JPH0658720B2 - Vehicle route guidance device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vehicle route guidance device that guides a vehicle to a destination while guiding and displaying a route.

<< Prior Art and its Problems >> In this type of vehicle route guidance device, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-150814, a travel route to a destination is determined by the coordinates of the main intersection to pass through. Is set and stored, and each time an approach to each intersection is detected, the route at the intersection is displayed as an image to guide the vehicle to the destination.

By the way, some devices of this type have proposed a convenient device that automatically searches for the shortest route between them when position information corresponding to the starting point and the destination is given. Must set and input two pieces of position information corresponding to the departure point and destination by using the numeric keypad etc.
Therefore, even if the user makes a round trip between two points on the same route, the same setting operation as that for the forward route search is required for the backward route search.

<Object of the Invention> The object of the present invention is to automatically set the return travel route when returning to the original departure place without newly setting and inputting the positional information of the present location and the destination, and by performing an extremely simple operation. Another object of the present invention is to provide a route guidance device for a vehicle.

<< Structure of the Invention >> In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle route guidance device according to the present invention is configured as shown in the claim correspondence diagram in FIG. 1, and corresponds to the departure point information corresponding to the departure point and the destination point. A forward path setting means a for setting destination information; a storage means b for storing each position information given by the forward path setting means a; a backward path input means c for operating a backward path and outputting a backward path request command In response to the return route request command, the return route setting unit d that uses the stored departure place information as the destination information and the destination information as the departure place information; and the forward route setting unit a or the return route setting unit d. Route setting means e for automatically setting a traveling route between them based on the departure place information and the destination information; and a traveling guide device for giving a driver guidance information necessary for traveling along the set traveling route. f and; Characterized by comprising.

<< Description of Embodiments >> Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle route guiding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, this route guidance device is mainly composed of an arithmetic unit 11 having a microcomputer configuration mainly including an arithmetic unit 12 and a memory 13. An input side of the arithmetic unit 11 has a travel distance sensor 14 and Current position detection circuit 1 for detecting the current position based on each output of the direction sensor 15
6, the setting device 17 for inputting the current position and the destination, the map data storage device 18, the return switch 21, and the return switch 23 are connected.

A display device (CR) for image display is provided on the output side of the calculation unit 11 via a display storage device 19 for temporarily storing a display information signal.
(T etc.) 20 is connected, and a buzzer 22 is also connected.

FIG. 3 shows a row of the contents of the road map data stored in the map data storage device 18 shown in FIG. 2, and is, for example, all over Japan or Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu,
Each local map of Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, etc. is further divided into multiple areas, and the road map information of each area is gradually divided from the upper division such as national roads to the lower division such as prefectural roads and city roads. It is used as road map data.

The storage area of the storage device 18 is divided into a plurality of blocks, and each block area corresponds to the contents of each partition 31 formed by vertically and horizontally partitioning the map 30.

Further, each block is divided into a plurality of intersection areas, and each intersection area is further divided into an adjacent intersection area as a unique area of the intersection.

Intersection type information, XY coordinate information, and intersection name information are stored in the unique area, and each adjacent intersection area is
Intersection number information, intermediate road number information, direction information, and distance information are stored.

Further, a code number is given to each block, for example, one section 31 is defined as 1 km square, and the code number is determined by the center coordinates (X, Y) of the one section 31.

That is, the central coordinate (X, Y) of one section is divided by 1000 to obtain the integer part (Xn, Yn), and the code number is determined as Xn-Yn from this value.

Next, the operation of the vehicle route guiding apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 (note that the inventor of the present application has previously filed Japanese Patent Application No. 59-22.
0481-220484).

The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is a process flow regarding steps for setting a travel route and initial guidance up to a departure intersection (steps 101 to 107) and route guidance along a set route, display of a travel locus, and a process flow regarding correction of the current position (step). 201-400).

Then, each of these processing flows is based on an algorithm in which the traveling route used as the outward route is shared as it is as the return route.

When setting the outbound route, first operate the setting device 17,
When the process of setting the departure point which is the current position of the own vehicle and the destination which is the final destination is executed (step 101), the traveling route between them is automatically set (steps 102 and 10).
3).

That is, the departure intersection and the destination intersection are selected and registered in step (102), and step (103)
Automatically searches for the shortest route connecting the departure intersection and the destination intersection, and registers each passing intersection number in the order of passage.

Thereafter, until the own vehicle reaches the departure intersection and the start switch (not shown) provided in the setting device 17 is operated (step 107), the direction of the departure intersection is displayed as a predetermined display process after the departure intersection is set. If the departure intersection is approached, the process of indicating the route guidance direction with respect to the traveling direction of the host vehicle using the intersection figure (step 1
04-107) is executed.

In this state, when the start switch is operated (Yes at Step 107), the process proceeds to Step (201) and the subsequent steps, and the vehicle is guided to the destination along the set route.

Then, in particular, in this embodiment, the processes after step (201) are executed, and when the vehicle is traveling or after arriving at the destination,
When the return switch 23 is operated, the return path setting interrupt process prior to other interrupt processes is executed according to the flowchart of FIG.

That is, other interrupts are prohibited for priority interrupt (step 501), and the current position of the own vehicle is 2 km from the destination.
The determination process of whether or not it is within is executed (step 50).
2).

If it is within 2 km (Yes at Step 502), the coordinates and code numbers of the destination and the departure place are exchanged (Step 50).
(3, 504), after executing the process (step 505) of setting the starting point and the destination by the new code, the process proceeds to step (102) and subsequent steps in FIG.

If the distance is other than 2 km (No at step 502), the coordinates of the current position and the departure place are exchanged (step 506), and the one corresponding to the code number of the destination when the distance is within 2 km,
The center part of the present location area is divided by 1000 to obtain an integer part (X _I , Y _I ) which is calculated (step 507) and replaced with the code number (X _II , Y _II ) of the departure place (step 508).

Then, after step (505), the process proceeds to step (102) and subsequent steps in FIG.

Therefore, at the time of setting the return route, in step (102), the departure point information stored at the time of setting the return route is set as the destination information, and the destination information stored at the same time is set as the departure point information.
The departure intersection and the destination intersection are selected and registered, and in step (103), the shortest route connecting the exchanged departure intersection and the destination intersection is automatically searched and registered by the intersection number.

After that, the same steps (104 to 107) as when setting the forward path
And proceed to step (201). In this way, when the process proceeds to step (201) and the subsequent steps, step (2
In 01), the coordinates (X _S , Y _S ) of the departure intersection are set as the calculation initial place (X _O , Y _O ) of the calculation device 12.

After the setting, every time an interrupt occurs for each constant traveling distance ΔD by the detection output of the current position detection circuit 16, the X-direction coordinate and the Y-direction coordinate with respect to the previous traveling point are sequentially calculated,
The calculated coordinate position is supplied to the buffer memory and plotted (steps 202 and 400).

Except at the time of interruption due to an interruption, read the intersection number two ahead on the guide route with the latest passing intersection as a reference,
Further, the section distance D from the map data storage device 18 to the next intersection, the position coordinates (X _N , Y _N ) of the next intersection, the incoming direction and the outgoing direction to the next intersection are read (step 203,
204).

Next, the reset azimuth at the next intersection, that is, the intermediate azimuth between the incoming azimuth and the outgoing azimuth, the test circles A and B, and the error zone are calculated (step 205), and the running locus plotted in the map and the buffer memory is displayed and stored. It is displayed on the display device 20 via the device 19 (step 206).

Here, the test circle A is used when going straight at an intersection, and the test circle B is used when turning left or right at an intersection, an example of which is shown in FIG.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, in this example, there is a first intersection 62 at a distance D ₁ from the starting intersection 61, and a second intersection at a distance D ₂ from the first intersection 62. Suppose there is 63.

In this case, when going straight at the first intersection 62,
The test circle A64 defined around the intersection 62 is used, and when the same first crossing 62 is turned left or right, the test circle B65 that is concentric is used.

In addition, after going straight at the first intersection 62, the second intersection 63
When turning to the left, the test circle B66 that is determined with the intersection 63 as the center is used.

Further, in order to detect the case where the test circles deviate from the test circles A and B, an error zone 67 including the intersections is defined as shown in the figure.

However, the radius of the test circle A = distance D between intersections × predetermined coefficient α, the radius of the test circle B = distance D between intersections × predetermined coefficient β, where β is the maximum due to the direction sensor and the travel distance sensor. It is determined by the error ratio, and α is about 1/3 of β.

Then, if the next intersection is the destination intersection, a comment such as "Next destination" is displayed on the display device (steps 207 and 208).

If it is not the target intersection, it is checked whether to proceed straight to the next intersection or turn right or left without making a straight line (step 209).

In the case where the host vehicle travels straight at the next intersection, the flag FLG for detecting that the host vehicle has entered the verification circle A is reset to "0" (step 210), and then the vehicle travels straight based on the verification circle A. Intersection search processing (steps 211 to 211)
214) and intersection passing processing (step 215) are performed to correct the current position (X, Y), and at the same time, the integrated distance ∫ΔD is cleared to 0 (step 216).

After that, the next intersection is replaced as a passing intersection, and the guidance intersection is moved forward by one (step 217).
Return to 3).

If the host vehicle is not inside the test circle A (No at step 211), if the vehicle has entered the test circle A (step 218 "1"), the correction process for straight traveling is performed. (Steps 218 to 220), and returns to Step (203) through Step 217.

If the test circle A has never been entered (step 218)
For "0", it is checked whether the host vehicle is in the error zone, and if it is in the error zone (step 2).
21 is affirmative), the comment "route error" is displayed on the display device 20 (steps 22 and 222).

If it is outside the error zone (No at step 221), if the clear key (not shown) provided in the setting device 17 is on (step 223), there is some error and vehicle guidance cannot be executed. Since this is the case, the process returns to step (101) and starts over. If the clear key is still off (No at step 223), the process returns to step (210) and the operation for straight ahead is repeated.

On the other hand, when the host vehicle turns right or left at the next intersection (No at step 209), when the host vehicle enters the test circle B (Yes at step 301), the next intersection is in front of the next intersection. The shape of is displayed (step 302).

Then, based on the test circle B, intersection search processing (steps 303 to 309) within the bend and intersection passage processing (step 310) are performed to clear the accumulated distance to 0 (step 311), and step (217). ) And return to step (203).

If the own vehicle has not entered the verification circle B (No at Step 301), it is checked whether it exists in the error zone (Step 313), and if it exists in the error zone (Yes at Step 313), The display device 20 displays "route error" (step 222).

If it is outside the error zone (No at step 313), if the clear key is on (Yes at step 314),
The process returns to step (101) (step 203). Also,
If the clear key remains off (step 314)
(No), returning to step (301), the left and right folding operation is repeated.

Also, during intersection search processing when turning right or left (step 3
03 to 309), when it is out of the test circle B (step 312), the display device 20 displays "route error" (step 222).

As described above, in the present embodiment, when returning to the original starting point after traveling along the traveling route set as the outward route or after reaching the destination, simply press the return switch. Then, a process of exchanging the coordinates and code number of the current position at the time of traveling or at the destination with that of the departure place and a process of setting a route therebetween are executed.

Therefore, when returning to the original departure place, the return travel route can be automatically set by simply pressing the return switch without setting and inputting the position information of the current position and the destination.

<< Effects of the Invention >> As is clear from the above description of the embodiments, in the case of the vehicle route guidance device to which the present invention is applied, the departure point information and the destination information or the return route setting set by the outward route setting means. By the destination information from the departure point information set by the means and the departure information from the destination information, the traveling route of the outbound route and the return route is automatically set, so when returning to the original departure place, the current location and the new destination are newly set. It is possible to automatically set the traveling route of the return route by performing an extremely simple operation without setting and inputting the position information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a claim correspondence diagram, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle route guidance device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is contents of road map data stored in a map data storage device. FIG. 4 shows an example of the process, FIG. 4 is a process flow chart of the vehicle route guide device, FIG. 5 is a partial detailed flow chart of the process flow chart of FIG. 4, and FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the processing principle of a part. a: forward route setting means b: storage means c: return route input means d: backward route setting means e: route setting means f: travel guide means

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Seiichi Tojo 2 Takaracho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP 58-25693 (JP, A) JP 59-153115 (JP) , A)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Outgoing route setting means for setting departure point information corresponding to a departure point and destination information corresponding to a destination; storage means for storing each position information given by said outward route setting means; And a return path input unit that outputs a return path request command when operated; a return path connection in which the stored departure point information is used as the destination information and the destination information is used as the departure point information in response to the return path request instruction Means; route setting means for automatically setting a traveling route therebetween based on the departure point information and the destination information from the forward route setting means or the backward route setting means; necessary for traveling along the set traveling route A route guidance device for providing a driver with various guidance information;