JPH0540161A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve arrival at a destination according to display of a direction even if there are no reference azimuth and orientation knowledge by obtaining an angle difference between a reference azimuth which is detected by a level of earth magnetism and a reference direction of a navigation device. CONSTITUTION:A position of a destination is input by an operation portion 13 and is stored in a memory portion 18 through a processing portion 12. The processing portion 12 measures a current position according to a signal from a GPS satellite which an antenna portion 11 receives and then displays latitude and longitude of the current position on a display portion 14. At the same time, a distance between two points and an angle difference Y between north of the reference azimuth and azimuth to the destination are calculated according to it and the latitude and longitude of a destination which the memory portion 18 stores. A magnetic sensor 16 detects a rotary angle of the sensor 16 at that time as an angle difference X of north for the reference direction of the device with a reference direction of the device being equal to 0 and a direction where a magnetic level to be detected during rotation becomes largest to be north. The processing portion 12 obtains an angle difference of destination for the reference direction of the device according to angle differences X and Y and then displays a direction of the destination at a direction display portion 19.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a navigation device that uses a GPS receiver as a position sensor to measure the latitude and longitude of the current position and displays the current position on a map by mapping with the map information in an external storage device, or a navigation device that is input in advance. A navigation device that calculates and displays the direction and distance to the destination from the latitude and longitude of the destination, or a navigation device that uses information such as a direction detector and mileage detector in addition to map information and destination position information. It is used.

In particular, a GPS receiver that measures the current position and displays it on the display unit has been miniaturized and has attracted attention as a portable receiver.

A conventional portable GPS receiver and navigation device will be described below. FIG. 1A is an external view of a conventional portable GPS receiver. An antenna 101 protruding from the top is provided, and the display unit 102 is configured to display the current position. It should be noted that in many cases, the size is such that the receiver can be held with one hand and the keys of the operation unit 103 can be operated.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a conventional portable GPS receiver. In the figure, 201 is an antenna that receives a signal from a satellite, 202 is a processing unit that calculates the latitude / longitude altitude of the current position by calculation from the data obtained by performing spectrum despreading and demodulation processing of the signal received by the antenna 201. , 203 is an operation unit, which is composed of several buttons because it is not necessary to input a destination, 204 is a display unit for displaying the current position, 205 is an output unit for the current position or an external signal is input. It is an input / output interface unit for performing.

The operation of the portable GPS receiver configured as above will be described below. First, the operation unit 2
When a signal instructing to start positioning is applied to the processing unit 202 by operating 03, the processing unit 202 measures the current position from the signal from the GPS satellite received from the antenna 201. When the positioning operation is completed, the data is input to the display unit 204 to display the current position, and the data of the current position is also output to the input / output interface unit 205. After that, positioning is performed in a fixed cycle, and display is performed by the display unit 204 and output to the input / output interface unit 205 is performed as necessary.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a navigation device used for car navigation and the like. In the figure, 301
Is a position sensor that receives a signal from a satellite and calculates the latitude and longitude of the current position, and has a positioning function and an input / output unit composed of an antenna 201 and a processing unit 202 of the portable GPS receiver block diagram of FIG. 2B. The positioning data output function 205 is provided. 302 is an operation unit for inputting the position of the destination and controlling the display, 303 is a storage unit for storing the position of the destination, 304 is an external storage device for storing map information, and 305 is an external storage A display unit that displays a map based on the map information of the device 304, the current position measured by the position measurement unit 301, or the direction and distance to the destination.
Reference numeral 06 is a position sensor 301 for controlling input / output of data of each part.
It is a processing unit that calculates the current position calculated by the above, the distance from the position of the destination stored in the storage unit 303 to the destination, the angle difference of the destination with respect to the reference azimuth (north), and the like.

The operation of the navigation device constructed as above will be described below. First, when the destination position is input from the operation unit 302, the processing unit 306 receives the data and stores it in the storage unit 303.

Next, the latitude and longitude of the current position calculated by the position sensor 301 are sent to the processing unit 306, and the processing unit 30
In 6, the distance between the two points from the received current position and the destination position stored in the storage unit 303 and the direction to the destination are calculated, and the obtained data is input to the display unit 305 and displayed. Further, the map information around the current position is read from the external storage device 304 and input to the display unit 305 to display the map. After that, the current position is measured periodically, and the direction and distance to the destination and the map display are changed each time.

[0010]

However, in the navigation device having the above-mentioned conventional configuration, a user who knows which direction the reference azimuth (north) is is displayed with the azimuth and distance to the destination. If so, the navigation device can be miniaturized because the direction of the destination can be known, but there is no knowledge of the direction and it is not possible to know which direction the reference direction (north) is. If there is no external storage device for storing and a display unit that can display a map, it is impossible to miniaturize because it becomes large as a navigation device system because it is not known which direction to reach to the destination. Had a point.

[0011]

In order to solve the above problems, the navigation device according to the present invention has a portable GPS receiver for inputting a destination, a storage unit for storing the position of the destination, and a geomagnetism. The reference direction (north) is detected by the magnetic sensor that detects the
A direction detection unit that can obtain the angle difference of the reference direction of the navigation device with respect to the reference direction, and a direction display unit that indicates which direction to reach the destination regardless of the direction of the reference direction of the navigation device. Be prepared.

[0012]

With the above-described structure, the present invention can reach the destination if the reference azimuth (north) is not known or if the user does not have knowledge of the azimuth and proceeds in the direction indicated by the direction display section. It has the effect of being able to do so, and also enables miniaturization of the navigation device.

[0013]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1A shows the appearance of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is an antenna, 2 is a display for displaying the position of the destination, the current position, and the distance to the destination. Reference numeral 3 is an operating means for inputting the position of the destination and controlling the display. Reference numeral 4 is a light emitting element arranged at an equal angle around the display 2 to indicate a direction to be taken to reach the destination. It is a vessel. FIG. 1 (B) shows a block configuration of the embodiment, and 11 is an antenna section for receiving a signal from a satellite and corresponds to the antenna 1. Reference numeral 13 denotes an operation unit capable of inputting a destination in addition to display control, and corresponds to the operation means 3. Reference numeral 14 denotes a display unit that displays the position of the destination, the current position, and the distance to the destination, and corresponds to the display unit 2. 15 is an input / output interface for outputting the current position or inputting a signal from the outside, 16 is a magnetic sensor for detecting the geomagnetism, 17 is a reference direction (north) depending on the level of the geomagnetism from the magnetic sensor 16, A direction detecting unit for obtaining an angle difference (X) of the reference direction of the navigation device with respect to the reference direction (North), a storage unit 18 for storing the position of the destination, 12 an input / output control of data of each unit, an antenna unit 11
Positioning processing for calculating the latitude and longitude of the current position by calculation from the signal received in, the current position and the distance from the position of the destination stored in the storage unit 18 to the destination and the destination of the reference azimuth (north) The processing unit performs an arithmetic process for obtaining an angular difference (Y) and an arithmetic process for calculating the direction of the destination with respect to the reference direction of the navigation device from the angular difference (X) and the angular difference (Y). Reference numeral 19 is a direction display unit corresponding to the direction display unit 4.

The operation of the navigation device constructed as above will be described below. First, when the position of the destination is input from the operation unit 13, the processing unit 12 receives the data and stores it in the storage unit 18. The processing unit 12 measures the current position from the signal from the GPS satellite received from the antenna unit 11, inputs the latitude and longitude of the current position obtained by the positioning into the display unit 14 and displays the same, and stores the current position. From the latitude and longitude of the destination position stored in the unit 18, the distance between the two points and the angle difference (Y) to the destination with respect to the reference azimuth (north) are calculated. The magnetic sensor 16 inputs the magnetic level detected while rotating 360 ° with the reference direction of the navigation device as 0 ° to the azimuth detecting unit 17, and the azimuth detecting unit 19 indicates the place where the magnetic level is the highest (north direction). ) And the rotation angle of the magnetic sensor at that time is detected as an angle difference (X) of the reference azimuth (north) with respect to the reference direction of the navigation device, and is input to the processing unit 12. The processing unit 12 obtains the angle difference of the destination with respect to the reference direction of the navigation device from the angle difference (X) and the angle difference (Y), and sends a signal to the direction display unit 19 to turn on the light emitting element closest to the direction of the destination. Enter and display the direction of the destination.

Thereafter, the current position is periodically measured, the display of the direction and the distance to the current position and the destination is changed each time, and the reference of the navigation device is detected by the azimuth detecting unit when the reference direction of the navigation device is rotationally moved. Since the rotation angle can be detected by the change in the angle difference of the reference azimuth (north) with respect to the direction, a signal is input from the processing unit to the azimuth detection unit so that only the light emitting element closest to the direction of the destination is turned on at the time of movement.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, the portable GPS receiver has a destination input means, a storage unit for storing the position of the destination, a magnetic sensor unit for detecting geomagnetism, and a magnetic sensor. Azimuth detection unit that can detect the reference azimuth (north) according to the level of the geomagnetic field from the navigation unit and obtain the angle difference between the reference direction of the navigation device and the reference azimuth. By providing a direction display section that indicates whether you can reach the destination if you proceed in the direction,
Even if there is no knowledge about the reference azimuth (north) and the azimuth, it is possible to reach the destination by proceeding in the direction indicated by the direction display unit.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is an external view of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an external view of a portable GPS receiver in a conventional example. FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a portable GPS receiver in a conventional example.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional navigation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 antenna 12 processing unit 13 operation unit 14 display unit 15 input / output interface 16 magnetic sensor 17 azimuth detection unit 18 storage unit 19 direction display unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An antenna for receiving a signal from a satellite, a magnetic sensor for detecting geomagnetism, and a reference azimuth according to the level of geomagnetism from the magnetic sensor,
An azimuth detecting unit that obtains an angle difference (X) of the reference direction of the navigation device with respect to the reference azimuth, and an operation unit that inputs the position of the destination
A storage unit for storing the position of the destination input from the operation unit, input / output control of data of each unit, positioning processing for calculating the latitude and longitude of the current position by calculation from the signal received by the antenna, Calculation processing for obtaining the distance from the position of the destination stored in the storage unit 208 to the destination and the angle difference (Y) of the destination with respect to the reference azimuth (North), the angle difference (X) and each angle A processing unit that performs arithmetic processing for calculating the direction of the destination with respect to the reference direction of the navigation device from the difference (Y), and a direction display that displays the angular difference of the destination with respect to the reference direction of the navigation device calculated by the processing unit. And a display unit that displays the current position or the distance to the destination calculated by the processing unit. 2. The direction and the distance to the destination are displayed regardless of the direction in which the navigation device is directed.
Navigation device described.