JP4645272B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus for guiding a route.

  When a destination or waypoint is set, a general vehicle navigation device searches for a recommended route to the destination or waypoint, and the searched recommended route is displayed on a map with a predetermined color line or the like. It has a function to display. There is no problem when the driver is driving according to the displayed recommended route, but sometimes the recommended route may be out of the driver's own judgment. In such a case, the navigation device often has a function of recognizing that the recommended route has been deviated and searching for a new route to update the display of the recommended route.

  However, if a new recommended route is searched and displayed after recognizing that the recommended route has been deviated in this way, a time lag occurs until the display. That is, the original recommended route remains displayed at the time immediately after the recommended route is deviated, as well as immediately before leaving the recommended route, and a new recommended route cannot be displayed to the driver for a while.

Therefore, as a technique for solving such a problem, a technique described in Patent Document 1 below is known. This technology detects the operating state of the turn signal indicator of the vehicle, and if there is a right or left turn direction indicator operation, if the right or left turn is performed according to the instruction, the recommended route displayed on the map is deviated. Determine whether or not. If it is determined that the route is not within the recommended route, a search for a new recommended route that is displayed when turning right or left according to the operation of the direction indicator is started and displayed in advance (before the right or left turn). is there.
JP 2003-214872 A

  However, considering the actual driving scene, the driver may operate the direction indicator not only when turning right or left but also when changing lanes. To solve this problem, the technique described in Patent Document 1 determines whether there is a right or left turnable road corresponding to the direction indicator within a predetermined distance from the current position when the direction indicator is operated. In the case where it does not exist, the search is made by not searching for a new recommended route. In addition, the search for a new recommended route is not executed even when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined traveling speed.

  However, since all of these methods are only processed based on predetermined conditions, it is difficult to say that the driver's will is accurately determined. Thus, for example, if the driver does not intend to make a left turn but operates a direction indicator for a lane change to the left lane, he accidentally turns left if there is a road that can turn left within a predetermined distance. In some cases, a search for a new recommended route may be performed.

  The present invention has been considered in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device in which a search for a new recommended route is performed in which a driver's will is more reflected.

The navigation device according to claim 1 which has been made to solve the above SL problem is a navigation device for performing guidance by searching for a recommended route to a set destination, the vehicle status information acquisition unit, departing instruction Receiving means and re-search means; The vehicle state information acquisition unit acquires information about the vehicle state, and the departure instruction reception unit receives an instruction from the driver to deviate from the recommended route . The re-search means first estimates whether or not to deviate from the recommended route being guided based on the information acquired by the vehicle state information acquisition means, and deviates from the recommended route being guided as a result of the estimation. Then, under the estimated condition, secondly, the recommended route to the destination is re-searched only when the deviation instruction accepting unit accepts the instruction.

  According to such a navigation device, unless the departure instruction receiving unit receives an instruction from the driver to deviate from the current recommended route, the recommended route is not re-searched, and thus an inappropriate search is performed. There is nothing. In addition, if the driver wants to deviate from the current recommended route, a new recommended route is re-searched before the recommended route deviates only by inputting an instruction to deviate from the deviation instruction receiving means. For this reason, the problem that the guidance of the original recommended route is made for a while after leaving the recommended route, which has been a problem, can be solved.

By the way, the information acquired by the vehicle state information acquisition means may be information relating to the operation state of the direction indicator (claim 2 ).
In general, since the operation state of the direction indicator is highly likely to correspond to the direction of travel of the vehicle in the near future, the information on the operation state of the direction indicator is used to estimate whether or not the recommended route deviates. Alternatively, if a recommended route to be used for guidance is selected, a new recommended route can be guided with high accuracy.

Further, the information acquired by the vehicle state information acquisition means may be information relating to the traveling lane of the vehicle (claim 3 ).
When a road is composed of a plurality of traveling lanes in the same direction, the traveling direction of the vehicle may be determined for each traveling lane such as a right turn dedicated lane, a straight traveling dedicated lane, and a left turn dedicated lane. Therefore, if the current vehicle lane is identified and the information on the identified lane is used to estimate whether the recommended route deviates or the recommended route to be used for guidance is selected, the accuracy It is possible to guide a new recommended route well.

  Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following embodiments, and various forms can be adopted as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[Description of configuration]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a navigation device 20 according to the embodiment.
The navigation device 20 is mounted on a vehicle, and a position detector 21 that detects the current position of the vehicle, an operation switch group 22 for inputting various instructions from a user, and various instructions as with the operation switch group 22 are input. A remote control terminal (hereinafter referred to as a remote control) 23a that is possible and separate from the navigation device 20, a remote control sensor 23b that inputs a signal from the remote control 23a, a packet communication network, etc. An external communication device 24 that performs communication, a map data input device 25 that inputs data from a map storage medium in which map data, voice data, and the like are recorded, a display unit 26 that displays a map and various types of information, A voice output unit 27 for outputting a guide voice or the like, a microphone 28 for outputting an electric signal based on a voice uttered by a user, a vehicle An in-vehicle LAN communication unit 33 that communicates with various ECUs connected to the LAN, the above-described position detector 21, operation switch group 22, remote control sensor 23b, external communication device 24, map data input device 25, microphone 28, in-vehicle LAN Various processes are executed according to the input from the communication unit 33, and the external communication device 24, the display unit 26, the audio output unit 27, and the control unit 29 that controls the in-vehicle LAN communication unit 33 are provided.

  The position detector 21 receives a radio wave from a GPS (Global Positioning System) artificial satellite via a GPS antenna (not shown) and outputs a received signal, and a magnitude of rotational motion applied to the vehicle. A gyroscope 21b for detecting the distance and a distance sensor 21c for detecting a distance traveled from the longitudinal acceleration or the like of the vehicle are provided. And the control part 29 calculates the position, direction, speed, etc. of a vehicle based on the output signal from these sensors 21a-21c. Although there are various methods for obtaining the current position based on the output signal from the GPS receiver 21a, either a single positioning method or a relative positioning method may be used.

  The operation switch group 22 includes a touch panel configured integrally with the display surface of the display unit 26, mechanical key switches provided around the display unit 26, switches provided on a handle, and the like. The touch panel and the display unit 26 are laminated and integrated. There are various types of touch panels such as a pressure-sensitive method, an electromagnetic induction method, a capacitance method, or a combination of these methods. It may be used.

The external communication device 24 acquires accident information, traffic jam information, and the like from an information center of VICS (registered trademark) via an optical beacon or a radio beacon installed on the roadside.
The map data input device 25 is a device for inputting various data stored in a map data storage medium (not shown) (for example, a hard disk or a DVD-ROM). The map data storage medium includes map data (node data, link data, cost data, background data, road data, travel lane data, name data, mark data, intersection data, facility data, etc.), voice data for guidance, Voice recognition data and the like are stored. Instead of inputting these data from the map data storage medium, these data may be input via a communication network.

  The display unit 26 is a color display device such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or a CRT, and any of them may be used. The display screen of the display unit 26 includes a mark indicating the current location identified from the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detector 21 and the map data input from the map data input device 25, a guidance route to the destination, and a name. Additional data such as landmarks and various facility marks can be displayed in an overlapping manner. Also, facility guides can be displayed.

The voice output unit 27 can output facility guides and various guidance voices input from the map data input device 25.
The microphone 28 outputs an electric signal (voice signal) based on the inputted voice to the control unit 29 when the user inputs (speaks) voice. The user can operate the navigation device 20 by inputting various sounds to the microphone 28.

The in-vehicle LAN communication unit 33 is connected to the in-vehicle LAN and communicates with various ECUs such as an engine ECU and a direction indicator (not shown), various sensors, and the like.
The control unit 29 is configured around a well-known microcomputer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, SRAM, I / O, and a bus line connecting these components, and is based on a program stored in the ROM and RAM. Various processes.

[Description of operation]
Next, processing executed by the control unit 29 will be described. Note that the current position display process executed by a normal navigation device (the current position of the vehicle is calculated as a set of coordinates and advancing direction based on each detection signal from the position detector 21 and read via the map data input unit 25. Processing for displaying a map or the like near the current position on the display unit 26) or route guidance processing (map data stored in the map data input device 25, destinations set in accordance with the operation of the operation switch group 22, remote controller 23a, etc.) Based on the above, a recommended route from the current position to the destination is searched, and the searched recommended route is displayed on the display unit 26 or the voice output unit 27 outputs the voice as a voice). Since it is a prior art, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

Hereinafter, the re-search process 1 which is a characteristic process of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The re-search process 1 is started by the control unit 29 when the ignition key of the vehicle is in the accessory power supply position (ACC position) or the engine operation position (ON position), and the execution thereof is started. The re-search process 1 is a process that can be executed simultaneously and independently of other processes (current position display process, route guidance process, etc.).

  When starting the re-search process 1, the control unit 29 first determines whether or not the route guidance process is being executed (S110). If it is determined that the route guidance process is not being executed (S110: No), the process stays at this step and the above determination is repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the route guidance process is being executed (S110: Yes), it is determined whether or not there has been an instruction from the driver indicating the intention to deviate from the recommended route (S120). This determination is made based on whether or not a predetermined switch (for example, a switch provided on the steering wheel) in the operation switch group 22 is pressed by the driver. If such a switch is pressed by the driver, it is determined that there has been no instruction from the driver indicating the intention to deviate from the recommended route (S120: No), and the process returns to S110 described above. On the other hand, when such a switch has not been pressed by the driver, it is determined that there has been an instruction from the driver indicating an intention to deviate from the recommended route (S120: Yes), and the process proceeds to S130.

  In S130, it is determined whether or not the direction indicator has been operated by the driver within a predetermined time. The term “within a predetermined time” as used herein may be a fixed value such as 3 seconds or 5 seconds, or a value corresponding to the arrival time to the next guidance point may be set each time. It may be used. This determination is performed based on a signal acquired from the direction indicator sensor via the in-vehicle LAN communication unit 33.

  In S130, when it is determined that the direction indicator is not operated by the driver within a predetermined time (S130: No), if the vehicle continues straight ahead at the next guidance point, it deviates from the recommended route being guided. It is determined whether or not (S140).

  If it is determined in S140 that the vehicle does not deviate from the recommended route being guided even if the vehicle travels straight ahead at the next guidance point (S140: No), the process returns to S110 described above, while the next If it is determined that if the vehicle goes straight ahead at the guidance point, it will deviate from the recommended route being guided (S140: Yes), a recommended route is searched when taking a straight route at the next guidance point (S150). . The search for the recommended route is performed by a method such as the Dijkstra method for a route from the previous intersection straight ahead at the next guidance point to the destination on the route currently being guided.

  When the search for the recommended route is completed, the guide route is replaced with the searched route (S160). This means that the route guided by the route guidance process is replaced with the route searched by the re-search process 1. As a result, in the route guidance process, the route searched by the re-search process 1 is guided.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S130 that the direction indicator has been operated by the driver within a predetermined time (S170: Yes), it is assumed that the point is the latest right or left turn possible point and the vehicle proceeds in the direction indicated by the direction indicator. Then, it is determined whether or not the recommended route being guided deviates (S170). If it is determined that the recommended route being guided does not deviate even if it is assumed that the vehicle will travel in the direction indicated by the direction indicator (S170: No), the process returns to S110 described above, while the direction indicator indicates If it is determined that the vehicle will deviate from the recommended route that is being guided (S170: Yes), the recommended route when the vehicle is traveling in the direction of the direction indicator at the nearest right or left turn possible point is searched. (S180). Then, the process proceeds to S160 described above.

[Effect of the embodiment]
According to such a navigation device 20, the recommended route can be searched again only when a predetermined switch (for example, a switch provided on the steering wheel) in the operation switch group 22 is pressed by the driver. (S120: Yes). Then, it is estimated whether or not the route that is currently being guided will deviate depending on the state of the direction indicator (S140, S170), and when it is estimated that the route will deviate (S140: Yes, S170: Yes) ), A new recommended route is re-searched (S150, S180).

  As described above, since a new recommended route is searched before the departure from the route, it is possible to solve the problem that the original recommended route is not provided for a while after the departure from the recommended route. . In addition, because the driver's willingness to leave the recommended route is accurately captured, for example, when the direction indicator is operated for a lane change to the left lane even though the driver is not willing to turn left It is possible to solve the problem that may occur in the conventional navigation device that a search for a new recommended route is performed when a left turn is made within a predetermined distance by chance.

  In general, it is determined whether or not to deviate from the currently recommended route based on the state of the direction indicator that has a high probability of corresponding to the traveling direction of the vehicle in the near future. It is possible to guide a new recommended route well.

[Other Embodiments]
Next, another example of the above-described re-search process 1 will be described.
(1) Re-search process 2
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the re-search process 2 executed by the control unit 29. The re-search process 2 is also started and executed by the control unit 29 when the ignition key of the vehicle is in the accessory power supply position (ACC position) or the engine operation position (ON position). The re-search process 2 is also a process that can be executed simultaneously with other processes (current position display process, route guidance process, etc.).

  When starting the re-search process 2, the control unit 29 first determines whether or not the route guidance process is being executed (S210). If it is determined that the route guidance process is not being executed (S210: No), the process stays at this step and repeats the above determination. On the other hand, when it is determined that the route guidance process is being executed (S210: Yes), it is determined whether or not the driver has operated the direction indicator (S220). This determination is made based on a signal acquired from the direction indicator sensor via the in-vehicle LAN communication unit 33.

  If it is determined in S220 that the direction indicator has not been operated by the driver (S220: No), will the vehicle deviate from the recommended route during guidance if the vehicle continues straight ahead at the next guidance point? It is determined whether or not (S230).

  In S230, if it is determined that the recommended route being guided does not deviate even if the vehicle goes straight ahead at the next guidance point (S230: No), the process returns to S210 described above. On the other hand, if it is determined that if the vehicle continues straight ahead at the next guidance point, the recommended route being guided will deviate (S230: Yes), an instruction indicating the intention to deviate from the recommended route from the driver within a predetermined time is issued. It is determined whether or not there is (S240). The term “within a predetermined time” as used herein may be a fixed value such as 3 seconds or 5 seconds, or a value corresponding to the arrival time to the next guidance point may be set each time. It may be used. Further, whether or not there is an instruction indicating the intention to deviate from the recommended route depends on whether or not a predetermined switch (for example, a switch provided on the steering wheel) in the operation switch group 22 is pressed by the driver. judge. When such a switch is pressed by the driver, it is determined that there has been no instruction from the driver indicating an intention to deviate from the recommended route (S240: No), and the process returns to S210 described above. On the other hand, when such a switch is pressed by the driver, it is determined that there is an instruction from the driver indicating an intention to deviate from the recommended route (S240: Yes), and the process proceeds to S250.

  In S250, a recommended route is searched when a straight path is taken at the next guidance point (S150). The search for the recommended route is performed by a method such as the Dijkstra method for a route from the previous intersection straight ahead at the next guidance point to the destination on the route currently being guided. When the search for the recommended route is completed, the guide route is replaced with the searched route (S160). This means that the route guided by the route guidance process is replaced with the route searched by the re-search process 2. As a result, in the route guidance process, the route searched by the re-search process 2 is guided.

  In S220, when it is determined that the driver has operated the direction indicator (S220: Yes), it is a recommended point during guidance assuming that it is the most recent right or left turn possible point and the vehicle proceeds in the direction indicated by the direction indicator. It is determined whether or not to deviate from the route (S270). If it is determined that the recommended route being guided does not deviate even if it is assumed that the vehicle will travel in the direction indicated by the direction indicator (S270: No), the process returns to S210 described above, while the direction indicator indicates If it is determined that the route will deviate from the recommended route being guided (S270: Yes), the process proceeds to S280.

  In S280, it is determined whether or not there has been an instruction from the driver indicating the intention to deviate from the recommended route within a predetermined time. The term “within a predetermined time” as used herein may be a fixed value such as 3 seconds or 5 seconds, or a value corresponding to the arrival time to the next guidance point may be set each time. It may be used. This determination is made based on whether or not a predetermined switch (for example, a switch provided on the steering wheel) in the operation switch group 22 is pressed by the driver. If such a switch has not been pressed by the driver, it is determined that there has been no instruction from the driver indicating an intention to deviate from the recommended route (S280: No), and the process returns to S210 described above. On the other hand, when such a switch is pressed by the driver, it is determined that there has been an instruction from the driver indicating an intention to deviate from the recommended route (S280: Yes), and the process proceeds to S290.

In S290, a recommended route is searched for when the vehicle travels in the direction of the direction indicator at the nearest right turn or left turn possible point. Then, the process proceeds to S260 described above.
Thus, the determination of the presence / absence of operation of the direction indicator (S220) and the determination of the possibility of leaving the guide route (S230, S270) are earlier than the determination of the presence / absence of the departure instruction from the driver (S240, S280). Even if it comes to be performed, the effect similar to the navigation apparatus 20 which performs the re-search process 1 mentioned above can be show | played.

(2) Re-search process 3
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the re-search process 3 executed by the control unit 29. The re-search process 3 is also started and executed by the control unit 29 when the ignition key of the vehicle is in the accessory power supply position (ACC position) or the engine operating position (ON position). The re-search process 3 is also a process that can be executed simultaneously and independently of other processes (current position display process, route guidance process, etc.).

  When starting the re-search process 3, the control unit 29 first determines whether or not the route guidance process is being executed (S310). When it is determined that the route guidance process is not being executed (S310: No), the process stays at this step and the above determination is repeated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the route guidance process is being executed (S310: Yes), it is determined whether or not there is an instruction from the driver indicating the intention to deviate from the recommended route (S320). This determination is made based on whether or not a predetermined switch (for example, a switch provided on the steering wheel) in the operation switch group 22 is pressed by the driver. If such a switch is not pressed by the driver, it is determined that there has been no instruction from the driver indicating an intention to deviate from the recommended route (S320: No), and the process returns to S310 described above. On the other hand, when such a switch is pressed by the driver, it is determined that there has been an instruction from the driver indicating an intention to deviate from the recommended route (S320: Yes), and the process proceeds to S330.

  In S330, the next guidance point or a point that can deviate from the recommended route from the front of the guidance point is searched, and the search for the route when the recommended route deviates from each searched point is started. Note that the destination of the route to be searched is the destination on the route currently being guided. When a predetermined number or more (for example, six or more) of points that can deviate are searched, only the top five points having a high probability of deviating are selected, and a route deviating from those points is searched. . When the search is started, the process proceeds to S340 while continuing the search.

  In S340, it is determined whether or not the direction indicator has been operated by the driver within a predetermined time. The term “within a predetermined time” as used herein may be a fixed value such as 3 seconds or 5 seconds, or a value corresponding to the arrival time to the next guidance point may be set each time. It may be used. This determination is performed based on a signal acquired from the direction indicator sensor via the in-vehicle LAN communication unit 33.

  In S340, when it is determined that the direction indicator is not operated by the driver within a predetermined time (S340: No), if the vehicle goes straight ahead at the next guidance point, it deviates from the recommended route being guided. It is determined whether or not (S350).

  In S350, if it is determined that the vehicle does not deviate from the recommended route being guided even if the vehicle travels straight at the next guidance point (S350: No), the process returns to S310 described above, while the next If it is determined that if the vehicle goes straight ahead at the guidance point, it will deviate from the recommended route being guided (S350: Yes), a search is started in S330 for the recommended route when taking a straight route at the next guidance point. Then, the route is selected from the completed routes (S360).

  When selection of the recommended route is completed, the route used for guidance by the route guidance process is replaced with the selected route (S370). As a result, in the route guidance process, the route searched by the re-search process 3 is guided.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S370 that the direction indicator has been operated by the driver within a predetermined time (S370: Yes), it is assumed that the point is the latest right or left turn possible point and the vehicle proceeds in the direction indicated by the direction indicator. Then, it is determined whether or not the recommended route being guided deviates (S380). If it is determined that the recommended route being guided is not deviated even if it is assumed that the vehicle will travel in the direction indicated by the direction indicator (S380: No), the process returns to S310 described above, while the direction indicator indicates If it is determined that the vehicle will deviate from the recommended route that is being guided (S380: Yes), the recommended route when traveling in the direction of the direction indicator at the nearest right or left turn possible point is determined in S330. A route from which the search has been started is selected (S390). Then, the process proceeds to S370 described above.

  According to the navigation device 20 that executes the re-search process 3 as described above, the guidance for the re-searched recommended route is not performed unless there is a departure instruction from the driver. There is no guidance. In addition, if the driver wants to deviate from the current recommended route, as long as he / she inputs an instruction to deviate, he / she changes the operation status of the direction indicator from the recommended route candidates that have been searched in advance. Based on this, a recommended route is selected. Then, guidance is started according to the recommended route. For this reason, the problem that the guidance of the original recommended route is made for a while after leaving the recommended route, which has been a problem, can be solved.

(3) Others In any of the above embodiments, it is determined whether or not it is likely to deviate from the recommended route currently being guided based on the operating state of the direction indicator. It may be determined whether or not it is likely to deviate from the recommended route that is currently being guided depending on the type of traveling lane that the vehicle is currently traveling. That is, the current position is calculated from the signal obtained from the position detector 21, and the currently running lane is specified using the map data (road lane data) obtained from the map data input unit 25. Then, the type of the identified driving lane (right turn lane, straight lane, left turn lane) and the recommended route information being guided may be compared to determine whether or not to deviate from the recommended route. .

Even in such a case, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the recommended route that is currently being guided deviates or to select a recommended route to be used for guidance.
Further, in addition to the above-described re-search process, the vehicle in which the navigation device 20 is mounted has been re-searched in addition to the above-described re-search process. The guidance may be started by a new recommended route only when it is determined that the recommended route is actually started.

If it becomes like this, the precision of the guidance which the navigation apparatus 20 performs will improve.
[Correspondence with Claims]
The correspondence between the terms used in the above embodiment and the terms described in the claims is shown. The operation switch group 22 corresponds to a departure instruction reception unit, the in-vehicle LAN communication unit 33 corresponds to a vehicle state information acquisition unit, and the control unit 29 corresponds to a re-search unit.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of a navigation apparatus. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a re-search process 1; 10 is a flowchart for explaining a re-search process 2; 10 is a flowchart for explaining a re-search process 3;

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Navigation apparatus, 21 ... Position detector, 21a ... GPS receiver, 21b ... Gyroscope, 21c ... Distance sensor, 22 ... Operation switch group, 23a ... Remote control, 23b ... Remote control sensor, 24 ... External communication device, 25 ... Map data input device, 26 ... display section, 27 ... voice output section, 28 ... microphone, 29 ... control section, 33 ... in-vehicle LAN communication section.

Claims (3)

In a navigation device mounted on a vehicle and used for searching and guiding a recommended route to a set destination,
Vehicle state information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to the state of the vehicle;
Deviation instruction accepting means for accepting an instruction to deviate from the recommended route from the driver;
First, based on the information acquired by the vehicle state information acquisition unit, it is estimated whether or not to deviate from the recommended route being guided, and as a result of the estimation, it is estimated that the route deviates from the recommended route being guided Secondly, re-searching means for re-searching the recommended route to the destination only when the deviation instruction receiving means receives the instruction ,
A navigation device comprising: The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein
The information acquired by the vehicle state information acquisition means is information relating to an operation state of the direction indicator;
A navigation device characterized by the above. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2,
The information acquired by the vehicle state information acquisition means is information relating to a traveling lane of the vehicle;
A navigation device characterized by the above.

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