JPH04278700A - Road guide sign and car-mounting navigation device and navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the map displaying easy to understand by displaying a code decided for each intersection at a road guide sign, inputting a code to a car- mounting navigation device and displaying the position and direction. CONSTITUTION:A road number displaying 2 for each intersection, an intersection number displaying 3 for each road and an approach direction displaying 4 to an intersection are decided, made into a code number, and displayed at a road guide sign 1. On the other hand, the above-mentioned code is inputted to the car-mounting navigation device having a recording support to store the displaying part, keyboard and above-mentioned code number, and together with the map, the present position, peripheral intersection code and direction are displayed at the displaying part. Then, the place name and the intersection are systematized, the direction is displayed, and thus, the driving is easy even at the strange place.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a road guide sign displaying a number to be installed at each intersection, an in-vehicle navigation device that uses the road guide sign to provide the driver with road map information of the current location and its vicinity; The present invention also relates to a navigation system realized by the above signs and devices.

0002

[Prior Art] (1) Regarding road guide signs Conventionally, road guide signs indicating locations have been widely used to display place names, except for numbers indicating major roads such as national highways. There is nothing set up or relevant.

[0003] As a means of systematically displaying place names,
There is one disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 197986/1986. This divides all of Japan into 1,000 or less regions, sets vertical and horizontal coordinates for each region, and assigns numbers representing positions from 00 to 99 to each coordinate axis. In this way, the 3-digit area code,
Instead of place names, points are systematically expressed using a total of seven digits, including two digits of horizontal axis coordinates and two digits of vertical axis coordinates, and these are used as road guide signs.

(2) Regarding in-vehicle navigation devices Most road maps are based on books, but in recent years, devices installed in vehicles that are displayed on displays such as CRTs have begun to be put into practical use, and it is easy to navigate to a destination. Some vehicles are equipped with various functions for road selection.

[0005] In recent years, some navigation systems use a GPS method in which an in-vehicle device detects the current position using satellites in combination with a direction sensor, and others use a navigation system in which an in-vehicle device detects the current position based on information received from sign posts installed on the road. The so-called road-to-vehicle communication system has entered the practical stage.

[0006] Furthermore, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 197986/1986 discloses a means for wirelessly transmitting a place name expressed by the seven-digit number and for an in-vehicle device to receive this.

[0007] Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11988/1988 discloses that each position on the road and the intersection position on a map is digitized and stored in coordinates, and this data is used in an in-vehicle navigation system equipped with a mileage sensor and a direction sensor. A means for knowing the current position of a vehicle by means of a device is disclosed.

Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-90715 discloses that data digitized by position as coordinates is added to a storage medium storing conventional map data and stored, and character and symbol information can be read using a conventional navigation device. Additionally, means for displaying coordinate information are disclosed.

[0009]

[Problems to be solved by the invention] (1) Regarding road guide signs Conventional road guide signs, except for the numbers and road names of major roads such as national highways, display place names and are not systematic. Many things are unknown to people outside the area, so even if drivers try to use signs with place names on them as guide signs to confirm their current location, they have no way to confirm the place name. It was useless. Furthermore, even if place names were displayed on the map, there were few details and it was difficult to confirm them. Therefore, as a means of determining positions other than the above,
Drivers are now forced to judge the surroundings of intersections based on what others have seen and heard.

The means disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 197986/1986 is a method of quantifying the area and coordinates, and requires some experience in order to directly know the name of the current location. Another problem is that it is not possible to know the name or direction of the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling.

(2) Regarding in-vehicle navigation devices For safety reasons, it is difficult for the driver to detect the current position by looking at the road map in the current book while driving, and due to the scale. Sometimes the map wasn't displayed in detail, or it was too small, making it a pain to look at the map.

[0012] Furthermore, it has not been possible to detect the current position even when displaying a road map on a display.

[0013] In current position detection systems, GPS
This method cannot accurately determine locations in large cities where roads are densely packed or there are many high-rise buildings. Furthermore, although road-to-vehicle communication systems can detect accurate locations, in addition to in-vehicle devices, it is necessary to install signposts at key locations to send and receive information on the road, and it is difficult to provide detailed road information. This would require the installation of even more signposts, which would increase costs. Additionally, radio waves are transmitted and received between the sign post and the in-vehicle device, causing problems such as radio interference. This point is similar to the means described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 197986/1986.

Furthermore, the means described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-11988 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-90715 obtain information only from the display on the display section of the navigation device. Data-wise, it has no relation at all to the visual information that the driver obtains from outside the vehicle, such as guide signs, and there are still problems with visibility.

The present invention solves the above problems, and aims to provide a road guide sign, an in-vehicle navigation device, and a navigation system that is easy for drivers to use and is realized by using the above signs and devices.

[0016]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides uniquely determined road numbers, numbers determined for each intersection of each road according to the order of the intersections, and intersection approach directions. Write down the three types of numbers shown and use these as code numbers unique to the intersection. Road guide signs with this code number will be placed at each intersection. The aim is to install these road guidance signs from large-scale intersections equipped with traffic lights to small-scale intersections where vehicles can drive, and to create systematicity and relevance among the signs. By arranging the above-mentioned road guide signs, drivers are able to know the road number, current location, and direction on which they are traveling.

The present invention also provides a road map display section, a several-digit number display section, a keyboard section, a storage medium (disk) having map information, and data written on the road interior sign. a disk drive device that drives both disks storing the above information, and a control unit that controls the above devices, and when the code number of the road guide sign installed at an arbitrary intersection is input from the keyboard unit, the above A function that displays an arbitrary diagram centered on an intersection, the location of the specified intersection, and the direction of approach to the intersection, and the code number of the road guide sign of the arbitrary intersection is entered from the keyboard section above. When the direction of travel is input from the section, the code number of the road guide sign of the first intersection in the direction of travel is displayed in the number display section, and an arbitrary map centered around that intersection,
A function that displays the location of the intersection, the direction of approach to the intersection, the location of the intersection one place before the intersection before inputting the direction of travel, and a road map display function that allows you to move by page and by division. By disposing an in-vehicle navigation device, map information is displayed on the display section.

[0018]

[Function] With the above road guide sign configuration, the road guide signs become systematic, and when the driver learns map information between the current location and the destination from the road guide signs near the destination and the road guide sign at the current location. effective.

After the driver sets the road map disk containing the desired location and the disk containing the data written on the road guide sign in the disk drive section of the vehicle-mounted navigation device, By inputting the code number shown on a road guide sign from the keyboard, the code number will be displayed on the number display section, and the location of the intersection corresponding to the road guide sign and any road centered around the intersection will be displayed. A map and the direction of approach to the intersection can be displayed on the display. Furthermore, when a code number is entered and the direction of travel at the intersection corresponding to that code number is entered, the code number of the road guide sign installed at the first intersection in the entered direction from this intersection will be displayed on the number display. The location of the intersection corresponding to the sign, a road map centered on the location of the intersection, and the direction of approach to the intersection can be displayed on the display unit.

[0020] In this way, the driver identifies the road guide sign and inputs the code number displayed on the sign into the in-vehicle navigation device, thereby informing the driver of the location of the intersection corresponding to the code number of the input sign. By inputting the direction of travel, a navigation device is realized that notifies the code number of the road guide sign ahead in the direction of travel and the position of the intersection corresponding to the sign.

[0021]

Embodiment (Embodiment of road guide sign) An embodiment of the road guide sign according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4. In this example, the code number of the intersection shown on the road guide sign is the road number,
It consists of an intersection number and a heading number, and these numbers have a two-digit road number, a two-digit intersection number, and a one-digit heading number, and each number is connected with a hyphen. Each digit is represented in hexadecimal by numbers 0 to 9 and alphabetic characters A to F. The number of digits and base numbers may be determined to be other values by the person managing the road depending on the actual number of roads and intersections.

FIG. 1(a) shows an example of a road guide sign 1 displayed. The two-digit number 2 on the left in the figure represents road number display 2,
For example, the range of numerical values to be used is determined depending on the type of road, such as 00-20 for national roads, 21-60 for prefectural roads, and above for other general roads, and then the values corresponding to each road are determined.

The road number can also be configured as follows. The number of digits shall be three, and for national highways, the number shall be the same as the national highway number. In other words, for example, Class 1 National Highway No. 1 is 001,
Second-class national highway No. 246 is displayed as 246. Also, if the number of digits is 4 digits and the first two digits are the code number of the prefecture, for example, Kanagawa Prefectural Route 14 can be displayed as 1214, First Class National Route 1 can be displayed as 0001, Second Class National Route 246
The line can be displayed as 0246.

The two-digit number in the center represents intersection number display 3, which is the serial number of the intersection from the start point to the end point of each road. In the example of Figure 1(a), 23 from the starting point of the road numbered 04.
This indicates that the intersection is on the road numbered 04. The one-digit number or alphanumeric character on the right in Figure 1(a) represents the direction of travel as a hexadecimal number, in this case 0 to F.
As shown in FIG. 1(b), using the values up to this point, let us make the directions and numerical values correspond so that 0 indicates north, 8 indicates south, and F indicates north-northwest. Therefore, FIG. 1(a) shows that the traveling direction is southwest. The above is an example of a method of displaying a road guide sign.

However, since two or more roads intersect at an intersection, the road number on the road guide sign at the intersection differs depending on the direction of approach to the intersection. To avoid this, the road numbers of national roads are given top priority, followed by prefectural roads. If the order of priority cannot be determined unambiguously, the person in charge of the road may decide.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the installation of road guide signs 1 at intersections with traffic lights. A road guide sign 1 is attached to a traffic light 5. Since the road usage rate is high at intersections with traffic lights, an auxiliary sign 6 with the same content as the road guide sign 1 may be installed in front of the intersection so that the sign can be identified from a point far ahead. . Further, the auxiliary sign 6 may be a conventional guide sign as shown in FIG. 3 with the above code number written thereon.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the installation of road guide signs 1 at intersections without traffic lights. These road guide signs 1 shall be installed in all approaching directions of the intersection.

(Embodiment of a vehicle-mounted navigation device) An embodiment of a vehicle-mounted navigation device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration diagram of this device. The disk drive section 7 is capable of driving a plurality of disks. One of the plurality of disks used is for detecting and displaying the position where data for associating the code numbers of the road guide signs with the points on each map is stored, and is referred to as a control disk. The other disks store road map data, and may be one disk or multiple disks. One control disk for the purpose of detecting and displaying these positions and a road map disk are stored in the disk drive section 7.
Set to . However, at least one road map disk must be set.

The configuration of the disk used above consists of a control disk and at least one map disk, and the map disk can be a conventional one, ie, a CD ROM storing map data. Since the control disk stores the data described above, it is necessary to create a new one. Furthermore, in order to simplify the use of the above means, it is also possible to create a disk in which the road guide sign code and control data are also stored in a conventional map disk. In this case, the navigation device can operate with one disc.

[0031] Note that each of the above-mentioned disks is, for example, a CDROM.
In addition to optical discs such as the above, magneto-optical discs, magnetic discs, and magnetic tapes are also suitable as long as they are storage carriers that store the above-mentioned information. It is possible to realize the function. However, the type must be determined in advance.

As shown in FIG. 6, the keyboard section 8 is a section for moving the direction of travel and the displayed map (go straight, turn left, diagonally left turn, right turn, diagonally right turn, straight down, diagonally lower left, diagonally lower right). 8a, an input section 8b for road guide sign code numbers (0 to F), a section 8c for confirming and canceling input, and a section 8c for selecting the enlargement of the displayed map, whether to display only the map or to display a map including navigation information. It consists of a selection part 8d, each having necessary input keys.

The number display section 9 displays the road guide sign code number input from the keyboard section 8 or, when the direction of travel is input from the keyboard section 8, the road guide sign code number of the first intersection in the direction of travel. The display unit 10 displays an arbitrarily selected road map or a navigation map including the location of the specified intersection and the direction of approach to the intersection.

The operation mode in which a road map is simply displayed is referred to as a "map function", and the operation mode in which a navigation map is displayed is referred to as a "navigation function".

Further, when the direction of travel is input from the keyboard section 8, the display section 10 displays the position of the first intersection in the direction of travel, the direction of approach, and the position of the original intersection.

[0036] The display unit 10 is a CRT or LC.
Like D, it is large enough to make the map visible.

[0037] The contents displayed on the number display section 9 are as follows:
It is also possible to display it on a part of the display unit 10, for example, on the underline of the display surface. In this case, the number display section 9 becomes unnecessary.

The control section 11 includes all the above-mentioned parts, namely, the disk drive section 7, the keyboard section 8, and the number display section 9.
and performs overall control of the display section 10. Further, the control section 11 includes a memory for storing display data corresponding to the display contents of the display section 10 and the number display section 9 for a necessary period of time.

Next, a flowchart of the control performed by the control section 11 will be explained. FIG. 7 is an operational flowchart of the present invention.

When the power is turned on, the apparatus starts (step 101). Next, initial settings of this device are performed (step 102). Next, the system waits until at least one control disk and one road map disk are set, and when they are set, the disks are identified and it is determined whether an incorrect disk has been set. Conditions for determining an error include: the disc is set in a different position, a disc for music or other purpose other than that of the device is set, and a control disc is not set. After correcting the error, the computer enters the standby state again (step 103).

Next, it is determined whether the operating mode of the apparatus is to be a map function or a navigation function by inputting from the mode key on the keyboard. As an initial process, if there is no input from the mode key, the map function is used (step 104). and display the map (step 10)
5). If the map function is selected, it is determined whether there is a scale change input from the keyboard (step 106). If so, the scaled map is displayed (step 107), and if not, a map movement mode is selected (step 108). Displaying the scaled map (step 107) displays the map at the selected scale.

Next, it is determined whether the map is to be moved page by page or division by division using the movement mode input key on the keyboard section 8 (step 108). If page-by-page movement is selected, it is determined whether there is a movement direction input (step 109), and if there is, the movement is performed one page in the input direction (step 110). Similarly, when a division unit is selected, it is determined whether there is an input for the movement direction (step 111), and if there is, the movement is performed by one division in the input direction (step 112). Then return to checking the disk set.

When the navigation function is selected in step 104, a map is first displayed (step 1).
13) Confirm the input of the road guide sign code number (step 114), and if the input is complete, determine the input value and confirm that there is no error, that is, a number that cannot exist has been input. If not, detect the input intersection position and approach direction at the currently displayed scale,
The number is displayed on the number display section 9 and the display section 10 (step 115). If it is an error, the number is re-entered and then the input is determined to be incomplete. If it is determined that the process has not been completed, the scale change input is confirmed (step 117). Display on number display section 9 and display section 10 (step 115)
) is a map centered on the intersection you entered, the location of the intersection,
After displaying the approach direction on the display section 10 and displaying the entered code number of the intersection on the number display section 9, this display data is stored in the memory in the entire control section 11 (
Step 116), scale change input confirmation (Step 117)
)I do.

In the scale change input confirmation (step 117), it is determined whether the scale change input from the keyboard section 8 has been completed, and if the input has been completed, the input value is determined, and the intersection at the input scale is determined. The position and direction of approach are detected and displayed on the number display section 9 and display section 10 (step 115). If the process has not been completed, the direction of travel is confirmed (step 118).

In the direction of travel input confirmation (step 118), it is determined whether the input of the direction of travel from the keyboard section 8 has been completed, and if the input has been completed, the input value is determined, and the direction of travel at the current intersection is determined. The first existing intersection number is detected and displayed (step 115). If the process has not been completed, confirm the cancellation input (step 119).

In this case, the number display section 9 and the display 1
0 (step 115), in addition to the operations described above, the position of the intersection at the time of inputting the direction of travel is also displayed, and cancellation input confirmation is performed (step 119).

When a cancellation input is made, the state caused by the previous operation is confirmed (step 120), the display etc. for that operation is erased (step 121), and the operation and data from the previous time are retrieved from the memory. The process moves to the processing start destination (step 122). If no cancellation input is made, the process starts again by checking the disk set.

Furthermore, error processing at each step is such that those related to input from the keyboard section are cleared as no input, and the other steps are canceled.

[0049]

Effects of the Invention (1) As is clear from the above embodiments, according to the road guide sign according to the present invention, it is possible to provide systematicity and relevance among the signs, and the driver can directly see it visually or use the in-vehicle navigation system. This is an effective means for detecting the position by the device.

(2) Furthermore, according to the in-vehicle navigation device according to the present invention, when an intersection number (a code number of a road guide sign) installed at an arbitrary intersection is input from the keyboard section, a number of stages centered around the intersection are entered. Equipped with a function to display a map of any scale, the location of a specified intersection, and the direction of approach to the intersection, the driver can immediately check which intersection he or she is currently near, even if he or she is not driving. You can search for a location by operating this.

Furthermore, when the intersection number (code number of a road guide sign) of an arbitrary intersection is input from the keyboard section and the traveling direction is input from the keyboard section, the road intersection number ( A function to display road information sign code numbers) and a map of any number of scales centered on the intersection. The location of that intersection. Direction of approach to that intersection. It is equipped with a function that displays the position of the intersection one place before entering the direction of travel, so if you enter the intersection number (code number of the road guide sign) once while driving, Just by inputting the direction of travel, the location of the next intersection you will reach can be displayed in sequence, including the relationship to the intersection you have passed before. Also, similar to the above function, you can search for directions to your destination even if you are not driving.

Furthermore, the map function allows road maps of several scales to be displayed on the display section.

As described above, according to the road guide sign and navigation device of the present invention, the code of the road number sign visually confirmed by the driver while driving can be read without communication between the in-vehicle device and other devices outside the vehicle. You can check your current location by entering the number into your navigation device. Further, navigation can be realized by sequentially continuing the operation of inputting the direction of approach while checking the code and number of the road guide sign following the above operation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 (a) is a front view of one embodiment of the road guide sign of the present invention; (b) is a diagram showing the relationship between the number indicating the direction and the direction among the display contents of the road guide sign board;

[Fig. 2] A diagram showing an embodiment of the road guide sign of the present invention installed at an intersection with a traffic light and its vicinity.

[Figure 3
] Front view of an auxiliary sign as another embodiment

[Figure 4] Diagram showing road guide signs installed at intersections without traffic lights

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the in-vehicle navigation device of the present invention.

[Figure 6] Front view of the keyboard section of the in-vehicle navigation device

[Figure 7] Operation flowchart of the in-vehicle navigation device

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Road guide signs 2 Road number display 3 Intersection number display ４　　　　　　　　　Advancing direction display 5 Traffic light 6 Auxiliary sign 7 Disk drive section 8 Keyboard part 9 Number display section 10 Disc play section 11 Control section

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A road guide sign that lists three types of numbers: individually determined road numbers, numbers determined according to the order of intersections for each road, and numbers indicating the direction of approach to the intersection. 2. A road guide sign in which the three types of numbers according to claim 1 are written together with a place name in letters and a direction in an arrow. 3. A display section for displaying a road map, a keyboard section, a multi-digit number display section for displaying numbers input from the keyboard section, and at least one storage carrier storing map information. The above-mentioned road is provided with a storage carrier drive unit that drives a storage carrier storing numbers given to road guide signs according to 1 for a plurality of intersections, and a control unit that controls each of the above-mentioned parts, and is installed at an arbitrary intersection. When the number of a guide sign is input from the keyboard section, a function that displays an arbitrary map centered on the above intersection, the position of the specified intersection, and the direction of approach to the intersection, and the above road guide sign of any intersection. When the direction of travel is input from the keyboard with the number entered from the keyboard, the function displays the number of the road guide sign at the first intersection in the direction of travel, and the function that displays the number of the road guide sign at the first intersection in the direction of travel. An in-vehicle navigation device that has the function of displaying a map of the intersection, the location of the intersection, and the direction of approach to the intersection. [Claim 4] When the number of the road guide sign according to claim 1 of an arbitrary intersection is input from the keyboard section and the direction of travel is input from the keyboard section, the direction of travel one position before the intersection is inputted from the keyboard section. 4. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 3, further comprising a function of displaying the location of the intersection before inputting it. 5. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 3, further comprising a road map display function capable of moving page by page and by division. 6. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the in-vehicle navigation device does not have a multi-digit number display section and displays the numbers input from the keyboard section on the road map display section. 7. A navigation system constituted by the road guide sign according to claim 1 and the in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 3.