JPH0313527B2 - - 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, this type of device was disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 55-159299.
There is a ``vehicle traveling position display device'' in the publication, which displays the current position on the display screen of a road map.

However, in this device, the display tubes arranged on the display surface are set to light up sequentially in response to the vehicle's travel by setting the transparent film on which the road map is printed. There is a problem in that it is difficult to accurately align the current position of .

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily accurately align the current position of a vehicle at the time of starting operation of the vehicle.

Therefore, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a current position detecting means for detecting the current position of a vehicle, and a display means for displaying the current position detected by the current position detecting means overlappingly on the display surface of a road map. An in-vehicle navigator comprising: a preliminary set means for performing a preliminary set operation to move the display of the current position to a specific point on the road map display; a start instruction generating means for generating a start instruction by an external operation; prohibition means for prohibiting movement of the current position indication on the display surface based on the current position detection by the current position detection means until the start instruction is generated after the preliminary set operation; and a start instruction is generated by the start instruction generation means. Then, the present invention further comprises a control means for starting the movement of the current position display on the display surface onto the road map display based on the current position detected by the current position detection means from the preset specific point. It is a feature.

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, 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 map data of a specific district by using a set of cassette tapes 3a that store district 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 as a control means for executing software digital arithmetic processing according to a predetermined control program; CPU4a;
A stabilized power supply circuit (not shown) that includes a ROM4b, a RAM4c, and an I/O circuit section 4d, and generates a stabilized voltage of 5V by receiving power from an on-board battery.
It enters the operating state by receiving a stabilizing voltage from the direction detector 1, receives digital signals of X and Y components from the direction detecting device 1, distance pulses from the distance sensor 2, read signals from the reading device 3, etc., and performs arithmetic processing. It executes this and generates a display signal for displaying a map of a specific area, driving route information, etc.
Note that RAM4C is constantly backed up with power from the vehicle's 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. Reference numeral 8 denotes a return type preset switch that generates a preset instruction, and 9 a return type start switch serving as an instruction generation means that generates a start instruction, both of which are provided near the CRT display device 6. The touch panel section 7 and the preset switch 8 constitute a preset means.

Next, the CRT controller 5 shown in FIG.
The detailed electrical wiring diagram will be explained. 11 is 12,
An oscillation circuit that generates a 096MHz oscillation signal, 12 divides the oscillation signal from the oscillation circuit 11 to 6.048MHz.
13 is a dot counter that generates a dot timing clock of A display controller 14 generates a 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. 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 in response to a hold acknowledge (HOLDA) signal from the microcomputer 4; 16, 17, and 18 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.

Further, the touch panel section 7 has touch areas divided into 12 areas from 30 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 generating means generates touch information at that time in the form of a serial signal every 40 msec.

Furthermore, Fig. 4 shows a data area corresponding to one district on the cassette tape 3a, and A is a 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 that stores 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 of 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 9 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 msec.

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.
The current position calculation routine 400 displays the current position on a CRT, and executes arithmetic processing to enable movement of the cursor (including a preliminary set) indicating the current position when in map mode, and to specify a specific map when in character mode. Proceed to. In this current position calculation routine 400, when the preliminary setting is not performed,
The contents of the current position data and travel locus data in the second graphic memory 22 in the CRT controller 5 are changed by a travel change of ±50 m for each X and Y component, and when the start switch 9 is preset, the contents are changed. The calculation process for prohibiting the current position update calculation is executed until the input is made, and the process returns to the modal point calculation routine 300. After that, the calculation process of the main routine from this mode calculation routine 300 to the current position calculation routine 400 is repeated several tens of meters.
It is executed repeatedly at a cycle of approximately sec.

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 606 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 (X/√ ² + ² is the cos for the counterclockwise angle θ with the east direction as the reference)
θ, Y/√ ² + ² corresponds to sin θ), the process proceeds to storage step 507 to store the current azimuth data Xa, Ya as Xo, Yo for next time, and proceeds to distance data reset step 508 to save distance data D. is reset to 0, the process proceeds to a distance flag set step 509 to set the distance flag, and the process proceeds to a return step 510 to return to the previously interrupted main routine. That is, in this interrupt calculation routine, the distance data D is cumulatively updated every time a unit distance is traveled, and when the distance data D reaches 6.25 m, this 6.25
The distance components Dx and Dy in the X and Y directions that reach m 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 unit 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 map mode or not.
If the result is YES, the process advances to map mode determination step 302, where the touch data stored in the RAM 4c is changed to data indicating a mode change (34 in FIG. 3).
data when the touch area was 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, and character switching signal output step 30.
Proceeding to step 5, a character switching signal for displaying the 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.
The touch areas 8, 40, and 41 serve as switches for moving the cursor, and it is determined whether any of the touch areas has been touched.
If the touch data is not cursor movement data, the determination will be NO, but if the touch data is cursor movement data, the determination will be YES and the process will proceed to cursor movement calculation step 307. 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 a predetermined distance northward, indicating that the touch data corresponds to the press of the touch area 32 or 33. The contents of the second graphic memory 22 in the CRT controller 5 are changed so that the touch area of the touch data 35 is pressed.
The second graphic memory is configured to move the cursor southward by a predetermined distance if the data corresponds to the press of touch area 0 or 41, and to move the cursor eastward by a predetermined distance if the touch data corresponds to the press of touch area 38. 22 is executed. Then, the process proceeds to a preliminary set determination step 308, in which it is determined whether or not a preliminary set instruction has been generated from the preliminary set switch 8 for performing a preliminary set.If a preliminary set instruction has not been generated, the determination is NO. If a preliminary set instruction has been generated, the determination becomes YES, and the process advances to a preliminary set flag setting step 309, where a preliminary set flag is set, and one calculation process of this mode calculation routine 300 is completed.

Therefore, 32, 33, 35, 38, 40, 41
If any touch area is kept pressed,
As mentioned above, the touch signal generation circuit continues to generate touch information every 40mS, so the cursor
It can continue to move every 40mS.

When performing a preliminary setting, the cursor is first set at a specific point on the road map (for example, a nearby intersection, railroad crossing, etc.), and then the preliminary setting switch 8 is turned on. As a result, a preliminary set flag indicating that the preliminary setting has been set is set.

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 311, 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 312.
Set the contents of the mode area in RAM4c to map mode and proceed to data conversion step 313.
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 graphic memory 22 are converted in a sliding manner according to the calculated value. Then, map data reading output step 3
Proceeding to step 14, 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 315 and turn on 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 311 is NO, the process advances to a character calculation step 316. When the character calculation step 316 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 0 shown in the center of this character screen
2-4-68 are numbers specifying 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. The character calculation step 316 performs arithmetic processing such that the character is reset by the reset switch 54. Note that the numerical data of this locality, region, and district, that is, the map number, is stored in the RAM 4c. Further, the switches 51, 52, 53, and 54 mentioned above correspond to the touch areas 39, 40, 41, and 42 in FIG. 3, respectively.

That is, in the mode calculation routine 300 shown in FIG. 8, the following operations are performed in accordance with the touch data from the touch panel section 7, the preliminary set instruction from the preliminary set switch 8, 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.

When a preliminary set instruction is issued from the preliminary set switch 8 when the map mode is in effect and the mode is not changed, a preliminary set flag is set to indicate that preliminary setting has been performed.

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 from the preliminary set flag determination step 401 in FIG. If not, the determination becomes NO, and the process advances to distance flag determination step 402, where it is determined in the interrupt calculation process of FIG. 7 whether or not the distance flag is set. At this time, if the distance flag is not set, the determination becomes NO and one calculation process of this current position calculation routine 400 is completed, but if the distance flag is set, the determination becomes YES and X The process advances to distance correction step 403. and,
In this X distance correction step 403,
A correction calculation is performed using the X distance component Dx obtained by the DX interrupt calculation process (DX = DX + Dx), and a correction calculation is similarly performed for the Y distance data DY (DY = DY + Dy) in the Y distance correction step 404. Proceed to X distance determination step 404 in step 1, and the X distance data DX is 50 m.
It is determined whether the value has reached the above value. At this time,
If the X distance data DX is a value of 50 m or more, the determination becomes YES, and the process proceeds to the X distance subtraction step 406, where the value of 50 m is subtracted from the X distance data DX.
Proceeding to display movement step 407, the current position data in the second graphic memory 22 is moved in the positive direction (eastward) by 50 m, and the traveling locus data is also caused to follow this movement.

Further, when the determination in the first X distance determination step 405 is NO, the second X distance determination step 40 is performed.
Proceeding to step 8, 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 409, where the value of 50 m is added to the X distance data DX, and the process proceeds to the display movement step 410, 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 408
If the judgment is NO, or display movement step 4
After 07,410, the process proceeds to the Y component display movement processing routine 411, and the Y distance data DY calculated in the Y distance correction step 404 is processed in step 4.
Judgment and arithmetic processing similar to those in 05 to 410 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 50 in the second graphic memory 22 are
Move by m in the corresponding direction. )and,
Proceeding to the next distance flag reset step 412, the distance flag is reset.

Further, the preliminary set flag determination step 40
When the determination in step 1 is YES, the process proceeds to start switch determination step 413, where it is determined whether or not a start instruction has been generated from the start switch 9. If a start instruction has not been generated, the determination is NO.
However, when a start instruction is issued, the determination becomes YES, and the process advances to a preliminary set flag release step 414 to cancel the preliminary set flag.

That is, in the current position calculation routine 400 shown in FIG. 9, when the preliminary set flag is not set, the current position data in the second graphic memory 22 is calculated regardless of the screen displayed on the CRT display device 6. Then, the travel trajectory data is converted, and when the preliminary set flag is set, calculation of updating the current position is prohibited until the start switch 9 is turned on.

Therefore, by the repeated calculations of the main routine by the mode calculation routine 300 and the current position calculation routine 400, and the interrupt calculation shown in FIG. While changing the data and travel trajectory data sequentially, the
Select the screen of the CRT display device 6, and if it is in the map mode, the map graphic screen (including the display of the current position and driving trajectory) will be displayed, and if it is the character mode, the screen for specifying the map as shown in Fig. 5 will be displayed. Display the character screen. When the cursor is preset at a specific point on the road map and the preset switch 8 is turned on, the cursor is fixed at that position and the start switch 9 is turned on when the vehicle actually travels to the position corresponding to that specific point. When input, the cursor will start moving from that point.

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.

Furthermore, although the preliminary set switch 8 and the start instruction switch 9 are shown as being provided separately, it is possible to use one switch and generate a preliminary set instruction when the connection is held, and a start instruction when the connection is released. Good too.

Further, although the road map display data is obtained from the cassette tape 3a, the road map display may be performed by receiving map data from a transmitter provided for the area. Furthermore, although we have shown that the direction is detected by geomagnetic detection,
It is also possible to use one that determines the relative direction of the vehicle with respect to the reference direction.

As described above, in the present invention, a specific point on the road map display is set in advance, and when a start instruction is given when the vehicle travels to the actual position relative to that specific point, the current position display is moved from that specific point. This makes it easy to accurately align the current position when the vehicle starts operating, and also prevents the current position display from moving until a start instruction is issued after the preliminary setting. Since the current position display does not move after the preset operation, the user can clearly inform the user of the specific point that has been preset.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

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. 1... Direction detection device as direction detection means,
2... Distance sensor as distance detection means, 4...
Microcomputer as control means, 6...
CRT display device as a display means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Vehicle-mounted vehicle comprising: current position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle; and display means for displaying the current position detected by the current position detection means overlappingly on the display surface of a road map. In the navigator, a preliminary set means for performing a preliminary set operation to move the display of the current position to a specific point on the road map display; a start instruction generating means for generating a start instruction by an external operation; a prohibition means for prohibiting movement of the current position display on the display surface based on the current position detected by the current position detection means until a start instruction is generated; and when a start instruction is generated from the start instruction generation means, the preliminary set and control means for starting movement of the current position display on the display surface onto the road map display based on the current position detected by the current position detection means from the specific point determined by the current position detection means.