JPH08254435A - Information presenter and navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make information presentable in resorting to a feeling other than both visual and hearing senses by installing a movable part, capable of coming into contact from the outside, and a means controlling a driving means according to the presenting information, respectively. CONSTITUTION: In a car navigation system, turning information is presented by an audio-visual sense information presenting means (a speaker, a monitor or the like) while attention awakening information is also presented in an audio- visual sensing manner. A driver recognized with this attention-awakening information audio-visually comes into contact with a movable part at once, whereby he is able to secure route guide information tactually. In brief, a stick 710 as the movable part is installed in a stick driver 700 so as to be projected to the outside, therefore this stick 710 can be touched from the outside. For example, in the case where information to be turned to the right at an intersection is presented, the stick 710 is vibrated as long as about one second, then the stick 710 is rocked to clarify the bending direction and this state is maintained as long as about 0.5 second or so. In consequence, any burden and restrictions on the driver necessary for securing the route guide information are lightened.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information presenting device and a navigation device, and more particularly to a device capable of presenting information for route guidance or the like by appealing to senses other than sight and hearing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of an information presenting device for presenting information such as direction information to fulfill functions such as route guidance, there is a car navigation device (vehicle route guiding device, vehicle running guidance device). An outline of a conventional car navigation device will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The DRAM 15 holds the map data 32 read through the CD-ROM drive 30 and the SR.
The AM 14 holds a preset waypoint WP1 ..., a destination point, an operation mode and the like via the remote controller 20, and the ROM 13 stores a position detection program 62.
A monitor display program 43 and the like are stored.

Then, GPS (Global Positioning Sy)
The current position MP is detected based on the information received from the satellite via the stem) antenna 60, and the map data centering on the detected current position is read from the DRAM 15 and displayed on the monitor 40. In addition to this, the next set place NP closest to the current position MP is obtained from the waypoints WP1 ... By searching, and the corresponding direction information OP and distance information PP are also calculated, and these turn information Is overlaid on the map data by, for example, an arrow or a broken line, and is displayed on the monitor. Therefore, the driver or the like can obtain route guidance information such as an intersection to turn next by reading the monitor display.

Further, when it is found as a result of the calculation that the vehicle is approaching such an intersection, before the passage of the intersection where the vehicle should go straight, for example, a voice saying "I am going straight ahead." Before the passage, for example, a voice saying "Turning right now." Is also played from the speaker 50. Therefore, the driver or the like can obtain the route guidance information by listening to these acoustic outputs.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional car navigation system or the like, information to be displayed for route guidance or the like is displayed on the monitor screen by an arrow or the like, or a voice is output from the speaker. It will be shown to the driver, etc.

However, in the case of visually presenting information by displaying on the screen, it is necessary to look at the screen for reading the information. Therefore, during this reading, it is possible to keep the viewpoint in a direction other than the screen. Can not. For this reason,
Even when it is necessary to look ahead or when attention is directed to an oncoming vehicle or the like, it may be a great burden to visually acquire the presentation information at this time as well. Also, in the case of information presentation that appeals to the hearing by means of acoustic output, the presentation information may be aurally affected by the output sound from the radio receiver or CD player, or the ambient noise from the horn, etc. It can be difficult to obtain.

[0007] Here, the information for guiding the route, such as indicating the moving direction, does not have the property of immediately impairing the safety even if the information is not acquired, but it is necessary for the knowledge of the optimum route. Therefore, it is desirable that it is presented so that it can be acquired as reliably and easily as possible. Therefore, it is required to take other means capable of complementing the conventional visual and auditory information presentation.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information presenting device capable of presenting information by appealing to senses other than sight and hearing. Further, the object of the present invention is to
An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device that can provide route guidance such as indicating a moving direction by appealing to senses other than visual and auditory senses. A further object of the present invention is to provide a car navigation device in which the difficulty of audiovisual recognition of route guidance information is partially compensated for through other senses. Another object of the present invention is to provide a car navigation device which can reduce the visual and visual burden on the driver.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, it is provided as a first solving means (claim 1).
The information presenting apparatus of the present invention is an information presenting apparatus that presents presentation information including at least direction information, a movable part that can be touched from the outside, a drive unit that drives the movable part, and the presentation. Control means for controlling the drive by the drive means according to the usage information.

The navigation device of the present invention (claim 2) provided as a second means for achieving the above object detects the current position of the moving body and detects the preset point. In a navigation device that obtains bending information and presents presentation information including this bending information, a movable portion that can be touched from the outside, a drive unit that drives the movable portion, and the bending information according to the bending information. And a control means for controlling the driving by the driving means.

The car navigation system of the present invention, which is provided as a third means for achieving the above object, detects the current position of the vehicle, obtains bend information about a preset point, and then turns the bend. A car navigation device that presents presentation information including information by displaying it on a dedicated display screen or outputting it acoustically, wherein a movable part that can be touched from the outside and a drive of the movable part are provided. It is characterized in that it is provided with a drive means for carrying out and a control means for controlling the drive by the drive means according to the bending information.

The car navigation system of the present invention, which is provided as a fourth solving means for achieving the above object, detects the current position of the vehicle based on the detecting means and the current position detected by the detecting means. Calculation means for obtaining turn information about a preset point, an audiovisual output device having a dedicated screen display unit or sound output unit, and presentation information including the turn information of the calculating means is sent to the audiovisual output device. A car navigation device including audiovisual information presenting means for presenting the moving parts, a movable part which can be touched from the outside, a driving means for driving the movable part, and a bending information of the calculating means. Control means for controlling the drive by the drive means, and the audiovisual information presenting means is controlled by the control means at or during the drive control. Because it is characterized in that the one which is presented by sending a predetermined alert information to the audio visual output device. In addition, the predetermined alerting information is for allowing a driver or the like to recognize the presence of the drive control by the control means, and is, for example, on / off information corresponding to the presence or absence of the drive control by the control means. .

[0013]

In the information presenting device, navigation device, and car navigation device of the present invention configured by such means, the control means performs control in accordance with presentation information such as bend information, and this control is performed. Since the movable portion is driven by the receiving drive means, the movable portion moves / moves in the direction, position, etc. according to the presentation information such as the bending information. Here, since this movable part can be touched from the outside, if an operator or the like touches the movable part performing such movement / motion from the outside with a hand or the like, the movement / motion is haptic. Or, it can be perceived tactilely by feelings such as pressing force and pain. Therefore, the information presenting device can tactilely transmit the presentation information such as the bend information. Therefore, the device of the present invention can present information by appealing to senses other than sight and hearing.

Further, in the navigation device of the present invention, the bend information can be transmitted tactilely as described above, but since the bend information is obtained from the current position for the set place, the movement is performed. Route guidance can be provided by transmitting turn information for indicating a direction and the like. Therefore, the navigation device of the present invention can provide route guidance such as indicating a moving direction to a sense other than visual and auditory senses.

Further, in the car navigation device as the third means for solving the problems of the present invention, the bending information and the like are presented visually by a screen display or aurally by acoustic output, and the bending information is tactile. Is also transmitted. As a result, even if the driver or the like overlooks or misses the audiovisually presented route guidance information, the driver may be able to obtain the route guidance information by tactile sense. Therefore, the car navigation system of the present invention can partially compensate for the difficulty of audiovisual recognition of the route guidance information by tactile transmission.

Further, in the car navigation device as the fourth solution means of the present invention, the bending information is visually or audibly presented to the audiovisual output device by the audiovisual information presenting means and the like, and the control means and the like. Is also tactilely presented to the movable part. Moreover, since the audiovisual information presenting means also presents the audible attention information to the audiovisual output device at the time of drive control by the control means, the driver or the like who has audibly recognized this audible attention information immediately recognizes it on the moving part. By touching, route guidance information can be obtained hapticly. As a result, the driver or the like intentionally avoids reading the entire route guidance information that is presented visually and uses the route guidance information that is acquired by tactile sense to look ahead and hear the surrounding sounds. A lot of attention can be devoted to listening. Therefore, the car navigation device of the present invention can reduce the audiovisual burden on the driver or the like more than ever before.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A car navigation device which is an embodiment of the information presenting device of the present invention will be described below. First, the configuration of this device will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a car navigation device, FIG. 2 is a schematic external view thereof, FIG. 3 is a set route diagram, FIG. 4 is an external view of a monitor, and FIG. 5 is a stick drive device. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the stick drive mechanism. Note that FIG. 1 corresponds to FIG. 8 in the conventional example, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

This car navigation system includes a device body 10 and input / output devices, that is, a remote controller 2.
0, speaker 50 (sound output unit), GPS antenna 60, monitor 400 (dedicated screen display unit), stick drive device 700. The apparatus main body 10 is provided with a CPU 11 and each circuit connected to the CPU 11 via a bus line 12 for receiving the control, that is, the ROM 1.
3, SRAM 14, DRAM 15, input circuit 21, CD
-ROM controller 31, drawing processing circuit 42, speaker driving circuit 51, GPS receiving circuit 61, motor driving circuit 780, and other circuits are built-in. Also, ROM1
3 stores programs such as a position detection program 62, a distance calculation program 63, a monitor display program 430, a sound output program 520, and a stick control program 790. These programs are executed by the CPU 11 according to respective processing procedures. Performs each function by being processed.

The input means is for inputting the operation mode instruction of the apparatus and the waypoint data WP1 ... Shown in FIG. 3, but the remote controller 20, the input circuit 21 connected thereto, and the drawing. It does not consist of an input program. The reading means is DRA.
The map data 32 is read into M15, but it is a CD
-ROM drive 30 and CD-RO connected to it
It is composed of an M controller 31 and a reading program (not shown). Further, the detecting means detects the current position MP of the vehicle by a so-called multi-satellite simultaneous positioning method or the like, and receives a radio wave from a GPS satellite.
It comprises a PS antenna 60, a GPS receiving circuit 61 connected to the PS antenna 60, and a position detection program 62 for calculating information on the current position from received data including latitude / longitude information. In addition, the calculation means, the next set location NP which is the bend information about the preset point, the direction information OP,
The distance information PP is obtained on the basis of the current position MP detected by the above-mentioned detecting means, which is constructed by the distance calculating program 63.

The visual information presenting means, which is one of the audiovisual information presenting means, sends out the presentation information including the bend information NP and the like to the monitor 400 as the audiovisual output device for display. Monitor 400 with
A drawing processing circuit 42 connected to this, a dual port RAM 41 connected to this circuit for holding data of the screen image of the monitor 400 as it is, and map data 3
2 and the bend information NP, etc. are converted into screen data and are sent to the dual port RAM 41 via the drawing processing circuit 42 and the monitor display program 430. It should be noted that the monitor 400 is different from the monitor 40 in the conventional example in that, as shown in FIG. 4, an LED 410, which is a light emitting element, is provided on the side of the screen. In addition, the monitor display program 430 causes the vehicle to approach the next intersection and the distance information P
This is different from the monitor display program 43 in the conventional example in that the LED 410 is also made to blink when the value of P becomes a predetermined value or less. Due to these differences, blinking the LED as the presentation of the alert information can alert the driver or the like.

The auditory information presenting means, which is another one of the audiovisual information presenting means, sends out presentation information including bend information NP to the speaker 50 as an audiovisual output device for presentation. The speaker 50, the speaker drive circuit 51 connected to the speaker 50, and the sound output program 520 for converting the bend information NP and the like into voice data and sending the voice data to the speaker drive circuit 51. Note that the acoustic output program 520 also drives the speaker 50 to emit a buzzer sound when the vehicle approaches the next intersection and the value of the distance information PP becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. Program 5
Different from 2. Due to this difference, it is possible to call the driver's attention by generating a buzzer sound as the presentation of the attention calling information.

The tactile information presenting means sends the presentation information including the bend information NP to the tactile output device for presentation, and the stick drive device 7 as the tactile output device.
00 and connected to it (as part of the driving means)
When the vehicle approaches the next intersection and the value of the distance information PP becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the motor drive circuit 780 converts the bend information NP or the like into motor drive data and outputs the motor drive data 78.
It is constituted by a stick control program 790 (as a control means) for sending to 0.

As shown in FIG. 5, the stick driving device 700 is provided with a stick 710 as a movable portion on the upper surface of the device so as to project to the outside, whereby the stick 710 can be touched from the outside. Has become.

Further, the stick 710 is supported inside the housing of the stick driving device 700 by a stick driving mechanism (as a part of driving means) as shown in FIG. That is, the connecting end of the vertical stick 710 is fixed to one end of the vertical arm 711 via the coaxial motor 740, the encoder 741 and the arm 742, and the other end of the arm 711 is also vertical. The one end of the arm 722 is rotatably connected in both forward and reverse directions in the xz plane, and is rotationally driven by a motor 720 integrated with an angle detection encoder 721, so that the open end of the stick 710 swings mainly in the x direction. .

Further, the other end of the arm 722 is connected to the arm 73.
The one end of the stick 2 is rotatably connected in both forward and reverse directions in the yz plane, and is rotationally driven by a motor 730 with which an angle detection encoder 731 is integrated so that the open end of the stick 710 swings mainly in the y direction. Furthermore, this arm 74
The other end of 2 is fixed to and supported by the housing. Each of the motors 720,
730 is driven by the motor drive circuit 780, and the open end of the stick 710 can move in almost arbitrary directions of xy2 axes, more precisely, can move on a spherical surface. In this example, the stick 710 is rotatable by the motor 740 with its axis as the center of rotation, but it is usually sufficient for the car navigation system to be movable in the xy2 axis directions.

Further, the motor drive circuit 780 uses the stick control program 790 to move xy2 in order to move the open end of the stick 710 in at least the xy2 axis directions.
In response to the rotation amounts θx and θy in the direction, the outputs of the corresponding encoders 721 and 731 are designated as the rotation amounts θx and θy.
Until the motor 720 of the stick drive mechanism,
Each of the 730 is configured to be rotationally driven.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the car navigation system of the present invention will be described.

Before starting the vehicle, that is, while the vehicle is stopped, the operating motor of the car navigation system is switched to the data input mode. Then, select the CD-ROM that stores the map data corresponding to the destination and copy it to the CD-
The map data is set in the ROM drive 30, the map data is read by the reading means, and the map data 32 is stored in the DRAM 15. This map data 32
Is the most basic data and is always referred to in each process such as calculation and display for route guidance thereafter. Further, the remote controller 20 is operated to input waypoint data WP1, ...
It is preset to M14. This waypoint setting is automatically performed by calculating the optimum waypoint by simply specifying the starting point and the destination, or manually by specifying even waypoints in the middle. In any case, this completes the preparation necessary to start route guidance.

Therefore, the operation mode of the car navigation system is switched to the route guidance mode. Then, GP
The current position MP is detected by the processing of the position detection program 62 based on the information received via the S antenna 60 and the GPS receiving circuit 61, and the bend information NP and the like are calculated by the processing of the distance calculation program 63. Information is stored in a predetermined area of the SRAM 14. Then, the map data centering on the current position MP is DRA-processed by the process of the monitor display program 430.
It is read from M15 and sent to the dual port RAM 41 via the drawing processing circuit 42, and further read from the dual port RAM 41 by the drawing processing circuit 42 and constantly displayed on the monitor 400. Furthermore, the bend information N
P and the like are processed by the monitor display program 430,
For example, it is displayed on the monitor 400 by being superimposed on the map data with an arrow or a broken line. Such detection processing and display processing are continuously repeated during the route guidance mode. Therefore, the driver or the like can obtain route guidance information such as an intersection to turn next by reading the monitor display. Therefore, the conventional function of presenting visual information is maintained without being impaired.

When the vehicle is started and moved from this state, the current position MP changes with this movement. Then, when the vehicle approaches the next intersection, for example, the waypoint WP1, and the distance (PP) between the current position MP and the next set point NP becomes a predetermined value or less, the vehicle must turn right at the waypoint WP1. In order to inform, for example, a sound such as "Turning right now." Is output from the speaker 50 by the sound output program 520. Therefore, the driver or the like can obtain the route guidance information by listening to these acoustic outputs. Therefore, the conventional function of presenting auditory information is maintained without being impaired.

Further, the distance information PP has a predetermined value, for example, 300.
When the value becomes m or less, in addition to these presentation functions, the monitor display program 430 causes the LED 410 to blink and the sound output program 520 emits a buzzer sound. This allows the driver or the like to recognize that the process of presenting tactile information described below continues.

The process of presenting tactile information for route guidance is as follows:
According to the stick control program 790,
For example, when presenting information that a right turn should be made at an intersection 300 m ahead, in the first step, the driver or the like is informed that the tactile information will be presented since the set route point is approached, and the attention is called. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The stick 710 is vibrated in the x direction for a relatively long period of about 1 second. Then, in the next second step, in order to clearly show the bending direction, as shown in FIG.
10 is moved (swinged) in the positive x direction to maintain this state for about 0.5 seconds. Further, in the subsequent third step, in order to indicate the distance of 300 m to the intersection in 100 m units, as shown in FIG. 7C, the stick 710 vibrates in the x direction for a relatively short period of about 0.3 seconds. Repeat intermittently 3 times.

Further, when the vehicle travels up to a distance of 200 m at the intersection, the same operation is repeated, but the x-direction vibration is intermittently repeated only twice in the third step in response to the difference in the distance. To do. Therefore, the movement of the stick 710 over these periods is a series of movements in the above case, as shown in FIG. Therefore, if the driver or the like touches the open end of the stick 710 with his / her fingertip or the like, the stick
Since the movement and position of 10 can be sensed, the bending information and the like can be obtained by a medium other than the display of the monitor 400 and the sound from the speaker 50. as a result,
The burden and restrictions on the driver and the like required to obtain the route guidance information are reduced.

Although the car navigation device has been described above as an example, the application of the present invention is not limited to this. Obviously from the above description, the present invention can also be applied to a navigation device for marine cruising and the like used in a ship operating on a predetermined route. It is also apparent that by incorporating the above-mentioned tactile information presenting means into a device with a built-in computer, it is possible to realize an information presenting device capable of tactilely transmitting presenting information such as bend information. .

[0035]

As is apparent from the above description, in the information presenting device, the navigation device, and the car navigation device of the present invention, the presenting information such as the bending information is tactilely touched by the movable part. Can be communicated. As a result, it is possible to present information by appealing to senses other than sight and hearing. Further, in the navigation device of the present invention, it is possible to present tactilely the bending information obtained for the set location from the current position, whereby route guidance such as the direction of movement can be provided by means other than visual and auditory sense. The effect is that it can be performed by appealing to the sense of. Further, in the car navigation device of the present invention, it is possible to partially supplement the difficulty of the audiovisual recognition of the route guidance information by tactile transmission. Alternatively, it is possible to reduce the audiovisual burden on the driver or the like as compared with the conventional case.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a car navigation device that is an embodiment of an information presentation device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic external view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a set route diagram.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a monitor.

FIG. 5 is an external view of a stick drive device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a stick drive mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an example of a method of presenting bending information by stick driving.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a conventional car navigation device.

[Explanation of Codes] 10 Main body of car navigation device 11 CPU 12 Bus line 13 ROM 14 SRAM 15 DRAM 20 Remote controller 20 21 Input circuit 30 CD-ROM drive 31 CD-ROM controller 40 Monitor 41 Dual port RAM 42 Drawing processing circuit 43 Monitor display program 50 Speaker 51 Speaker drive circuit 52 Acoustic output program 60 GPS antenna 61 GPS receiving circuit 62 Position detection program 63 Distance calculation program 400 Monitor 410 LED 430 Monitor display program 520 Acoustic output program 700 Stick drive device 710 Stick 720, 730 , 740 Motor 721, 731, 741 Encoder 711, 722, 732, 742 Arm 780 mode Motor drive circuit 790 stick control program

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An information presenting device for presenting presentation information including at least direction information, a movable part which can be touched from the outside, a drive means for driving the movable part, and the presentation information. An information presenting apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the drive by the drive unit according to the above. 2. A navigation device which detects the current position of a moving body, obtains bending information about a preset point, and presents presentation information including this bending information, which can be touched from the outside. A navigation device, comprising: a movable unit; a drive unit that drives the movable unit; and a control unit that controls the drive by the drive unit according to the bending information.