JPH09318379A - Navigator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform stereoscopic display of a guiding position even with less capacity of memory. SOLUTION: In the main body of a navigator 1, the memory, which is a building-data memory means 10, is contained. In the building data memory means 10, image data 11-1n for the stereoscopic display indicating a plural kinds of buildings are stored beforehand. When a route-guiding is done following a pre-set route, a display control means 2 selectively calls up the stored image data 11-1n corresponding to the stereoscopic display of the road in a guiding position from the building data memory means 10 and performs the stereoscopic display on a display 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device, and more particularly, to a navigation device which provides guidance in the vicinity of a guidance point such as an intersection by stereoscopic display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vehicle such as a passenger car can be equipped with a navigation device for guiding and guiding along a preset route. Navigation device is C
Based on the map data stored in the D-ROM or the like and the current position of the vehicle detected by various sensors or GPS radio wave reception, the position of the running vehicle is displayed as an image together with the map data. At guidance points such as intersections where the route should be changed, various measures are taken to make the route guidance easy to understand.

[0003] For example, a navigation device has been considered in which, when a driver observes an intersection at which the route is to be changed, a similar 3D stereoscopic display is performed. By displaying an image that is close to what the driver actually sees, it is possible to easily guide the travel route.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-250420 discloses a prior art in which detailed information about a building included in map data is selected and displayed according to the scale to be displayed. It is also possible to apply such a prior art to route guidance at an intersection.

[0005]

It is relatively easy to display only the roads based on the map data when the stereoscopic display is performed to make the route guidance at the intersection easy to understand. However, if only the road is marked, there is a large difference from the actual scenery of the intersection that the driver actually sees, which may cause a sense of discomfort. The intersection is often located in a busy city, and there are densely built buildings in the vicinity. Even if stereoscopic display is performed without such a building, the difference from the state actually seen by the driver becomes so large that it becomes difficult to provide effective route guidance.

In order to effectively provide guidance in the vicinity of intersections in three-dimensional display and including buildings, the building data for all the intersections included in the map, along with the map data, can be displayed as C data.
It is conceivable to store it in a D-ROM or the like. When the stereoscopic display of the intersection is performed, if the data for the stereoscopic display of the building is also read and displayed, the stereoscopic display can be easily performed. However, when stereoscopic display is performed for all the intersections included in the map, the amount of image data for stereoscopic display that should be stored becomes enormous, and it should be sufficiently stored in the current CD-ROM or the like. Is impossible in terms of capacity. Also, it is difficult to create image data for stereoscopic display for all intersections from the viewpoint of time and labor. Moreover, because road data related to intersections and building data in the vicinity change over time, it is necessary to always up-to-date with the latest information, which is very difficult.

An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device capable of easily performing a stereoscopic display of a guide point accompanied by a stereoscopic display of a building without storing a huge amount of stereoscopic display image data.

[0008]

The present invention stores a stereoscopic display image data of a plurality of types of buildings in a navigation device mounted on a vehicle and performing route guidance according to map data while detecting a current position value. When the building data storage means and route guidance for a preset guide point are provided, the image data for stereoscopic display stored in the building data storage means is read out and the intersection is solidified while the building is placed beside the road. And a display control means for controlling so that the navigation device displays the information. According to the invention, the building data storage means stores the stereoscopic display image data for a plurality of types of buildings. The display control means reads the image data stored in the building data storage means when performing route guidance for a preset guide point, and stereoscopically displays the guide point while arranging the building beside the road. Control to do so. Since the three-dimensional display of the guide point is performed along with the building, it is possible to reduce the sense of discomfort with the guide point that the driver actually observes and to provide easy-to-understand route guidance. The three-dimensional image data for a building may be stored in the building data storage means for a plurality of types, so the required storage capacity can be reduced,
It can be easily mounted on a vehicle.

Further, according to the present invention, the display control means extracts only landmarks associated with a guide point for route guidance from the map data, and selects and displays a building type corresponding to the extracted landmark position. It is characterized in that it is controlled to. According to the present invention, the type of building corresponding to the landmark is selected at the position of the landmark extracted from the map data and the image data for stereoscopic display is displayed. A close stereoscopic display can be performed.

Further, according to the present invention, the display control means is controlled so that the type and position of the building are randomly selected and displayed. According to the present invention, around the guide point, since the stereoscopic display image data of the type of building selected at random is arranged and displayed at the position selected at random,
Different stereoscopic displays can be easily performed for different guide points.

Further, in the present invention, the display control means extracts a landmark associated with a guide point for route guidance from the map data, and selects a type of a building corresponding to the extracted landmark at the landmark position. It is characterized in that it is controlled so that it is displayed. According to the present invention, since the three-dimensional display based on the type and position of the building according to the landmark extracted from the map data and the type and position of the randomly selected building is performed around the guide point, the driver Landmarks that draw attention can be displayed accurately, and buildings around the landmarks that increase the sense of presence at the guide point can be displayed.

Further, in the present invention, the display control means extracts a landmark associated with a guide point for route guidance from the map data, and displays a signboard-like display corresponding to the extracted landmark at the landmark position. It is characterized by controlling to perform. According to the present invention, since the building displayed at the position of the landmark extracted from the map data around the guide point is displayed as a signboard corresponding to the landmark, the type of landmark can be easily changed. Can be identified.

Further, according to the present invention, the display control means controls to display only a type of building designated in advance. According to the present invention, since only the type of building designated in advance is stereoscopically displayed near the guide point, it is possible to perform a stereoscopic display of the guide point that is easy to understand according to the selection of the user of the navigation device.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the building data storage means is provided with an image input means for inputting image data for stereoscopic display imaged while the vehicle is traveling. According to the present invention, since the stereoscopic display image data for a plurality of types of buildings stored in the building data storage means can be captured and input while the vehicle is traveling, the display of the actual building is used. A 3D display of the guidance point can be displayed to provide easy-to-understand route guidance.

Further, the present invention comprises a density degree estimating means for estimating a density degree of a building at a guide point for route guidance based on map data, and the display control means is estimated by the density degree estimating means. It is characterized in that the displayed buildings are controlled according to the density. According to the present invention, the density estimation means estimates the density of the building at the guide point, and the display control means arranges the buildings to be displayed according to the estimated density, so that it is displayed near the guide point. The density of the building can be brought close to the density of the building that can be actually confirmed by the driver, and the route guidance can be easily understood.

In the present invention, the map data includes a residential map, and the display control means determines the type of building to be selected from the building data storage means according to the character information representing the type of building in the residential map. It is characterized by According to the present invention, since the residential map is used as the map data and the type of the building is selected according to the character information representing the type of the building on the residential map, a stereoscopic display in an arrangement close to the actual building placed at the guidance point is possible. It can be carried out.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a schematic electrical configuration of a navigation device 1 as an embodiment of the present invention. The display control means 2 realized by a computer that operates according to a preset program is a large-capacity storage medium such as a CD-ROM on a display screen of a display 3 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT). The image data for route guidance is displayed together with the map data read from the map disk 4. The current position of the running vehicle is absolutely given as position data of latitude and longitude from the GPS receiver 5 which receives radio waves from GPS artificial satellites and detects the current position. It is also possible to estimate the relative current position based on a signal from the vehicle speed sensor 6 that detects the vehicle speed while the vehicle is traveling and a signal from the gyro sensor 7 that indicates a change in direction. The estimated current position can be corrected by applying map matching to the map data 4 to improve the accuracy.

The display control means 2 is capable of designating the type of building to be displayed, if necessary, and the building designating means 8 is provided.
Alternatively, an image input means 9 capable of inputting an image of a building to be displayed as an image actually captured can be connected. Building designation means 8
For example, it is possible to select the type of building to be displayed in a menu format together with the screen display of the display 3. The image input means 9 is, for example, a CC mounted on a vehicle.
By using the D camera, it is possible to automatically input an image of a building when the vehicle is traveling or an image captured at a timing set by a driver or the like.

A semiconductor memory which is a building data storage means 10 is built in the navigation device 1. In the building data storage means 10, pre-created stereoscopic display image data 11 to 1n are stored as image data. The stereoscopic display image data 11 to 1n are created and stored in a typical shape for each type of building.

FIG. 2 shows the operation of the display control means 2 of FIG. The navigation device 1 repeats the operation as shown in FIG. 2 while the vehicle is traveling. In step a1, GPS
The vehicle position is calculated as an absolute position from the receiver 5 or as a relative position based on the vehicle speed sensor 6 and the gyro sensor 7. At step a2, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is approaching an intersection, which is a guidance point, according to a preset traveling route. If it is determined that the vehicle is approaching the guidance point, image data for stereoscopic display is prepared in step a3. Regarding the three-dimensional display of the road, according to a preset program, the three-dimensional display near the guide point is performed by switching at a plurality of places such as several hundred meters before or at a turn as the vehicle progresses. The stereoscopic display of the building will be described later. In step a4, an image is displayed on the display screen of the display 3 according to the type and layout of the building selected in the data preparation of step a3.

FIG. 3 shows an example of image display performed by the operation of FIG. A display 3 is attached to an instrumental panel 20 in the vehicle, and a touch panel type menu selection key 21 and the like are arranged around the display screen. A two-dimensional map display screen 22 is displayed on the display screen, and a route guide 23 along a preset guide route is displayed.
Is performed as shown by hatching. A vehicle position display 24 is also provided on the route guide 23.

In the example of the guide screen shown in FIG. 3, a stereoscopic display screen 30 is displayed as a window in a part of the map display screen 22. On the stereoscopic display screen 30, buildings 31 to 3n are stereoscopically displayed along the road that is stereoscopically displayed. Building 3
The three-dimensional display of 1, 32, 33 is the building data storage means 10
This is performed by selecting the stereoscopic display image data 11 to 1n stored therein. On the three-dimensional display screen 30, in addition to buildings 31, 32 corresponding to landmarks such as convenience stores and gas stations, a general building 33, and the like, an elevated road 34 for overpassing roads is also displayed.

FIG. 4 shows the operation of building type selection and layout selection performed in the data preparation in step a3 of FIG. The operation starts from step b1, and the type of building is selected in step b2. The type is selected randomly, for example. Another way to choose the type is
It is also possible to select only the type designated by the building designating means 8. In step b3, the position where the selected building should be placed is selected. The buildings are arranged randomly, for example. At step b4, the selection and arrangement operations are completed. When selecting and arranging randomly, a program for generating random numbers is built in the display control means 2 in advance, and the type and arrangement of buildings are selected according to the generated random numbers. Since different random numbers are generated at different guide points, different stereoscopic display can be performed for each guide point and the stereoscopic display can be changed as the vehicle travels.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of another embodiment regarding the selection of the type and layout of the building performed in the data preparation in step a3 of FIG. The operation starts from step c1, and the data near the guide point is read from the map data 4 in step c2. In step c3, the landmark is identified from the read data and the layout of the building is determined at that position. Examples of landmarks include public offices, public service facilities such as schools and hospitals, convenience stores, gas stations, and banks. Step c4
Then, the building of the type corresponding to the identified landmark is selected, and the operation ends in step c5.

FIG. 6 shows another example of selection of building types and layout in the data preparation of step a3 of FIG. 2 as still another embodiment of the present invention. Step d1
Step d3 corresponds to steps c1 to c3 of FIG. 5, respectively. In step d4, a signboard-like display corresponding to the identified landmark is added, and the operation ends in step d5.

According to the operation of FIG. 5 described above, the type of the building corresponding to the landmark can be selected and stereoscopically displayed along the road around the guide point. According to the operation of FIG. 6, a signboard-like display corresponding to the landmark can be added to the three-dimensional display of the building for display. If the building is displayed according to the landmark, it is possible to perform a three-dimensional display of the guide point in which the landmark that is easily noticeable is reflected as it is, so that it is possible to perform easy route guidance at an intersection or the like. If a signboard-like display corresponding to the landmark is added, the display can be made even easier to understand.

FIG. 7 shows the operation of selecting the type and layout of buildings during data preparation in step a3 of FIG. 2 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. Step e
The operation is started from 1, and the map data 4 is read in step e2. In step e3, the density of buildings is estimated from the read map data according to a predetermined standard. The density of the building is performed by a part of the display control unit 2 that operates as a density estimation unit according to a predetermined program. The estimation of the degree of congestion is performed in several stages according to a predetermined standard for each environment around the guide point, depending on whether the guide point read from the map data is located in the urban area or the suburbs. Also, the density can be estimated from the density of the road, the place name, and other data. For example, it is estimated that the density is high in “ward” and “city”.

At step e4, the layout of buildings is determined according to the degree of congestion estimated at step e3, and step e5
To end the operation.

FIG. 8 shows, as a further embodiment of the present invention, an operation for selecting a building type and layout as data preparation in step a3 of FIG. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the map data 4 includes a residential map displayed by text information. The operation starts from step f1, and in step f2, the character information of the residential map is read from the map data. In step f3, information representing the type of building is extracted from the read character information. In step f4, the type of building is determined according to the extracted character information, and the operation ends in step f5.

In each of the above embodiments, the stereoscopic display is partially performed like the stereoscopic display screen 30 in the guide screen shown in FIG. 3, but the stereoscopic display is performed on the entire screen of the display 3. Of course, it is also good. Also,
Not only route guidance by screen display but also voice guidance can be provided. Further, as guidance points, similar guidance is effective not only at intersections but also at entrances to facilities and toll roads.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, the display control means selects stereoscopic display image data for a plurality of types of buildings stored in advance in the building data storage means, and the vicinity of the guide point for stereoscopic display. It can be placed in a three-dimensional display that is easy to understand. Since it is sufficient to store a plurality of types of image data for stereoscopic display of a building in the building data storage means, it is not necessary to store image data of all guide points, and it is easy to avoid the limitation on the storage capacity of the vehicle and Can be mounted on.

Further, according to the present invention, since the landmarks extracted from the map data are stereoscopically displayed at the guide points accompanied by the stereoscopic display of the buildings, the route guidance is provided at the intersections which are easy to understand as well as the landmarks that are easily noticed. be able to.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide easy-to-understand route guidance while distinguishing individual intersections by three-dimensionally displaying buildings randomly arranged around the guidance point.

Further, according to the present invention, the three-dimensional display of the building corresponding to the landmark extracted from the road data and the type and position of the randomly selected building are combined to provide a guide point with less discomfort. 3D display can be performed.

Further, according to the present invention, since the landmarks extracted from the map data are displayed in the form of a signboard together with the display of the building, it is possible to perform route guidance by effective stereoscopic display with a small storage capacity.

Further, according to the present invention, since the type of building to be displayed along with the three-dimensional display of the guide point can be designated in advance, it is possible to provide a display that is easy for the driver to understand.

Further, according to the present invention, since the image data for stereoscopic display of the building imaged while the vehicle is traveling can be input to the building data storage means by the image input means, the stereoscopically imaged image of the building is actually captured. Based on the display image data, it is possible to easily display an image that is closer to the actual guidance point.

Further, according to the present invention, since the display control means arranges the buildings in correspondence with the density degree estimated from the map data by the density degree estimation means, the environment of the guide point is changed due to the difference in the displayed density. It is possible to understand the difference between and to provide easy-to-understand route guidance.

Further, according to the present invention, since the position and type of the building are selected and displayed by using the character information in the residential map, it is easy to stereoscopically display the guide point such as the intersection which is actually passing. Can be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the display control means 2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of image display by the display 3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of selecting a building type and an arrangement in the data preparation in step a3 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of selecting a building type and an arrangement in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of selecting a building type and a layout in still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a building type / arrangement selection operation in still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a building type / arrangement selection operation in still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 navigation device 2 display control means 3 display 4 map data 5 GPS receiver 6 vehicle speed sensor 7 gyro sensor 8 building designation means 9 image input means 10 building data storage means 11 to 1n stereoscopic display image data 30 stereoscopic display screen 31 to 3n building

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A navigation device mounted on a vehicle for performing route guidance according to map data while detecting a current position value, and a building data storage means for storing image data for stereoscopic display of a plurality of types of buildings; When performing route guidance about the set guidance point, the image data for stereoscopic display stored in the building data storage means is read out, and the intersection is stereoscopically displayed while the building is placed beside the road. A navigation device comprising display control means. 2. The display control means extracts only landmarks associated with a guidance point for route guidance from the map data, and selects and displays a building type corresponding to the extracted landmark position. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is controlled by the control unit. 3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit controls to select and display a building type and position at random. 4. The display control means extracts a landmark associated with a guide point for route guidance from the map data, and selects a type of a building corresponding to the extracted landmark at the landmark position. The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the navigation device is controlled to be displayed. 5. The display control means extracts a landmark associated with a guide point for route guidance from the map data, and displays a signboard-like display corresponding to the extracted landmark at the landmark position. The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the navigation device is controlled by the control unit. 6. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit controls to display only a type of building designated in advance. 7. The navigation according to claim 1, wherein the building data storage means is provided with an image input means for inputting stereoscopic display image data captured while the vehicle is traveling. apparatus. 8. A denseness degree estimating means for estimating a denseness degree of a building at a guidance point for route guidance based on map data, wherein the display control means follows the denseness degree estimated by the denseness degree estimating means. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the navigation device is controlled to arrange a displayed building. 9. The map data includes a residential map,
9. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit determines the type of building to be selected from the building data storage unit according to character information indicating a type of building in a residential map. .