JPH09257497A - Map-displaying apparatus on vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display each road map of a different scale in a manner easy to see in a map display apparatus displaying the road map including the present position of a vehicle. SOLUTION: Two kinds of map data of different scales which are ordered from outside are read from map data stored in a CD-ROM through the operation of a CPU 12. Image data for displaying a road map to a display device 4 are generated based on the map data, and each image data is stored in a VRAM 30a, 30b. The image data stored in the VRAM 30a, 30b is converted to image signals by a video controller 32a, 32b, and converted image signals are output to a display device 4a, 4b. Accordingly, road maps of different scales can be displayed individually at two display devices 4a, 4b, so that a running course or the like can be easily confirmed. The scale of the display map can be optionally set for every display device 4a, 4b by displaying a set menu at the display device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicular map display device for displaying a road map including the present vehicle location on a display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of vehicle map display device, in order to be able to change the scale of a road map displayed on the display device, map data of different scales are previously stored.
When the road map is stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and is displayed on the display device, the map data at a reduced scale specified by the user is read out from this storage medium and the read map data is used for display. Image data for the vehicle is generated and the road map is displayed on the display device.

[0003]

However, in the conventional vehicle map display device, for example, when the vehicle is traveling while the detailed road map near the current position is displayed on the display device to check the traveling road, In order to check the entire route from to the destination, it is necessary to input a command to change the scale of the road map displayed on the display device and display a wide area map on the display device. There was a problem that it took time. In addition, in order to drive the vehicle while displaying the wide area map on the display device and confirming the route as described above, the scale of the road map displayed on the display device is changed in order to drive the vehicle while checking the traveling road near the current position. There is also a problem that the road map displayed on the display device must be returned to the detailed map by inputting the command again, which is a troublesome operation.

On the other hand, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-2814, as a map display device for a ship that displays a nautical chart, a detailed map near the target position is displayed on the entire display screen, and the display is performed. Detailed area on the map,
A map display device is known which displays a wide area map including the position of the ship and the target position. That is, in this device, two types of maps with different scales are simultaneously displayed on the display screen of the display device.

Therefore, if such a technology for a ship is applied to a map display device for a vehicle, a detailed map near the current location is displayed on the entire display screen, and a partial area on the detailed map from the current location to the destination is displayed. Wide area map can be displayed. By doing so, it is possible to confirm the route to the destination while confirming the road near the current location, and the usability of the vehicle map display device can be improved.

However, in this case, since the wide area map is displayed in a partial area on the detailed map, the display of the wide area map hides the road near the current location that the user wants to check, or the wide area. Since the map is displayed in an extremely narrow area on the display screen, there is a problem that the route to the destination cannot be confirmed on the display screen.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and in a vehicle map display device that displays a road map including the current vehicle position on a display screen to guide the traveling of the vehicle, it is easy to see road maps of different scales. It is intended to improve the usability of the vehicle map display device by enabling the display.

[0008]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a map display device for a vehicle, wherein the image data generating means includes:
To read out map data of a predetermined area including the vehicle current location detected by the current location detection means at the scale instructed by the scale instruction means and display a road map including the vehicle current location on the display means based on this map data. Image data is generated, and the display control means displays the road map on the display means based on the generated image data.

Further, according to the present invention, the image data generating means and the display control means for displaying the road map on the display means are for displaying the road map on a plurality of display means including the display means provided in the apparatus. , A plurality of pairs are provided, and further,
The scale reduction commanding unit is configured to command the scale reduction of the road map to be displayed on the display unit for each image data generating unit.

Therefore, according to the vehicle map display device of the present invention, it becomes possible to display the road maps of different scales on the plurality of display means, respectively. , It becomes possible to accurately confirm the road near the current location of the vehicle and the route from the current location to the destination. Further, particularly in the present invention, since the scale of the road map to be displayed on the display means can be individually specified for the plurality of image data generating means for generating the image data for displaying the road map on the plurality of display means. The scales of the road maps displayed on the plurality of display units can be set to arbitrary scales, and a map display device for a vehicle that is easy to use can be provided.

The plurality of display means are constituted by one display means provided in advance in the apparatus and a display means for retrofitting which the user separately prepares as needed. Alternatively, the vehicle map display device may be configured by providing a plurality of display means in advance.

Next, in the vehicular map display device according to the second aspect, the scale command means includes the setting start command input means, the selected image display means, the selection command input means, and the scale update means. It is configured. Then, when a scale setting start command to be displayed on each display unit is input via the setting start command input unit, one of the plurality of display units or each of the plurality of display units is selected by the selected image display unit. A scale selection image for each display means is displayed, and in this state, if a scale selection command is input according to the selection image via the selection command input means, the scale update means gives the command. The scale is updated as the scale of the road map to be displayed on the corresponding display means.

Therefore, according to the vehicle map display device of the present invention (Claim 2), one of the plurality of display means or the selected image displayed on each of the plurality of display means can be seen, The scale of the road map to be displayed on each display means can be set, and the scale of the road map to be displayed on each display means can be set very easily.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an automobile navigation apparatus of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the navigation device of this embodiment has a GPS (Global Positioning System).
m) is equipped with a GPS antenna 2a for receiving radio waves transmitted from an artificial satellite, the received signal is frequency-converted, demodulated, and the latitude and longitude representing the position of the receiving point (in other words, the current position of the vehicle), A GPS as a current position detecting means for calculating position data including altitude and the like, and calculating speed data indicating a moving speed (that is, vehicle speed) of a receiving point and azimuth data indicating a moving direction (that is, a traveling direction of a vehicle) of the receiving point The receiving unit 2, two display devices 4a and 4b as a display unit including a liquid crystal display for displaying a road map and a traveling route, a CRT, and the like, and each display device 4a and 4b.
Map data for displaying a road map is stored in C
D-ROM can be detachably attached, and the attached C
A CD-ROM drive 6 for reading out map data from the D-ROM, a start command for setting the scale of a road map to be displayed on each of the display devices 4a and 4b, and a display device 4a for one of the display devices after the setting start command is input. Setting start command input means and selection command input for the user to input various commands by external operation, such as a selection command for selecting the scale of the road map to be displayed on each of the display devices 4a and 4b while viewing the selected image. A remote controller transmitter 8 that includes a keyboard (not shown) as a means, converts various commands input from the keyboard into transmission signals and transmits the signals, and GPS receiving units 2 and C.
Various data are read from the D-ROM drive 6, the remote control transmitter 8 and the like, and each display device 4 is read based on the data.
and a control device 10 for displaying a road map, a travel route, etc. on a and 4b.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the control unit 10 is composed of a CPU 12, a ROM 14, a RAM 16 and a microcomputer centering on a bus 18 connecting these parts, and the ROM 14 is previously set. Various calculation processes for displaying a road map including the current vehicle position on each of the display devices 4a and 4b are executed according to a control program stored therein. In addition, the bus 18 includes a GPS receiving unit 2, a CD-ROM drive 6, and a remote control transmitter 8
Receiver 20 for receiving a transmission signal (remote control signal) from
Are connected to the CPU 1 and data from these respective units are connected to the CPU 1.
2 and transfer the control signal from the CPU 12 to the CD
An input / output interface (I / O) 22 for outputting to the ROM drive 6, and the CPU 12 in the processing described later.
And video RAMs (VRAMs) 30a, 30 that store two types of image data (for example, bitmap data) generated by the display device 4a, 4b for displaying a road map.
b is connected.

Then, in each VRAM 30a, 30b,
Image signals (for example, RGB signals) for reading image data from the VRAMs 30a and 30b and displaying road maps corresponding to the image data on the display devices 4a and 4b, respectively.
Video controllers 32a and 32b as display control means for converting into signals) are respectively connected. The VRAMs 30a and 30b are respectively connected to the display devices 4
This is for storing one screen of image data for displaying a road map on a and 4b. Further, a part of the RAM 16 is designed to be able to always hold the stored data by a built-in battery, and the backup area stores the scale of the road map displayed on each of the display devices 4a and 4b.

On the other hand, the CD-ROM as a map data storage means mounted in the CD-ROM drive 6 has a structure shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the map data of all areas to be displayed, such as the whole country, Kanto area, Kansai area, ... Represents the distance on the map per unit length, for example, corresponding to nine scale lengths. (In other words, corresponding to the nine different scales of the road map) are stored respectively. The map data for each scale is displayed on each display device 4 as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a large number of unit map data divided corresponding to the size of one screen of a and 4b. Therefore, when displaying the road map on each of the display devices 4a and 4b, the control device 10 has the largest scale length of 200 km (in other words, the smallest scale ratio), and the smallest scale length of 100 m from the wide area map. (In other words, the scale ratio is the largest), it is possible to switch the scale of the displayed map up to 9 levels up to the detailed map.

Next, the map display processing executed by the CPU 12 to display the road map on each of the display devices 4a and 4b in the navigation device of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following description, the display devices 4a and 4b are referred to as monitors. When distinguishing these display devices 4a and 4b, the display device 4a arranged on the left side when viewed from the user side is referred to as a left monitor and a user. The display device 4b arranged on the right side when viewed from the side is referred to as a right monitor. Further, the scale of the road map set for each monitor will be described using the scale length shown in FIG. 2, and the scale length set as the scale of the road map to be displayed on each monitor will be described. It is called display scale.

As shown in FIG. 3, when this process is started, first, in S100 (S: represents step), an initial setting process for setting initial values to the display scales of the left and right monitors 4a and 4b is executed. To do. It should be noted that in this initialization process, the navigation device has just been shipped and
When the display scale for each monitor is not stored in the 16 backup areas, an initial value preset as the display scale of each monitor (for example, display scale of left monitor 4a: scale length 5 km, display of right monitor) (Scale: scale length 200 m) is set, and if the display scale for each monitor used to display the road map last time is stored in the backup area of the RAM 16, that display scale is set as the initial value of the display scale used this time. .

Next, in S110, the current position of the vehicle determined by the GPS receiving unit 2 (specifically, coordinate data)
Read. Then, in the subsequent S120, the CD-ROM
Of the map data for each scale length stored in the map data corresponding to the display scale of the left monitor 4a, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the unit map data P0 including the current location and its surroundings are displayed. The unit map data P0 to P8 for 9 screens in total with the unit map data P1 to P8 are read, and the read unit map data for 9 screens are temporarily stored in the RAM 16 as map data for the left monitor 4a. Image data (bitmap data) for displaying a road map on the left monitor 4a is created based on the map data of one screen area centered on the current vehicle position in the stored map data.

In this way, when the image data for the left monitor 4a is created in S120, the subsequent S130.
Then, based on the created image data, the data content of the VRAM 30a for displaying the road map on the left monitor 4a is updated. In S120, if the unit map data for 9 screens centering on the current vehicle location is already stored in the RAM 16 as the map data for display, the unit map data is not read into the map data and is read. Based on this, image data is created. When the current position is no longer included in the map data P0 stored in the RAM 16 as the vehicle travels, the shortage unit map data is read from the CD-ROM and stored in the RAM 16 to eliminate unnecessary units. The map data is deleted from the RAM 16. Further, the image data created in S120 is not simply the image data for displaying the road map on the left monitor 4a, but as shown in FIG. 6A, on the road map displayed on the left monitor 4a (this embodiment Then it becomes the center position)
In addition, the image data is provided with additional information such as the vehicle mark G representing the current vehicle position and the scale length.

Next, in S140, of the map data for each display scale stored in the CD-ROM, from the map data corresponding to the display scale of the right monitor 4b, for 9 screens centering on the current location. Unit map data P0
To P8 are read, and image data for displaying a road map (see FIG. 6B) on the right monitor 4b is created in the same procedure as S120. When the image data for the right monitor 4b is created in S140, the subsequent S15
At 0, the data content of the VRAM 30b for road map display on the right monitor 4b is updated based on the created image data.

As a result, according to the navigation system of this embodiment, for example, the left monitor 4a has a scale length 200 including the vehicle current position mark G as shown in FIG. 6A.
6 is displayed on the right monitor 4b.
A road map having a scale length of 2 km including the vehicle current position mark G as shown in (b) is displayed. For example, road maps having different display scales (that is, reduced scales) are displayed for each of the left and right monitors 4a and 4b. And the user can
From the road maps displayed on the left and right monitors 4a and 4b, it is possible to accurately confirm the road near the vehicle's current location and the route from the current location to the destination. 6 (a) and 6 (b), reference characters a1, L1,
L2 represents the same intersection (a1) and road (L1, L2) on the road map displayed on the left and right monitors 4a, 4b.

In the present embodiment, the above S12
0, S130 and S140, S150, respectively,
It corresponds to the image data generating means of the present invention. Next, S16
At 0, each monitor 4 is operated by operating the remote control transmitter 8.
It is determined whether or not a display scale setting start command for a and 4b is input, in other words, whether or not there is a display scale setting request for each of the monitors 4a and 4b. If there is a display scale setting request, the scale setting process is executed in S170, and then S110.
If there is no display scale setting request, the process directly proceeds to S110.

Here, the scale setting process of S170 is as follows.
This is executed as shown in FIG. That is, in this scale setting process, first in S210, the scale setting menu as the selected image is displayed on the road map displayed on the left monitor 4a as shown in FIG. It should be noted that this scale setting menu is for allowing the display scales for the left and right monitors 4a and 4b to be easily set on the display screen, and indicates that the device is currently in the scale setting operation. The operation mode display frame Ma and the scale length that can be set for the left and right monitors 4a and 4b are
From the scale selection frames MC1 and MC2 displayed for each of the monitors 4a and 4b, and the monitor display frames Mb1 and Mb2 indicating which of the left and right monitors 4a and 4b the scale selection frames MC1 and MC2 correspond to, respectively. It is configured.

Then, in the subsequent S220, a preset display frame (for example, the display frame Mb1 of the left monitor 4a) among the monitor display frames Mb1 and Mb2 is displayed in order to display the setting monitor for which the display scale is to be set. ) Is emphasized and the display scales currently set for the left and right monitors 4a and 4b are displayed, one scale length (in the left and right monitor display scales) in the left and right scale selection frames MC1 and MC2 is displayed. The selected content initial setting process is executed to highlight (corresponding).

In FIG. 7, the highlighted display is indicated by hatching, and the scale lengths of 200 m are respectively set in the scale selection frames MC1 and MC2 for the left and right monitors 4a and 4b.
Since the scale length of 2 km is highlighted, the scale length of the left monitor 4a is currently 20
It can be seen that 0 m is set and a scale length of 2 km is set on the display scale of the right monitor 4b.

Further, the processing of S210 and S220 is processing corresponding to the selected image display means of the present invention. More specifically, the image data for displaying the scale setting menu shown in FIG. 7 is generated, It is executed by writing this image data in the VRAM 30a corresponding to the left monitor 4a.

In this way, the scale setting menu is displayed on the left monitor 4a, and by the above-mentioned highlighting, the setting monitor which is the setting target of the display scale and the display currently set for each monitor 4a, 4b are displayed. When the scale is displayed on the scale setting menu, the process proceeds to subsequent S230, and the user operates the remote control transmitter 8 to accept the input of a display scale selection command, and according to this command, Left and right monitors 4
A scale changing process as a scale updating unit for updating the display scales a and 4b is executed.

This scale changing process is executed as shown in FIG. That is, first, in S310, after the scale setting menu is displayed, the timer for measuring the time when the selection command is not input from the user side via the remote control transmitter 8 is once reset and the time measurement is started. Executes timer reset / start processing. Then, in the following S315, it is determined whether or not a monitor change command is input from the user side via the remote control transmitter 8, and if the monitor change command is not input, the process proceeds to S350,
When the monitor change command is input, the process proceeds to S320.

In S320, since the command from the user has been input this time, in order to newly measure the elapsed time thereafter,
Similar to step S310, the timer reset / start processing is executed. Then, in subsequent S330, the scale length highlighted in the scale selection frame on the setting monitor side, which has been the setting target of the display scale, is determined as the display scale for the monitor, and the backup area of the RAM 16 is determined. Update the display scale in.

Further, at S340, in accordance with the monitor change command input this time, the display scale setting target is switched by switching the highlighting of the monitor display frame from the left side to the right side or vice versa on the scale setting menu. Then, the setting monitor is changed to S350. It should be noted that this process is executed by rewriting a part of the image data (that is, the highlighted portion) in the VRAM 30a.

Next, in S350, it is determined whether or not a command for changing the display scale to the setting monitor to the wide area side (that is, the side where the scale length increases) is input from the user side via the remote control transmitter 8. to decide. Then, if the command to change to the wide area side is input, the timer reset / start process is executed in S360 as in S310 and S320, and then the current setting is made in the setting monitor in S370. It is determined whether or not the display scale is the scale length on the widest side (200 km in this embodiment).

If the display scale is not the widest, the scale length highlighted as the setting monitor display scale on the current scale setting menu is changed to the wide area side in S380 to display the setting monitor. After changing the scale to the wide area side, the process proceeds to S390, and conversely, if the display scale is the widest area, the display scale cannot be changed to the wide area side. Move to. Note that the processing of S380 is similar to that of S340 described above, and the VRAM is
It is executed by rewriting a part (highlighted part) of the image data in 30a.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S350 that the command to change the display scale to the wide area side has not been input to the setting monitor, the process proceeds to S410, this time via the remote control transmitter 8. It is determined whether or not a user has input a command to change the display scale for the setting monitor to the detail side (that is, the side where the scale length becomes smaller). And if the change command to the detail side is input,
In S420, the timer reset / start processing is executed as in S310, S320, and S360, and then S4 is executed.
At 30, the display scale currently set for the setting monitor is the scale length on the most detailed side (1 in this embodiment).
00m) is determined.

If the display scale is not the most detailed, in S440, the scale length highlighted as the display scale of the setting monitor on the current scale setting menu is changed to the detail side. After changing the display scale to the detail side, the process shifts to S390. Conversely, if the display scale is the most detailed, the display scale cannot be changed to the detail side. The process moves to S390. The process of S440 is executed by rewriting a part of the image data (highlighted display part) in the VRAM 30a, as in S380 and S340.

Next, in step S390, it is determined whether or not a display scale confirmation command has been input from the user side via the remote control transmitter 8. If the confirmation command has not been input, the process proceeds to S315 and the above process is executed again. On the contrary, if the determination command has been input, the display on the setting monitor that is currently the setting target of the display scale is displayed. As the scale, the scale length highlighted in the scale selection frame on the monitor side is confirmed, the display scale in the backup area of the RAM 16 is updated, and then the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S410 that the command to change the display scale to the detail side has not been input, the process proceeds to S450, and every time a command is input from the user side, Whether the time measured by the timer that starts the time measurement by the timer reset / start processing has reached the predetermined time, that is, whether the state in which the selection command for setting the display scale has not been input from the user side has continued for the predetermined time or longer. To judge.

If it is determined in S450 that the selection command has not been input for a predetermined time or longer, S
After the display scale is fixed to the currently highlighted scale length in 400, the process is ended, and conversely, if it is determined that the state in which the selection command is not input has not reached the predetermined time, the process proceeds to S390. To do.

As described above, in the navigation device of this embodiment, when the remote controller transmitter 8 is operated to input the display scale setting start command, the scale setting process is started and the left monitor 4a and the left and right monitors are started. A scale setting menu for setting the display scale for 4a and 4b is displayed. Then, in that state, the remote control transmitter 8 is further operated to switch the monitor display frame highlighted on the scale setting menu and the scale length highlighted in the scale selection frame, respectively. Finally, if a confirmation command is input, the display scales for the left and right monitors 4a and 4b (that is, the scales of the road maps displayed on the left and right monitors 4a and 4b) are changed to desired scale lengths (scales), respectively. You can

Therefore, according to this embodiment, as described above, not only the road maps of different scales can be displayed on the left and right monitors 4a and 4b, but also the scales of the road maps displayed on the left and right monitors 4a and 4b can be changed. , Can be changed extremely easily. In the present embodiment, the remote controller transmitter 8 having a keyboard having the functions of setting start command input means and selection command input means, the processing of S210 and S220 as the selected image display means, and the scale as the scale updating means. The changing process (S230) corresponds to the scale commanding means of the present invention.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
It can take various forms. For example, in the above embodiment, when displaying the road map on the left and right monitors (display devices) 4a and 4b, the VRAM 30 corresponding to each monitor is displayed.
a, VRAM 30b has been described as being used, but R
You may make it use some area | regions of AM16 as VRAM for each monitor.

In the above embodiment, after the map data from the CD-ROM drive 6 is once stored in the RAM 16,
The data for one screen is cut out to the VRAMs 30a and 30b, but the RAM 16 is not used and the CD-RO is used.
The map data read from the M drive 6 may be directly stored as image data in the VRAMs 30a and 30b, and the image data for one screen may be cut and converted into video signals on the video controllers 32a and 32b side.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, each monitor 4a,
When changing the scale (display scale) of the road map to be displayed on 4b, a scale setting menu is displayed on the left monitor 4a, and the display scales for the left and right monitors 4a and 4b can be set simultaneously on this menu screen. However, the scale setting menu may be displayed for each monitor 4a, 4b, and the display scale for each monitor 4a, 4b may be changed on the display screen of each monitor 4a, 4b. . In the above embodiment,
Although the navigation device provided with the two monitors 4a and 4b has been described, the number of display devices for displaying such a road map may be further increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an entire navigation device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of map data stored in a CD-ROM.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a map display process executed by a CPU.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a scale setting process executed in S170 of FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing a scale changing process executed in S230 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display state of a road map on left and right display devices (monitors).

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a scale setting menu displayed when changing the scale (display scale) of a road map.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... GPS receiving unit 4a ... Display device (left side monitor) 4b ... Display device (right side monitor) 6 ... CD-ROM drive 8 ... Remote control transmitter 10 ... Control device 12 ... CP
U 14 ... ROM 16 ... RAM 22 ... I / O 30a, 30b ... V
RAM 32a, 32b ... Video controller

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Display means for displaying a road map, and map data for displaying the road map on the display means,
Map data storage means stored for each road map of different scales, current location detection means for detecting the current location of the vehicle, scale command means for externally instructing the scale of the road map displayed on the display means, From the map data storage means, the map data of a predetermined area including the vehicle current location detected by the current location detection means at the scale instructed by the scale instruction means is read, and the road including the vehicle current location is read based on the map data. Image data generating means for generating image data for displaying a map on the display means, and converting the image data generated by the image data generating means into a video signal for display and outputting to the display means, A display control unit for displaying a road map including the current vehicle location on the display unit; Fine display control means, as a road map display on a plurality of display means including said display means,
A vehicle map display device, comprising a plurality of pairs, and further comprising the scale commanding means capable of commanding the scale of a road map to be displayed on the display means for each of the image data generating means. . 2. The scale command means includes a setting start command input means for externally inputting a scale setting start command to be displayed on the plurality of display means, and the scale setting from the setting start command input means. When a start command is input, one of the plurality of display means, or each of the plurality of display means, a selected image display means for displaying a selected image at a reduced scale for each display means, and the selected image display means When the means is displaying the selection image of the scale for each of the display means, the scale selection command,
Selection command input means for externally inputting corresponding to the selected image, and when the selection command of the scale is input from the selection command input means, the scale instructed by the selection command is displayed correspondingly. The map display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a scale updating unit that updates the scale of a road map to be displayed on the unit.