JPH08153180A - Map display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a map display device (navigation device) which is suitably carried. CONSTITUTION: This device has an information read means 1 which reads map information out of a storage medium where the map information is recorded, a storage means 2, a current position deciding means 3, and a display means 4. A control means 5 decides a power source state or certain mode first and inhibits map information from being read out of an information read means on the basis of the decision result to display map information on the basis of the map information stored in the storage means. Further, map information on every certain areas including a current place in the center is read out of the information read means 1 through the current place deciding means 3, and stored in the storage means and displayed on the display means 4, and also map information on certain areas that does not include the current place in the center is stored in the storage means 2 and displayed under certain conditions; and further the control means 5 stores map information on a specified areas based upon coordinates specified by the input means 6 as to the map information read out of the information read means 1 in plural storage means 2 and displays the map information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a map display device which is convenient to carry.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a map display device that has map information as electronic data and displays the map information including the present location such as the vicinity of a destination or the vicinity of the present location based on the map information. Is commercially available as a navigation device. However, such a map display device is exclusively for a vehicle that moves at high speed such as a ship or a passenger car, and the one carried by a person when walking is extremely limited.

By the way, in such a map display device, the displayed map information is provided by a large-scale storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a part of which is read out and temporarily stored in the storage means. It is designed to display a part of the contents. In this case, the map information is divided and stored in a plurality of blocks (every certain area) as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-66672, while the navigation device has a vehicle speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a direction sensor. , Geomagnetic sensor, global positioning system (GP
Since the current position determining means such as S) is provided, when reading from the storage medium, input means is used to search and specify map information of a plurality of blocks centering on the current position or a target point. The map information of multiple blocks centered on the map based on the coordinates specified in (eg, the block including the current location such as the destination or the current location) is collectively read. Since the map information of (1) is connected to each other, it is easy to perform scroll display for the progress of the present location and the search for the destination.

[0004]

However, when such a map display device is carried and moved, the power supply capacity is limited, and frequent reading of map information shortens the carrying time. Is not preferable. That is, the map display device performs a series of operations of confirming the current location, reading and storing the map information, converting the map information into display data, and displaying the map information. Since it cannot be built in, the map information is sequentially read out when it is not supported by the user or when the map information read due to a large amount of movement cannot display the area around the current location. Therefore, in addition to the display device and the electronic circuit, the disc reproducing device and the current position determining means are always operating, and the power consumption is 4 to 5 times as large as that in the case where only the display means is operating. In addition, even if the power is turned on only when checking the map and the power is turned off at other times, all the map display devices currently on sale are activated at the same time when the disc playback device and the current position determination means are activated. As a result, the power consumption will increase.

Further, the conventional navigation device uses a microcomputer, and the information reading means corresponds to an external device for the microcomputer, and when the CD-ROM is accessed while the external device is being accessed, the microcomputer becomes a loop. The disk reproducing device, which is the information reading means, is locked so as not to stop the reading of the map information because it may enter or run away. Therefore, when the reading of the map information is stopped, the microcomputer cannot be reset and the display cannot be performed, and the self-defense measure for extending the usage time cannot be taken.

[0006]

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and judges the power supply state or a certain mode, and based on the judgment result, the map information from the information reading means is displayed. Control means is provided which prohibits reading and displays the map information based on the map information stored in the storage means.

Further, according to the present invention, based on the present location determining means, the information reading means stores the map information for each of a plurality of predetermined areas centering on the present location in the reading storage means and displays the map information on the display means, and the present location is displayed under a certain condition. The control means is provided for storing and displaying the map information of a certain area which is not the center in the storage means. Further, the control means uses the coordinates specified by the input means as the basis of the map information read from the information reading means. A plurality of pieces of map information of a certain area are stored in the storage means and displayed.

[0008]

In the present invention, since the displayed information is displayed only by the stored map information, the power consumption can be suppressed, and the map information other than the map information centering on the present location can be stored and displayed. A useful display can be made without replenishment.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a map display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is an information reading means for reading out map information from a storage medium in which map information is recorded, which is a CD-ROM disc reproducing device or the like. . This map information is coordinate-managed for each fixed area, and for example, graphic data of the map itself (for example, line segment and area information coordinate-controlled for each fixed area).
And coordinate information consisting of character / symbol information attached to the map (for example, a place name and a map symbol). Further, the fixed area means an area on the map corresponding to a predetermined area which is different according to the scale, and for example, graphic data and character / symbol information in a portion surrounded by a thick line in FIG. 2 are coordinate-managed as one block. .

Reference numeral 2 is a storage means for storing the map information read from the information reading means 1, and is included in the image control means 20 for generating and storing the display data. The image control means 20 adds, for example, storage means 2 capable of storing 10 display areas, and character / graphic information (for example, own current position symbol, set target position symbol) and the like to the map information to display data. The storage means 2 includes a processing means for reading, writing, and overwriting, and a color controller for controlling the color tone of display. Such reading, writing, and overwriting processing of the image control means 20 is performed based on an instruction from the control means described later. The storage means 2 is numbered for each area in the drawing for convenience.

Reference numeral 3 is a present location determining means for detecting the present location.
For example, when using the global positioning system, which is a satellite positioning system, a receiving unit that holds a dielectric between circular disks, an amplifier that amplifies the signal from the receiving unit, and a signal processing circuit It has a built-in tuner and both are built into the display unit. The tuner is provided with an external antenna connection terminal as needed, and switches the built-in antenna and the external connection antenna (such as those connected to a cord and connected to a terminal or a vehicle-mounted antenna) as necessary, or
It is possible to perform diversity reception. The present location detecting means is not limited to this, but may be one that receives radio waves from a ground base station.

Reference numeral 4 is a display means for displaying using the display data based on the map information stored in the storage means 2, and is a TF.
It is composed of a T liquid crystal color display module and the like. As described above, the map information is supplied in the form of a CD-ROM (disk), which is read out by the information reading means 1 centered on the coordinates of the current position based on the control means, and the read map information includes the current position index and direction. Information is added to form display data, which is displayed, and has a size corresponding to 1: 1 with respect to the size of a certain area (block) of the above-described coordinate-managed map information (the entire certain area is 1 In order to maintain the continuity of the screen such as the inter-region display, it is preferable to display 50% to 80% instead of the (display on the screen) and respond by scrolling.

A cursor key 6 is provided around the display means 4.
1, an input means 6 such as a mode key 62, a function key 63, etc. are arranged, and the input means 6 may be monitored and controlled by the control means described later, if necessary.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a CPU composed of a microprocessor.
51 and a memory 52 for storing a program of the CPU 51 and storing data necessary for execution, and controls the information reading means 1, the image control means 20, the current position determination means 33, the input means 6 and the like described above. In this embodiment, the display means 2 only displays the display data output from the image control means 20, that is, controls the output form of the image control means 20. Since the instruction is given from the means, the control means is illustrated as indirectly controlling.

Based on the present location determination means, the control means 5 stores the map information for each of a plurality of fixed areas centered on the present location in the read storage means and displays it on the display means based on the present location determination means. The map from the information reading means is based on the result of the judgment by the control means for storing and displaying the map information of the fixed region not in the center in the storage means or by the state judging means 8 for judging the power supply state or the fixed mode described later. The reading of information is prohibited, the map information is displayed based on the map information stored in the storage means, or a certain area of the map information read from the information reading means is based on the coordinates designated by the input means. The map information is stored in the storage means and displayed. Below, it demonstrates concretely based on an actual example.

First, in the area within the thick line frame in FIG.
R Tottori Station (lower left in the frame) At the point (a) of National Road No. 53 in front of the road in front of the station, as the final target point, to the point (C) at the Tottori Castle ruins behind the Nifukaku (lower left in the frame) of Figure 2b, A case of moving by a passenger car and a case of walking from the point (a) of National Route 53 to the point (c) of the Tottori castle ruins via the Tottori prefectural office (b) will be described as an example. When the map display device (navigation device) is mounted on the vehicle and the power is turned on, the control means 5 operates the current position determination means 3 to obtain the current location information, and reads the map information around the current location from the information reading means 1. At this time, since the current location is the point (a) of the National Highway No. 53 as described above, the area 5 including the point (a) of the National Highway No. 53 is indicated by the thick solid line frame A in FIG.
Areas 1 to 9 centered at are stored in the storage means 2 to generate display data.

Thereafter, the main body of the map display device is fixed because the external power supply is supplied by the power supply monitoring, or there is no random acceleration change due to the movement of the passenger car, or the mode key 62 is set. It is determined that it is in the non-portable mode. Therefore, along with the movement of the passenger car (that is, the movement of the map display device), the map information for each of a plurality of constant areas centering on the present location is read out from the information reading section 1 based on the present location determination section 3 and stored in the storage section 2. It is displayed on the display means 4. Specifically, in FIG. 3, as you move from the point (a) of National Route 53 to the point (c) of the Tottori castle ruins, move along the thick road from the lower left to the upper right of FIG. That is, it moves from the area 5 to the area 1 and then moves away from the stored map information area aggregate A. Along with this, the control means 5 changes the read area from the map information area aggregate A (solid line frame in the figure) to the map information area aggregate B (broken line frame in the figure) and further to the map information area aggregate C (one point in the figure). It will move one after another as indicated by the chain line frame) and D (dotted line frame in the figure). The display area always scrolls the map with the current position as the center.

The storage means 2 of the present invention is configured to store 10 areas. This is because the reading timing can be reduced by reading the area to be the center, the area around the area (the above-mentioned map information area aggregate) and the area in the traveling direction when the traveling direction is known. . For example, in the above-mentioned example, when the power is turned on and the user does not move from the point (a) of the National Highway No. 53, the map information of the areas 1 to 9 numbered in FIG. 3 is read from the information storage means 1. . Then when you start moving,
By tracking the current position information of the current position determination unit 3 with time, the control unit 5 can determine the azimuth in the traveling direction, and the map information area including the traveling azimuth or the extension of the road along the traveling azimuth is displayed. The specified area is read from the map information storage means 1 and the map area on the opposite side can be deleted. Thereby, in the above example, the areas numbered 10 in FIG. 3 are read out and stored, and the map areas 3, 6, 9, 8, and 7 are set as erasable areas. This erasable setting means that when the next read center moves from the map information area aggregate A to the map information area aggregate B, the map information area aggregate B is not read and rewritten, but can be erased. After erasing the state area, only the difference between the already read area (area aggregate A and area 10) and the new map information area aggregate is read from the information reading means 1 and if they are related to each other, the information reading means 1 will This is because the access time can be shortened, which is preferable.

Further, in the above mode determination, an example of power supply monitoring and the like has been described. Reference numeral 8 is a state determination means for detecting the presence or absence of such an external power source. Although not shown, the external power source is connected to the charging terminal of the built-in rechargeable battery,
Alternatively, a well-known changeover switch, a transistor circuit, or the like detects that the power supply of the built-in primary battery is switched to the external power source, and the detection result is sent to the control means 5. The state determination means 8 may also be configured to determine a certain mode instead of detecting the presence or absence of an external power source or when detecting the external power source. To determine a certain mode, for example, from the shaking condition of the main body of the map display device, when micro vibration continues, while in-vehicle,
When there is a large irregular vibration, it may be detected as if it is being carried, and the mobile mode may be set by generating or continuing vibration for a certain period of time, or similarly, an acceleration sensor may be used. The determination means itself may be taken into the key scan circuit and the portable mode may be determined by operating the mode key 62 of the input means 6.

Returning to the explanation of the display, when moving from the point (a) of the national highway No. 53 to the point (c) of the Tottori castle ruins via the Tottori prefectural office (b), the state after the power is turned on as described above. After that, the map display device body is carried because the external power is not being supplied by power supply monitoring, or because there is a random acceleration change due to the movement of the wearer, or by setting the mode key 62. It is determined that the mode is (portable mode). Therefore, even if the current location is moved by the current location determination means 3 with the movement of the person (that is, the movement of the map display device), the control means 5 outputs the map information from the information reading means 1 based on the determination result of the mode. Reading is prohibited, and only the display data generated based on the map information stored in the storage unit 2 is displayed. As a result, when the vicinity of the area A in FIG. 3 is approached, for example, in the vicinity of Nikaimachi, there is a blank display with no map on the right and top of the display. Therefore, in this mode, the map information of a certain area not centering on the present location can be stored and displayed in the storage means under certain conditions under the user's request. For example, after setting the target location, find the center coordinates on the line connecting the target location and the current location, store the map information of the surrounding area centered on the area including the center coordinates, and supplement further according to the route between the target location and the current location. A region is defined and additionally stored. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, after setting the target location (C), the center coordinates are obtained on the line connecting the target location (C) and the current location (B),
Map information 1 to 9 around the area 5 including the center coordinates is stored, and a supplemental area 10 is further determined and additionally stored according to the route of the target location (c) and the current location (b).
Since the map information is read from the information reading means 1 in this way, even if the map information is not additionally read, all the routes to the destination will be displayed if they are displayed according to the current position in the already read map. . As a result, the power consumption for the access of the information reading means 1 does not have to be consumed, and the display can be continued even if the carrying time becomes long.

Further, in such a portable mode,
Of the map information read from the information reading means, a plurality of map information of a certain area based on the coordinates designated by the input means can be stored in the storage means and displayed. Specifically, as described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the central coordinates are obtained somewhere, the area including the central coordinates is set, and the surrounding area including the area and the additional area are read. However, as shown in FIG. 5, a region aggregate having no central region can be stored according to the user's intention. This example will be described together with the above-mentioned embodiment in which the map information of a plurality of fixed areas not centering on the current location is stored and displayed in the storage means.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the main part of the portable mode of the program stored in the memory 52 of the CPU 51 in the control means 5 of the map display device having such portable mode. This is the state determination means 8 described above.
Is built in the control means 5, and after the power is turned on, the mode key 62
The case where the portable mode is set by is taken as an example. In the mobile mode, a predetermined guidance display as shown in the upper right of FIG. 6 is displayed, and the user is asked whether the mobile mode is kept as it is or the registered map (map information to be stored) is changed. If the map is not registered, the currently stored map of the 9th to 10th regions is displayed, and only the display is performed in the main routine at the lower left of FIG. That is, this display routine substantially prohibits the reading of the map information from the information reading means and displays the map or the like based on the map information stored in the storage means. Of course, if you want to display a map other than what you remembered while carrying it, press the Mode key 6
The map can be registered by switching 2 once and switching to the mobile mode again, but in that case, since the built-in battery is used, it is preferable to switch the mobile mode in the state before the mobile phone to which the external power source is connected. Select, register the map,
After that, it is preferable to remove the external power source, remove the disk, and carry it.

When the map is registered, the processing differs depending on whether or not the destination is set, but the case of using the destination will be taken as an example. When there is a destination and the registered map is not selected, this corresponds to an example of storing and displaying map information of a plurality of fixed areas not centering on the current location in the storage means under the fixed conditions in the above description, and FIG. Corresponds to the processing of the straight routine on the left. In this case, as described above, the center coordinates are obtained on the line connecting the target location and the current location, the map information of the surrounding area centered on the area including the center coordinates is stored, and further supplemented according to the route between the target location and the current location. An example is given in which an area is defined and processed so as to be additionally stored, and as the additional storage, an area is defined according to the direction.

When the registered map is selected, the routine on the left in FIG. 6 is shifted to the right. After the operation guidance, n is the memory management number of the storage means corresponding to the registration area, and the area frame is, as shown in FIG. 7, displaying a frame for each predetermined area of the map information coordinate-managed on the display map. However, it is for showing the user that the area is stored wherever the pointer is placed.

In many cases, a plurality of pieces of map information having different scales are stored in the map information supplied by the disc. In that case, for example, in a city area, the scale is small (enlarged).
Map information is stored, and an enlarged map is particularly useful near the destination. On the other hand, since there are few roads in the mountainous area and there is little getting lost, the scale may be large, and it is often preferable to display a wide range. According to such a situation, the scale can be selected when registering the map. Although not included in this routine, the map of the selected scale may be monitored and confirmed.

The area to be registered can be designated by the pointer overwritten on the displayed map, and the pointer can be moved by the cursor key 61. For example, national highway 5
Tottori Prefectural Office (b), which is a transit point from point (a) of No. 3 sign
Along the straight road up to, place the pointer between Sakaemachi and Yayoi, Shinmachi and Craftsmen, Kamiomachi, and click the F4 key. The area selected for storage indicates that the color has been converted to a complementary color and registered, for example. 1
When all the 0 areas are registered, the map information of the newly designated reduced scale is read out and stored in the storage means 2 to perform mutual area matching. Matching is performed for scroll display, and if no regions are adjacent to each other, matching cannot be obtained, but in mobile mode, the matching is left as it is, and only the region corresponding to the current location contributes to the display. In the example of FIG. 5, nine areas are set so as to go up from the destination, and in the vicinity of the waypoint Tottori Prefectural Office, map information with a small scale is selected and set as the tenth map area of the storage means 2. It illustrates that there is.

[0027]

As described above, in the present invention, since the display is performed only by the stored map information, the power consumption can be suppressed,
Even if the power supply capacity is limited, you can keep your carrying time long. Further, even if a microcomputer is used as the navigation device, even if the information reading means is unlocked or the CD-ROM is removed, if it is in the portable mode, the map information can be substantially read out from the information reading means. It is forbidden so you will not run into a loop or run away. Furthermore, since map information other than the map information centering on the current location can be stored and displayed, useful display can be performed without the need to newly add map information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a map display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of map information in which coordinates are managed for each fixed area, and shows a case a at the present location (a) and a case b at the destination (c).

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of map information in which coordinates are managed for each fixed area, and shows that the area to be stored changes with movement.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of map information that is coordinate-managed and stored for each fixed area according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of map information that is coordinate-managed and stored for each fixed area according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a main part of control means according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information read-out means 2 Storage means 3 Present location determination means 4 Display means 5 Control means 6 Input means 8 State determination means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An information reading means for reading the map information from a storage medium recording the map information, a storage means for storing the map information read from the information reading means, a present location determining means for detecting the present location, and a storage. Display means for displaying on the basis of the map information stored in the means, and map information for each of a plurality of fixed regions centering on the present location from the information reading means based on the present location determination means, stored in the storage means and displayed on the display means. A map display device comprising: control means for storing and displaying map information of a plurality of fixed areas not centered on the present location in a storage means under a fixed condition. 2. An information reading means for reading the map information from a storage medium storing the map information, a storage means for storing the map information read from the information reading means, and a map information stored in the storage means. Display means for displaying with a display, a power supply state or a certain mode is determined, and reading of map information from the information reading means is prohibited based on the determination result,
A map display device comprising: a control unit that displays a map or the like based on the map information stored in the storage unit. 3. An information reading unit for reading map information whose coordinates are managed for each fixed area from a recording medium in which the map information is recorded, a storage unit for storing the map information read from the information reading unit, and the storage unit. Display means for displaying based on the stored map information, input means, and a plurality of map information of a certain area based on the coordinates designated by the input means among the map information read from the information reading means. A map display device comprising: a control unit for storing and displaying in a storage unit.