JPH056481U - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Configuration] The scale of the map to be displayed on the display unit 7 is set by an input from the console 8 or the touch panel 9. The control unit 4 checks whether or not the map of the set scale set from the console 8 or the like exists in the map memory 5 for the area to which the current position detected by the position detection unit 3 belongs. Then, when there is no map of the set scale, a map of one step smaller scale is read from the map memory 5 and displayed on the display unit 7. When the vehicle moves to an area where a map of the set scale is present after such a scale change, the control unit 4
The scale of the map to be read and displayed is returned to the set scale. [Effect] As long as the map exists in the map memory 5, it is possible to display the map at the set scale as much as possible.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is used by being mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle, and the current position of this moving body and By displaying a map in the vicinity on the display means together, support for running in a vehicle, etc. The present invention relates to a navigation device for performing.

[0002]

[Prior art]

  Conventionally, in order to support the driving of vehicles on unfamiliar land, A navigation system that displays the current location on the display device along with a map of the surrounding area. Device is used. Such navigation devices include distance sensors and A position detection unit that detects the current position of the vehicle based on the output from the direction sensor; -Map memory composed of ROM etc. and the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detection unit And a control unit that reads the road map near the storage unit from the map memory and displays it on the display device. have.

[0003]   In the map memory, for example, 1 / 400,000, 1 / 100,000, 1 / 25,000, 1/1. Road maps of multiple scales such as 250,000 are stored. The user is From the reduced scale, select a map of a suitable scale according to the application and preference and display it on the display device. Will be shown. Selection of such a display scale is performed by, for example, a CRT or a liquid crystal display. Operation of the touch panel provided on the display surface of the display device consisting of elements, It is performed by a key input operation from a console provided in association therewith. Change in scale Changes the size of the car mark that displays the current position of the vehicle on the map, for example. It is represented by

[0004]   By the way, the map memory has the same number of scale maps for the entire area of Japan. Is not prepared, and in general, for large cities, small scale maps There is even a scale map available, but for rural areas it is small scale (eg 1 Only / 400,000 and 1 / 200,000) maps are available. Ie, for example A large scale map such as 1 / 25,000 has a diagonal line in Fig. 3 on the map memory. As shown in the figure, it exists only in a so-called insect-eating state in Japan. Yes.

[0005]   So, for example, select a large-scale map when the vehicle is driving in an urban area. However, when driving in a rural area where there is no large scale map after that, Map does not exist in the map memory. In this case, display the road map If it does not exist, it will not be possible to support the running of the vehicle. Therefore, in the past, When moving from the city to the rural area and the scale map displayed in the city disappears , Automatically switch to the smallest possible scale map.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

  However, with conventional navigation devices, vehicles move from urban areas to rural areas. After moving to a small scale map by moving, I moved to the city area again. However, the scale map is not switched and the small scale road map continues to be displayed. . For this reason, it is not possible to display a large-scale detailed map that the user originally wants, The question that the navigation device cannot exert sufficient driving support function There was a problem.

[0007]   Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problem and to store a map in the map memory. Display the scale map set by the user as much as possible, as long as it exists. By providing a navigation device with improved functionality by enabling is there.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the navigation device of the present invention is designed to be Position detecting means for detecting the position,   A map memory in which maps of different types of scale are stored in advance for each divided area,   Scale setting means to set the map scale,   A map of the scale set by the scale setting means, which is detected by the position detecting means. Display means for displaying a map of the area to which the current position of the mobile body belongs,   For the area to which the current position detected by the position detecting means belongs, the scale setting is performed. Whether the map of the scale set by the means exists in the map memory Determination means for determining,   This determination means is that the map of the scale set by the scale setting means exists in the map memory. If it is determined that the map is not displayed, the display scale that is the scale of the map displayed on the display means is reduced. Scale switching means for switching the scale to a smaller scale than the set scale,   After the display scale is switched by this scale switching means, the current position of the moving body is changed. As a result, the determination means determines that the map of the set scale is present in the map memory. When it is determined that the display scale is returned to the set scale, the scale return And means.

[0009]   According to the above configuration, since the map of the set scale does not exist in the map memory, When the display scale is switched to the small scale, the moving body is displayed on the map at the set scale thereafter. If you move to the area where the Returned to fixed scale.   In the navigation device according to claim 2, the scale switching means cuts the display scale. After that, when a new display scale is set by the scale setting means, the scale is changed. It further includes means for prohibiting the return of the display scale by the scale returning means.

[0010]   This allows the user to reduce the display scale rather than returning the display scale by the scale return means. Since it is possible to give superiority to the scale set by the scale setting means, it is not necessary. The return of the necessary display scale is prevented.

[0011]

【Example】

  Embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.   FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure. This navigation device is installed in a vehicle to support driving in the vehicle. The gyro 1 for detecting the turning angular velocity of the vehicle and the A vehicle speed sensor 2 for detecting a speed is provided. Of gyro 1 and vehicle speed sensor 2 Each output is given to the position detector 3. The position detector 3 outputs the gyro 1 Is calculated over a predetermined period of time to obtain the direction change amount of the vehicle. The traveling distance of the vehicle can be obtained by integrating the output of the sensor 2 over a predetermined time. Be done. Therefore, for example, before the vehicle starts to move, the precise current position of the vehicle is given. If so, the position of the vehicle thereafter can be detected at each of the predetermined times.

[0012]   The position data representing the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detection unit 3 includes the determination means and the scale. It is provided to the control unit 4 that functions as a switching unit and a scale returning unit. This control The road map is read from the map memory 5 composed of a CD-ROM or the like into the section 4. Memory drive 6 for display, a CRT that displays the current position of the vehicle along with a road map. Which display section 7 and console 8 for performing various inputs such as function switching Are connected. A touch panel 9 is provided on the display surface of the display unit 7. Various input operations can also be performed from the touch panel 9. In this embodiment, the console 8 or The touch panel 9 functions as a scale setting unit.

[0013]   In the map memory 5, for example, 1 / 400,000, 1 / 100,000, 1 / 25,000, 1/1 ． Road maps of multiple scales, such as 250,000, can be used for For example, for a scale of 1 / 100,000, it is stored every 10 km square. But, Maps of all kinds of scales are not available throughout Japan. Large-scale maps such as 25,000 and 1 / 12,000 have a population of over 200,000, for example. Only available in urban areas. The map memory 5 has a data management area. By accessing this data management area, It is possible to know whether a map of this kind of scale is stored in the map memory 5. .

[0014]   On the other hand, if the user wants to see the connection status of an expressway interchange, for example. In this case, select a small scale map of 1 / 400,000, or run on an alley in an urban area. Select a map with a large scale of 1 / 25,000, or appropriate according to your preference It is displayed on the display unit 7 according to the use and preference, such as selecting a map of various scales. Set the display scale, which is the scale of the map to be displayed. This display scale setting is It can be performed by an input operation from the console 8 or the touch panel 9.

[0015]   The control unit 4 responds to the position data from the position detection unit 3 with the console 8 and the like. Search the map in the map memory 5 for the map of the set scale set from which and read it. Then, the current position of the vehicle is displayed on the display unit 7 together with the read map. This At the time of, for example, the size of the so-called car mark indicating the current position of the vehicle for each display scale. The size of the display scale may be represented by changing the height.

[0016]   For example, if the set scale is a large scale such as 1 / 25,000, the current vehicle Depending on the area to which the current position belongs, a map of this scale may exist in the map memory 5. May not be. In this case, the control unit 4 reduces the display scale by one step. Switch. That is, for example, by changing the display scale to 1 / 100,000, Is read from the map memory 5 and displayed on the display unit 7. The current position belongs to To see if there is a map of the scale set in the area, access the data management area above. You can find out by

[0017]   FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the processing in the control unit 4. Step n In 1, the set scale input from the console 8 etc. is read from the map memory 5. It is a designated scale that represents the scale of the map to be rendered. Next, in step n2, position detection is performed. Based on the position data from the section 4, the current position of the vehicle and the stored contents of the map memory 5 Are matched. That is, for the area to which the current position of the vehicle belongs, It is checked if the figure exists.

[0018]   Then, in step n3, it is determined whether the map of the designated scale is in the map memory 5 or not. Is determined, and if there is a map of the specified scale, the map is read and displayed in step n4. It is displayed on the display unit 7. If there is no map of the specified scale in the map memory 5, , In step n5, the designated scale is reduced by one step, and step n Return to 2.

[0019]   After the map is read and displayed in step n4, the process proceeds to step n6. Then, it is determined whether the designated scale is equal to the set scale. That is, the current display It will be judged whether the scale of the map inside is equal to the set scale.   When the designated scale and the set scale are equal, the process returns to step n2. On the other hand, designated contraction If the scale is not equal to the set scale, in step n7, the console 8 It is determined whether or not a scale setting input has been made. And a new scale Is set, the process returns to step n1 to set the new set scale to the designated scale. As a result, the processing from step n2 is performed. In addition, the scale setting is not entered. If not, the designated scale is returned to the set scale in step n8, and the process returns to step n2.

[0020]   By such processing, for example, 1 / 25,000 from the console 8 etc. When the map is displayed with a large scale set, the vehicle is 1 / 25,000 If you move to an area that does not have a map, the designated reduction is performed by the processing in steps n2, n3, and n4. The scale is switched to the small scale and the map of this small scale is displayed. Such contraction If the designated scale becomes smaller than the set scale by switching the scale, step n8, By the processing at n2 and n3, it is checked whether there is a map of the set scale. It Then, when the vehicle moves to an area with a map of the set scale, the area of the set scale is The figure is read and displayed. That is, for example, moving from urban areas to rural areas Therefore, when the display scale is switched from large scale to small scale, By moving to the urban area again, the display scale will be restored to the set scale. .

[0021]   On the other hand, if a new scale setting is entered in the middle, this new scale setting is specified. The scale is set again (steps n8 and n1). Because of this, a new scale When is set, the return to the previous set scale is not performed. this By the way, when the user sets a new scale on the way, the new scale Will be given an advantage to the previous setting scale against the user's intention. It is possible to prevent the restoration of.

[0022]   As described above, in the navigation device of this embodiment, the set scale is set in the map memory 5. The display scale was switched to a smaller scale than the set scale because there is no map In the case where there is a map of the scale set by the vehicle due to the subsequent traveling of the vehicle When you move to, the display scale is automatically restored to the set scale. By this, use Those who are sure to refer to the map of this set scale in the area where the map of the set scale exists. Can be illuminated. As a result, a large-scale map exists in a so-called insect-eating state. Even under the current circumstances, it is possible to provide good navigation support using the navigation device. It is possible to improve the functionality of the navigation device.

[0023]   The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the above In the embodiment, the current position of the vehicle is detected based on the outputs of the gyro 1 and the vehicle speed sensor 2. However, it is performed based on the fact that the position of the vehicle is restricted on the road. The so-called map matching method that corrects the position of the vehicle It is also possible that the signal from the GPS (Grobal Positioning System) satellite A technique of detecting the vehicle position by measuring the propagation delay time may be applied. Also, INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is directed to a navigation device that supports traveling of any moving body other than a vehicle It can be widely implemented. In addition, do not change the gist of the present invention. It is possible to make various design changes within a certain range.

[0024]

[Effect of device]

  As described above, according to the navigation device of the present invention, the map of the set scale is When the display scale is switched to a small scale because it is not in memory, If the moving body moves to the area where the map of the set scale exists after, the display scale is automatically changed. It is dynamically restored to the set scale. As a result, the area where the map of the set scale exists Then, it will always be possible to display the map of the set scale on the display means. , The display at the scale desired by the user can be achieved as long as the map exists. It This makes it possible to satisfactorily support traveling and navigation on a mobile unit, and The functionality of the solution device can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a simplified area in which a large-scale detailed map exists.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 gyro 2 vehicle speed sensor 3 position detection unit 4 control unit (determination unit, scale switching unit, scale restoration unit) 5 map memory 7 display unit 8 console (scale setting unit) 9 touch panel (scale setting unit)

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A position detecting means for detecting a current position of a moving body, a map memory in which a map of a plurality of types of scales is stored in advance for each divided area, and a scale setting means for setting a scale of the map. A map of a scale set by the scale setting means, a display means for displaying a map of an area to which the current position of the moving body detected by the position detecting means belongs, and a current detected by the position detecting means. With respect to the area to which the position belongs, a determination unit that determines whether or not a map of the scale set by the scale setting unit exists in the map memory, and this determination unit determines the map of the scale set by the scale setting unit. When it is determined that the map does not exist in the map memory, a scale switching means for switching the display scale, which is the scale of the map displayed on the display means, to a smaller scale than the set scale, and the scale switching means. When the current position of the moving body changes after the display scale is switched by the switching means and the determination means determines that the map of the set scale is present in the map memory, the display scale is changed. A navigation device comprising a scale returning means for returning to the set scale. 2. When a new display scale is set by the scale setting means after the scale switching means has switched the display scale, a means for prohibiting the return of the display scale by the scale returning means is further included. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the navigation apparatus is a navigation apparatus.