JPH08261780A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To realize a display easy to understand at the time of high-speed running, by displaying an express way as a straight road irrespective of the actual terrains or the like, and showing the relation of positions of one's own vehicle and a point to a certain place on the express way in a simple form. CONSTITUTION: A CD block 5 loads a CD-ROM storing a plurality of point data having at least names of points including interchanges of express ways and service areas, positional data and distances between points. A ROM 7 stores an express way background pattern of a fixed model having a block to which names of points are fitted. A CPU 9 reads out point data including names of points from the CD-ROM on the basis of present position data obtained by a GPS block 2, and develops the data on a video RAM 11 to the block of the express way background pattern read from the ROM 7, thereby forming display data. The display data obtained at the CPU 9 are displayed by a monitor block 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device for a vehicle using GPS.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, GPS (Global Posi)
2. Description of the Related Art Navigation devices for automobiles, which utilize the Tioning System), have become widespread. In this type of navigation device, latitude information and longitude information of the current position are calculated based on signals from a plurality of artificial satellites received by a GPS antenna, and road information and place name information read from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. It is designed to be displayed on the display together with map data such as.

In this type of navigation device, the displayed map data is displayed as an ordinary map, that is, along with a place name and the like on a scale of how roads and other structures are located in the actual terrain. Even if you are not familiar with the land, you can surely reach the destination by advancing your vehicle according to the map display.

[0004]

However, when traveling on a highway by using the above-mentioned conventional navigation device, the road is simple and there is little fear of making a mistake, and in addition, it is peculiar to traveling on a highway. Since the navigation device cannot provide necessary information, for example, the arrangement of interchanges and service areas, the distance between interchanges, and the equipment in each service area, the frequency of use of the navigation device is extremely low. There was a problem.

Therefore, the information necessary for driving on such a highway is converted into a CD as a two-dimensional image similar to general map data.
A method is conceivable in which the general map data is recorded in the ROM together with the general map data and the screen is switched between the general map data and the expressway information as needed.

However, since the storage capacity of one CD-ROM is limited and a two-dimensional image requires an enormous amount of information, these two types of two-dimensional image information are recorded on one CD-ROM. When recorded together on a CD-RO
The area of the map that can be recorded in M becomes smaller. Also,
If these two types of two-dimensional image information are separately recorded on two CD-ROMs, a driving device capable of simultaneously driving the two CD-ROMs is required, resulting in a very high cost. None of them are realistic.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to display information necessary for driving on a highway in an easy-to-understand format, and to drive on this highway. It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device capable of recording necessary information in a recording medium together with general map data with a smaller amount of information.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems That is, the present invention is as follows: (1) Expressway information storage means for storing a plurality of point information for a certain point on an expressway, and current position acquisition means for acquiring position information indicating the current location, At least the name of the point is included from the highway information storage means by the background storage means that stores a standard highway background pattern having a plurality of blocks to which the point names are embedded, and the position information indicating the current position obtained by the current position acquisition means. A developing means for reading a plurality of pieces of point information, developing the display data by expanding the blocks on the highway background pattern read from the background storing means, and a displaying means for displaying the display data obtained by the expanding means. It was prepared. (2) In the above item (1), the point information stored in the plurality of highway information storage means is at least the name of each point including the interchange of the highway, service area, parking area, position information, and distance between points. I had it. (3) In the above item (1), the speed calculating means for calculating the moving speed based on the temporal change of the current position obtained by the current position obtaining means, the moving speed obtained by the speed calculating means and the expanding means are the high speed. It further comprises time calculation means for calculating an estimated arrival time at each point from the distance to each point based on a plurality of point information read from the road information storage means, and the expansion means obtains the arrival time obtained by the time calculation means. The expected time is expanded into blocks on the highway background pattern corresponding to the point names to create display data. (4) In the above item (2), a setting means for setting an interchange scheduled to leave the expressway is further provided.
The highway information storage means also stores point information of a highway junction, the background storage means stores a plurality of standard highway background patterns indicating junctions and branches at the junction, and the expanding means acquires the current position. When the point information of the junction is read from the highway information storage means by the position information indicating the present location obtained by the means, the highway background pattern matching the junction and merge and branch is read from the background storage means,
The status display data indicating the merging status from the current position and the branch status based on the planned interchange set by the setting means is developed into a highway background pattern to create display data. (5) In the above item (2), the highway information storage means stores equipment information at each point of the service area and the parking area, and the background storage means stores 1
Standard second with a block that fits the name and equipment information in one service area or parking area
The highway background pattern is stored separately, and the expanding means determines that it is within a certain distance before the point of the service area or the parking area based on the position information indicating the current position obtained by the current position acquiring means, The name of the point and the facility information are read from the expressway information storage means, expanded into blocks on the second expressway background pattern read out from the background storage means to create display data, and the display means develops this. The display data of the second highway background pattern obtained by the means is switched and displayed instead of the display data up to that point. (6) In the above item (2), it further comprises setting means for setting an interchange that has entered the expressway and an interchange that is scheduled to leave, and the expressway information storage means further stores charge information between the interchanges. However, the expanding means is based on the position information indicating the current position obtained by the current position acquiring means, the contents set by the setting means, and the charge information stored by the highway information storage means, in the case of exiting at the nearest interchange. The display data is created by expanding at least one of the toll and the toll at the scheduled interchange on the highway background pattern. (7) In the above item (2), it further comprises setting means for setting an interchange scheduled to leave the expressway, and general road information storage means for storing general road map information. Based on the position information indicating the current location obtained by the position acquisition means, it is determined that the vehicle is within a certain distance before the planned interchange, and the general road in the area including the planned interchange exits from the general road information storage means. The map information is read out and expanded to create display data, and the display means switches and displays the display data of the map of the general road obtained by the expanding means in place of the display data so far. It is a thing.

[0009]

According to the configuration described in the above item (1), for example, a highway information storage means for storing a plurality of point information is provided on the CD.
A background storage means, which is composed of a ROM and its driving device, and stores a standard highway background pattern having a plurality of blocks for setting point names, is composed of, for example, a ROM for storing an operation program in the main body device, A plurality of point information including at least a point name is read from the CD-ROM according to the position information shown, and is expanded into a block on the highway background pattern read from the ROM on the display memory to create display data, Display the obtained display data. Therefore, the highway can be displayed as, for example, one straight road regardless of the actual topography, and the relationship between the vehicle position and a point on a highway can be displayed in a simple form. Sometimes very easy to understand.

Furthermore, by simplifying the form of the display data, the background pattern is stored together in, for example, the ROM that stores the operation program in the main body device, so that it is actual highway information. Each point information can be code information with a very small amount of information,
For example, it can be recorded together on a CD-ROM that stores general map data.

According to the configuration described in the above item (2), in addition to the operation of the above item (1), an interchange on an expressway,
Since the name, position information, distance between points, etc. at each point including the service area and parking area are displayed as point information, only the information that is really necessary when driving at high speed is displayed in a simple form, which is very easy to understand. It will be easy.

According to the configuration described in the above item (3), in addition to the operation of the above item (1), the estimated arrival time of each point is calculated and displayed together with the point name. It is possible to immediately know the expected arrival time or passage time of each point according to the corresponding points, which can be helpful for driving.

According to the configuration described in the above item (4), in addition to the operation of the above item (2), the junction situation from the current position to the junction and the branch situation at the junction based on the planned interchange. Can be easily checked, and the vehicle can safely and promptly pass through the junction.

According to the configuration described in the above item (5), in addition to the operation of the above item (2), the screen is automatically switched when the user approaches within a certain distance in front of the service area or the parking area. Since the name and equipment of the service area or parking area can be displayed, it is possible to confirm whether or not there is desired equipment and immediately determine whether to use the service area or parking area. .

According to the configuration described in the above item (6), in addition to the operation of the above item (2), the charge when the nearest interchange exits due to the charge information stored in the highway information storage means and Since at least one of the charges when exiting at the scheduled interchange is displayed, the amount of the charges can be known in advance, so that it is possible to quickly pass without panicking at the toll gate.

According to the configuration described in the above item (7), in addition to the operation of the above item (2), when a predetermined distance before the predetermined planned interchange is approached, it is automatically set. Since you can switch screens and display map information of general roads in the area including the interchange, you can compete, for example, on the left or right side at the toll gate at the interchange exit, from the interchange exit to the general road You can check which direction you should take, etc., and you can quickly move to running on the general road without panicking at the interchange exit.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an automobile navigation system utilizing GPS will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a circuit configuration of the entire device, including an antenna 1 installed on a roof of a vehicle body,
L1 band (1.57542 from the satellite received by this antenna 1
GPS block 2 that demodulates and decodes the C / A code of (GHz) by the despreading LSI and calculates the latitude and longitude of the current location.
And have.

The GPS block 2 is connected to a graphic block 3, and this graphic block 3 is a KEY block 4 mainly composed of a remote control unit 20 which will be described later in detail, and a record recording map data and highway information. C with a CD-ROM as a medium mounted
A D block 5 and a monitor block 6 having a display device composed of a CRT and an LCD panel are respectively connected.

The graphic block 3 is provided with a CPU 9 for controlling the entire apparatus on the basis of an operation program stored in the ROM 7 and various data stored in the RAM 8. In addition to the operation program, the ROM 7 fixedly stores a plurality of standard highway background patterns to be described later.

When the GPS block 2 sends the latitude / longitude data of the current location, that is, the position data during the ordinary traveling on a general road, the CPU 9 sends the data through the CPU peripheral circuit gate array (G / A) 10. The map data and road data around the current location are called from the CD block 5, and the information is recorded in the video (VIDEO) RAM 1
Via the graphic controller 12 to which 1 is connected,
It operates so as to send it as a video signal to the monitor block 6. As a result, a road map or the like is displayed on the display screen of the monitor block 6.

FIG. 2 shows an external structure of a remote control unit 20 which mainly comprises the KEY block 4.
2A is a left side view and FIG. 2B is a top view. The remote control unit 20 is a wired remote controller in which a remote control body case 21 is connected to the KEY block 4 by a cable, and as shown in FIG. 2A, a power switch is turned on / off by a slide switch on the left side surface of the remote control body case 21. A power switch 22 is provided for performing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the power source LED 23, NAVI /
CD key 24, TV key 25, FM DATA key 2
6, MENU key 27, cursor key 28, ENTER
Key 29, Position key (shown as "POS" in the figure)
30, scale change / tuning key 31, MARK key 32, POINT key 33, HOME key 34 and VI
A DEO key 35 is provided.

The power LED 23 is the power switch 22.
Lights up in red when the power is turned on. NAVI /
The CD key 24 is a key to be operated when a navigation operation is performed by this apparatus or when a music CD is mounted on the CD block 5 for music appreciation, although the description is omitted in this embodiment.

Although not described in this embodiment, the TV key 25 is a key to be operated when a TV tuner (not shown) is connected to the graphic block 3 to watch TV on the monitor block 6, and an FM DATA key. Similarly, although not described in this embodiment, reference numeral 26 is a key operated when an FM tuner (not shown) is connected to the graphic block 3 to display character data or the like by FM data multiplex broadcasting on the monitor block 6.

The MENU key 27 is a key for instructing the display of a menu screen, and the cursor key 28 is a ring-shaped key for instructing the cursor displayed on the display screen of the monitor block 6 in the up, down, left and right directions on the menu screen or the like. Key, EN
The TER key 29 is a key for operating the icon or the like pointed to by the cursor on the display screen by moving the cursor key 28.

The position key 30 is a key for displaying the latitude and longitude of the current position indexed by the antenna 1 and the GPS block 2, and the scale change / tuning key 31 is the scale of the map displayed during the navigation operation. Key for instructing up / down tuning during television or radio reception operation.

Further, the MARK key 32 is a key for marking a passing position or the like in the route guidance function at an arbitrary position of the map data, and the POINT key 33 is for setting a destination and setting the destination side during the operation of the route guidance function. The HOME key 34 is a key for instructing screen scrolling and the like, and is also a key for instructing setting of the current location and screen scrolling to the current location side when the route guidance function is operating.

Although not described in this embodiment, the VIDEO key 35 is a key operated when a video camera (not shown) or the like is connected to the graphic block 3 and the video is viewed on the monitor block 6.

Next, the information recorded in the CD-ROM mounted on the CD block 5 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in the drawing, the CD-ROM according to this embodiment has at least each data of general map data, expressway data, interchange name and latitude / longitude data, service area name and latitude / longitude data, service area content data, and charge data. Will be recorded.

The general map data is data of a two-dimensional image having road data and place name data, which is similar to that used in conventional general navigation devices.
Expressway data is the name of each expressway including a motorway, each interchange in the expressway, service area, which exists in the same area as the general map data.
With the data of the section distance of the parking area,
Coded that also has branch point data that includes the name at the junction (junction) with other highways or branch lines, merge / branch status, the nearest interchange, data on the distance to the service area or parking area, etc. The data.

The interchange name and latitude / longitude data are
It is coded data in which a name of an interchange on each expressway corresponding to the expressway data and latitude / longitude data which is its position information are paired.

The service area name and latitude / longitude data are
It is coded data in which the names of service areas and parking areas on each expressway corresponding to the expressway data and latitude / longitude data which is the position information thereof are grouped.

The service area content data includes equipment contents in each service area and parking area corresponding to the up and down lines of the expressway, such as restaurants, shops, gas stations, restrooms, handwashing facilities for the disabled, rest areas, and roads. The data is coded as to whether or not there is an information center.

The toll data is coded data in which the tolls between interchanges on each expressway corresponding to the expressway data are recorded in a table for each vehicle type category.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
4 and 5 are mainly the CP of the graphic block 3.
This shows a series of processing operations by U9. At the beginning, latitude / longitude data of the current position is received from the GPS block 2 via the CPU peripheral circuit G / A10 and stored in the RAM 8 together with the current time data (step S1). ).

At this time, the CPU 9 simultaneously determines how many GPs
The reception state data indicating whether the radio wave is being received from the S satellite is also received and stored in the RAM 8. The RAM 8 stores latitude and longitude data for a certain past time, for example, 5 minutes, together with time data.

CP that received the latitude and longitude data of the current position
U9 is a value set in advance from this current position, for example, “± 0 ° 02′30 ″” for both latitude and longitude (around 9 k
A display area for map development is calculated with (corresponding to m squares) (step S2).

After that, the CD block 5 is accessed according to the calculated latitude and longitude of the display area, all road data and place name data in the corresponding display area are read out from the general map data of the CD-ROM, and are expanded in the video RAM 11. For example, an area of "± 0 ° 00'23""in latitude data and" ± 0 ° 00'30 "" in longitude data from the latitude and longitude data of the current position (about 1.8k in the east-west direction)
m × approximately north-south direction 1.35 km) is displayed and output by the monitor block 6 (step S3).

After that, the MENU of the remote control unit 20
Whether or not it is designated to switch the display from the general map to the map of the highway by operating the key 27 and the cursor key 28 for designating the icon and the ENTER key 29, or whether or not the highway is entered in the automatic mode, Specifically, it is repeatedly determined whether or not to switch the display to a map of the highway (shown as "high speed map" in the figure) depending on whether or not the current position is moving along the highway on the general map. (Steps S4 and S5).

When it is determined that the display is switched to the map of the highway in any of these steps S4 and S5,
Next, from the CD-ROM of the CD block 5 according to the current position and the current traveling direction, high-speed information ahead of the current position, that is, highway data and branch point data, interchange name and latitude / longitude data, service area The name, latitude and longitude data, service area content data, and charge data are read (step S6).

Next, a standard expressway background pattern having a matching merge / branch state is read from the ROM 7 based on the read expressway data and branch point data, and the interchange name and the interchange name are added to the pattern on the video RAM 11. The service area name is expanded to create highway map display data, which is displayed and output on the monitor block 6 (step S7).

Thereafter, the estimated arrival time is calculated from the current average traveling speed and the distance from the current position to the target interchange, and the calculation result is expanded to the position of the corresponding interchange on the video RAM 11 and the monitor block is also used. The display is output in step 6 (step S8).

In this case, the current average traveling speed is the RAM
This can be calculated by calculating the moving distance from the latitude / longitude data for the past fixed time stored in 8 and dividing this by the above fixed time.

The intended interchange is the POINT of the remote control unit 20 of the KEY block 4.
The key 33, the cursor key 28, and the ENTER key 29 are used to input the intended interchange input, the displayed interchange with the cursor, and the enter designation.

The section distance between each interchange and service area is included in the above high-speed information data, but the distance from the current position to the nearest next interchange or service area is only a straight line on an actual highway. The current position is not necessarily on a straight line between the next interchange or service area and the previous interchange or service area. It is not calculated by the straight line distance to the interchange or latitude / longitude data of the service area.

That is, the ratio of the position of the latitude / longitude data of the current position between the latitude / longitude data of the next interchange or service area and the latitude / longitude data of the previous interchange or service area. Calculate the distance from the current position to the nearest next interchange or service area by multiplying the ratio by the section distance between the next interchange or service area and the previous interchange or service area To do.

Then, the distance from the calculated current position to the nearest next interchange or service area is added to the total of the section distances from the nearest next interchange or service area to the target interchange. By doing so, the distance from the current position to the intended interchange can be obtained, and the estimated arrival time is calculated from this distance, the current average traveling speed, and the current time.

FIG. 6 shows the monitor block 6 by the above processing.
It is an example of a map of a highway displayed by. In the figure, 41 is a display screen, 42 is a mode display unit, 43 is a road name display unit, 44 is a reception status display unit, and 45 is a display screen 4
1 is a highway map display section using most of the center of 1, 1 is an average speed display section, 47 is a manual page return icon, 48 is a manual page forward icon, 49 is a general map switch icon, and 50 is an instruction cancel icon. .

The mode display section 42 is located at the upper left corner of the display screen 41 and displays, for example, the character "Highway" indicating that the current highway mode is set. The road name display portion 43 is located at the upper end of the center and displays the name of the highway including its up / down lines such as "Tomei Expressway Up".

The reception state display unit 44 is located at the upper right end of the same, and visually displays the reception state, specifically, the number of GPS satellites receiving radio waves by the number of satellite symbols.
The expressway map display unit 45 is a simplified representation of the positional relationship between the current position on the expressway and each interchange and service area, using the central portion of the display screen 41.

Here, it is assumed that the traveling direction is fixed from left to right, and the current position is "Hadano Nakai Interchange (IC)" and "Atsugi Interchange (IC)" on a straight highway without junction. It indicates that there is an “Ebina Service Area (SA)” and a “Yokohama Interchange (IC)” ahead of the “Atsugi Interchange (IC)”.

In this case, the interchange is shown by a vertically long rectangular block, and the service area including the parking area is shown by a vertically long elliptical block. The interval distance 51, which is an oblong block, is formed between the points of the interchange and the service area, respectively. .. are displayed, and predicted arrival times 52, 52, .. by rectangular blocks are displayed in the process of step S8 for all points located ahead of the current position.

At the position corresponding to the interchange that has entered this highway, as shown in the figure, an entrance symbol 53 indicated by an arrow pointing in the direction of the rectangular block of the interchange is further associated with the intended interchange. At the position to be displayed, the exit symbol 54 by the arrow pointing in the opposite direction of the rectangular block of the interchange is displayed.

The average speed display section 46 is located at the lower left corner of the display screen 41 and is, for example, "Ave.km/h 94.3".
As described above, the average traveling speed calculated by the above calculation is displayed.

The manual page return icon 47 is an icon for scrolling the screen to an area on the front side of the area currently displayed on the highway map display section 45, and the manual page feed icon 48 is on the current highway map display section 45. An icon for scrolling the screen to an area ahead of the displayed area, a general map switching icon 49 is an icon for instructing switching of the screen from the current highway mode to a normal general map mode, and a cancel icon 5
0 is an icon for canceling the last instruction operation.

By operating the cursor key 28 of the remote control unit 20 to select one of these icons 47 to 50 and then operating the ENTER key 29, the operation corresponding to the instruction is executed. In FIG. 6, the manual page forward icon 48 is temporarily selected.

In FIG. 6 and step S8, the estimated arrival time is calculated from the speed and distance, and the estimated arrival time is calculated by adding the current time to the estimated arrival time and displayed at each point. However, it is also possible to display the estimated arrival time, that is, information indicating that the vehicle will arrive at or pass the point in "XX" minutes, without taking the current time into consideration.

Further, in FIG. 6, the display using a linear highway background pattern having no junction is shown as an example. Next, FIG. 7 shows the case where the display is performed using a highway background pattern having a junction. explain.

That is, FIG. 7 shows a stepwise example of the case where the expressways from three directions merge once into "1" at the junction "A" and then branch into three again at the junction "B". Is.

FIG. 7 (1) shows a state in which the highway on which the vehicle is traveling merges with another two highways from the right side at a junction (JCT) of "A". The operation is performed by displaying the time from the current position until the vehicle joins at the junction “A” at an earlier timing, for example, by changing the color indicating the current position and changing the color from the current position to an upward-sloping hatching. The person can be warned that there is a merge from the left side.

Further, at this time, when traveling for the displayed section distance after passing through the junction "A",
Next, it is shown that the junction "B" is branched into three directions and reaches the directions of "***", "@@@", and "####".

In FIG. 7 (2), the junction "B" is branched in three directions, and the vehicle is traveling on the leftmost highway. At this time, "B" from the current position. By branching to the left at the junction of `` '', for example, by changing the color and the display showing the current position at an earlier timing as shown by hatching to the right in the figure It is possible to warn that a branch is safe and advantageous.

At this time, when the junction "B" branches to each direction of "***""@@@""###", what is the name of the interchange IC that passes first, " It shows how long the section distance from the "B" junction to each interchange is.

FIG. 7 (3) shows the state where the first "C" interchange is passed after the "B" junction is completely branched to the "***" direction.

At this time, the nearest next point is "D".
It is indicated that there is a parking area (PA) of “E” and an interchange of “F” ahead of it.

In the state where the map display mode of the expressway is in this way, in the processing of FIGS. 4 and 5, a predetermined distance from the current position, for example, 2
It is determined whether there is a service area or a parking area within km (step S9).

Only when it is determined that there is a service area or parking area, the data of the equipment content of the corresponding service area or parking area is read by the service area content data read from the CD-ROM of the CD block 5 in step S6. put out. And ROM
The highway background pattern in which only one service area or parking area block is described from 7 is read out, and the symbol corresponding to the data of the read out equipment contents is developed on this pattern in the video RAM 11 to Switch from the display screen to the display showing the equipment in the service area or parking area (step S
10).

FIG. 8 exemplifies a display screen showing the equipment of such a service area. The characters "Akagi Kogen Service Area (SA) are displayed in an elliptic block and the equipment content is" repair ". The symbols 61 to 64 indicate that there are “gas station”, “restaurant”, and “restroom”.

The display screen of the equipment contents of the service area or the parking area as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed at the time of passing without using the service area or the parking area, or in the service area or the parking area for use. When it is released, the display is restored to the original display screen in the expressway mode.

Thereafter, it is judged whether or not the display of the charge is set by the instruction operation of the MENU key 27, the cursor key 28 and the ENTER key 29 of the remote control unit 20 of the KEY block 4 (step S1).
1).

Only when it is determined that the settings have been made, the CD-ROM of the CD block 5 in the above step S6.
From the charge data read from, calculate the toll from the entered interchange to the planned exit, or from the entered interchange to the nearest interchange in the direction ahead,
It is displayed (step S12).

FIG. 9 exemplifies a screen displaying such a toll, and here, the lower end portion of the display screen 41 is displayed as "fare to exit 3,500 yen". At the time of the above setting operation, whether the displayed charge is the toll charge from the entered interchange to the planned exit or the toll from the entered interchange to the nearest interchange in the direction ahead May be displayed, or both of them may be displayed.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not there is an interchange scheduled to leave within a certain distance, for example, within 2 km from the current position (step S13). Only when it is determined that there is an interchange scheduled to leave, the same process as steps S2 and S3 is executed using the latitude / longitude data of the interchange scheduled to leave, and the preset centering on the interchange is set. The general map data of the selected area is read from the CD-ROM of the CD block 5, developed in the video RAM 11 and a part of the data is displayed and output by the monitor block 6 (step S14).

FIG. 10 exemplifies the switching state of the display from the map of the expressway to the general map. Figure 10
With the map of the highway displayed as shown in (1),
The current position is set to leave, and the exit symbol 5
When it is determined that the vehicle is within a certain distance from the displayed "Yokohama Interchange (IC)", the display screen is immediately switched to the general map as shown in FIG. 10 (2).

In this case, the displayed general map screen is
Since the display area is set based on the latitude and longitude data of the planned interchange, rather than the current position in front of the interchange, for example, which direction should I go after exiting the interchange exit, and For that purpose, it is possible to judge in advance which of the left and right side of the interchange exit toll gate, etc., so there is no need to panic immediately before, and you can pass the interchange exit safely and promptly. You can join the general road.

This step S14 is performed only when it is judged that there is an interchange scheduled to go out in step S13.
Is executed, and the processing according to FIGS. 4 and 5 is completed.

In the above embodiment, as the means for acquiring the current position, only the absolute position by GPS using artificial satellites is used, but the present invention is not limited to this.
The relative position is calculated by calculating the moving direction and its distance using a vehicle speed sensor that detects the speed of the car from the number of rotations of the tire and a piezoelectric vibration gyro, and the current position is calculated even after GPS positioning becomes impossible. A means called dead-reckoning for guessing may be used.

In this case, by using the output from the vehicle speed sensor, only the average speed of the past fixed time is calculated in the above embodiment, but not only the instantaneous speed at that time can be obtained, but also the high speed can be obtained. It can also be used as a criterion for automatically detecting that the vehicle has entered the road.

In addition, a method called map matching for determining the position on the map by determining the road that has passed by comparing the traveling locus obtained by the dead reckoning with the road shape on the map should be incorporated. This makes it easier to detect that the vehicle has entered the expressway.

[0080]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, various information necessary for traveling on a highway can be displayed in an easy-to-understand form, and the information required for traveling on the highway can be reduced. It is possible to provide a navigation device that can be recorded in a recording medium together with general map data in the amount of information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall circuit configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a remote control unit included in the KEY block of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a CD-ROM used in the CD block of FIG.
The figure which shows the content of the data recorded in.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by an operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed by the operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the operation according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Antenna 2 ... GPS block 3 ... Graphic block 4 ... KEY block 5 ... CD block 6 ... Monitor block 7 ... ROM 8 ... RAM 9 ... CPU 10 ... CPU peripheral circuit gate array (G / A) 11 ... Video (VIDEO) RAM 12 ... Graphic controller 20 ... Remote control unit 41 ... Display screen 42 ... Mode display 43 ... Road name display 44 ... Receiving status display 45 ... Expressway map display 46 ... Average speed display 47 ... Manual page return icon 48 ... Manual page feed icon 49 ... General map switching icon 50 ... Cancel icon 51 ... Section distance 52 ... Expected arrival time 53 ... Entrance symbol 54 ... Exit symbol 61-64 ... Equipment symbol

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Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A standard highway having a plurality of highway information storage means for storing a plurality of point information for a certain point on a highway, a current position obtaining means for obtaining position information indicating a current location, and a plurality of blocks for setting a point name. A plurality of point information including at least a point name is read from the highway information storage means by the background storage means that stores the road background pattern and the position information indicating the current position obtained by the current position acquisition means, and from the background storage means. A map display device comprising: a expanding means for expanding the read block on the background pattern of the expressway to create display data; and a displaying means for displaying the display data obtained by the expanding means. 2. The point information stored in the plurality of highway information storage means includes at least a name, position information, and a distance between the points at each point including an interchange of the highway, a service area, and a parking area. The map display device according to claim 1. 3. A speed calculating means for calculating a moving speed based on a temporal change of the current position obtained by the current position obtaining means, a moving speed obtained by the speed calculating means, and the expanding means from the highway information storage means. It further comprises time calculating means for calculating an estimated arrival time of each point from the distance to each point based on the read out plurality of point information, and the expanding means calculates the estimated arrival time obtained by the time calculating means as a point name. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein display data is created by expanding the blocks into blocks on a highway background pattern corresponding to the above. 4. A setting means for setting an interchange scheduled to leave the highway, wherein the highway information storage means also stores junction point information of the highway, and the background storage means merges at the junction. And a plurality of standard highway background patterns indicating branches, and the expanding means reads the point information of the junction from the highway information storing means based on the position information indicating the current position obtained by the current position acquiring means. A highway background pattern matching the junction and merging and branching is read from the background storage means, and the status display data indicating the merging status from the current position and the branching status based on the planned interchange set by the setting means is displayed at high speed. Claim to develop display data by expanding to road background pattern Item 2. The map display device according to item 2. 5. The highway information storage means stores equipment information at each point of a service area and a parking area, and the background storage means has a block for fitting a name and equipment information in one service area or parking area. The fixed second standard highway background pattern is stored separately, and the expanding means has approached within a certain distance before the point of the service area or the parking area based on the position information indicating the current position obtained by the current position acquiring means. , The name of the point and the facility information are read from the highway information storage means, and the display data is created by expanding the blocks on the second highway background pattern read from the background storage means. The display means displays the display data of the second highway background pattern obtained by the expanding means. The map display device according to claim 2, wherein the display data is switched and displayed instead of the display data up to that point. 6. A setting means for setting an interchange that has entered a highway and an interchange that is scheduled to leave the highway, wherein the highway information storage means further stores charge information between the interchanges, and the expanding means. Is the charge when the nearest interchange is made and the planned interface according to the position information indicating the current position obtained by the current position acquisition means, the contents set by the setting means, and the charge information stored by the expressway information storage means. 3. The map display device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the charges when a change is made is expanded on a highway background pattern to create display data. 7. The system further comprises setting means for setting an interchange scheduled to leave the expressway, and general road information storage means for storing map information of general roads, wherein the expanding means is obtained by the current position acquisition means. Based on the location information indicating the current location, it is determined that the vehicle is within a certain distance before the planned interchange, and the general road information storage means reads the map information of the general road in the area including the planned interchange. The display data is expanded to create display data, and the display means switches and displays the display data of the map of the general road obtained by the expansion means in place of the display data up to that point. The map display device described.