JPH0914976A - On-vehicle navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable an on-vehicle navigation system to surely lead and guide its own vehicle by storing picture data photographed at specific positions on a map and the positional information of the specific positions in a picture storing section in advance by correlating the data with the information. CONSTITUTION: A picture generating section 5 generates first picture data for displaying the present location of its own vehicle and the map of the vicinity of the location extracted by a control section 1 and displays the data in a picture displaying section 6. A picture inputting section 8 is constituted of a camera, etc., takes the photograph of the scene of the circumference of the vehicle in response to an actuation signal from the section 1, and outputs the picture to the section 1 after converting the picture into second picture data. The second picture data are stored in the positional information section of a picture storing section 9 together with the positional information of the picture inputted from the section 8. The section 1 reads out the corresponding first and second picture data from the section 9 and displays the data in the section 6 when the present location of the vehicle detected by means of a present location detecting means coincides with the positional information stored in the section 9.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted navigation system, and more specifically, when a vehicle reaches a specific position on a map screen, an image relating to this specific position can be displayed on a display. Car navigation system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of communication technology and electronic technology,
The downsizing and cost reduction of navigation systems have become possible, and in-vehicle navigation systems that can be installed in general automobiles have rapidly spread. At present, there is also a vehicle-mounted navigation system in which, when a driver or the like sets a destination, the vehicle-mounted navigation system selects a route to the vehicle and guides the vehicle based on the route.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of vehicle guidance for a conventional vehicle-mounted navigation system. Generally, a map used for a vehicle-mounted navigation system is composed of roads and city areas. On such a map screen, the in-vehicle navigation system displays the current position of the vehicle with an arrow 18 or the like. For example, it is assumed that the driver of this vehicle is currently driving the vehicle with the park 16 as the destination. At this time, the vehicle-mounted navigation system selects a route to the park 16 (see double arrow in FIG. 5) and guides and guides based on this route. For example, when recognizing that the vehicle is approaching the intersection 17 at which the vehicle should turn left while guiding the vehicle, the driver or the like is notified that the vehicle should turn left using a built-in speaker or the like. As described above, the vehicle-mounted navigation system guides the vehicle.

[0004]

Since the display of the in-vehicle navigation system is small, it is difficult for the driver or the like to visually recognize the current position of the vehicle on the map screen. Therefore, the driver or the like may make a judgment error or the like. For example, there is a problem that optimal guidance cannot be provided when passing an intersection where a left turn is required. In particular, when a driver unfamiliar with driving a vehicle or a driver who is not very familiar with the geography of the area displayed on the display is driving the vehicle, the above-described misjudgment often occurs.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle-mounted navigation system that can more reliably guide the vehicle-mounted navigation system.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle-mounted navigation system for displaying the current position of a vehicle on a map screen, the image data taken at a specific position on the map screen, and the identification. Image data storage means for storing positional information of positions in association with each other, display means for displaying a map screen and image data, current position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, and current position detected by the current position detection means. And a display control unit for reading corresponding image data from the image data storage unit and displaying the image data on the display unit when the position information stored in the image data storage unit matches.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a starting signal generating means for generating a starting signal in response to an artificial operation while the vehicle is traveling, and a vehicle periphery according to the starting signal. Image capturing means for capturing the image of the scene, image data generating means for generating image data of the image captured by the image capturing means, and the image data and the current position detected by the current position detecting means are stored in the image data storage means in association with each other. And storage control means for controlling the storage.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image data stored in the image data storage means is associated with the image data captured at the specific position on the map screen and the positional information of the specific position. The display means displays the current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detecting means and a map screen in the vicinity thereof. The display control means, when the current position detected by the current position detection means and the position information stored in the image data storage means match, reads the corresponding image data from the image data storage means and displays it on the display means. Therefore, the position where the vehicle is currently traveling can be visually recognized accurately and instantly.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the starting signal generating means generates the starting signal in response to an artificial operation while the vehicle is traveling. The photographing means photographs the scene around the vehicle in response to the activation signal. The image data creating means creates image data of the scene photographed by the photographing means. The storage control unit stores the image data and the current position detected by the current position detection unit in the image data storage unit in association with each other. Therefore, the image data stored in the image data storage means can be freely set.

[0010]

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle-mounted navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a vehicle-mounted navigation system includes a control unit 1 and a GPS (Global Positioning).
System) receiving section 2, autonomous measuring section 3, map storage section 4, image generation section 5, image display section 6, image recording instruction switch 7, image input section 8, and image storage section 9. .

The control unit 1 controls the operation of the entire on-vehicle navigation system. The GPS receiving unit 2 receives a navigation signal constantly transmitted from a plurality of artificial satellites, and outputs this to the control unit 1. This navigation signal includes satellite orbit data and the like. The autonomous measuring unit 3 detects the speed of the vehicle, the turning angle, and the like, and controls them by the control unit 1.
Output to The autonomous measuring unit 3 is composed of a gyro or the like. The map storage unit 4 is composed of a storage medium such as a CD-ROM. Information such as roads and urban areas (hereinafter referred to as map information) is stored in this CD-ROM or the like. Further, information on latitude and longitude corresponding to roads and urban areas is also stored.

When calculating the current position of the vehicle, the control unit 1 refers to the navigation signals and the speed of the vehicle output by the GPS receiving unit 2 and the autonomous measuring unit 3, respectively. Control unit 1
Extracts the map information near the current position of the vehicle from the map storage unit 4 based on the current position of the vehicle calculated. The image generation unit 5 receives the calculation result and the map information from the control unit 1, and creates image data (hereinafter, referred to as first image data) for displaying the current position of the vehicle and a map in the vicinity thereof. . However, the image generator 5
When the second image data (details of which will be described later) is received from the control unit 1, the contents of the second image data are converted so that they can be displayed on the image display unit 6.

The image display unit 6 is composed of a display or the like, and has the first or second image generation unit 5 generated.
Display an image based on the image data. The image recording instruction switch 7 outputs a signal (hereinafter, referred to as a start signal) for operating an image input unit 8 (described later). The image recording instruction switch 7 outputs a start signal by operating a driver or the like. This activation signal is input to the image input unit 8 via the control unit 1. The image input unit 8 is composed of a camera and the like, and photographs a scene around the vehicle in response to the activation signal. The image input unit 8 converts the image of this scene into second image data, and outputs this to the control unit 1. The image input unit 8 is preferably installed at a position that matches the driver's viewpoint (the reason will be described later).

The image storage unit 9 has a MODD (Magnet).
ic Optical Disk Drive) and HDD
It is composed of a readable / writable storage medium such as (Hard Disk Drive) and stores the image information 10. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data format of the image information 10 stored in the image storage unit 9 shown in FIG. The image information 10 includes a position information section 11 and a second image data section 12
And The position information unit 11 stores information (hereinafter referred to as position information) for specifying the position where the image input unit 8 has input the image. The position information is latitude and longitude information. When the control unit 1 receives the activation signal,
Position information based on the current position of the vehicle at that time is created. The second image data section 12 stores the second image data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle-mounted navigation system shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a reference diagram for explaining the operation of the vehicle-mounted navigation system shown in FIG. FIG.
(A) is a figure which shows the scene which a driver etc. see in front when a driver etc. operate the image recording instruction | indication switch 7. FIG.

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a state of an image displayed on the image display unit 6 after the driver or the like operates the image recording instruction switch 7. For example, it is assumed that the vehicle is guided and guided along a route along the double arrow. However, this double arrow is not displayed on the image display unit 6 of the actual vehicle-mounted navigation system. There is an intersection to turn left in the middle of this route, and the driver or the like registers this intersection as a check point 14 in the image storage unit 9. This checkpoint 14 means that the driver etc.
It is a place that becomes a target when using the same route to reach this destination.

It is assumed that the driver or the like goes through the same route again to the same destination. FIG. 4C is a diagram showing a state of an image displayed on the image display unit 6 when the checkpoint 14 is registered and the checkpoint 14 is approached again.

Hereinafter, the first aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The operation of the vehicle-mounted navigation system according to the embodiment will be described in detail.

The on-vehicle navigation system displays the current position of the vehicle with an arrow or the like. For the display, the control unit 1 calculates the latitude and longitude of the current position of the vehicle by referring to the navigation signals output by the GPS receiving unit 2 and the autonomous measuring unit 3 and the speed at which the vehicle turns (step). S
301). After this calculation, the control unit 1 searches the position information unit 11 of the image information 10 stored in the image storage unit 9. In this search, the control unit 1 searches whether or not the latitude and longitude of the current position of the vehicle and the latitude and longitude of the position information unit 11 match (step S30).
2)

If there is no match in step S302, the control unit 1 extracts map information near the current position of the vehicle from the map storage unit 4 (CD-ROM or the like) based on the calculation result. The control unit 1 outputs the current position of the vehicle and this map information to the image generation unit 5. The image generator 5
After the current position of the vehicle is represented by an arrow or the like, this is combined with map information to generate first image data. The image display unit 6 receives the first image data from the image generation unit 5, and based on this, displays the current position of the vehicle and the map information on the display of the image display unit 6 or the like (step S30).
3). After the above display, the control unit 1 detects whether or not a start signal is input from the image recording instruction switch 7 (step S304). When the control unit 1 does not detect the activation signal in step S304, the control unit 1 determines in step S3.
The process returns to 01.

By the way, the driver or the like drives the vehicle according to the guidance provided by the vehicle-mounted navigation system until reaching the destination. At this time, the control unit 1 repeatedly executes the processing in steps S301 to S304. Eventually, the vehicle approaches the intersection where the vehicle should turn left (see FIG. 4B). At this time, the vehicle-mounted navigation system recognizes that the vehicle is approaching an intersection at which it should turn left, and uses a built-in speaker (not shown) to notify the driver or the like that the vehicle should turn left. At this time, the driver and the like checkpoint 14 at this intersection.
When it is determined that the setting is (see FIG. 4B), the driver or the like operates the image recording instruction switch 7.

In response to this, the image recording instruction switch 7 outputs a start signal to the control section 1. Therefore, the control unit 1
Detects an activation signal in step S304. The control unit 1 outputs this to the image input unit 8. At this time, the control unit 1 creates position information of the current position of the vehicle (where the driver or the like operates the image recording instruction switch 7) as described above. The control unit 1 stores an address value in the image storage unit 9 after adding the address value to the position information. Image input section 8
Upon receiving the activation signal, the scene of this intersection (Fig. 4
(See (a)). The image input unit 8 converts this into the above-mentioned second image data, and then outputs it to the image storage unit 9. At this time, the control unit 1 controls the image input unit 8 to store the second image data in the address position that is continuous with the address value of the position information unit 11. Therefore, the second
The image data is stored in the image storage unit 9 while being attached to the position information (see FIG. 2). As a result, the image information 10 is created (step S306) and simultaneously stored in the image storage unit 9 (step S307).

After executing the processing in step S307,
The control unit 1 returns to the processing in step S301. Further, even when the control unit 1 does not detect the activation signal in the process of step S304, the control unit 1 returns to the process of step S301. After that, the control unit 1 performs steps S301 to S3.
The process in 07 is repeatedly executed to guide the vehicle to the destination. When the driver or the like wants to register a place other than the above-mentioned intersection in the image storage unit 9, the control unit 1 executes the above-mentioned operation and stores it in the image storage unit 9.
However, the control unit 1 stores this in a region other than the region in which the image information 10 is stored.

The driver or the like goes through the same route again to the same destination. At this time, the image storage unit 9 stores the image information 10 such as the checkpoint 14 by the above-described processing. The driver or the like sets the destination in the in-vehicle navigation system. The control unit 1 accordingly responds to the same route as the above-described route (see FIG.
Select the double arrow).

Until the vehicle approaches the checkpoint 14, the control unit 1 executes the steps S301 to S30 described above.
The process in 4 is repeatedly executed. When the vehicle approaches the checkpoint 14, the control unit 1 notifies the driver or the like that the vehicle should turn left similarly to the above. Eventually, the vehicle reaches the checkpoint 14, and the control unit 1 proceeds to step S3.
The processing at 01 calculates the current position at the checkpoint 14. In the process of step S302, the control unit 1 searches the position information of the position information units 11 stored in the image storage unit 9 based on the calculation result. Control unit 1
Detects a match with the position of the checkpoint 14 from the current position information section 11. The control unit 1 executes the processing in step S308 accordingly. The control unit 1
Location information section 11 including location information of checkpoint 14
The second image data portion stored at the address position consecutive with is read from the second image data portion 12 (step S
308). The control unit 1 uses the read second image data unit 1
2 is output to the image generator 5. The image display unit 6 receives the second image data from the image generation unit 5, and based on this, displays the scene of the checkpoint 14 on a display or the like. Therefore, the driver or the like can visually and instantly visually recognize the current position of the vehicle because the current scene (the scene of the checkpoint 14) is displayed on the display. In addition, as described above, it is preferable that the installation position of the image input unit 8 is matched with the viewpoint of the driver or the like. This is because if the image displayed on the display and the scene in front of the driver or the like match, the driver or the like can visually recognize the current position of the vehicle more accurately and instantly.

Next, a vehicle-mounted navigation system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The vehicle-mounted navigation system according to the second embodiment has substantially the same configuration as that shown in FIG. Therefore, only different configurations will be described below. The image storage unit 9 is composed of a storage medium such as a magnetic tape. The control unit 1 includes a static memory (not shown) having at least the same storage capacity as the image storage unit 9.

The operation of the vehicle-mounted navigation system having the above configuration will be described. Similar to the above-described first embodiment, the driver or the like drives the vehicle according to the guidance of the vehicle-mounted navigation system until reaching the destination. At this time, the control unit 1 repeatedly executes the processing in steps S301 to S307 as in the processing in the first embodiment described above. Eventually, the vehicle approaches the intersection where the vehicle should turn left (see FIG. 4B). At this time, the vehicle-mounted navigation system recognizes that the vehicle is approaching an intersection at which it should turn left, and uses a built-in speaker (not shown) to notify the driver or the like that the vehicle should turn left. At this time, when the driver or the like decides to use this intersection as the check point 14 (see FIG. 4B), the driver or the like operates the image recording instruction switch 7.

In response to this, the image recording instruction switch 7 outputs a start signal to the control section 1. Therefore, the control unit 1
Detects an activation signal in step S304. The control unit 1 outputs this to the image input unit 8. At this time, the control unit 1 creates position information of the current position of the vehicle (where the driver or the like operates the image recording instruction switch 7) as described above. The control unit 1 stores an address value in the image storage unit 9 after adding the address value to the position information. Image input section 8
Upon receiving the activation signal, the scene of this intersection (Fig. 4
(See (a)). The image input unit 8 converts this into the above-mentioned second image data, and then outputs it to the image storage unit 9. At this time, the control unit 1 controls the image input unit 8 to store the second image data in the address position that is continuous with the address value of the position information unit 11. Therefore, the second
The image data is stored in the image storage unit 9 while being attached to the position information (see FIG. 2). As a result, the image information 10 is created (step S306) and simultaneously stored in the image storage unit 9 (step S307).

After executing the processing in step S307,
The control unit 1 returns to the processing in step S301. Further, even when the control unit 1 does not detect the activation signal in the process of step S304, the control unit 1 returns to the process of step S301. After that, the control unit 1 performs steps S301 to S3.
The process in 07 is repeatedly executed to guide the vehicle to the destination. When the driver or the like wants to register a place other than the above-mentioned intersection in the image storage unit 9, the control unit 1 executes the above-mentioned operation and stores it in the image storage unit 9.
However, the control unit 1 stores this in a region other than the region in which the image information 10 is stored.

The driver or the like goes through the same route again to the same destination. The driver or the like operates a power switch or the like (not shown) of the vehicle-mounted navigation system before driving the vehicle. In response to this, the vehicle-mounted navigation system is activated. As an initial operation, the control unit 1 first stores the image information 10 stored in the image storage unit 9 composed of a magnetic tape or the like in a static memory (not shown). The image information 10 stored in the static memory (not shown) has the same content as that stored in the image storage unit 9, and therefore has a data format as shown in FIG. It takes time for the control unit 1 to read the image information 10 from the magnetic tape or the like. Therefore, it is necessary for the control unit 1 to read the image information 10 in advance in a static memory or the like that can increase the reading speed. Therefore, the control unit 1 first executes the initial operation after starting the in-vehicle navigation system.

After the initial operation is completed, the driver or the like sets a destination in the vehicle-mounted navigation system. Control unit 1
Accordingly, the same route as that described above (see FIG.
(B) See double arrow).

Until the vehicle approaches the checkpoint 14, the control unit 1 executes the steps S301 to S30 described above.
The process in 4 is repeatedly executed. When the vehicle approaches the checkpoint 14, the control unit 1 notifies the driver or the like that the vehicle should turn left similarly to the above. Eventually, the vehicle reaches the checkpoint 14, and the control unit 1 proceeds to step S3.
The processing at 01 calculates the current position at the checkpoint 14. In the process of step S302, the control unit 1 searches the position information of the position information units 11 stored in the image storage unit 9 based on the calculation result. Control unit 1
Detects a match with the position of the checkpoint 14 from the current position information section 11. The control unit 1 executes the processing in step S308 accordingly. The control unit 1
Location information section 11 including location information of checkpoint 14
The second image data section 12 stored in the address position consecutive with is read from the image storage section 9 (step S30).
8). The control unit 1 outputs the read second image data unit 12 to the image generation unit 5. The image display unit 6 receives the second image data from the image generation unit 5, and based on this, displays the scene of the checkpoint 14 on a display or the like. Therefore, the driver or the like can visually and instantly visually recognize the current position of the vehicle because the current scene (the scene of the checkpoint 14) is displayed on the display. In addition, as described above, it is preferable that the installation position of the image input unit 8 is matched with the viewpoint of the driver or the like. This is because, if the image displayed on the display and the current scene of the driver or the like match, the driver or the like can more accurately and instantly visually recognize the current position of the vehicle.

According to the first and second embodiments described above, when the vehicle reaches the checkpoint 14, the scene of the checkpoint 14 stored in the image storage unit 9 in advance is displayed on the display of the image display unit 6 or the like. indicate. Therefore, the driver or the like can accurately and instantly visually check the checkpoint 14 by comparing the image displayed on the image display unit 6 with the scene seen in front. The in-vehicle navigation system according to the first and second embodiments has an extremely user-friendly function, especially for a driver unfamiliar with driving or a driver who has never traveled to a destination in the past. It becomes a navigation system.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the checkpoint 14 is displayed in conjunction with the guidance of the on-vehicle navigation system. However, even if the in-vehicle navigation system cannot execute the guidance, the control unit 1 can easily display the scene of the checkpoint 14 on the display. Even in such a case, the effects obtained in the first and second embodiments can be obtained.

[0036]

According to the invention of claim 1, when the vehicle reaches a certain position while the vehicle is traveling, the display control means is
The image displayed on the display means is switched. That is, the display means changes from a state in which a map screen near the current position of the vehicle is displayed to a state in which an image taken at this specific position is displayed. Therefore, the driver or the like can accurately and instantly visually recognize the current position of the vehicle by comparing the image displayed on the display unit with the scene in front of him.

According to the invention of claim 2, the driver or the like operates the activation signal generating means while the vehicle is traveling. In response to this, the image data creating means creates image data around the vehicle, and the image data storing means stores this. When the vehicle reaches the position where the image is captured while the vehicle is traveling, the display control means switches the image displayed on the display means. That is, the display means changes from the state where the map screen near the current position of the vehicle is displayed to the state where the image photographed at this position is displayed. Therefore, the driver or the like can accurately and instantly visually recognize the current position of the vehicle by comparing the image displayed on the display unit with the scene in front of him.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle-mounted navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram showing a data format of image information 10 stored in an image storage unit 9 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the vehicle-mounted navigation system shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a reference diagram for explaining the operation of the vehicle-mounted navigation system shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of guide guidance for a vehicle according to a conventional vehicle-mounted navigation system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control part 2 ... GPS receiving part 3 ... Autonomous measurement part 4 ... Map storage part 5 ... Image generation part 6 ... Image display part 7 ... Image recording instruction switch 8 ... Image input part 9 ... Image storage part 10 ... Image information 11 ... Position information section 12 ... Second image data section

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Isao Kamitaka 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Hiroshi Anno, 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hirofumi Takemasa 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Yonekura 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City Osaka Prefecture (72) Inventor, Eiichiro Naito Osaka 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma, Fuchu, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Yasushi Yoshida, 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An in-vehicle navigation system for displaying a current position of a vehicle on a map screen, wherein image data captured at a specific position on the map screen and an image for storing position information of the specific position are stored in association with each other. Data storage means, display means for displaying the map screen and the image data, current position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, current position detected by the current position detection means, and the image data storage means The vehicle-mounted navigation system, comprising: display control means for reading corresponding image data from the image data storage means and displaying the image data on the display means when the position information stored in the display information matches. 2. A start signal generating means for generating a start signal in response to an artificial operation while the vehicle is traveling, and a photographing means for photographing a scene around the vehicle according to the start signal. Image data creating means for creating image data of the scene photographed by the photographing means; storage control means for associating the image data and the current position detected by the current position detecting means with the image data storing means; The method further comprising:
The in-vehicle navigation system described in.