JPH06251296A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a navigation device with good visibility which enables a driver to recognize information on roads of high importance at a glance. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with a means 33 which generates mask area information showing an area where road data are segmented and a means 34 which segments the stored road data on the basis of the mask area data and transfers the data to a display means 35, and further provided with a means 32 which selects a remarkable route to generate the mask area data on the basis of a selected route; and the mask area data are altered according to a vehicle speed and a travel direction, plural mask processings are performed, and respective obtained display data are synthesized in different display modes and displayed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device mounted on a moving body such as an automobile (hereinafter referred to as a vehicle) to display a road to a user such as a driver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a conventional navigation device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. In the figure, 1 is a map data storage medium in which map data is stored, 2 is a highlighting command input means for designating a route to be highlighted on this map data, and 3 is an input to this highlighting command input means 2. It is a highlighted route extraction means for extracting a route to be highlighted according to the issued instruction. 4 is a highlighting control means for performing control for highlighting the display of the extracted route,
Reference numeral 5 is a display means for displaying the map data in which the designated route is highlighted, and 6 is a highlighted route name display control means for controlling the display of the route name of the highlighted route on the display means 5. Is.

Next, the operation will be described. The map data storage medium 1 stores in advance information indicating route types such as national roads and highways and route names, together with point information that constitutes the route. When a command is input to the highlighted display command input means 2 to select a specific route or a specific route type, the highlighted route extraction means 3 selects a highlighted display instruction from the information stored in the map data storage medium 1. A specific route selected by the input means 2 or a route that matches the specific route type is extracted. The highlighting control means 4 displays the route extracted by the highlighting route extracting means 3 by highlighting the route by increasing the brightness, and displays the route 5 for the roads not targeted for highlighting normally. Control. On the other hand, the highlighted route name display control means 6 searches the information stored in the map data storage medium 1 for the route name of the route for which the highlighted display control means 4 has controlled the highlighted display, and displays it. Display means 5 for controlling
Do against. The display means 5 highlights the specific route designated under the control of the highlighting control means 4 and displays the route name of the route under the control of the highlighted route name display control means 6. FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the display on the display means 5. In the figure, the highlighted route is indicated by a bold line, and the route name of the route is displayed in the frame at the lower left corner.

[0004]

Since the conventional navigation device is constructed as described above, all the roads other than the noticeable route are usually displayed. Since the display is also complicated and the display is complicated, it is difficult for the driver to understand at first glance and there is a safety problem, and the roads around the route are not emphasized even if the route of interest is highlighted. , There was a problem that it was difficult to see the presence of an intersection, which is important when traveling on that route.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a driver can obtain road information of high importance at a glance and can perform an easily recognizable display. The purpose is to obtain a possible navigation device.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation device, which includes mask generation means for generating mask area data indicating an area for cutting out a road from stored road data, and roads according to the mask area data. A mask processing means for cutting out the road and a display means for displaying the cut out road are provided.

Further, the navigation device according to the invention of claim 2 further comprises route selecting means for selecting a route of interest to the driver, and the mask generating means generates mask area data based on the selected route. It is the one.

In the navigation apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the mask generating means changes the mask area data generated by the speed information from the speed detecting device.

Further, in the navigation apparatus according to the invention of claim 4, the mask generating means changes the mask area data generated by the azimuth information from the azimuth detecting apparatus.

Further, the navigation device according to the invention of claim 5 executes a plurality of mask processes by a plurality of mask region data and synthesizes and displays the cut out road data in different display modes. .

[0011]

The mask processing means in the invention of claim 1 selects from the road data stored in the road data storage means based on the mask area data indicating the range of the road displayed by the mask generation means. By cutting out the road in the range and sending it to the display means, it is possible to perform display with good visibility for the driver.

The mask generating means in the invention of claim 2 is based on the route selected by the route selecting means,
By generating masked area data that indicates the range of roads to be displayed, detailed roads that are unnecessary for the driver are not displayed, and intersections on the route are displayed reliably, preventing the display from becoming complicated. It will be easy for the driver to check the intersection as an index while driving.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the mask generation means generates mask area data in which the range of the road to be displayed is changed based on the vehicle speed information from the speed detection means, so that the mask area data is more effective when the vehicle is stopped than when the vehicle is running. Providing a wide range of road data to the driver.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the mask generation means generates mask area data in which the range of the road to be displayed is changed based on the heading information of the heading direction of the vehicle from the heading detection means. And provide a wider range of road data to the driver.

The synthesizing display means in the invention of claim 5 is
By highlighting each display data after the mask processing with a plurality of mask area data in different display modes, it is possible to provide a display of road data that is easy for the driver to discriminate and that the road is not unnaturally interrupted.

[0016]

【Example】

Example 1. Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an embodiment of the invention described in claims 1 and 2, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a device configuration thereof. In FIG. 2, 11 is, for example, a global positioning system (hereinafter G
PS)) to detect the absolute position of the vehicle, or the current position of the vehicle by accumulating information from a gyro or geomagnetic sensor, and a speed sensor that generates a pulse each time the vehicle travels a certain distance. A current position detecting device such as a device for detecting Reference numeral 12 denotes, for example, a device that obtains a vehicle speed by counting a signal from a vehicle speed sensor that generates a pulse each time the vehicle travels a certain distance, or a vehicle position by GPS is compared every certain period, and the vehicle speed is calculated based on the moving distance of the position. A speed detection device for detecting the speed of the vehicle, such as a device for determining

Reference numeral 13 is an azimuth detecting device for detecting the traveling direction of the vehicle, for example, a geomagnetic sensor for detecting the X and Y components of the geomagnetism, a gyro compass,
Detects the traveling direction of the vehicle by accumulating the signals of the yaw rate gyro that detects the rotational angular velocity of the vehicle in the horizontal direction. It compares the vehicle position by GPS at regular intervals and detects the traveling direction of the vehicle from the moving direction of the position. Alternatively, or by detecting the traveling direction of the vehicle by cumulatively comparing the signals of the wheel speed sensors that are mounted on both the left and right wheels of the vehicle and generate pulses proportional to the rotation of the wheels. 14 is an external communication device for obtaining various information such as road information, route information, traffic information such as traffic regulations,
For example, a communication device that communicates with ground equipment by a car telephone, an FM multiplex broadcast receiver, or a communication device that obtains information from a remote control device used in the vehicle is used.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 16, read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) 17,
The control unit is composed of a rewriting memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM) 18, an input / output interface circuit 19, and a road data storage device 20 as needed, and controls the entire navigation device. Reference numeral 21 denotes an operation switch operated by the driver when setting conditions, for example, a touch switch formed on a display screen, a keyboard, or the like is used. Reference numeral 22 is a display device for displaying predetermined road data, and for example, a cathode ray tube (hereinafter referred to as CRT) display, a liquid crystal (hereinafter referred to as LED) display, or the like is used.

Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 31 is a road data storing means for storing road data, and 32 is a route selecting means for selecting a route which the driver should pay attention to.
Reference numeral 33 is a mask generation means for generating mask area data based on the selected route information, and 34 is a mask processing means for cutting out road data according to the mask area data generated by the mask generation means 33. Reference numeral 35 is a display means for displaying the road data cut out by the mask processing means 34. The road data storage means 31 is realized by the road data storage device 20, the display means 35 is realized by the display device 22, and the mask generation means 33 and the mask processing means 34 are ROM.
It is realized by software by the CPU 16 that executes the program in 17. As the route selecting means 32, for example, one for selecting a route previously stored in the ROM 17 by the operation switch 21 and the display device 22, one for determining by communication from the external communication device 14, and one for selecting the current position and the destination. For example, the one determined by a predetermined algorithm may be considered.

Next, the operation will be described. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the road data is stored in the road data storage means 31 together with the road code as the node information indicating the connected coordinates when the road shape is approximated by a straight line, and the number of nodes and the map coordinates. Remembered as a group. The route selection means 32 stores, for example, a predetermined route in the ROM 17, and uses it for the operation switch 21 and the display device 22.
Selection method by the screen display of the external communication device 4
The route to be noticed by the driver is determined by a method of determining the route by communication from the vehicle, a method of determining the current position and the destination according to an arbitrary algorithm, and the like. The route data determined by the route selecting means 33 is similar to the road data as shown in FIG.
It has a structure consisting of the number of nodes and a map coordinate group.

The mask generation means 33 generates mask area data Q based on the route data selected by the route selection means 32. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the mask generation means 33. Here, the route data is from the vector data shown in FIG. 4 to the vertical M shown in FIG.
It is assumed that dots and lateral N dots have already been developed into two-dimensional route data. This expansion process is described, for example, in Bresenham in Ohm's Electronic Communications Handbook.
As the algorithm of (Bresenham) is explained,
Since this is a known technique in the field of computer graphics, it will not be described here.

The two-dimensional route data R is two-dimensional array data in which roads are represented by a value of 1 and other roads are represented by a value of 0. First, after initial setting such as clearing the mask area data is performed in step ST1, the steps ST2 and ST1 are performed on the two-dimensional route data R.
From 1 to ST14, N and M are changed by variables n and m.
Two-dimensional scanning is performed. Meanwhile, step S
At T3, it is determined whether or not the two-dimensional route data R (n, m) is a point on the route by "R (n, m) = 1". If the determination result is "Yes", the vertical J Step ST for thickening processing using pattern data P of dots and horizontal I dots
4 to step ST10. That is, steps ST4, ST5 and steps ST7 to ST10
While performing a two-dimensional scan up to I and J by the variables i and j in step ST6, in step ST6, a logical sum operation of the mask area data Q and the pattern data P is performed (in step ST6 of FIG. + ”). In FIG. 7, as an example of the pattern data P, I = 7, J =
7, the pattern data P can take any size and pattern data depending on the size to be thickened in the thickening process and the thickened shape. By the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the mask area data Q shown in FIG. 8 having a value of “1” around the route where the driver should pay attention and a value of “0” at other points is generated. In FIG. 8, the portion of the value “0” is shaded by vertical lines and the portion of the value “1” is shown in white.

The mask processing means 34 cuts out road data according to the mask area data Q. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the mask processing means 34. Here, it is assumed that the road data has already been developed into the two-dimensional road data D shown in FIG. First, in step ST21, initialization such as clearing of the display data is performed, and then, for the mask area data Q, step S
In T22 and steps ST25 to ST28,
A two-dimensional scan up to N and M with the variables n and m is performed. Meanwhile, in step ST23, “Q (n, m) =
It is determined whether or not the mask area data Q (n, m) is around the route based on 1 ", and if it is" 1 ", step S
At T24, the two-dimensional road data D (n, m) is displayed as data H
Substitute for (n, m). Therefore, the display data H is data obtained by cutting out the road around the route as shown in FIG. By displaying the display data H on the display device 22 such as a CRT display or an LCD display, a detailed road unnecessary for the driver is not displayed and an intersection on the route is displayed. The intersection can be confirmed in advance, which improves the driver's preventive safety.

Example 2. In the first embodiment, the case where the mask generation means 33 generates the mask area data based on the route data from the route selection means 32 has been described. However, the mask area data generated according to the speed and the traveling direction of the vehicle. May be changed. 12
Is a flow chart showing the operation flow of the mask generation means 33 in one embodiment of such an invention described in claims 3 and 4. First, in step ST31, the presence or absence of the vehicle speed is determined by receiving the vehicle speed information from the speed detecting means 12. As a result, if there is no vehicle speed, the process proceeds to step ST32, and a mask that covers a relatively wide range in a circular shape as shown in FIG. 13 around the vehicle position based on the vehicle position information from the current position detection device 11. Generate region data. On the other hand, when there is a vehicle speed, the process proceeds to step ST33, and the radius r of the fan-shaped pattern shown in FIG. 14 is determined according to the vehicle speed, for example, according to the following equation.

R = α · V + β

Note that α and β in the above equation are constants,
V is the speed of the vehicle. After that, the process proceeds to step ST34, and the fan-shaped pattern having the radius r is set to the current position detection device 11
The mask area data shown in FIG. 15 is generated by rotating the vehicle based on the azimuth information indicating the traveling direction of the vehicle from the azimuth detecting device 13 with the vehicle position detected in step 1 as the center. Using this mask area data, mask processing is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and display data is displayed for both the automatic position mark and the frame indicating the mask area. As a result, when stopped
The display shown in Fig. 17 is obtained, and the display shown in Fig. 17 is obtained during traveling. In this way, when stopping, the detailed road is widely displayed,
By displaying the road broadly only in the traveling direction according to the vehicle speed during traveling, the display is not complicated, and the display can be performed according to the driver's situation.

Example 3. In the second embodiment, the case where the mask area data is generated by the graphic rotation as a function of the azimuth has been described. However, a plurality of mask area data are prepared in advance and one of them is selected according to the azimuth information. It may be provided to the mask processing means 34, and the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment is obtained.

Example 4. In each of the above-described embodiments, the display means 35 displays the display data after the mask processing by the single mask area data as it is, but the mask processing is executed by using the mask area data, The display data may be combined and displayed in different display modes. FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing in an embodiment of such an invention described in claim 5. First, in step ST41,
The mask generation means 32 generates circular mask area data having a radius r ₁ , and the two-dimensional road data inside the circle is generated in step ST42 in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments.
In step 4, the cut road data is written in the display data H (n, m) as low-brightness display data. In step ST43, the r ₁ to produce similarly a circular mask area data of a smaller radius r _2, cut in the same manner a two-dimensional road data of the circular inside step ST44. The cut road data is written in the display data H (n, m) as medium brightness display data. that time,
For a position where low-brightness display data already exists, it is replaced with this middle-brightness display data. Next, in step ST45, the mask area around the route is generated by the mask generation means 33 by the method described in the first embodiment, and in step ST46, the corresponding road data is cut out by the mask processing means 34. The cut road data is written in the display data H (n, m) as high brightness display data. Also in this case, for the position where the low-brightness display data and the middle-brightness display data already exist, it is rewritten with this high-brightness display data. The low, medium, and high brightness display data H thus synthesized are displayed on the display means 35 in step ST47.

A display example of this display data is shown in FIG. 19 together with a vehicle position mark and a circular pattern indicating a circular mask area. In FIG. 19, the low-brightness display data is shown by a dotted line, the middle-brightness display data is shown by a solid line, and the high-brightness display data is shown by a bold line. However, it is also possible to change the brightness and display it, or change the color tone. It may be displayed. In this way, the display data after the mask processing based on the plurality of mask area data is synthesized and displayed in different display modes, so that a display in which the road is not unnaturally interrupted can be obtained. Further, in the example of FIG. 19, the vehicle position mark and the circular pattern indicating the circular mask area are displayed, but they may be displayed together with the topographical information and the main road information.

[0030]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the mask area data indicating the range to be displayed is generated, and the stored road data is cut out based on the mask area data and displayed. Since it is configured to be displayed on the means, even a distant road that is less important during driving is not displayed, it is possible to prevent the display from becoming complicated, and it is possible to perform a highly visible navigation device. There is an effect that can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the stored road data is cut out using the mask area data generated based on the selected driver's noteworthy route. The detailed roads that are unnecessary for the driver are not displayed, and the intersections on the route are displayed without fail, making it easy to check the intersections as indicators during driving in advance. It has the effect of improving preventive safety.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the mask area data generated is changed according to the speed of the vehicle, so that a wider range of road data can be displayed when the vehicle is stopped as compared to when the vehicle is running. Therefore, it is possible to provide road data according to the driving situation.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, since the mask area data to be generated is changed according to the traveling direction of the vehicle, it is possible to display a wider range of road data regarding the area in which the vehicle will travel. Therefore, it is possible to provide road data according to the driving situation.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5, a plurality of mask area data is generated, mask processing is performed in each of them, and each display data is composed and displayed in different display modes. It is easy for the driver to judge,
In addition, there is an effect that the road can be displayed with good visibility without being cut off unnaturally.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a device configuration of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of road data in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of route data in the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of the mask generation means in the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing two-dimensional route data in the above embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing pattern data in the above embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing mask region data in the above embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the mask processing means in the above embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing two-dimensional road data in the above embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing display data in the above embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the mask generation means in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing mask area data when the vehicle is stopped in the above embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a mask area data pattern in the above embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing mask area data during traveling in the above embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing display data at the time of stop in the above embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing display data during traveling in the above embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing display data in the above embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a navigation device according to a conventional invention.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing the display data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 speed detection device 13 azimuth detection device 31 road data storage means 32 route selection means 33 mask generation means 34 mask processing means 35 display means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Based on road data storage means for storing road data, mask generation means for generating mask area data indicating an area to be cut out from the road data, and mask area data generated by the mask generation means. A navigation device comprising mask processing means for cutting out a necessary area from the road data, and display means for displaying the road data cut out by the mask processing means. 2. A route selecting means is provided for selecting a route which should be noted by the user from the road data, and the mask generating means selects the mask area data based on the route selected by the route selecting means. The navigation device according to claim 1, which has a function of generating. 3. The mask generation means has a function of changing mask area data to be generated according to speed information of the moving body detected by a speed detecting device of the moving body on which the mask generating means is mounted. The navigation device according to claim 1. 4. The mask generation means has a function of changing mask area data to be generated according to azimuth information indicating a traveling direction of the moving body detected by a azimuth detecting device of the moving body on which the mask generating means is mounted. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The mask generation means has a function of generating a plurality of types of mask area data, and the display means comprises:
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the road data cut out by the mask processing means is combined and displayed in different display modes based on the plurality of types of mask area data.