JPH08241492A - Traffic lane branch guide device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To interpolate the road guide in the car navigation system to maintain smooth driving by providing a means which guides information of a road marker notifying a branch by display on the screen or voice in a vehicle at the time of passing this notice point. CONSTITUTION: With respect to the traffic lane branch guide device which guides the existence of a branch point in the course of the vehicle, a branch point ID transmission means 1 is installed at a road marker for guide of the branch, and a branch point reception means 2 receives the branch point ID transmitted from the branch point ID transmission means 1. Information at branch points as objects for guide or branches are stored in a branch information storage part 6. A branch information detection means 3 retrieves the branch point information storage means 6 by information based on the branch point ID and extracts branch information of the branch point corresponding to the branch point ID. This extracted branch information is presented by a branch information presenting means 4. A branch destination designating means 5 adds the branching direction to branch information of the branch point to guide the driver to the destination.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lane branching guide device for guiding the presence of a branch point in the course of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is very important for a driver of an automobile traveling on a road to know what the road is going to be in order to drive safely and comfortably. .

Maps, road signs, radio and television traffic information, telephone traffic information guides, and car navigation systems that have recently been used are the ones that give information about road conditions. is there. Although any means can be used in the planning stage before starting driving, in a car actually driving on the road, the detailed road branching condition that the driver wants to know is indicated by a road sign or a navigation system. You will know.

Although road signs are being maintained,
Aside from the familiar road, it is necessary to read the contents in an instant, and there are oversights and misrecognitions, so it seems that it is accurate as an information source but difficult in terms of utilization.

G for car navigation systems
It provides road guidance based on the position information from PS satellites, and is able to grasp the position and direction of travel of a vehicle with high accuracy together with a gyro and a mileage sensor.

[0006]

However, as far as road signs are concerned, when they miss a guide sign that predicts a branch, they suddenly come to the point just before the actual branch point and learn about it.
They change the lanes in a hurry and increase the mental burden on the driver, and they are also a nuisance to other drivers due to sudden lane changes.

Regarding the car navigation system, there is much information about complicated interchanges and junctions typified by highways, and even detailed guides such as advance lane changes required by the driver for branching to the exit. There was a problem that it could not respond.

In view of the above point, the present invention provides a means for guiding the information of the road sign for notifying and guiding the branch by displaying the information on the screen or by voice in the automobile at the time of passing through the notifying point. (Claim 1), further, if the desired direction of travel at the planned passage point is registered in advance, a means for notifying the driver of the desired direction of travel in addition to the guidance of the situation of the branch will be provided. It is intended to provide (Claim 2).

That is, macro road guidance is interpolated by accurately grasping the position and direction by the car navigation system, and detailed information is provided at an appropriate timing to prompt a preparatory operation for driving by local road signs. This can be expected to contribute to maintaining a smooth flow of cars on the road.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems The above problems can be solved by a lane branch guidance system constructed as follows. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention.

According to the first aspect, the branch point ID transmitting means 1 is installed corresponding to a road sign for guiding a branch and transmits a branch point ID for identifying the branch point. The branch point ID receiving means 2 Receives the branch point ID.

The branch information storage unit 6 stores information about a branch point to be guided to branch, and the branch information search means 3 searches the branch information storage unit 6 with information based on a branch point ID. Then, the branch information of the branch point corresponding to the branch point ID is extracted, and the branch information presenting means 4 presents the extracted branch information to guide the branch.

According to the second aspect, the branching destination designating means 5 additionally provided is for pre-storing the branching direction of the branching point of the route to be traveled in the branching information storage section 6.

[0014]

In the lane branch guidance device for guiding the presence of a branch point in the route of the vehicle, the branch point ID transmitting means 1 transmits the branch point ID for identifying the branch point, and the branch point ID receiving means 2 transmits the branch point. The branch information storage unit 6 storing the information of the branch point is searched by the information based on the branch point ID, the branch information of the branch point corresponding to the branch point ID is extracted, and the extracted branch Information is presented to guide the branch (Claim 1).

Further, the branching direction designating means 5 stores in advance the branching direction of the branching point of the route to be traveled in the branching information storing section 6, and the stored branching direction is added to the branching information of the branching point and presented. An additional direction is provided to guide the passenger (claim 2).

[0016]

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the embodiment of the present invention. This example describes a system for guiding lane turns on a highway.

FIG. 2A is an example of a map showing a branch of a road such as the Metropolitan Expressway which has frequent branches. At each branch point, there is a road sign for displaying the position of the branch point immediately before it, and a road sign for the purpose of displaying advance notice of the branch installed at a position somewhat before the branch point, In the embodiment of the present invention, since the information represented by the road sign that gives advance notice of the latter branch is used, the road sign immediately before is not shown. In FIG. 2A, 23a, 23b,
Reference numeral 23c and the like indicate a branch point ID signal transmitting device attached to a road sign, which is equipped with wireless antennas 25a, 25b, 25c. Further, reference numeral 24 is a road sign for warning notice with merging, but a branch point ID signal transmitting device is not attached.

The embodiment of the present invention aims to assist the driver in deciding whether to change the lane to the right or left,
The guidance is provided so that the driver can take a preliminary operation action for branching.

The branch at 21 indicates that it is divided into three directions, and it is important to know in advance which lane to ride in. Also, with regard to the road sign for the highway exit at 22, it is difficult to change the lane immediately before a traffic jam unless you know in advance whether the exit is on the right or the left, and it is even more dangerous if you are driving at high speed. Because of this, it is necessary to know accurate information at the position where preparatory actions can be taken.

FIG. 2 (b) is a branch point 2 in FIG. 2 (a).
In this example, the corresponding branch information is displayed in response to the branch point ID signal transmitted from the road sign 23a which gives the advance notice guidance of No. 1. The guidance divided into three directions is the same as that shown on the road sign 23a, but a planned driving course to be described later is set in advance, and at this branch point 21, the direction to the north Ikebukuro direction is indicated by a thick arrow. . By knowing this display at the point 23a in advance, it is possible to move to the left lane in advance and proceed as a preparatory action. Also in the car navigation system, the left turn, right turn, etc. of the intersection can be stored in advance and can be displayed on the map or can be guided by voice. However, like the other example of the branch advance notice display shown in FIG. However, detailed information cannot be obtained when there are sections where lane changes are prohibited.

On the map, there are various places where you must actually turn to the left due to a complicated branching method such as an overpass even if it looks like the intersecting road turns to the right, and follow the road signs. The detailed information described above is required, and the effect of the embodiment of the present invention can be obtained.

FIG. 2 (c) is a guide to the exit from the expressway. Similarly, FIG. 5B also shows the guidance of the exit branch. In a normal display, since a branch of this degree is not shown by a thick line in order to guide and guide the traveling direction in advance, the same display as a normal road sign is displayed to guide the branch. FIG. 5 (b) shows an example in which the exits are close to each other and are continuous, and particularly, a reliable branch guide is required in advance.

The vehicle shown in FIG. 2 (d) is equipped with a vehicle-mounted receiver 27 connected to an antenna 26, and branch point ID signal transmitting devices 23a and 23b attached to a road sign for advance notice before the branch point. , 23c antennas 25a, 25
The branch point IDs transmitted from b and 25c are received.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a branch point ID transmitting section attached to a road sign. First, the number setting unit 34 sets a unique number for identifying the attached road sign so that it can be transmitted as a branch point ID signal. Specifically, the number is set by the toggle switch: a punched card, an IC card, a magnetic card, or the like that has been input in advance may be used. The set number is ID
It is electrically encoded by the number generator 35, converted into a serial signal for wireless transmission, and sent to the modulator 32.
In the modulation unit 32, the high frequency signal oscillated by the oscillation unit 31
The serial signal sent from the D number generator 35 is sequentially modulated and sent to the transmitter 33 to be transmitted as radio waves to the antenna 36.

FIG. 4 shows an explanatory diagram of the vehicle-mounted part of the lane branch guidance device. The branch point ID number entered from the antenna 49 is sent to the branch guidance control section 45 via the receiving section 43, the demodulating section 42, and the signal converting section 41, and when it is recognized as the branch point ID number, it is stored in the ID number storing section 44. Is stored.

The branch guidance control unit 45 searches the branch point DB (database) 46 by using the branch point ID number stored in the ID number storage unit 44 as a key.
Branch information corresponding to the branch point ID number is displayed on the branch guidance display unit 4
Send to 7 and display branch information on the screen. The display contents and operation will be described later using a flowchart.

Further, in the operation unit 48, the number of the branching direction is input to the branching point DB 46 while interacting with the screen in order to set the branching direction of the planned passing branching point in advance and display it in addition to the branching information. Is.

The structure of the branch point DB 46 will be described with reference to FIG. The figure is divided into two, (a) is the branch point ID 61
(B) is the branch information stored at the address shown in the above table, and the branch information is displayed on the screen according to this content.

In FIG. 6A, a branch point ID 61 is a key for retrieving branch information, and the version number 6
2 is the branch point so that incorrect information will not be displayed when the branch point DB 46 of the in-vehicle section is revised, for example, when the road branch is changed or the traffic regulation is revised. It is the version number of the information added to the ID and transmitted. This D is also in the on-board branch point DB46
The version number is stored for each piece of branch information when B is created, and the version number is compared to prevent mistakes. When the version is different, the branch information is not displayed, but the driver is made aware of the fact that the road branch has been changed by presenting information indicating that there is a road sign for advance notice of branch. Information is presented by screen display, chime sound, voice, etc.

The branch information storage address 63 indicates the address where the branch information to be displayed on the screen is stored. The address is shown in FIG. 6 for the sake of clarity.
(A) is represented by one letter such as A, K, M, N.

In FIG. 6B, a point name 66 of a branch point corresponding to a road sign, and a branch pattern 6 showing how to branch.
7, for example, branching into 3 directions, branching to the right, branching to the left, branching section in which lanes are designated for each direction, etc.
The number 7 can be selected by number, and although not shown, the pattern number and display pattern in the form of branch points are held in the branch pattern DB.

Branch destination (a) 68w to branch destination (d) 68z
Is the place name, direction name, displayed at the branch destination of the display pattern,
The exit name and the like are stored as character information. By these designations, the branch destination information is embedded in the pattern and the display of the branch destination information can be easily made.

In FIG. 6 (a), there is a designated branch destination 64 column, which is provided when a predetermined branching direction is designated by operating the operation unit 48 of the above-described on-vehicle section of the branch guidance device. It is set in the branch point DB 46, and any one of branch destinations (a) to (d) of the branch point DB 46 is selected and stored. For example, the branch point ID 61 is “AH01
In "3", the item of the designated branch destination is "(a)", but this indicates that the vehicle is proceeding in the direction of "Kita-Ikebukuro" as shown in FIG. 2 (b). This is indicated by a bold line so as to proceed to the branch destination “(a)” of the branch pattern in the point name “Takaracho 1” of FIG. 6B designated by the branch information storage address “A”. This "(a)" is "Kitaikebukuro".

Next, according to the flow chart of FIG. 7, the branch guidance control unit 45 which is activated when the signal received from the antenna 26 of the vehicle-mounted unit is recognized as the branch point ID.
The operation of the branch information display program in FIG.

In step S71, the branch point DB 46 is searched with the version number received in association with the recognized branch point ID as a key. Please also refer to FIG. At step S72, the branch point ID 61 of FIG.
The column of version number 62 and the received branch point ID number and version number are sequentially compared. In the table of FIG. 6A, the branch point IDs 61 are sorted in ascending order. Therefore, until the items that should be in the key order, that is, until a value larger than the branch point ID being searched for appears, there is a match. If there is no branch point ID reception error or version number is different, that is, change of road sign,
It is considered that the branch contents have been changed, and step S73
At the prompt, “Be careful about the front junction with road sign change!” Is displayed to call attention to the driver.

When the branch point ID is found in the table, the branch information storage address 63 shown in FIG. 6B is obtained from the branch information storage address 63 in step S74.
For example, when the branch point ID is "AH013" and the version number is "002", the branch information storage address is "A".
It can be seen from the information at the address “A” in FIG. 6B that the spot name is “Takaracho 1”.

In step S75, the place name display section on the screen, for example, "Takaracho 1" is displayed at the bottom of the figure as shown in FIG. 2 (b).
Is displayed. Subsequently, in step S76, the pattern number is found to be "9" from the column of the branch pattern 67, and the three-way branch pattern is read from the unillustrated branch pattern DB as shown in FIG. 2B, and in step S76. Display the branching pattern. In this pattern, three branch destinations corresponding to three directions are displayed. In step S78, three branch destinations (a), (b) corresponding to the address "A" in FIG. 6B are displayed. As shown in FIG. 2 (b), “Kita-Ikebukuro” is read at the branching destinations (a), (b), and (c) of the branching pattern as shown in FIG.
(B) "Ueno" and (c) "Komatsugawa" are displayed. In this case, although not shown in the flowchart, since "(a)" is present at the designated branch destination, the arrow in the branch direction (a) is displayed in bold.

In the above description, the branch information is presented to the driver by displaying it on the screen display device in the vehicle as an example, but this may be transmitted by voice or in combination with the screen display. May be. For example, the voice presentation may be performed by a person's voice such as "The future branch is a three-way branch. From the left direction is Kita-Ikebukuro direction, Ueno direction, Komatsugawa direction".

Further, although the branch point ID signal is transmitted to the receiver of the automobile by radio waves, it is conceivable to use signals such as ultrasonic waves and infrared rays.

[0040]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the information of the road sign which gives advance notice and guides the branching of the lane on the road is displayed on the screen in the automobile at the time of passing the notice point. By providing a display or voice guidance to the car navigation system to interpolate the macro road guidance by accurately grasping the position and direction, and providing detailed information to promptly prepare for driving by local road signs. By contributing to the maintenance of the smooth flow of cars on the road by performing the appropriate timing, it can be expected that the work efficiency of the driver and the road transportation efficiency will be improved, and the safety and comfort of society will be improved. There is a remarkable industrial effect of improving the efficiency of economic activities.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a branch point ID transmission unit attached to a road sign.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an in-vehicle unit of a lane branch guidance device.

[Fig. 5] Other examples of branch notice information display

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of a branch point DB.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of displaying branch information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Branch Point ID Sending Means 2 Branch Point ID Receiving Means 3 Branch Information Retrieving Means 4 Branch Information Presenting Means 5 Branch Destination Specifying Means 6 Branch Information Storage Units

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G09B 29/10 G09B 29/10 A

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A lane branch guidance device for guiding the presence of a branch point on a road, a branch point ID transmitting means for transmitting a branch point ID for identifying a branch point, and a branch point ID for receiving the branch point ID. A receiving unit, a branch information storage unit that stores information about each branch point, and a branch that searches the branch information storage unit based on the information based on the branch point ID and extracts the branch information of the branch point corresponding to the branch point ID. Information retrieval means, branch information presenting means for presenting the extracted branch information,
A lane branching guide device comprising: 2. A branch destination designating means for pre-storing a branch direction of a branch point of a route to be traveled to the branch information storage section is additionally provided, and the stored branch direction is additionally presented to the branch information of the branch point and presented. , Guidance in which direction to proceed
Lane lane guidance device.