JPH0313525B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an in-vehicle navigator that displays the current position of a vehicle on a road map display surface.

Conventionally, there is a "vehicle traveling position display device" disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 55-159299 as a device of this type, which is equipped with a distance sensor for detecting the traveling distance of the vehicle and a direction sensor for detecting the traveling direction of the vehicle. The current location of the vehicle is displayed on the road map on the display.

However, in this device, since the set switch for setting the current position is provided outside the display, there is a problem in that it is difficult to perform the setting operation in association with the current position displayed on the display.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problem, and a panel switch is provided on the display surface of the display means, and the current position display can be moved by switching the panel switch, thereby facilitating the movement operation. The purpose is to enable it to be used to specify areas on road maps that should be displayed.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, includes a position information generating means for generating information for determining the current position of a vehicle, and map data of road maps corresponding to a plurality of districts are stored. a storage means; a display means having a display surface for electronically displaying; a panel switch provided on the display surface of the display means to make the display on the display surface visible; and a display surface of the display means. a district designation display control means for displaying a district designation display for designating a district; and a map of the district designated by the operation of the panel switch when the district designation display is being displayed on the display surface of the display means. road map display control means for reading data from the storage means and displaying a road map of a designated area on the display surface of the display means based on the map data; and based on information from the position information generation means. current position display control means for displaying the current position of the vehicle overlappingly on a road map displayed on a display surface of the display means; and the road map and the current position are displayed on the display surface of the display means. The present invention is characterized by comprising a current position display moving means for moving the current position display in response to a switch operation of the panel switch.

The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing one embodiment. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a direction detection device as a direction detection means, which includes a direction sensor that detects the X and Y components of the earth's magnetism according to the direction in which the vehicle is traveling, and converts the signal from this direction sensor into a digital signal. It is equipped with an A/D converter and generates digital signals of X and Y components depending on the traveling direction of the vehicle. Reference numeral 2 denotes a distance sensor as a distance detecting means, which generates a distance pulse every unit traveling distance of the vehicle (for example, about 39.2 cm). Reference numeral 3 denotes a reading device which searches for and reads the map data of a specific district using a set of cassette tapes 3a which store map data of a plurality of districts (including absolute coordinate data of the upper right point of each map). It is something.

4 is a microcomputer that executes software digital arithmetic processing according to a predetermined control program, and includes a CPU 4a, a ROM 4b, and a RAM.
4c and an I/O circuit section 4d, and is activated by receiving a stabilized voltage from a stabilized power supply circuit (not shown) that generates a stabilized voltage of 5V by receiving power from an on-board battery. , X and Y component digital signals from the direction detection device 1, distance sensor 2
The system performs arithmetic processing upon receiving distance pulses from the vehicle, reading signals from the reading device 3, etc., and generates display signals for displaying a map of a specific area, travel route information, and the like. Note that the RAM 4c is constantly backed up with power from the on-board battery.

Reference numeral 5 is a cathode ray tube (hereinafter referred to as CRT) controller that receives display signals from the microcomputer 4 and individually stores map data, driving route information, and character data of a specific area, and also stores the stored map data and driving route information. Alternatively, it generates video signals and synchronization signals for displaying character data on a CRT. Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT display device as a display means, which displays a map of a specific area, a driving route, or a character using the video signal and synchronization signal from the CRT controller 5.
It is to be displayed. Reference numeral 7 designates a touch panel section as a panel switch, which is attached to the display surface of the CRT display device 6 and outputs a corresponding serial signal when a specific touch area among the 12 divided touch areas provided on this touch panel is touched. It is something that occurs.

Next, the CRT controller 5 shown in FIG.
The detailed electrical wiring diagram will be explained. 11 is
Oscillation circuit that generates a 12.096MHz oscillation signal, 12
divides the oscillation signal from oscillation circuit 11 to 6.048M
A dot counter 13 generates a Hz dot timing clock and a 756KHz character timing clock, and 13 generates horizontal and vertical synchronization signals and displays according to instructions (commands) from the microcomputer 4 and character timing clocks from the dot counter 12. A display controller 14 generates a timing signal, a refresh memory address signal, and a raster address signal, and a display controller 14 generates a hold signal to hold the microcomputer 4 during the display period based on the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from the display controller 13. This is a hold signal generation circuit that is generated at the hold (HOLD) terminal of the 15 is a multiplexer which switches the address signal from the microcomputer 4, the refresh memory address signal from the display controller 13, and the raster address signal according to the hold acknowledge (HOLDA) signal from the microcomputer 4; 16, 17, and 18 are A bus driver 19 has a tri-state that switches the direction of data between the microcomputer 4 and the display memory, and a bus driver 19 stores display data such as ASCII codes from the microcomputer 4 and receives a refresh memory address signal from the display controller 13. A character memory 20 receives the data and outputs the contents as an address, and a character generator 20 outputs a display pattern based on a display address from the character memory 19 and a raster address signal from the display controller 13. 21 is a first graphic memory that stores map data from the microcomputer 4; 22 is a second graphic memory that stores travel route information (travel trajectory data, current position data) from the microcomputer 4; 23; 24 and 25 are parallel to serial (P to S) converters that convert parallel signals from the character generator 20 and the first and second graphic memories 21 and 22 into serial data using the dot timing clock from the dot counter 12.
A converter 26 switches reception of signals from the P→S converter 23 and P→S converters 24 and 25 in order to select between graphic and character screens in response to a screen switching signal from the microcomputer 4. A video controller 27 generates a video signal using a display timing signal, and 27 is an exclusive OR circuit that generates a synchronization signal using horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from the display controller 13. Note that the character memory 19, the first
The second graphic memories 21 and 22 are constantly backed up with power from an on-vehicle battery.

That is, this CRT controller 5 stores character data in the character memory 19 based on the data sent from the microcomputer 4.
Then, the map data is stored in the first graphic memory 21.
The display data of the traveling trajectory and current position is constantly stored in the second graphic memory 22, and the graphic screen (displaying the traveling trajectory and current position on the map) and the character are displayed in response to a screen switching signal from the microcomputer 4. The CRT display device 6 generates a video signal and a synchronization signal for selecting a screen (displaying designated characters, etc. to designate a district) and displaying a screen corresponding to the selection on the CRT.

The touch panel section 7 has 12 touch areas 31 to 42, as shown in FIG. configured,
When a specific touch area is pressed, the touch area is detected by the contact of the transparent conductive film of the matrix due to the bending of the glass, and a serial signal (start signal) corresponding to the touch area detected by a touch signal generation circuit (not shown) is detected. and touch information signals). Note that this touch signal generation circuit generates the current touch information as a serial signal every 40 msec.

Furthermore, Fig. 4 shows the data area portion corresponding to one district on the cassette tape 3a, and A is the header section that stores the absolute coordinates (coordinates with respect to the North Pole) of the upper right point of the map of that region. , B is a map data storage section storing map data of the area, and X is a blank section. Therefore, by reading portions A and B with the reading device 3, map data and absolute coordinate data for a specific area can be provided to the microcomputer 4.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained with reference to the display explanatory diagram in FIG. 5 and the calculation flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 to 9. FIG. 6 is a calculation flowchart showing the overall calculation processing of the main routine of the microcomputer 4, FIG. 7 is a calculation flowchart showing the calculation processing of the interrupt calculation routine based on the distance pulse from the distance sensor 2, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a calculation flowchart showing detailed calculation processing of the mode calculation routine, and FIG. 9 is a calculation flowchart showing detailed calculation processing of the current position calculation routine in FIG.

Now, in a vehicle equipped with components 1 to 7 shown in FIG. 1, when a key switch is turned on at the start of operation, each part of the electrical system is activated by receiving power from the vehicle battery. The microcomputer 4 then enters the operating state upon receiving the stabilized voltage of 5V from the stabilized power supply circuit, starts its arithmetic processing at the start step 100 in FIG. 6, and proceeds to the initial setting routine 200. The registers, counters, latches, etc. in the microcomputer 4 are set to the initial state necessary for starting the arithmetic processing. After this initial setting, a mode calculation routine 300 and a current position calculation routine 4 are executed.
The arithmetic processing of 00 is repeatedly executed at a period of approximately several tens of milliseconds.

That is, in this mode calculation routine 300, one of the map mode and character mode is selected, and the content corresponding to that mode is selected.
A CRT is displayed, and when in the map mode, a cursor indicating the current position can be moved, and when in the character mode, calculation processing is executed to enable designation of a specific area on the map, and the process proceeds to the current position calculation routine 400. In this current position calculation routine 400, the CRT
A calculation process is executed to change the contents of the current position data and travel trajectory data in the second graphic memory 22 in the controller 5 by a travel change of ±50 m for each X and Y component, and the process returns to the mode calculation routine 300. . Thereafter, the main routine arithmetic processing from the mode arithmetic routine 300 to the current position arithmetic routine 400 is repeatedly executed at a cycle of approximately several tens of milliseconds.

When a distance pulse from the distance sensor 2 is applied to the interrupt (INT) terminal of the microcomputer 4 in response to the repeated calculations of this main routine, the microcomputer 4 temporarily suspends the calculation processing of the main routine. The interrupt calculation process shown in FIG. 7 is executed. That is, the arithmetic processing is started from the interrupt start step 501, and the process proceeds to the integration step 502, where unit distance data (equivalent to approximately 39.2 cm) is integrated and updated to the distance data D stored in the RAM 4c, and the distance is determined. Proceeding to step 503, it is determined whether the distance data D has reached 6.25 m. At this time, if the distance data D has not reached 6.25 m, the determination will be NO and the process will proceed to return step 510, but if the distance data D has reached 6.25 m, the determination will be YES and the process will proceed to the direction signal input step 504. move on. Then, in this azimuth signal input step 504, digital X and Y component signals Xa and Ya (east, north, west,
Enter south (negative direction) and calculate the average direction Step 5
Proceed to step 05 and save the previous direction data X ₀ , Y ₀ (direction data before traveling 6.25m) and current direction data Xa,
Average azimuth data X, Y is obtained using Ya, and the process proceeds to distance component calculation step 506 to calculate the distance component in the X direction.
D _X is 6.25X/√ ² + ² , distance component Dy in Y direction is
6.25Y ^/ √ ² + ^{2 .}
Y/√ ² + ² corresponds to sinθ), memory step 50
7, the current azimuth data Xa, Ya is stored as X ₀ , Y ₀ for the next time, the process proceeds to distance data reset step 508, the distance data D is reset to 0, and the process proceeds to distance flag set step 509. Set the distance flag and return step 51
The program advances to 0 and returns to the main routine that was suspended earlier. In other words, in this interrupt calculation routine,
Distance data D is cumulatively updated every time a unit distance is traveled, and when distance data D reaches 6.25m, this 6.25m
The distance components Dx and Dy in the X and Y directions that reach the distance Dx and Dy are calculated, and arithmetic processing is executed to set a distance flag.

Next, detailed calculation processing of the mode calculation routine 300 in the main routine will be explained. In this mode calculation routine 300, the calculation process is started from touch data input step 301 in FIG. 8, and touch data from the touch panel section 7 is input and stored in the RAM 4c. Then, the process proceeds to map mode determination step 302, where it is determined whether the contents of the mode area in the RAM 4c are in the map mode, and when the content is in the map mode, the determination is YES.
, proceed to mode change determination step 303.
It is determined whether the touch data stored in the RAM 4c is data indicating a mode change (data when touch area 34 in FIG. 3 is pressed). At this time, if the touch data is data indicating a mode change, the determination becomes YES, and the process proceeds to character mode setting step 304, where the contents of the mode area are set to character mode.
Proceed to character switching signal output step 305.
A character switching signal for displaying a character screen on the CRT display device 6 is generated to the video controller 26 in the CRT controller 5, and one calculation process of this mode calculation routine 300 is completed.

On the other hand, when the touch data is not data indicating a mode change, that is, data when a touch area other than 34 in FIG. 3 is pressed, or data when no touch area is pressed (for example, data FF). Sometimes, the determination in the mode change determination step 303 becomes NO,
The process advances to cursor movement determination step 306. In this cursor movement determination step 306, it is determined whether the touch data is data when any of the touch areas 32, 33, 35, 38, 40, and 41 is pressed (cursor movement data).
That is, 32, 33, 35, 3 in FIG.
Touch areas 8, 40, and 41 act as switches for cursor movement, and it is determined whether any of the touch areas has been touched. If the touch data is not data for cursor movement, the judgment becomes NO and this occurs. One calculation process of the mode calculation routine 300 is completed, but it is determined that the touch data is cursor movement data.
When it becomes YES, cursor movement calculation step 307
Proceed to. In this cursor movement calculation step 307, in accordance with the touch data, the cursor at the current position displayed on the CRT display device 6 is moved north by a predetermined distance as data for pressing the touch area of 32 or 33. changing the contents of the second graphics memory 22 in the CRT controller 5 so as to move the image;
Similarly, if the touch data is data for pressing the touch area of 35, move the cursor westward, if the touch data is data for pressing the touch area of 40 or 41, move the cursor southward, and if the touch data is data for pressing the touch area of 38, move the cursor in the west direction. If it is data for , then a computation process is executed to change the contents of the second graphic memory 22 so as to move the cursor by a predetermined distance in the east direction, and one computation process of this mode computation routine 300 is completed.

Therefore, 32, 33, 35, 38, 40,
If any of the touch areas 41 continues to be pressed, the touch signal generation circuit continues to generate the current touch information every 40 _ms as described above, so the cursor can continue to move every 40 _ms .

On the other hand, when the determination in the map mode determination step 302 is NO, the process proceeds to a mode change determination step 308, where it is determined whether or not the mode is to be changed using the same calculation process as in the mode change determination step 303. At this time, if the determination is YES when changing the mode, the process advances to map mode setting step 309.
Set the contents of the mode area in RAM4c to map mode and proceed to data conversion step 310.
The traveling route data in the second graphic memory 22 in the CRT controller 5 is converted. In this case, first, the reading device 3 is controlled to search for a specified district using its map number, and the absolute coordinate data (stored in the header section A shown in Fig. 4) on this searched map and the absolute coordinate data on the map of the previous district are used. A coordinate transformation value is calculated from the coordinate data, and the travel locus and current position data in the second graph switch memory 22 are converted in a sliding manner according to the calculated value. Then, map data reading output step 3
11, the map data of the cassette tape 3a is inputted via the reading device 3, and the map data is outputted to the first graphic memory 21.
Proceed to map switching signal output step 312 and output the CRT.
The video controller 26 sends a map switching signal for displaying the map graphic screen on the display device 6.
This occurs, and one calculation process of this mode calculation routine 300 is completed. That is, when switching from the character screen to the graphic screen of a map different from the previous one, the above calculation process is executed, the current map data is stored in the first graphic memory 21, and the driving trajectory is added to the current location corresponding to this map. and converting the contents in the second graphics memory 22 to modify the cursor indicating the current location. As a result, even if the map displayed on the CRT display device 6 is changed, the travel trajectory and current location can be displayed in the area corresponding to the map.

On the other hand, if the determination in the mode change determination step 308 is NO, the process advances to a character calculation step 313. When the character calculation step 313 is reached, the character mode is set and a character switching signal is being sent to the video controller 26, so the CRT display device 6 displays the character screen as shown in FIG. is being filmed. The number 02 shown in the center of this character screen
-4-68 are numbers that designate regions, regions, and districts, and each number is updated by incrementing by 1 with the increment switch 51, subtracting by 1 with the decrement switch 52, and set with the set switch 53. , reset switch 5
The character calculation step 313 performs calculation processing such that the character calculation step 313 is reset at step 4. Note that the numerical data of this region, region, and district, that is, the map number, is stored in the RAM 4c. In addition, the switches 51, 52, 53, and 54 mentioned above are the third switches, respectively.
This corresponds to touch areas 39, 40, 41, and 42 in the figure.

That is, in the mode calculation routine 300 shown in FIG. 8, the following operations are performed according to the touch data from the touch panel section 7 and the contents of the mode area in the RAM 4c.

If there is an instruction to move the cursor when the map mode is in the map mode and the mode is not changed, arithmetic processing for moving the cursor is executed, and if there is no instruction to move the cursor, the map display is continued as it is.

If there is an instruction to change the mode while in the map mode, the map mode is changed to the character mode and the character screen is displayed on the CRT display device 6.

When the character mode is in effect and the mode is not changed, map changes can be accepted on the character screen as shown in FIG.

When a mode change instruction is given while in the character mode, the character mode is changed to the map mode, a graphic screen of the map is displayed on the CRT display device 6, and at the same time, the travel trajectory and current position are corrected and displayed.

Next, detailed calculation processing of the current position calculation routine 400 in the main routine will be explained.
In this current position calculation routine 400, the calculation process starts at distance flag determination step 401 in FIG. 9, and it is determined in the interrupt calculation process in FIG. 7 whether or not the distance flag is set. At this time,
If the distance flag is not set, the judgment will be
If the result is NO, one calculation process of the current position calculation routine 400 is completed, but if the distance flag is set, the determination becomes YES and the process proceeds to the X distance correction step 402. Then, in this X-distance correction step 402, the X-distance data DX is corrected by the X-distance component Dx obtained by the interrupt calculation process (DX=DX+Dx), and then in the Y-distance correction step 4.
In step 03, the Y distance data DY is similarly corrected (DY=DY+Dy) and the process proceeds to the first X distance determination step 404, where it is determined whether the X distance data DX has reached a value of 50 m or more. At this time, if the X distance data DX is a value of 50m or more, the judgment is YES.
Then, the process proceeds to the X distance subtraction step 405, where the value of 50 m is subtracted from the direction), and the traveling locus data is also made to follow along with this.

Further, when the determination in the first X distance determination step 404 is NO, the second X distance determination step 40 is performed.
Proceeding to step 7, it is determined whether the X distance data DX has reached a value of −50 m or less. At this time, if the X distance data DX is less than -50m, the judgment is YES.
Then, the process proceeds to the X distance addition step 408, where the value of 50 m is added to the X distance data DX, and the process proceeds to the display movement step 409, where the second graphic memory 2 is
The current position data in 2 is moved in the negative direction (west direction) by 50 m, and the traveling locus data is also made to follow this.

Then, the second X distance determination step 407
If the judgment is NO, or display movement step 4
After 06,409, the process proceeds to the Y component display movement processing routine 410, and the Y distance data DY calculated in the Y distance correction step 403 is processed in the step 4 above.
Judgment and arithmetic processing similar to those in 04 to 409 are executed. (Y distance data DY is in either positive or negative direction)
When the value exceeds 50m, the current position data and traveling trajectory data in the second graphic memory 22 are
Move by 50m in the corresponding direction. )and,
The process advances to the next distance flag reset step 411 to reset the distance flag.

That is, in the current position calculation routine 400 shown in FIG.
The current position data and travel trajectory data in 2 are converted.

Therefore, the current position data and travel trajectory data in the second graphic memory 22 are calculated by repeating the main routine calculations by the mode calculation routine 300 and the current position calculation routine 400, and by the interrupt calculation shown in FIG. At the same time, the screen of the CRT display device 6 is selected according to the specified mode, and if it is in the map mode, the map graphic screen (including the display of the current position and driving trajectory) is displayed, and the character In the mode, a character screen for map designation shown in FIG. 5 is displayed.

In addition, in the above embodiment, as a display means
CRT display device 6 is shown, but liquid crystal display device, EL
A display device or the like may also be used.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to move the current position of the vehicle and specify the display area while visually observing the display surface of the display means, and the switch operation for this purpose can also be performed by using the panel switch. It has excellent effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a detailed electrical wiring diagram of the CRT controller in Figure 1, Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the touch area of the touch panel, Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the data area of the cassette tape, and Figure 5 is the CRT display. A display explanatory diagram showing the display state of the device, Fig. 6 is a calculation flowchart showing the overall calculation processing of the main routine of the microcomputer, and Fig. 7 shows the calculation processing of the interrupt calculation routine based on the distance pulse from the distance sensor. Calculation flowchart, Figure 8 is a calculation flowchart showing detailed calculation processing of the mode calculation routine in Figure 6;
This figure is a calculation flowchart showing detailed calculation processing of the current position calculation routine in FIG. 6, and FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing the structure of the claims. 1... Orientation detection device as direction detection means, 2
... Distance sensor as distance detection means, 4... Microcomputer, 6... As display means
CRT display device, 7...Touch panel section as a panel switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A position information generating means for generating information for determining the current position of a vehicle, a storage means for storing map data of road maps corresponding to a plurality of districts, and a display for electronically displaying the information. a panel switch provided on the display surface of the display means to make the display on the display surface visible; and a district designation display for designating a district on the display surface of the display means. a district designation display control means for causing the district designation display to be carried out; and a district designation display control means for reading map data of a district designated by a switch operation of the panel switch when the district designation display is being performed on the display surface of the display means, from the storage means, and storing the map data. road map display control means for displaying a road map of a designated area on the display surface of the display means based on information from the position information generation means; current position display control means for displaying the current position of the vehicle overlappingly on a road map; An in-vehicle navigator comprising a current position display moving means for moving a current position display. 2. The panel switch is composed of a plurality of switch sections that divide the display surface of the display means into a plurality of regions, and includes a switch section that is operated when specifying the area, and a switch section that is operated when moving the current position. An in-vehicle navigator according to claim 1, in which a portion of the navigator is also used.