JP4439318B2 - Navigation device and road display method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus and a road display method, and more particularly to a road display method in an area where highways, interchanges, junctions, ramps and the like are densely packed.

  In general, an in-vehicle navigation device that provides driving guidance for a vehicle so that a driver can easily reach a desired destination uses a self-contained navigation sensor, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, or the like. A current position is detected, map data in the vicinity thereof is read from a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM or a hard disk, and a map screen is displayed. Then, as the current position changes due to the movement of the host vehicle, the vehicle position mark is moved on the map screen, or the vehicle position mark is fixed at a predetermined position on the map screen and the map data in the vicinity thereof is scrolled. This makes it possible to see at a glance where the vehicle is currently traveling.

  In the navigation device described above, on map data, roads such as interchanges that are the entrances and exits of the main roads of the highway, junctions that connect the main lines of the highway, and ramps that connect the main lines of different highways are connected. It was treated as the same type of highway as the main line, and expressways such as interchanges, junctions and ramps were drawn in the same color as the main line of the highway. In some cases, the road is drawn reflecting the actual height of the road. In this case, expressways such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps are often drawn below the main road of the expressway. In some cases, the road was drawn ignoring the actual height of the road. In this case, the main road of the expressway was drawn above the expressway such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the junction 100 and the main road 200 of the highway on which the host vehicle 50 is traveling are drawn in the same color above the general road 300. In addition, the highway main line 200 is drawn above the junction 100.

  However, in conventional navigation devices, the highway main line and the highway connected to the main line such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps are drawn in the same color, so they are mixed together at the intersection. As a result, the structure of expressways such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps becomes difficult to understand. In addition, even when a road is drawn reflecting the level of the road, the main line and the expressway connected to the main line are drawn in the same color, so the road level is reflected at the intersection of the two. However, there was a problem that the structure of the highway became difficult to understand.

By the way, in a bird's eye view type navigation device that displays a map screen so as to look down the front of the vehicle from the sky behind the vehicle, if there is a three-dimensionally intersecting road or a road parallel to the expressway, depending on the vertical relationship information of the road A technique for displaying a three-dimensional bird's-eye view of a road is known (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-9-222851

  However, since the conventional navigation device described in Patent Document 1 has height information indicating the vertical relationship between roads, a three-dimensional bird's-eye view can be displayed when a road is displayed on a map screen. However, when a road is displayed on the map screen using such height information, the road located below and the road located above are the same type of road if they are to be displayed in a plane. And those roads will be drawn in the same color. Therefore, the expressway connected to the main line such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps and the main line of the highway are drawn in the same color, so the intersection of the two does not reflect the level of the road. There was a problem that it became difficult to understand the structure of the road.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and when displaying roads on a map screen, it is easy to understand the structure of expressways connected to main lines such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps. The purpose is to be able to present.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, in the present invention, when a road is displayed on a map screen, a highway connected to a main line such as an interchange, a junction, or a ramp is drawn upward from the main line of the highway, In addition, the display color of the highway main line and the display color of the highway connected to the main line such as interchanges, junctions, and lamps are made different.

  In another aspect of the present invention, when a road is displayed on the map screen, the display color of the highway main line and the display color of the highway connected to the main line such as an interchange, junction, or lamp are similar colors. It is said.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, the highway connected to the main line is drawn above the main line of the highway, and the display color of the highway connected to the main line and the display color of the main line of the highway Are drawn differently so that the structure of the highway connected to the main line can be presented in an easy-to-understand manner. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the structure of the expressway such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps.

  Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, the display color of the expressway connected to the main line and the display color of the main line of the expressway are the same color, so that the roads such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps are expressways. You can present something in an easy-to-understand manner. Therefore, the user can easily recognize that the highway connected to the main line is a highway while clearly distinguishing the highway connected to the main road of the highway.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment. Moreover, FIG. 2 is a figure which shows an example of the road display by the navigation apparatus 1 of this embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a map recording medium such as a DVD-ROM, which stores various map data necessary for map display, route search, and the like. Here, the DVD-ROM 11 is used as a recording medium for storing the map data, but other recording media such as a CD-ROM and a hard disk may be used. A DVD-ROM control unit 12 controls reading of map data from the DVD-ROM 11.

  The map data recorded on the DVD-ROM 11 includes a drawing unit composed of various data necessary for map display and a road unit composed of data necessary for various processing such as map matching, route search, route guidance (patent) (Corresponding to the road data in the claims) and an intersection unit composed of detailed data of the intersection.

  The drawing unit described above includes background layer data necessary for displaying buildings, rivers, and the like, and character layer data necessary for displaying city names, road names, and the like. The road unit described above includes a unit header for identifying a road unit, a connection node table storing detailed data of nodes corresponding to points where a plurality of roads intersect, such as intersections and branches, and roads. It includes a link table that stores detailed data of links corresponding to roads, lanes, and the like that connect between a certain upper node and other adjacent nodes.

  The link table stores a link record including information such as a link ID, a node number, a link distance, a link cost, a road attribute flag, a road type flag, and a route number. The link ID indicates a code attached to each link mainly for displaying a searched route. The node number indicates a number that identifies two nodes located at both ends of the link. The link distance indicates the actual distance of the actual road corresponding to the link. The link cost is, for example, the time required for traveling on the link is obtained by calculation from information such as road type and road regulation, and the time required for passing the link is shown in minutes, for example.

  The road attribute flag indicates various attributes relating to the link. The road type flag indicates whether the actual road corresponding to the link is a highway main line, a highway interchange, a highway junction, a highway ramp, or a general road Indicates the type of road.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a position measuring device that measures the current position of the vehicle, and includes a self-contained navigation sensor, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, a position calculation CPU, and the like. The self-contained navigation sensor includes a vehicle speed sensor (distance sensor) that outputs a single pulse for each predetermined travel distance to detect the travel distance of the vehicle, and an angular velocity sensor such as a vibration gyro that detects the rotation angle (movement direction) of the vehicle. (Relative orientation sensor). The position calculation CPU calculates the relative position and direction of the vehicle based on outputs from these vehicle speed sensors and angular velocity sensors.

  The position calculation CPU calculates the absolute own vehicle position (estimated vehicle position) and vehicle direction based on the relative position and direction data of the own vehicle output from the self-contained navigation sensor. The GPS receiver receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites with a GPS antenna, and performs a three-dimensional positioning process or a two-dimensional positioning process to calculate the absolute position and direction of the vehicle (the vehicle direction is The calculation is based on the current vehicle position and the current vehicle position one sampling time ΔT before).

  A map information memory 14 temporarily stores map data read from the DVD-ROM 11 under the control of the DVD-ROM control unit 12. That is, the DVD-ROM control unit 12 inputs information on the current vehicle position from the position measurement device 13 and outputs an instruction to read out map data in a predetermined range including the current vehicle position, thereby displaying a map display or guidance route. Map data necessary for the search is read from the DVD-ROM 11 and stored in the map information memory 14. The DVD-ROM 11 or the map information memory 14 corresponds to the map data storage means in the claims.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes a remote controller (remote controller), which allows the user to set various information (for example, a route guidance destination) to the navigation device 1 and various operations (for example, menu selection operation, enlargement / reduction operation, Various controls (buttons, joysticks, etc.) for performing manual map scrolling, character input, etc. are provided. Reference numeral 16 denotes a remote control interface, which receives an infrared signal corresponding to the operation state from the remote control 15.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes a processor (CPU) that controls the entire navigation device 1. Reference numeral 18 denotes a ROM which stores various programs (road display program, guidance route search processing program, etc.). Reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM which temporarily stores data obtained during various processes and data obtained as a result of various processes. For example, the CPU 17 searches for the guide route with the lowest cost connecting the current location to the destination using the map data stored in the map information memory 14 according to the guide route search processing program stored in the ROM 18. Process.

  Reference numeral 20 denotes a guidance route memory, which stores guidance route data searched by the CPU 17. The guidance route data stores the position of each node and an intersection identification flag indicating whether each node is an intersection, corresponding to each node from the current location to the destination.

  Reference numeral 21 denotes a display controller (corresponding to map drawing means in claims), which generates map image data necessary for display on the display device 27 based on the map data stored in the map information memory 14. The aforementioned CPU 17 controls the display controller 21 according to the road display program stored in the ROM 18 to draw the road. In the display controller 21, the road is drawn according to the type of road obtained by referring to the link table included in the road unit of the map data read from the DVD-ROM 11 to the map information memory 14 by the DVD-ROM control unit 12. . For example, by controlling the drawing order of roads, the highway connected to the main line such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps is drawn above the main line of the highway and the color of the road is changed Thus, the display color of the highway connecting main lines such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps is drawn differently from the display color of the main line of the highway.

  With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the junction 100 is drawn above the main road 200 and the general road 300, and the display color of the junction 100 and the display color of the main road 200 are Are drawn differently. In FIG. 2, the direction in which the vehicle can pass at the junction 100 is displayed as an arrow.

  A video RAM 22 temporarily stores map image data generated by the display controller 21. That is, the map image data generated by the display controller 21 is temporarily stored in the video RAM 22, and the map image data for one screen is read and output to the image composition unit 26.

  Reference numeral 23 denotes a menu generation unit that generates and outputs a menu image necessary for performing various operations using the remote controller 15. A guidance route generator 24 generates guidance route data by using the processing result of the guidance route search processing program stored in the guidance route memory 20. That is, from the guidance route data stored in the guidance route memory 20, what is included in the map area drawn in the video RAM 22 at that time is selectively read out and overlaid on the map image and highlighted with a predetermined color. Draw a guidance route.

  A mark generating unit 25 generates and outputs a vehicle position mark displayed at the position of the host vehicle after the map matching process, various landmarks displaying a gas station, a convenience store, and the like. The map matching process is the map data read out to the map information memory 14, the data of the position and direction of the vehicle by the GPS receiver measured by the position measuring device 13, and the estimation by the autonomous navigation sensor. This refers to processing for correcting the position of the traveling position of the host vehicle on the road of the map data using the vehicle position and vehicle direction data.

  The aforementioned image composition unit 26 synthesizes and outputs various images. In other words, the map image data read out by the display controller 21 is overlaid with the image data output from each of the menu generating unit 23, the guide route generating unit 24, and the mark generating unit 25, and image synthesis is performed. 27. Thereby, a map screen around the host vehicle is displayed on the screen of the display device 27 together with the vehicle position mark of the host vehicle.

  Reference numeral 28 denotes a voice generation unit which utters voices for intersection guidance and various operation guidance. A speaker 29 outputs the sound generated by the sound generator 28 to the outside. Reference numeral 30 denotes a bus, which is used for exchanging data between the various functional configurations described above.

  Next, the operation of the navigation device 1 and the road display method according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation device 1 and the road display method according to the present embodiment. First, the DVD-ROM control unit 12 inputs information on the current vehicle position from the position measurement device 13 and outputs a read instruction for map data in a predetermined range including the current vehicle position, whereby a map necessary for map display is displayed. Data is read from the DVD-ROM 11 and stored in the map information memory 14 (step S1).

  The CPU 17 controls the display controller 21 to draw a highway connected to a main line such as an interchange, junction, or lamp above the main line of the highway, and is connected to a main line such as an interchange, junction, or lamp. Map image data is generated with the display color of the expressway different from the display color of the highway main line, and is stored in the video RAM 22 (step S2).

  The image composition unit 26 superimposes the image data output from the menu generation unit 23, the guide route generation unit 24, and the mark generation unit 25 on the map image data stored in the video RAM 22, and performs image composition. The data is output to the display device 27. Thereby, on the screen of the display device 27, the highway connected to the main line of the interchange, junction, lamp, etc. is drawn above the main line of the highway and connected to the main line of the interchange, junction, lamp, etc. A map screen in which the display color of the expressway is different from the display color of the highway main line is displayed together with the vehicle position mark of the host vehicle (step S3).

  As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, when map image data is generated by the display controller 21, a highway connected to a highway main such as an interchange, a junction, or a ramp is connected to the highway main. The color of the expressway connected to the main line such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps is different from the display color of the main line of the expressway, so that the structure of the expressway connected to the main line can be understood. It is easy to display on the display device 27 and the highway connected to the main line can be clearly distinguished from the main road of the highway, so that the user can easily understand the structure of the road such as interchanges, junctions and ramps. It becomes difficult to be confused with the highway main line.

  In this embodiment, the display color on the highway map screen connected to the main line such as interchanges, junctions, and lamps is different from the display color on the highway main line map screen. The display color of the highway connected to the main line may be similar to the display color of the highway main line. As a result, it is possible to present in an easy-to-understand manner that the roads such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps are expressways.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the road width on the map screen of roads such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps is drawn as the road width substantially the same as the road width on the main road map screen of the expressway, but is not limited thereto. For example, the road width of an expressway connected to the main line such as an interchange, junction, or ramp may be drawn narrower or thicker than the main road width of the highway. As a result, even if the display color of the expressway connected to the main line such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps is similar to the display color of the main line of the highway, the road width is different, so the two are clearly distinguished be able to.

  In this embodiment, roads such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps are always drawn above the other roads, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, only when the user operates the remote controller 15, a map image in which roads such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps are drawn above other roads may be displayed. Thereby, the user can confirm a map image in which roads such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps are drawn upward only when necessary.

  Further, in this embodiment, all the expressways connected to the main line such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps are displayed on the screen, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, only the junction 100 related to the traveling of the host vehicle 50 may be displayed. Thereby, only the structure of the highway connected to the main line such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps related to the traveling of the host vehicle 50 can be presented in an easy-to-understand manner. Here, in the example of FIG. 4, the junction 100 a that joins is also displayed as related to the traveling of the host vehicle 50, but the junction 100 a that joins may be hidden. Thereby, the structure of the expressway connected to the main line such as interchanges, junctions, and ramps on the route on which the host vehicle 50 can travel can be presented in an easy-to-understand manner.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, when displaying the map screen around the own vehicle 50, the highway connected to the main line is drawn above the main line of the highway, and the display color is made different. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, on a map screen displayed by scrolling the map, a highway connected to the main line may be drawn above the main line of the highway to change the display color.

  In addition, the said embodiment is only what showed the example in implementation in implementing this invention, and, as a result, the technical scope of this invention should not be interpreted limitedly. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

  The present invention is useful for a vehicle-mounted navigation device that displays a road on a map screen.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the navigation apparatus by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the road display by the navigation apparatus of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the navigation apparatus by this embodiment, and a road display method. It is a figure which shows the modification of the road display by the navigation apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the road display by the conventional navigation apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Navigation device 11 DVD-ROM
12 DVD-ROM control unit 14 Map information memory 17 CPU
21 Display Controller 26 Image Composition Unit 27 Display Device 100 Junction 200 Main Line of Expressway 300 General Road

Claims (4)

Map data storage means for storing map data including road data capable of identifying the main road of the highway and the highway connected to the main line;
Read map data from the map data storage means, based on the road data included in the read map data, draw a highway connected to the main line above the main line of the highway, and Map drawing means for generating a display map screen drawn so that a display color of a highway connected to a main line is different from a display color of the highway main line;
A navigation device comprising: The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the map drawing unit sets a display color of a highway connected to the main line to a color similar to a display color of the highway main line. A first step in which the reading control means of the navigation device reads map data including road data capable of identifying the main road of the highway and the highway connected to the main line from the map data storage means;
The map drawing means of the navigation device draws the highway connected to the main line above the main line of the highway using the map data read out in the first step, and the main line A second step of generating a map screen drawn so that a display color of a connected highway is different from a display color of a main line of the highway;
A third step in which the image composition means of the navigation device displays the map screen generated in the second step;
Road display method with. 4. The map drawing means of the navigation device , in the second step, makes the display color of the highway connected to the main line the same color as the display color of the highway main line. The road display method described in 1.

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