[0021]
The route information of the recommended route obtained by the route search unit 15 is stored in the route information storage unit 17.
[0022]
The map data acquisition unit 16 drives the drive device 8 to read map data from the CD-ROM 9. For example, the map data acquisition unit 16 reads out map data including at least the current position calculated by the current position calculation unit 11 and a region ahead of the current position.
[0023]
The display control unit 14 generates image data for displaying an image on the display device 3. For example, the map data acquisition unit 16 drives the drive device 8 to generate image data based on the map data read from the CD-ROM 9 and causes the display device 3 to display the map image. The map image to be displayed on the display device 3 includes a plan view in which roads and buildings are all drawn in a plane and a bird's-eye view in which buildings are drawn as a three-dimensional image.
[0024]
The display control unit 14 further displays an image for guiding the route, superimposed on the map image or aligned with the map image. The route guidance display to be displayed so as to overlap the map image is, for example, an arrow indicating the route.
[0025]
<Winker interlock>
Furthermore, when receiving the winker operation detection notification from the winker operation unit 13, the display control unit 14 changes the display mode of the image displayed on the display device 3. For example, when receiving a notification indicating that the winker is turned on while the bird's-eye view of the map is displayed, the display control unit 14 displays the image of the building displayed stereoscopically in a transparent manner. At this time, the transmissive display is performed, for example, by defining a part of the entire image to be transmissively displayed based on the shape of the road ahead and transparently displaying a building image or the like in the region. The determination of the area to be transparently displayed is performed as follows, for example.
[0026]
When receiving a notification indicating that the winker has been issued and the direction (right or left) issued, the display control unit 14 specifies an intersection in front of (for example, the nearest) the current position based on the map data. Then, an area is defined as a transparent display area between the road that is currently traveling and the road that goes from the intersection toward the direction in which the winker is issued (the road that may be a course). This is because it is considered that the vehicle turns in the direction in which the turn signal is issued at the intersection (right turn or left turn) in the above situation.
[0027]
For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, when the right winker is issued at the vehicle position 101 as shown, it is determined that the vehicle turns right (planned) at the intersection 102. Then, a region 104 sandwiched between the road that is currently traveling and the road 103 that becomes the course after the right turn is a transparent display region.
[0028]
In the example shown in FIG. 3, there are a plurality of roads (103a and 103b) that can be advanced by the right turn signal at the intersection 102 in front of the vehicle position 101. At this time, a wider area (area sandwiched between the roads 103a) 105 of the areas sandwiched between the roads 103a and 103b that can be the course and the road that is currently running becomes the transparent display area.
[0029]
Here, FIG. 4 shows an example of a change in display mode in the case of FIG. FIG. 4A shows a normal display state in which transmissive display is not performed. At this time, when the driver takes out the right winker, the winker operation detection unit 13 detects it, and the display control unit 14 that receives the notification from the winker operation unit 13 changes the display mode as shown in FIG. Change. In other words, the display control unit 14 determines the area 104 where the transmissive display is performed, and causes the area to be transmissively displayed with a predetermined transmittance.
[0030]
At this time, the display control unit 14 can divide the image into a plurality of layers and display them in an overlapping manner. For example, the display control unit 14 may display the screen shown in FIG. 4B by overlaying a map image as shown in FIG. 5 on the road layer 111, the normal display layer 112, and the transparent display layer 113. The road layer 111 in FIG. 5A includes only road images. The normal display layer 112 in FIG. 5B includes a stereoscopic image of a building or the like other than the transparent display area 104. The transmissive display layer 113 in FIG. 5C includes a stereoscopic image of a building or the like in the transmissive display area 104. Then, the stereoscopic image included in the transmissive display layer 113 is displayed with a predetermined transmittance as a whole. Here, displaying with a predetermined transmittance as a whole does not mean that each building image included in this layer is displayed with a predetermined transmittance, but all buildings have a predetermined transmittance at once. Is to do. If each building image is transparently displayed, the transmittance of the part where the buildings overlap is reduced. However, if all the buildings are collectively displayed, this does not occur.
[0031]
Further, when the driver returns the winker (turns off the winker) in the transparent display of FIG. 4B, the winker operation detection unit 13 detects this and receives a notification from the winker operation unit 13. The display control unit 14 changes the display mode as shown in FIG. That is, the display control unit 14 returns the map image from the transparent display to the normal display (completely opaque). Alternatively, when the blinker is turned off, the transparently displayed building may be set to a predetermined transmittance between the transmittance of FIG. 4B and the completely opaque, or the transmittance of the transparently displayed building Alternatively, it may be gradually lowered (impervious) to a predetermined transmittance.
[0032]
It should be noted that the map display mode change linked to the winker operation is preferably applied when the recommended route is not set.
[0033]
<Display mode change according to distance>
Next, when the guidance route obtained by the route search unit 15 is set, when there is an intersection to turn right or left according to the set route, the display control unit 14 determines the vehicle position and the intersection. The display mode of the map displayed on the display device 3 may be changed according to the distance (remaining distance). As the change in the display mode, for example, there is a change in transmittance according to the remaining distance or a change in the display range of the map according to the remaining distance.
[0034]
<Transmissivity>
For example, in the case of FIG. 6 in which a guide route 125 is set, the change in transmittance according to the remaining distance is transparently displayed on the building 124 in the area 124 in front of the road 123 that is the route ahead of the intersection 122. The transmittance of the building or the like at this time is changed based on the distance between the intersection 122 and the vehicle position 121.
[0035]
For example, the display control unit 14 calculates the distance between the intersection and the own vehicle at regular time intervals based on the current position of the own vehicle and the map data. As the vehicle travels, the distance to the intersection decreases, so the transmittance is changed accordingly.
[0036]
The transmittance is changed in a manner as shown in FIG. 7, for example. Note that the transmittance is the degree of transmission of a building or the like. When the transmittance is 0%, it is non-transmitted, and when the transmittance is 100%, the building is completely lost. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 7, when the distance to the intersection reaches A (for example, 500 m), the transmittance gradually increases, and when the distance to the intersection reaches B (for example, 300 m), the predetermined transmittance (final transmittance α ). When the distance to the intersection is within B, the transmittance remains constant α. Here, the final transmittance α may be 100% or may not be 100%. When α is not 100%, the user who sees the display can recognize that there is a building and can also recognize the road shape and the like on the other side of the building through the building.
[0037]
FIG. 8 shows a display example when the transmittance changes according to the remaining distance as described above. In the example of the display screen of FIG. 8, a route guidance display 130 is displayed. FIG. 8A shows the normal display state when the remaining distance is larger than A. When the remaining distance is smaller than A and larger than B, the transmittance gradually increases as shown in FIG. 8B, resulting in a semi-transmissive state. When the remaining distance becomes smaller than B, the transmittance becomes constant at the maximum as shown in FIG.
[0038]
As a result, as the distance to the intersection where a right turn or a left turn is made closer, buildings and the like in front of the road that will be the course will be transparently displayed, and drivers etc. will confirm the shape of the road ahead of the right and left turn It becomes easy.
[0039]
The change in transmittance according to the distance to the intersection can be performed in conjunction with the blinker operation even when the guidance route is not set. For example, as described above, when it is detected that a winker has been issued, a front intersection that turns right or left is specified. If an intersection is specified, the change in transmittance according to the distance between the intersection and the vehicle can be performed in the same manner as described above.
[0040]
<Bread>
The change of the display range of the map according to the remaining distance is to display the area on the route side wider than the area opposite to the route on the map displayed on the display device 3 according to the remaining distance. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when a guidance route 131 that turns right is set, the display control unit 14 displays more area 133 on the right side of the road 132 currently in progress on the display device 3 than on the left area. Change the display mode.
[0041]
In particular, when performing bird's-eye view display, a three-dimensional image is obtained as seen from a virtual viewpoint in the sky. At this time, the line-of-sight direction from the virtual viewpoint is the direction of the path (right here). The image may be changed by shaking (panning). Furthermore, when shaking the line-of-sight direction, the virtual viewpoint may be moved in the opposite direction to the direction in which the line of sight is waved.
[0042]
Changes in transmittance and display range according to the remaining distance can be combined. Therefore, FIG. 10 shows an example of a display screen when a change in transmittance and a change in line-of-sight direction are combined during bird's-eye view display (in FIG. 10, the final transmittance α is 100%). As can be seen from this figure, the driver or the like can confirm the road shape that is the course ahead of the intersection by displaying the traveling direction map widely.
[0043]
<Traffic regulation information>
By providing the configuration as described above, it becomes possible to see the road to be turned left or right that was hidden during normal display. As a result, the driver and the passenger can check the road shape and the like that will be the course after turning right or left. Furthermore, if there is traffic regulation information for a road that has become visible by any of the above-described processes, the display control unit 14 may display the contents of the traffic regulation. The presence / absence of traffic regulation information is checked by the display control unit 14 with reference to the regulation information storage unit 12 to determine whether there is regulation information about the road that has become visible through the transparent display. The traffic regulation information can be displayed, for example, like a traffic regulation icon 140 shown in FIG. Note that the traffic regulation icon can be applied to all the above-described display modes including the case of the transparent display already described.
[0044]
Moreover, you may determine whether the display control part 14 performs a transparent display based on traffic regulation information. In other words, when it is detected that there is a certain traffic restriction that is not appropriate to guide to the road, such as “block”, the display control unit 14 may be configured not to perform transmissive display.
[0045]
The above-described embodiments of the present invention are examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those embodiments. Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various other modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an in-vehicle navigation system according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a transmissive display area.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a transmissive display area.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a change in display mode by a winker operation.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a layer structure of an image displayed on a display device.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a transmissive display area when a guide route is set.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a distance to an intersection and a transmittance.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a change in display mode according to a distance to an intersection.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a region that is often displayed with a line of sight.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display mode in which many map images in a course direction are displayed.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation apparatus, 2 ... Input device, 3 ... Display apparatus, 4 ... GPS receiver, 5 ... Vehicle speed sensor, 6 ... Direction sensor, 7 ... Wireless receiver, 8 ... Drive apparatus, 9 ... Disk, 11 ... Current position Calculation unit, 12 ... restriction information storage unit, 13 ... winker operation detection unit, 14 ... display control unit, 15 ... route search unit, 16 ... map data acquisition unit, 17 ... route information storage unit.

Claims (5)

Own vehicle position calculating means for calculating the own vehicle position;
Means for acquiring map data ahead of the vehicle position calculated by the vehicle position calculation means;
Display control means for displaying images of roads and three-dimensional buildings on a display device based on the acquired map data;
Means for identifying whether the vehicle's course is a right turn direction or a left turn direction;
When it is specified that the course of the host vehicle is a right turn direction or a left turn direction, a road in the specified direction is detected based on a road shape in front indicated by the acquired map data, and the detected road Means for determining the widest area among the areas sandwiched between the currently running road as a transmissive display area for changing and displaying the transmittance of the three-dimensional building image;
The in-vehicle navigation device, wherein the display control means displays an image of a building in the transmissive display area with a changed transmittance. The means for specifying whether the route of the vehicle is a right turn direction or a left turn direction is based on route guidance information for guiding a route to the destination with respect to the route of the vehicle .
The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle navigation device specifies a right turn direction or a left turn direction . The on-vehicle unit according to claim 1, wherein the means for specifying whether the route of the own vehicle is a right turn direction or a left turn direction specifies the right turn direction or the left turn direction for the route of the own vehicle based on a winker operation. For navigation. A means for receiving traffic regulation information;
The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit determines whether to perform the transparent display based on the traffic regulation information. Calculating the vehicle position;
Obtaining map data ahead of the calculated vehicle position;
Based on the acquired map data, displaying a road and a three-dimensional building image on a display device;
Identifying whether the path of the vehicle is a right turn direction or a left turn direction;
When it is specified that the course of the host vehicle is a right turn direction or a left turn direction, a road in the specified direction is detected based on a road shape in front indicated by the acquired map data, and the detected road Determining the widest area among the areas sandwiched between the currently running road as a transmissive display area for changing and displaying the transmittance of the image of the three-dimensional building;
A map image display method comprising: displaying an image of a building in the transmissive display area with a changed transmittance.

Images