JPH08285624A - On-vehicle route search device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To accurately set the starting point of a route search on a desired road by enabling a driver to confirm whether a vehicle is located on the road or not when a road of a specific road classification is within the range of a predetermined distance from the position of the vehicle. CONSTITUTION: A control circuit 2 performs the map matching of a vehicle position detected by a current position detection device 1 and the travelling azimuth of a vehicle with the map display data of a map storing memory 7, and when it is determined that the vehicle is not located on a road in which a route can be searched, it advances the next step to judge whether a high-speed/toll road exists near the vehicle position or not. When it is judged that the vehicle is near a high-speed/toll road, it is displayed on a screen and the driver is asked to confirm whether the vehicle is on the high-speed/toll road or not by an input device. When it is confirmed that the vehicle is on the high-speed/ roll road, the starting point of a route search is set on the high-speed/roll road which is located nearest to the vehicle. On the other hand, when it is determined that the vehicle is not on the high-speed/toll road, the starting point of a route search is set on a general road which is located nearest to the vehicle.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention calculates a recommended route by using a well-known Dijkstra method or the like for a preset route from a starting point to a destination, and calculates the recommended route around the surrounding roads. The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted route search device displayed together with a map.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known a vehicle-mounted route search device that performs a route search from a starting point or a destination set or input in advance and calculates a recommended route. The starting point and the destination are set by the keyboard input by the user, etc., but they are not always set at the positions where the route can be searched.Therefore, the starting point of the route search is set near the starting point and the destination is set. Generally, the route search is started after the end point of the route search is set in the vicinity of. Further, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-6239 discloses a device that limits the setting range of the start point and the end point as much as possible so that the start point and the end point of the route search can be set in a short time.

The starting point and the destination may be set manually by a user's keyboard input or the like, or may be set automatically by using a GPS sensor or the like. Also, G
An apparatus has been proposed in which a vehicle position detected by using a PS sensor or the like is used as a starting point for route search.

[0004]

However, the GPS
Since the sensor output of the sensor or the like includes an error, the actual vehicle position may not be accurately detected. Even if the vehicle position cannot be detected accurately, this is not a problem if the roads are not dense, but if multiple roads are close to each other, such as in an urban area, it may be mistaken for a different road than the actual one. May cause the vehicle position to be set. For example, when the toll road and the ordinary road are close to each other, the vehicle position is set on the ordinary road even though the toll road is actually traveling,
On the contrary, the vehicle position may be set on the toll road even though the vehicle is actually traveling on the general road. In this way, if the vehicle position is set incorrectly between the open road and the toll road, there is a possibility that the recommended route that cannot be traveled is displayed because the toll road has a limited number of entrances and exits.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle-mounted device capable of accurately setting a starting point of route search on a desired road even when a road of a specific road type and other roads are close to the vehicle position. The purpose is to provide a route search device.

[0006]

The present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 showing an embodiment. According to the present invention, the road map memory stores various information necessary for displaying a road map on a display device 6. Means 7, vehicle position detecting means 1 for detecting the vehicle position, destination setting means 3 for setting the destination of the vehicle, and route search from the detected vehicle position to the set destination to make a recommended route. It is applied to an in-vehicle route search device provided with a recommended route calculating means for calculating, and when a road of a specific road type is present within a predetermined distance from the detected vehicle position, the vehicle is When the vehicle position setting means that sets whether or not the vehicle is located on the road and the vehicle position setting means that the vehicle is located on the road of a specific road type are set within a predetermined distance from the vehicle. Roads of a certain road type And a start position setting means for setting a start point of the route search on the road closest to the vehicle position, and the recommended route calculating means is configured to calculate the recommended route starting from the set start point. According to the above, the above object is achieved. According to the invention of claim 2, in the vehicle-mounted route search device according to claim 1, when it is set that the vehicle is not located on a road of a specific road type, the vehicle is not a specific road type The start position setting means is configured to set a start point on a road that is closest to the position and allows route search. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle-mounted route search device according to the first or second aspect, there is no road of a specific road type within a predetermined distance from the vehicle position detected by the vehicle position detecting means 1. In this case, the search start position setting means is configured to set the start point on the road on which the route can be searched closest to the vehicle position.

[0007]

According to the invention described in claim 1, it is detected whether or not there is a road of a specific road type within a range of a predetermined distance from the vehicle position, for example, a highway or a toll road, and a specific distance within the range of the predetermined distance is detected. If there is a road of the road type, the user is asked to confirm whether or not the vehicle is located on the road of the specific road type. The reason for asking the user for confirmation is that a vehicle speed sensor, a GPS sensor, etc. are usually used when detecting the vehicle position. However, since these sensor outputs include measurement errors, the vehicle position may not be accurately detected. Is. After confirming with the user, if it is set that the vehicle is located on the road of a specific road type, it will be the most vehicle position among the roads of the specific road type within the predetermined distance from the vehicle position. Set a starting point for route search on a nearby road. In the invention according to claim 2, when it is set to the user that the vehicle is not on the road of the specific road type as a result of confirmation with the user, the starting point of the route search on the road other than the road of the specific road type. To set. At that time, by selecting a road that is closest to the vehicle position and capable of route search, the vehicle can be reached from the vehicle position to the starting point in the shortest distance. In the invention according to claim 3, when there is no road of a specific road type within a range of a predetermined distance from the vehicle position, the start point of the route search is set on the road closest to the vehicle position where the route search is possible. To do.

Incidentally, in the section of means and action for solving the above-mentioned problems for explaining the constitution of the present invention, the drawings of the embodiments are used to make the present invention easy to understand. It is not limited to.

[0009]

1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a vehicle-mounted route search device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a current position detection device for detecting the current position of the vehicle, for example, a direction sensor for detecting the traveling direction of the vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor for detecting the vehicle speed, and a GPS signal from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. It is composed of a GPS sensor and the like.

Reference numeral 2 is a control circuit for controlling the entire apparatus,
It consists of a microprocessor and its peripheral circuits. 3 is an input device for inputting the destination of the vehicle, 4 is a DRAM for storing vehicle position information detected by the control circuit 2 using the current position detection device 1, and 5 is image data to be displayed on the display device 6. The image data is an image memory to be stored, and the image data stored in the image memory 5 is appropriately read and displayed on the display device 6.

Reference numeral 7 is a map storage memory for storing various data for performing road map display, route search, map matching, etc., and is composed of, for example, a CD-ROM device or a magnetic recording device. The map storage memory 7 stores map display data composed of information about road shapes and route search data composed of branch point information and intersection information not directly related to road shapes. The map display data is mainly used when the road map is displayed on the display device 6, and the route search data is mainly used when the recommended route is calculated.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the outline of the main processing performed by the control circuit 2. In step S1 of FIG. 2, the vehicle position is detected by using the current position detection device 1, and a start point of the route search is set on a route which is close to the detected vehicle position and is capable of route search. Details of the processing in step S1 will be described later. In step S2, the destination information input by the user with the input device 3 is fetched, and the end point of the route search is set on the road where the route search is possible near the destination.

In step S3, a recommended route from the set start point to the set end point is calculated. Step S
In 4, the map drawing process shown in detail in FIG. 3 is performed, and the data to be displayed on the display device 6 is stored in the image memory 5. First, in step S11 of FIG. 3, map display data around the vehicle position is read from the map storage memory 7. next,
In step S12, a part of the read map display data is drawn (stored) in the image memory 5. Step S13
Then, the data necessary for displaying the recommended route calculated in step S3 of FIG. 2 is drawn (stored) in the image memory 5 in an overlapping manner.

When the process of step S13 of FIG. 3 is completed, the process proceeds to step S5 of FIG. 2, the data stored in the image memory 5 is read, and the recommended route and the road map around it are displayed.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing details of the process of step S1 of FIG. In step S101 of FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is on a road on which a route can be searched. This determination is performed by performing map matching between the vehicle position and vehicle traveling direction detected by the current position detection device 1 and the map display data stored in the map storage memory 7.

If the determination in step S101 is affirmative, that is, if the vehicle is on a road on which the route can be searched, the process proceeds to step S102, the start point of the route search is set on the road, and then the process returns. On the other hand, step S
If the determination at 101 is negative, the process proceeds to step S103 to determine whether or not there is a highway / toll road near the vehicle position. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S104, the route search start point is set on the general road closest to the vehicle position, and then the process returns.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example in which a vehicle is located between a highway / toll road and a general road. In such a case, the determination in step S103 is affirmative and the process proceeds to step S105 to display a screen for asking the user whether the vehicle is on a highway or toll road, as shown in FIG. 5 (b). To do.

In step S106, step S105
It is determined whether or not the user has selected "Yes" with the input device for the screen display. If the user selects "Yes", that is, if it is confirmed that the vehicle is on the highway / toll road, the process proceeds to step S107, and the start point of the route search on the highway / toll road closest to the vehicle. After setting, return.

On the other hand, if the user selects "No" in step S106, the flow advances to step S104 to set a route search start point on the general road closest to the vehicle.

As described above, in this embodiment, it is detected whether or not there is a highway / toll road near the vehicle position,
If there is a highway / toll road nearby, a screen is displayed to ask the user whether the vehicle is on the highway / toll road. When it is confirmed that the vehicle is on the highway / toll road, the starting point for route search is set on the highway / toll road, and it is confirmed that the vehicle is not on the highway / toll road. Set a starting point on the road. As a result, the start point that should be set on the general road is set on the highway / toll road, and conversely, the start point that should be set on the highway / toll road is set on the general road. It is possible to effectively prevent mistakes and improve the accuracy of route search.

For example, when the vehicle is located between the highway / toll road and the general road as shown in FIG. 5A and it is confirmed that the vehicle is on the general road, FIG. As shown in), the starting point is set on the general road and the recommended route is calculated.

In step S104 of FIG. 4, the general road closest to the vehicle is selected, but a plurality of general roads closest to the vehicle are selected and the starting point is set on each general road. And calculate each recommended route,
The shortest recommended route may be selected as the final recommended route. Similarly, also in step S106, when there are a plurality of highways and toll roads near the vehicle, the final recommended route may be selected after calculating the recommended routes for each of the highways and toll roads.

In the above embodiment, the end point of the route search may be set similarly to the start point. That is, if there is a highway / toll road near the destination set by the user, ask the user for confirmation and then set the end point of the route search on the highway / toll road or general road. May be. Further, in step S104 of FIG. 4, it is confirmed whether or not the vehicle is on a highway / toll road.
The roads to be checked with the user are not limited to highways and toll roads. For example, the user may be asked whether or not the vehicle is on a major national road.

In the embodiment configured as described above, the map storage memory 7 serves as road map storage means, the current location detection device 1 serves as the vehicle position detection means, the input device 3 serves as the destination setting means, and FIG. The process of step S3 corresponds to the recommended route calculation means, steps S105 and S106 of FIG. 4 correspond to the vehicle position setting means, and step S107 of FIG. 4 corresponds to the start position setting means.

[0025]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when there is a road of a specific road type near the vehicle position, for example, a highway / toll road, the vehicle is a road of a specific road type. Since the user is asked to confirm whether or not it is on the upper side, the starting point of the route search can be set accurately.
In particular, it is possible to eliminate a mistake in setting the starting point between a general road and a highway / toll road, and there is no risk of calculating / displaying a recommended route that cannot be traveled. According to the invention described in claim 2, when the user does not select a road of a specific road type as a result of requesting confirmation from the user, a road that is not a specific road type has the highest vehicle position. Since the starting point of the route search is set on the near road, there is no possibility of getting lost on the way from the vehicle position to the starting point. According to the invention described in claim 3, when there is no road of a specific road type near the vehicle position, the start point of the route search is set on the road closest to the vehicle position where the route search is possible. Therefore, even if the vehicle is on a narrow road, the vehicle can be guided to the destination by the shortest route.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an in-vehicle route search device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing main processing performed by a control circuit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing details of map drawing processing in step S4 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of the process of step S1 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which a vehicle is located between an open road and a toll road.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 current position detection device 2 control circuit 3 input device 4 DRAM 5 image memory 6 display device 7 map storage memory

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A road map storage means for storing various kinds of information necessary for displaying a road map on a display device, a vehicle position detection means for detecting a vehicle position, and a destination setting means for setting a destination of the vehicle. And a recommended route calculation means for calculating a recommended route by performing a route search from the detected vehicle position to the set destination, a predetermined route from the detected vehicle position. When there is a road of a specific road type within a range of distance, vehicle position setting means for setting whether or not the vehicle is located on the road of the specific road type, and When the vehicle position setting means determines that the vehicle is located on a road, the route search is started on the road closest to the vehicle position among the roads of the specific road type within the range of the predetermined distance from the vehicle. And a start position setting means for setting a point, the recommended route calculating means, vehicle route search device, characterized by calculating the recommended route to the starting point of the set as a starting point. 2. The vehicle-mounted route search device according to claim 1, wherein the start position setting means sets the specific road type when the vehicle is set not to be on a road of the specific road type. An in-vehicle route search device, characterized in that the starting point is set on a road that is closest to the vehicle position and is capable of route search. 3. The on-vehicle route search device according to claim 1, wherein the search start position setting means is within the range of the predetermined distance from the vehicle position detected by the vehicle position detecting means. When there is no road of a road type, the on-vehicle route search device is characterized in that the starting point is set on a road closest to the vehicle position where a route search is possible.