JP4781177B2 - Car navigation system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an in-vehicle navigation device that is mounted on an automobile and displays a recommended route to a destination on a map for guidance, and more particularly to an in-vehicle navigation device having a function for receiving broadcasts such as radio broadcast and television broadcast.
Note that the navigation device having a broadcast receiving function includes a device in which the broadcast receiving function is integrated with the navigation device itself, and a device in which a broadcast receiver is connected with a cable and audio or video information is sent from the navigation device.

  With current in-vehicle navigation systems, the recommended route to the destination is searched and the vehicle is guided along the searched route, so the direction of the intersection should be advanced in front of the intersection to turn right or left. The guidance is displayed, and a figure in which the intersection is deformed immediately before the intersection is displayed, and the direction in which the vehicle should travel is indicated by an arrow.

  By the way, in general, the voice guidance of the navigation device is output in the form of being interrupted by the voice of the radio or TV (explained in the radio below) according to the distance from the vehicle position to the intersection, so listen to radio news etc. There is a problem that the voice guidance about the intersection is output even when the passenger is present, so that he / she misses the contents of interest to the passenger.

Against this background, recent in-vehicle navigation devices have been proposed navigation devices having the function of stopping the above-mentioned voice guidance.
For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-327388 (Patent Document 1), it is possible to confirm voice guidance at a guidance point on a route in advance and to cancel voice guidance at a point that seems unnecessary. Devices have also been proposed.
Specifically, an intersection point where voice guidance is performed is displayed as an icon on the map, and the voice guidance at the corresponding point can be canceled by designating the icon.
JP-A-8-327388

However, the above-mentioned navigation device is effective when it is known in advance that voice guidance at the intersection is unnecessary, and it is effective from the radio as described above in the state where the icon is displayed without canceling the voice guidance. If you cancel the voice guidance because you do not want to hear the information that flows, you may have to search for a small icon on the screen and operate it, which may cause problems with safe driving.
In view of such points, the present invention is a function that does not erase information that the user does not want to miss by voice guidance when listening to a radio broadcast or the like, or after recording a radio broadcast for a predetermined period to reach an intersection. An object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle navigation device having a function of reproducing with the above.

  The first feature of the present invention is broadcast detection means for determining whether or not broadcast sound such as radio or television is being output, and voice guidance starting point or guidance point where voice guidance is started from the own vehicle position. The determination means for determining whether the distance is within the predetermined distance and the broadcast detection means determine that the broadcast sound is being output, and the determination means determines the distance from the vehicle position to the voice guidance start point or the guidance point. The vehicle-mounted navigation device includes volume control means for lowering or muting the volume level of the voice guidance when it is determined that the distance is within a predetermined distance.

  The second feature of the present invention is that it is set at a predetermined distance from the broadcast detection means for detecting whether broadcast sound such as radio or television is being output and the guidance point or the voice guidance start point where voice guidance is started. Determining means for determining whether or not the own vehicle position is in the voice guidance recording section, and determining that the broadcast voice is being output by the broadcast detection means, and determining that the vehicle is in the voice guidance recording section. The vehicle-mounted navigation device includes broadcast audio recording means for recording the broadcast audio when judged.

Thus, according to the present invention, information that is not to be missed included in the broadcast is not erased by the voice guidance of the navigation.
In addition, according to the present invention, since a voice such as radio broadcast is recorded for a predetermined period in the vicinity of the intersection where voice guidance is set, it can be reproduced and listened later.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be variously modified and applied without being limited to the embodiment described below.

  FIG. 1 shows a main part of an in-vehicle navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The in-vehicle navigation device 1 includes an operation unit 10, a navigation unit 20, a control unit 30, an output control unit 40, a speaker 50, and a radio tuner 60. , A TV tuner 70, a CD / DVD mechanism 80, and the like.

  The operation unit 10 uses an LCD display 12 having a touch panel switch function, an operation key 14 including keys for turning the power ON / OFF and displaying a map of the current location, etc., and a touch panel and operation keys by the passenger. The operation control unit 16 or the like performs processing in response to all inputs and causes the LCD display 12 to display image data output from the navigation unit.

  The navigation unit 20 performs processing for calculating the vehicle position by an application program based on information from sensors such as a gyro mounted on the vehicle, a wheel speed sensor, and a GPS sensor, and a route from the current location to a relay point or destination. The navigation control unit 22 performs a search process and the like, and includes a voice guidance generation unit 24 that generates voice guidance for guidance.

  The control unit 30 controls the entire in-vehicle navigation device 1. A CPU (Center Processing Unit) that executes arithmetic processing based on an application program, a readable / writable RAM that functions as a work area necessary for arithmetic, and an application program It is composed of a ROM or the like in which map information, which is map data such as road data used for executing the application program, and constants necessary for calculation are stored.

  The output control unit 40 selects any of the audio data output from the radio tuner 60, the TV tuner 70, and the CD / DVD mechanism 80, or the audio guidance data 100 output from the audio guidance generation unit 24 of the navigation unit 20. Are combined and output to the speaker 50. The volume level of each audio data is also controlled according to an instruction from the CPU.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the pre-processing for canceling the voice guidance and the concept of the voice guidance stopping process of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 shows a recommended route 300 searched by the navigation unit 20 in a straight line. A guidance point (an intersection to be turned left or right) 200 and voice guidance in front of it (for example, “300 m ahead right direction”). The point 202 where the message “is” is output is displayed.
A period from the voice guidance point 202 to the guidance point 200 by a predetermined distance T is set as the voice guidance stop section 210. The idea of the present invention is to immediately reduce or mute the volume level of voice guidance when an arbitrary place on the touch panel is pressed during this period.

  In addition to this, a period from the voice guidance point 202 to the guidance point 200 by a predetermined distance T before the voice guidance point 202 can be set as a radio broadcast recording period. Another idea of the present invention is that a radio broadcast is recorded immediately when an arbitrary place on the touch panel is pressed during this period, and the recorded broadcast is reproduced after the guidance point.

Next, specific processing for attenuating the voice guidance output level will be described with reference to FIG.
First, in FIG. 1, when the touch panel is pressed by the passenger while the in-vehicle navigation device 1 is guiding the recommended route to the destination, the operation control unit 16 detects the operation and the touch panel is pressed by the control unit 30. As a control signal S1.

When this control signal S1 is input, the control unit 30 activates the touch panel interrupt process shown in FIG. 3 in response thereto.
When this touch panel interrupt is activated, the process proceeds to step 102 (hereinafter step is expressed as S), and it is determined whether or not the radio tuner 60 or TV tuner 70 is selected, and other than the radio tuner 60 or TV tuner 70 is reproduced. If it is determined that it is determined (in the case of No in S102), the process proceeds to normal touch panel processing.

  As the touch panel process, a process corresponding to the pressed position, for example, a process of scrolling the map so that the pressed position is at the center of the screen is performed. Note that the control unit 30 can determine which music source is output to the speaker 50 because the control unit 30 instructs the output control unit 40 by the control signal S2.

On the other hand, in S102, it is determined whether or not the sound from the radio tuner 60 or the TV tuner 70 is output. If the sound of any tuner is output (Yes in S102), the process proceeds to S104, and the vehicle is It is determined whether or not the voice guidance stop section shown in FIG.
The determination in S104 is performed based on the distance from the own vehicle position to the guidance point 200 or the voice guidance point 202 as shown in FIG. 2, and in the case of FIG. 2, the distance from the own vehicle position to the voice guidance point. Is determined based on whether or not the set distance T has been reached. This determination is performed by the navigation control unit 22, and the determination result is notified to the control unit 30 as a control signal S3.

When the control unit 30 receives the control signal S3 and determines that the vehicle is outside the voice guidance stop section, the process proceeds to normal touch panel processing.
On the other hand, if it is determined in S104 that the vehicle is in the voice guidance stop zone, the process proceeds to S106 and the voice guidance volume level is lowered. Specifically, the voice guidance volume level is reduced by giving an instruction to the output control unit 40 using the control signal S2. At this time, the volume level of the radio broadcast is maintained as it is.

  After the voice guidance volume level is reduced in S106, the process proceeds to S108, where it is determined that the vehicle has reached the voice guidance section end point, that is, the guidance point 200. If the guidance point 200 has not been reached, the voice guidance volume level is set. If it is determined that the vehicle has reached the guidance point 200, which is the end point of the voice guidance period, the process proceeds to S110, the voice guidance volume level is restored, and the touch panel interrupt process is exited.

In this embodiment, the voice guidance volume level is reduced in order to make it easier to hear the voice flowing from the radio or the like, but the voice guidance may be completely muted.
Thus, according to the present embodiment, information that is not desired to be missed included in the broadcast is not erased by the voice guidance of the navigation.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The difference from the embodiment of FIG. 2 is that a recording unit 90 is provided at the subsequent stage of the radio tuner 60 and the TV tuner 70.
In this embodiment, a voice guidance recording section is set instead of the voice guidance stop section 210 shown in FIG. 2, and the voice guidance is output at a normal volume level, but the voice of the selected tuner is internally stored in the voice guidance recording section. Is recorded in a dedicated recording memory.

  It should be noted that the recorded data is erased or overwritten at the time of the next recording when the broadcast content recorded by the passenger's instruction is reproduced after recording.

In the following, the interruption process in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B. The process shown in FIG. When a point before the distance T is reached, an interrupt is generated and a specific point interrupt process is executed.
First, when the specific point interruption process is activated, it is determined in S202 whether or not the sound from the radio tuner 60 or the TV tuner 70 is output (selected).

  If the audio from the radio tuner 60 or the TV tuner 70 is not output in S202, the present process is exited, and if the audio from the radio tuner 60 or the TV tuner 70 is output, the process proceeds to S204 and is selected. Start recording the sound of the tuner you are in and exit the interrupt bar.

  On the other hand, when the vehicle position passes the guidance point 200, an interruption is further generated, and the guidance end interruption process shown in FIG. 5B is executed. When the guidance end interrupt process is activated, the process proceeds to S302, in which it is determined whether or not the tuner sound is recorded. If the broadcast is not recorded in S302, the process is terminated. If the broadcast is recorded, S304 is performed. The process is terminated after the recording is stopped by proceeding to.

According to the present embodiment described above, since voices such as radio broadcasts are recorded only for a predetermined section near the intersection where voice guidance is set, it can be reproduced and listened later.
Even when the audio output is switched (for example, when the radio is switched to the CD), the recording is forcibly stopped to avoid unnecessary recording.

It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus which is one Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the voice guidance stop process of the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus which is one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure explaining the voice guidance stop process of the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus which is one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus which is the other Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure explaining the audio | voice recording process of the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus which is another Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus, 10 ... Operation part, 12 ... LCD display, 14 ... Operation key, 16 ... Operation control part, 20 ... Navigation part, 30 ... Control part, 40 ... Output control part, 50 ... Speaker, 60 ... RADIO Tuner, 70 TV tuner, 80 CD / DVD mechanism, 90 recording unit, 100 guidance voice data, 102 radio audio data, 104 TV audio data, 106 CD / DVD audio data, 200 guidance point, 202: Voice guidance point, 300: Recommended route.

Claims (4)

A CPU that executes a calculation for searching for a recommended route to at least a relay point or a destination based on an application program and a calculation for performing voice guidance when approaching a guide point such as an intersection of the recommended route, and used for executing the application program In a vehicle-mounted navigation device provided with storage means for storing map data such as road data, a display unit for displaying a recommended route obtained by calculation of the CPU together with a map, and broadcast receiving means such as radio or television ,
Touch panel switch detection means for detecting whether or not the touch panel switch provided on the display unit has been pressed by the operator, and when the touch panel switch detection means detects that the touch panel switch has been pressed by the operator, such as a radio or television Broadcast output determination means for determining whether broadcast audio is being output, and distance for determining whether the distance from the vehicle position to the voice guidance start point or guidance point where voice guidance is started is within a predetermined distance The determination means and the broadcast output determination means determine that the broadcast sound is being output, and the distance determination means determines that the distance from the vehicle position to the voice guidance start point or the guidance point is within a predetermined distance. A volume control means for lowering or muting the volume level of the voice guidance. In-vehicle navigation device according to claim. A CPU that executes a calculation for searching for a recommended route to at least a relay point or a destination based on an application program and a calculation for performing voice guidance when approaching a guide point such as an intersection of the recommended route, and used for executing the application program In a vehicle-mounted navigation device provided with storage means for storing map data such as road data, a display unit for displaying a recommended route obtained by calculation of the CPU together with a map, and broadcast receiving means such as radio or television ,
Touch panel switch detection means for detecting whether or not the touch panel switch provided on the display unit has been pressed by the operator, and when the touch panel switch detection means detects that the touch panel switch has been pressed by the operator, such as a radio or television Broadcast output judging means for detecting whether or not broadcast voice is being output, and whether the vehicle position is in the voice guidance stop section set at a predetermined distance from the guidance point or the voice guidance start point where voice guidance is started When the position determination means determines that the broadcast sound is being output by the broadcast output determination means, and the position determination means determines that the vehicle is in the voice stop section, the volume of the voice guidance In-vehicle navigation characterized by comprising volume control means for lowering or muting the level ® down apparatus. A CPU that executes a calculation for searching for a recommended route to at least a relay point or a destination based on an application program and a calculation for performing voice guidance when approaching a guide point such as an intersection of the recommended route, and used for executing the application program In a vehicle-mounted navigation device provided with storage means for storing map data such as road data, a display unit for displaying a recommended route obtained by calculation of the CPU together with a map, and broadcast receiving means such as radio or television ,
Touch panel switch detection means for detecting whether or not the touch panel switch provided on the display unit has been pressed by the operator, and when the touch panel switch detection means detects that the touch panel switch has been pressed by the operator, such as a radio or television a broadcast output determination means for determining whether is being output a broadcast audio, whether there is a vehicle position to the voice guidance recorded sections set from the voice guidance start point a predetermined distance guidance point or voice guidance is started When the position determination means determines that the broadcast sound is being output by the broadcast output determination means, and the position determination means determines that the vehicle is in the voice guidance recording section, the broadcast sound An on-vehicle navigation device comprising broadcast audio recording means for recording a sound.   4. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the broadcast sound recording means includes a reproduction means for reproducing the recorded broadcast sound when the own vehicle passes the guidance point.

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