JPH10133570A - Navigation device, a medium storing computer program for map display device and map display processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To immediately obtain more geographical information by splitting a map display screen and displaying a map with different information thereon at the same time. SOLUTION: When division of a display screen is selected (step SB10), a screen splitting processing is executed (step SB12). A forward part of a route is displayed (step SB18) or whole remaining routes are displayed (step SB22) on a second screen which is one of the split screens. On the other hand, on a third screen, the map which was displayed before splitting is displayed (step SB14). Then, other guidance and display processing are executed (step SB8).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a map display device or a navigation device for searching a moving route of a ground moving object on the basis of map information and transmitting the moving route to a mobile operator. In particular, the present invention relates to a map display device or a navigation device having an improved display method of map information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional navigation device, a map of an area desired by a user is displayed on a display device. The destination desired by the user is set using the displayed map. Then, the optimal guidance route connecting the set destination and the current position of the vehicle is
The search is performed using the road information recorded in advance.

[0003] The searched guide route is clearly displayed on a map displayed on a display device. While the vehicle is traveling on the guide route, information necessary for traveling is notified to the user by a listening means such as a voice.

[0004]

In such a conventional navigation device, one map is displayed on the entire screen of the display device. However, in recent years, the unit price of the liquid crystal display has been decreasing. Therefore, a display device having a wide display screen can be used.
When a map is displayed on a display device having a wide display screen, geographic information in a wider range can be obtained. Moreover,
If a wide screen is used, it is possible to enlarge and display a map including more detailed geographic information.

[0005] However, there is a case where a wide range of geographic information is not required in the operation state of the vehicle. For example, when the vehicle approaches the vicinity of the destination, it suffices if the geographical positions of the vehicle and the destination can be confirmed. No other geographic information is needed. In this case, necessary geographic information can be sufficiently displayed by using a part of the screen. That is, it is difficult to say that the widened screen of the display device is fully utilized.

[0006] Further, even with a display having a screen of the same size as the conventional one, there is a possibility that the same problem as described above may occur when displaying one map screen. That is, information that is not so necessary may be displayed on the screen in an arbitrary operating condition of the vehicle. Furthermore, when a plurality of recommended routes from the current position of the host vehicle to the destination can be searched, it is not easy to compare the routes if each guide route is displayed on one screen. Even if a plurality of guidance routes are simultaneously displayed on one screen, the entire screen is complicatedly displayed, and accurate and quick route comparison cannot be performed.

[0007] In addition, when the driver departs to a facility near the route while traveling along the guide route, it is conventionally required that the route returning to the original guide route is displayed mainly and the surroundings of the own vehicle are simultaneously displayed. This is not possible with the navigation device.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention divides a screen for displaying a map. Then, when the host vehicle deviates from the first searched guide route, a map showing the newly searched route is displayed on the first screen of the split screen. In addition, along with the display of the first screen, a map showing the previously searched guidance route is displayed on the second screen. The amount of information displayed on the map displayed on the second screen was adjusted according to the traveling state of the host vehicle. Thus, the direction in which the host vehicle should travel and the geographic information around the host vehicle can be checked at the same time.

Further, according to the present invention, a screen for displaying a map is divided. Then, a map including the current position of the own vehicle on the searched route is displayed on the first screen. Then, when a road map around the current position of the vehicle is displayed on the first screen, a road map connected to the guidance route on the first screen and also displaying the final destination is displayed on the second screen. Displayed on the screen.

[0010] Further, the first screen includes a right and left turn direction of the guide route, a direction of the destination,
Alternatively, information on a destination or the like is switched and displayed.

Further, when the vehicle deviates from the guide route searched first, a return route to return to the guide route is displayed on the first screen. In addition, a map centered on the current position of the vehicle is displayed in parallel on the second screen. Note that the return route of the first screen is always maximally displayed on the entire screen.

On the first screen and the second screen, a guide route from the current position of the own vehicle to the destination, which has been searched for different routes, is displayed in parallel so that the guide route can be selected.

When setting a destination or a stopover, the screen is divided, and facility search result information based on a first search condition is displayed on the first screen. And on the second screen,
More search condition options are displayed. Thereafter, the facility extraction result based on the new search condition is displayed on the second screen.
In addition, options showing the new search condition are displayed on the first screen. In other words, in the extraction of facilities, search conditions,
The search results are displayed side by side on the split screen.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

1. Summary of Embodiment In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, a screen for displaying map information is divided into two or more screens (step S in FIG. 6).
B12) Displaying the stored or received first map information (step SB14 in FIG. 6) on one or more of the screens, and displaying the displayed first map information on a screen other than the displayed screen. Different from the map information, the stored or received second map information is simultaneously displayed (step SB in FIG. 6).
18 or step SB22), the first map information is map information (third screen 110) displayed by a predetermined process, and the second map information is map information connected to the first map information. (A second screen 108 in FIG. 14).

In the embodiment according to the present invention described below,
In addition to the features of the above embodiments, the first map information is:
This is map information (third screen 110) representing the surroundings of the vehicle or information of a simplified diagram (FIG. 17) representing the geographical relationship between the vicinity of the departure point or current position of the vehicle and the vicinity of the destination or stopover. The second map information is linked to the first map information, and is capable of displaying a map from the vicinity of the departure point or the current position of the own vehicle to the destination or the stop-by place (second screen 108 in FIG. 16). A map display device (navigation device).

In the embodiments according to the present invention described below, in addition to the features of the above-described embodiments, the navigation device is configured to detect a change in the display content of the screen displaying the map information (FIG. 6). Steps SB10 and SB1
6, SB20), and in accordance with the detection result, the first map information is used as the map information displayed before the switching (step SB14 in FIG. 6). A map display device (navigation device), wherein the second map information is set to be map information to be displayed after the switching.

In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, in addition to the features of the above embodiments, the display screen before the switching of the display contents is not divided or divided (steps in FIG. 6). SB2) The switching of the display contents is performed by the switching operation of the operator, the change of the traveling state of the own vehicle, the change of the vehicle speed of the own vehicle (step SD10 in FIG. 11), the change of the azimuth of the own vehicle, the intersection or the turning point. A map display device (navigation device) characterized by responding to a change in the distance to the own vehicle (step SD2 in FIG. 11) and a change in the distance to a destination or a stopover.

In the embodiments according to the present invention described below, in addition to the features of the above embodiments, the scales of the maps displayed on the respective divided screens are changed individually or in conjunction with each other ( Step SE4 of FIG. 12, step SG of FIG.
4) A navigation device characterized in that:

In the embodiments according to the present invention described below, in addition to the features of the above embodiments, the first map information or the second map information is further sequentially switched to another map information. By this, the display contents of a part or the whole of the divided screen are further sequentially switched individually or simultaneously,
Alternatively, the first map information or the second map information,
Alternatively, either one of the first map information and the second map information, or the original map information before the screen division is displayed on a single screen that is not divided according to further switching of the screen ( In step SB6 in FIG. 6, the switching of the display contents is performed by the switching operation of the operator, the change of the traveling state of the own vehicle, the change of the vehicle speed, the change of the azimuth of the own vehicle, the intersection or the turning point to the own vehicle. A map display device (navigation device) that responds to a change in the distance of the vehicle or a change in the distance to a destination or a stopover.

Embodiments according to the present invention described below are characterized by the first map information and the second map information in addition to the features of the above embodiments.
The screens that display the map information are interchanged with each other, and this exchange is performed by the operator's operation, the operation of the installer, the detection of the driver's position, the change in the traveling state of the own vehicle, the change in the vehicle speed of the own vehicle, Based on the change in the direction of the own vehicle, the change in the distance from the intersection or the turning point to the own vehicle, and the change in the distance to the destination or the stop-by place, the first divided screen is displayed on the screen closer to the driver. A map display device (navigation device), wherein the map information or the second map information is displayed.

In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, in addition to the features of the above embodiments, the first map information is displayed by north-up display (steps SK8 and SK1 in FIG. 19).
4), and the second map information is heading up (see FIG. 1).
9 are displayed by steps SK10 and SK12),
Alternatively, the first map information is information of a map in which the absolute azimuth of north is substantially maintained in any direction of the screen, and the second map information is that the traveling direction of the own vehicle is substantially maintained in any direction of the screen. A map display device (navigation device), which is information of a maintained map.

In the map display device (navigation device) according to the embodiment of the present invention described below, one of the first map information and the second map information is north-up (steps SK8 and SK14 in FIG. 19). ),
The other is heading up (step SK10 in FIG. 19,
SK12), or one of the first map information and the second map information is map information in which the absolute azimuth of north is substantially maintained in any direction on the screen, and the other is self-display. The first map information and the second map information are the same scale or different scales, and are the map information in which the traveling direction of the car is substantially maintained in any direction of the screen. The map information is map information (step SB16 in FIG. 6) extending north, northeast, east, southeast, south, southwest, west, or northwest with respect to the first map information. Operation of the driver, operation of the installer, detection of the driver's position, change in the running state of the vehicle, change in the speed of the vehicle, change in the direction of the vehicle, change in the distance from the intersection or turning point to the vehicle The distance to the destination or stopover Based on, either also being selected.

In a map display apparatus (navigation apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention described below, the first map information may include a vehicle, a departure place, a destination, a drop-in place, or a selected place. , And the second map information is information on a map linked to the first map information, and is a map of the second map information (step S in FIG. 11).
B16) is adjacent to the map of the first map information or adjacent to or ahead of the map of the first map information along the traveling direction of the vehicle or the search route, and the display center of each map is It is also characterized in that they are shifted from each other, and the display ranges of the respective maps do not overlap each other or partially overlap each other.

Further, the map information includes information on a guide target road and a non-guide target road for navigation, which is included in the first map information and / or the second map information.

(A1) In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, a route to the input destination is searched (step SA4 in FIG. 5), and a navigation device (FIG. 5) that provides route guidance according to the route. In step SA5), the screen for displaying the map information is divided into two or more screens (steps SR8 and SR16 in FIG. 35).
The first map information stored or received is displayed on the above screen (step ST12 in FIG. 36), and the second map information stored or received is simultaneously displayed on a screen other than the displayed screen. (Step ST14 in FIG. 36, FIG.
Step SU12), the first map information is map information representing a map near the own vehicle, and the second map information is a return route returning to the guide route over the entire effective display area of the divided screen. A map display device (navigation device) characterized by being map information to be displayed (FIGS. 36 and 37).

(A2) In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, a first guide route from the departure point to the input destination is searched (step SA4 in FIG. 5), and the first guide route is determined according to the first guide route. In a navigation device that performs route guidance (step SA5 in FIG. 5), when a deviation of the host vehicle from the first guidance route is detected (step SQ in FIG. 34).
2) The screen for displaying the map information is divided into two or more screens (steps SR8 and SR16 in FIG. 35), and a return route from the own vehicle position to the first guide route is searched (step SR14 in FIG. 35). The stored or received first map information is displayed on one or more of the screens (step ST12 in FIG. 36), and the stored or received second map information is displayed on a screen other than the displayed screen. The map information is displayed simultaneously (step ST14 in FIG. 36, step SU in FIG. 37).
12) The first map information is map information representing the vehicle and the first guide route (step SQ2 in FIG. 34).
8) The second map information is map information for maximally displaying the area from the own vehicle point on the return route to the end point of the return route in the entire effective display area of the divided screen (FIGS. 36 and 37,
FIG. 38) is a map display device (navigation device).

(A3) The embodiment according to the present invention described below uses a scale of the second map information and / or the first map information.
Is changed as the vehicle moves (see FIG. 3).
8) or / and the second map information is map information for displaying the vehicle at the center of the split screen. (A1) The map display device (Navigation device) according to (A2), .

(A4) In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, when the guidance process by the return route is requested, the screen division is canceled and the return route is displayed on a single screen. (Step SQ12 in FIG. 34) A map display device (navigation device) according to the above (A1), (A2) or (A3), which is characterized by the feature (step SQ12 of FIG. 34).

(A5) In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, when the host vehicle reaches the end point of the return route, the screen division is released, and the first guide route and the host vehicle are displayed on a single screen. (A1) and (A1)
2) The map display device (navigation device) according to (A3) or (A4).

(A6) In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, the screens on which the first map information and the second map information are displayed are exchanged with each other. The operation of the installer, the detection of the position of the driver, the change in the running state of the own vehicle, the change in the vehicle speed of the own vehicle (step SD10 in FIG. 11), the change in the direction of the own vehicle, the change from the intersection or the turning point to the own vehicle. Change in distance (step SD in FIG. 11)
2) The first map information or the second map information is displayed on a screen closer to a driver among the divided screens based on a change in a distance to a destination or a drop-in place. (A1), (A2), (A3),
A map display device (navigation device) according to (A4) or (A5).

(B1) In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, when a search command is input (step SL in FIG. 22)
4) The screen for displaying the map information is divided into two or more screens (step SL10 in FIG. 22), and the stored or received first map information is displayed on one or more of the screens (FIG. 22). Step SL8), the second map information different from the displayed first map information and stored or received is simultaneously displayed on a screen other than the displayed screen (step SL8 in FIG. 22). The first map information includes two or more guide routes that are a guide route to the vicinity of the departure point or the current position of the own vehicle and the vicinity of the input destination or the stop-by place, and that part or all of the routes are different from each other. (Steps SL8 and SL26 in FIG. 22 and steps SP10 and SP3 in FIG. 27).
0) The map display device (navigation device), wherein the second map information is information including at least one guide route other than the guide route included in the first map information.

(B2) In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, each time a search command is input, the guide route included in the first map information and / or the second map information is changed to another one. Switching to the guidance route (step SL in FIG. 22)
28, SL26, steps SP32, SP3 in FIG.
0) The map display device (navigation device) according to the above (B1), characterized in that:

(B3) In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, every time a search command is input, the guidance route included in the first map information is changed to the guidance included in the second map information. In addition to the route, the second map information includes another new guide route (steps SL28 and SL26 in FIG. 22, steps SP32 and SP32 in FIG. 27).
SP30) or (B1) or (B
2) The map display device (navigation device) described above.

(B4) In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, the screens on which the first map information and the second map information are displayed are exchanged with each other. The operation of the installer, the detection of the position of the driver, the change in the running state of the own vehicle, the change in the vehicle speed of the own vehicle (step SD10 in FIG. 11), the change in the direction of the own vehicle, the change from the intersection or the turning point to the own vehicle. Change in distance (step SD in FIG. 11)
2) The first map information or the second map information is displayed on a screen closer to a driver among the divided screens based on a change in a distance to a destination or a drop-in place. (B1), (B2) or (B3)
It is a map display device (navigation device) described.

(C1) In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, a route to the input destination is searched for (step SA3 in FIG. 5), and route guidance is performed according to this route (FIG. 5).
In the map display device (navigation device) performing step SA5), the screen for displaying the map information is divided into two or more screens (step SX60 in FIG. 62), and stored or received on one or more of these screens. The displayed first information is displayed (step S62 in FIG. 62), and the stored or received second information is simultaneously displayed on a screen other than the displayed screen (step SX64 in FIG. 62). Is the extraction result of the destination or the stop-by place according to the first search condition (step SX94 in FIG. 63, FIG. 65).
Step SX141), the second information is a result of extraction of a destination or a stop-by place by a second search condition in which an additional condition is added to the first search condition (Step SX140).
A map display device (navigation device).

(C2) In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, the first information is changed to the second information in response to a search repetition command, and the second information is changed according to a new search condition. The result of the extraction of the destination or the stop-by place is determined (steps SX140, SX141, SX14 in FIG. 65).
7) According to a return instruction, the second information is used as the first information, and the first information is an extraction result of a destination or a drop-in place based on the immediately preceding search condition. The map display device (navigation device) according to the above (C1).

(C3) In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, each time a search command is input, an additional condition is superimposed on each of the first search condition and / or the second search condition. (C1) or the map display device (navigation device) according to (C2).

(C4) In the embodiment of the present invention described below, the first search condition specifies an area by all or a part of an identification number corresponding to a region, and the second search condition is Extracting the streets in the respective areas, and the additional condition is that the facilities in the streets are selected according to genre, business contents, business hours, business items, the distance from the own vehicle, or the distance from the guide route. (C1), (C2) or (C3).

(C5) The embodiment according to the present invention described below is characterized in that the additional condition is superimposed or reduced on the first search condition and / or the second search condition according to the switching command. (C1), (C2), (C
3) or the map display device (navigation device) described in (C4).

(C6) In the embodiment according to the present invention described below, the screens on which the first map information and the second map information are displayed are exchanged with each other. The operation of the installer, the detection of the driver's position, the change of the running state of the own vehicle, the change of the speed of the own vehicle, the change of the direction of the own vehicle, the change of the distance from the intersection or the turning point to the own vehicle, the destination or The first map information or the second map information is displayed on a screen closer to the driver among the divided screens based on a change in the distance to the stop-over location (C1), (C1). C2), (C3), (C
4) or the map display device (navigation device) described in (C5).

2. 1. Overall Circuit FIG. 1 shows an overall circuit of a navigation device according to the present invention. The central processing unit 1 controls the operation of the entire navigation device. The central processing unit 1 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 2, a flash memory 3, a ROM 4, and a RAM (Ra).
and a communication interface 8, an image processor 9, an image memory 10, an audio processor 11, and a clock 14. The CPU 2 to the clock 14 are interconnected by a CPU local bus 15. Under the control of the CPU 2, various types of information data are exchanged between devices such as the flash memory 3.

The flash memory 3 is composed of an electrically erasable and writable memory (EEPROM) or the like. The flash memory 3 (internal storage medium / means) includes an information storage unit 3 such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk.
7 (external storage medium / means) is transcribed and stored (installed / transferred). In addition, the flash memory 3 is connected to an external device such as a main information processing device.
It is also possible to store the program 38b transmitted via the. Therefore, if the program stored in the flash memory 3 is changed, processing by a new routine becomes possible. The program 38b is a program corresponding to each flowchart described below,
2 is a program for various processes executed in Step 2. For example,
The program 38b includes information display control and voice guidance control.

The installation (transfer / copy) is automatically executed when the information storage unit 37 is set in the navigation device or when the power of the navigation device is turned on. Alternatively, it may be installed by an operation by an operator. The information storage unit 37 stores disk management information 38a including a label, a file identifier, and the like, and the updated version of the program in the information storage unit 37 is determined based on the disk management information 38a. The information storage unit 37 can be replaced with another information storage unit 37. Therefore, whether or not the new information storage unit 37 has been set is determined based on the information content of the disk management information 38a.

For example, since a program and management information relating to the program are stored in the flash memory 3, when a new information storage unit 37 is set, the management information of the flash memory 3 and the disk management information 38
a is compared. When it is determined that the information storage unit 37 including the new program has been set, the program 38b of the information storage unit 37
Installed in Thus, the latest program 38 b and data 38 are stored in the flash memory 3.
c will always be saved. As a result, the latest navigation device is realized by replacing the information storage unit 37.

The information stored in the flash memory 3 includes various parameters used in the navigation operation. The second ROM 4 stores display graphic data and various general-purpose data. The display graphic data is data necessary for route guidance and map display displayed on the display 33. The various general-purpose data is data used at the time of navigation, such as voice waveform data obtained by synthesizing a guidance voice or recording a real voice.

The RAM 5 stores data input from the outside, various parameters used for calculation, calculation results, a navigation program, and the like.
That is, the RAM 5 is also used as a cache memory or the like. The clock 14 has a counter and a battery backup R
It is composed of an AM or an EEPROM. From this clock 14, time information is output.

The sensor input interface 7 has an A / D
It is composed of a conversion circuit or a buffer circuit. Each sensor of the current position detecting device 20 is connected to the sensor input interface 7. Current position detection device 2
The sensor data of the analog signal or the digital signal is input to the sensor input interface 7 from each of the 0 sensors. The sensors of the current position detecting device 20 include an absolute direction sensor 21, a relative direction sensor 22, a distance sensor 23, and a vehicle speed sensor 24.

The absolute direction sensor 21 is, for example, a terrestrial magnetism sensor and detects terrestrial magnetism. The absolute direction sensor 21 outputs data indicating the north-south direction as the absolute direction. The relative direction sensor 22 is, for example, a steering angle sensor using a gyro device such as an optical fiber gyro or a piezoelectric vibrating gyro. The steering angle of the wheel is detected by the steering angle sensor. Then, the relative direction sensor 22 outputs the relative angle of the traveling direction of the vehicle with respect to the absolute direction detected by the absolute direction sensor 21.

The distance sensor 23 is composed of, for example, a counter linked to a traveling distance meter. From the distance sensor 23, data indicating the traveling distance of the host vehicle is output. The speed sensor 24 is constituted by a counter or the like connected to a speed meter. The speed sensor 24 outputs data proportional to the traveling speed of the host vehicle.

An I / O data bus 28 is connected to the communication interface 8 of the central processing unit 1. This I /
The O data bus 28 includes the GPS of the current position detecting device 20.
The receiving device 25, the beacon receiving device 26, and the data transmitting / receiving device 27 are connected. Further, the I / O data bus 28 includes a touch switch 34 of the input / output device 30,
The printer 35 and the information storage unit 37 are connected. That is, by the communication interface 8, each attached device is
Various data are exchanged with the CPU local bus 15.

As described above, the current position detecting device 20 outputs data for detecting the current position of the host vehicle. That is, the absolute azimuth sensor 21 detects the absolute azimuth. The relative azimuth sensor 22 detects a relative azimuth with respect to the absolute azimuth. Further, the traveling distance is detected by the distance sensor 23. The traveling speed of the host vehicle is detected by the speed sensor 24. GPS receiving device 25
(Global Positioning System
m) (microwaves from a plurality of orbiting satellites), and geographical position data such as the latitude and longitude of the vehicle is detected.

Similarly, the beacon receiver 26 receives a beacon wave from an information providing system such as a VICS (road traffic information communication system). Then, from the beacon receiving device 26, the nearby road information data or G
The PS correction data and the like are output to the I / O data bus 28.

The data transmitting / receiving device 27 communicates with a bidirectional current position information providing system using cellular phones, FM multiplex signals, telephone lines or the like, or with an ATIS (traffic information service) or the like, or with current vehicle information. Information about nearby road conditions is transmitted and received. These pieces of information are used as position detection information of the own vehicle or operation assistance information. The beacon receiving device 26 and the data transmitting / receiving device 27 may not be provided. As the data transmitting / receiving device 27, a radio receiver, a television receiver, a mobile phone, a pager, or another wireless communication device is used.

The input / output device 30 includes a display 33, a transparent touch panel 34, a printer 35 and a speaker 13.
Consists of The display information is displayed on the display 33 during the navigation operation. Touch panel 34
Is attached on the screen of the display 33, and is provided with a transparent touch switch (a contact switch formed of a transparent electrode or
A plurality of piezoelectric switches) are arranged in a planar matrix. Information necessary for setting a destination such as a departure point, a destination, and a passing point is selected and input from the touch panel 34 to the navigation device.

The printer 35 prints various information such as maps and facility guides output via the communication interface 8. Each information is transmitted from the speaker 13 to the user by voice. Note that the printer 35 may not be provided.

As the display 33, CR
A device capable of displaying image information such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display is used. However, a liquid crystal display with low power consumption, high visibility, and light weight is preferable as the display 33. In this embodiment, a wide liquid crystal display having a wider screen is used as the display 33.

The display 33 may be composed of two or more separable liquid crystal displays. Each liquid crystal display is connected to the image processor 9 by an independent video signal cable. Moreover, each liquid crystal display may be installed at a different position.

The image processor 9 connected to the display 33 is connected to an image memory 10 such as a DRAM (Dynamic RAM) or a dual port DRAM. The image processor 9 controls the image memory 10
The writing control of the image data to the CPU is performed. Further, under the control of the image processor 9, data is read from the image memory 10 and an image is displayed on the display 33.

In accordance with the division of the display 33, the image memory 10 is also divided into one for the second screen and one for the third surface. According to this division mode, the address designation of each image memory element of the image memory 10 is also divided into the second screen and the third screen.

The image processor 9 converts map data and character data into display image data in accordance with a drawing command from the CPU 2 and writes the display data into the image memory 10. At this time, an image around the screen, which is displayed on the display 33 for scrolling the screen, is also formed and simultaneously written into the image memory 10.

When the display screen of the display 33 is divided, the memory area of the image memory 10 is also divided so as to conform to the screen division. Then, independent image data is written into each divided memory area of the image memory 10.

The audio processor 11 is connected to the speaker 13. The audio processor 11 is connected to the CPU 2 and the ROM 4 via the CPU local bus 15. Then, the voice waveform data for the guidance voice read from the ROM 4 is input to the voice processor 11 by the CPU 2. The audio waveform data is converted into an analog signal by the audio processor 11 and output from the speaker 13. The audio processor 11 and the image processor 9 may be configured by a general-purpose DSP (digital signal processor) or the like.

An information storage section 37 is connected to the I / O data bus 28 via a data transmission / reception section 39. The information storage unit 37 stores disk management information 38a and a program 3 for controlling the above-described navigation operations.
8b and data 38c such as map information are stored. The disk management information 38a includes the information storage unit 37.
The information about the data and the programs stored therein is stored. For example, it is version information of the program 38b. Data necessary for the navigation operation, such as road map data, is recorded in the data 38c in a nonvolatile manner. The information storage unit 37 performs data read control with the I / O data bus 28.
A data transmitting / receiving unit 39 is provided.

Further, as the information storage unit 37 of the present invention,
In addition to an optical memory such as a CD-ROM, the following devices may be used. For example, a storage (recording) medium such as a semiconductor memory such as an IC memory and an IC memory card, a magnetic memory such as a magneto-optical disk and a hard disk, and a rewritable storage medium may be used. The data transmitting / receiving unit 39
When the recording medium of the information recording unit 37 is changed, a data pickup suitable for the changed recording medium is provided. For example, if the recording medium is a hard disk, the data transmission / reception unit 39 includes a magnetic signal writing / reading device such as a core head.

The data 38c of the information storage unit 37 includes map data, intersection data,
Node data, road data, photograph data, destination point data, guide point data, detailed destination data, destination reading data, house shape data, and other data are stored.
Further, the navigation operation is executed by the program 38b stored in the information storage unit 37 using the road map data of the data 38c. The navigation program is read from the information storage unit 37 by the data transmission / reception unit 39 and written in the flash memory 3. Other data include display guidance data, voice guidance data, simplified guidance route image data, and the like.

The data 38c of the information storage unit 37 stores map data of different scales and map data of one scale. That is, the data 38c
In addition, maps of the same area, each having a different scale, are recorded. Alternatively, map data of one scale is recorded in the data 38c. If map data of one scale is recorded, the scale is
It is assumed that the map is displayed largest.

It should be noted that only one map data is the data 38
When a small-scale map, that is, a map (wide-area map) displaying a wide geographical area is displayed on the display 33 in the case where the data is recorded in the data c, information is thinned out from the map data recorded in the data 38c. Is displayed. In the thinning-out display of the map data of the data 38c, not only the geographical distance of each road and the like is reduced, but also the thinning-out of display symbol information of facilities and the like.

3. FIG. 2 shows the contents of each data file stored in the data 38c of the information storage unit 37. The map data file F1 stores map data such as a national road map, a local road map, or a house map. On the road map,
The main roads, highways, narrow streets, and other roads and ground targets (facilities, etc.) are displayed. The house map is a city map on which a figure representing an outer shape of a ground building or the like and road names are displayed. The narrow street is a road that is not used in a route search process of FIG. 5 described later. For example, narrow streets having a width equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, and city roads and private roads other than national roads or prefectural roads are narrow streets.

The intersection data file F2 stores data on intersections such as geographical position coordinates and names of intersections. The node data file F3 stores, for example, geographic coordinate data of each node used for a route search on a map. The road data file F4 stores data on roads, such as the position and type of road, the number of lanes, and the connection relationship between roads. The photograph data file F5 stores image data of photographs of places where visual display is required, such as various facilities, sightseeing spots, and major intersections.

In the destination data file F6, data such as locations and names of places and facilities which are likely to be destinations such as corporations and establishments described in main sightseeing spots, buildings and telephone directories are stored. It is remembered. Guide point data file F7
Stores guidance data of points where guidance such as the contents of guidance display boards installed on roads and guidance of junctions is required. The detailed destination data file F8 stores detailed data relating to the destination stored in the destination data file F6. The road name data file F10 stores name data of main roads among the roads stored in the road data file F4. The branch point name data file F11 stores name data of main branch points. The address data file F11 stores list data for searching a destination stored in the destination data file F6 from an address.

The area / city station number list file F12 stores list data of only the city / city station numbers of the destination stored in the destination data file F6. The registered telephone number file F13 stores telephone number data to be remembered, such as business partners registered by a manual operation of the user. The landmark data file F14 stores data such as the position of a landmark on the way of travel and the position and name of a place to be remembered, which are input by the user through a manual operation. The point data file F15 stores detailed data of the landmark points stored in the landmark data file F14. In the facility data file F16, data such as the position and description of a target such as a place to visit other than the destination such as a gas station, a convenience store, or a parking lot is stored.

4. Data Content of RAM 5 FIG. 3 shows a part of a data group stored in the RAM 5.
The current position data MP is data representing the current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detection device 20. The absolute azimuth data ZD is data indicating the north-south direction, and is obtained based on information from the absolute azimuth sensor 21. The relative azimuth data Dθ is angle data that the traveling direction of the host vehicle makes with respect to the absolute azimuth data ZD. The relative azimuth data Dθ is obtained based on information from the relative azimuth sensor 22.

The traveling distance data ML is the traveling distance of the own vehicle, and is obtained based on data from the distance sensor 23. The current position information PI is data relating to the current position, and is stored in the beacon receiving device 26 or the data transmitting / receiving device 2.
7 is input. The VICS data VD and the ATIS data AD are data input from the beacon receiving device 26 or the data transmitting / receiving device 27. Using the VICS data VD, the error correction of the own vehicle position detected by the GPS receiver 25 is executed. In addition, the local traffic regulation and traffic congestion are determined based on the ATIS data AD.

The registered destination data TP is data on the destination registered by the user, such as the coordinate position and name of the destination. In the guidance start point data SP, map coordinate data of a point where the navigation operation is started is stored. Similarly, the final guide point data ED stores the map coordinate data of the point where the navigation operation ends.

The node coordinates on the guide road closest to the current position or the departure point of the vehicle are used as the guidance start point data SP. This guidance start point data SP
Is stored because the current position of the vehicle according to the current position data MP is, for example, in a site such as a golf course or a parking lot, and is not necessarily on the guide road. Similarly, the guidance final point data ED also stores the node coordinates on the guidance road closest to the registered destination data TP. The reason why the guidance final point data ED is stored is that the coordinates of the registered destination data TP may not be on the guidance road.

Guide route data MW stored in RAM 5
Is data indicating an optimal route to the destination or a recommended route, and is obtained by a route search process or a re-search process of step SA4 described later. Each road in the road map stored in the data 38c of the information storage unit 37 has a unique road number. The guide route data MW includes a row of road numbers from the guide start point data SP to the last guide point data ED.

The mode set data MD is data used in a destination setting process described later. The mode set data MD is set by a touch switch 34 laminated on the display 33. The mode content displayed on the display 33 is specified by the mode set data MD. The stopover DP is
This is information on facilities and the like that drop in during the guidance route.

The screen state GJ is data indicating the display state of the display 33. That is, the display screen of the display 33 is divided by the processing of a program described later. The screen state GJ data is
Indicates whether the display screen is divided or single screen. Therefore, every time the display state of the display 33 is switched, the data of the screen state GJ is rewritten.

The cross point CSP is data used in a route forward display process described later. Specifically, the screen of the display 33 is divided and displayed, and represents the geographical coordinates of the end point in the guide route displayed on one of the divided screens. Starting from the cross point CSP, a guide route is displayed on the other divided screen.

The scale WDA of the first screen is
3 represents a reduced scale of a map displayed on a single screen before division. The scale WDB of the second screen is a screen after the division of the display 33, and represents a scale of a map displayed on a screen closer to the auxiliary seat. Therefore, the second screen is a screen on the passenger seat side of the divided screen for convenience. Similarly, the scale WDC of the third screen represents the scale of the map displayed on the screen close to the driver after the division. That is, the third screen is a screen on the driver side of the divided screen. In the present invention, the second screen may be a driver-side screen of the divided screen, and the third screen may be a passenger-side screen.

The horizontal distance XLM represents a geographical straight line distance that can be displayed in the horizontal direction of the screen in the map displayed on the screen of the display 33 according to the designated scale.
Similarly, the vertical distance YLM represents a geographical straight line distance that can be displayed in the vertical direction of the screen in a map displayed on the screen of the display 33 according to the specified reduced scale.

The point node NDP is data used in a program “displayable range calculation processing” described later. Specifically, it is the coordinate value of a node displayed at the screen edge of the guide route displayed on the split screen. Details will be described later.

5. Road Data FIG. 4 shows a part of the road data in the road data file F4 stored in the information storage unit 37. The road data file F4 includes information on roads having a certain width or more that exist in the area stored in the map data file. Assuming that the number of roads included in the road data file F4 is n, road data on n roads is included. Each road data is composed of road number data, guidance target flag, road attribute data, shape data, guidance data, and length data.

Each country road included in the map data in the information storage unit 37 is divided into the minimum units. The identification number given to each of the divided roads is road number data. In the guidance target flag of the road data file F4, "1" is stored for a guidance target road, and "0" is stored for a non-guide target road. The guidance target road is a predetermined width such as a main road or a general road that is equal to or larger than a prefectural road, for example, a width of 5.
It is a road that is 5 meters or longer and is a route search target. The non-guidance target road is a narrow narrow street having a width equal to or less than a predetermined width such as a road or an alley, for example, a width of less than 5.5 meters, and is a road that is not targeted for route search. Further, the guide target road may be set as a trunk road equal to or higher than a prefectural road, and the non-guide target road may be set as a trunk road equal to or lower than a prefectural road.

The road attribute data is data indicating attributes of an elevated road, an underpass, an expressway, a toll road, and the like. The shape data is data indicating the shape of the road. For example, the shape data is composed of the coordinate data of the start point and the end point of the road and the coordinate data of each node between the start point and the end point.

The guidance data is composed of intersection name data, attention point data, road name data, road name voice data, and destination data. The intersection name data is data representing the name of the intersection when the end point of the road is an intersection. The caution data is data relating to caution points on the road, such as railroad crossings, tunnel entrances, tunnel exits, and width reduction points. The road name voice data is voice data representing a road name used for voice guidance.

The destination data is data relating to a road connected to the end point of the road (this is referred to as a destination), and is composed of the number of destinations k and data for each destination. The data relating to the destination includes destination road number data, destination name data, destination name voice data, destination direction data, and travel guidance data.

The destination road number data indicates the road number of the destination. The name of the destination road is indicated by the destination name data. The destination name voice data stores voice data for voice guidance of the destination name. The direction of the destination road is indicated by the destination direction data. The travel guidance data is guidance data for guiding the user to approach the right lane, the left lane, or travel in the center of the road to enter the destination road. The length data is data on the length from the start point to the end point of the road, the length from the start point to each node, and the length between each node.

6. Overall Processing FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the CPU 2 of the navigation device according to the present invention.
2 shows a flowchart of the entire process executed by the control unit. This process starts when the power is turned on and ends when the power is turned off. The turning on and off of the power is executed when the power of the navigation device itself is turned on and off, or when the engine start key (ignition switch) of the vehicle is turned on and off.

The initialization process in step SA1 in FIG. 5 is as follows. First, a navigation program is read from the information storage unit 37. The read navigation program is copied to the flash memory 3. Thereafter, the program of the flash memory 3 is executed. Further, the CPU 2 clears a general-purpose data storage area in each RAM such as the work memory of the RAM 5 and the image memory 10.

The copying of the program to the flash memory 3 is executed when a new program 38b is set in the navigation device by exchanging the information storage section 37. That is, the copying of the program to the flash memory 3 is performed only when the new information storage unit 37 is set in the navigation device for the first time.

Then, the current position processing (step SA)
2), destination setting processing (step SA3), route search processing (step SA4), guidance / display processing (step SA3)
5) and other processing (step SA6) are cyclically executed. The destination setting process (step SA)
3) and the route search process (step SA4) are not performed repeatedly when the destination does not change or the vehicle departs from the route.

In the current position processing (step SA2), the geographical coordinates (latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the vehicle, which is the ground moving body on which the navigation device is loaded, are detected. That is, the GPS receiver 25 receives radio waves from a plurality of satellites orbiting the earth. From the radio waves from each satellite, the coordinate position of each satellite, the radio wave transmission time at the satellite, and the radio wave reception time at the GPS receiver 25 are detected. From these information, the distance to each satellite is obtained by calculation. From the distance from each satellite, the coordinate position of the vehicle on the earth surface is obtained.
The obtained coordinate position of the vehicle is represented by the current position data M
It is stored in the RAM 5 as P. The current position data MP may be corrected by information input from the beacon receiving device 26 or the data receiving device 27.

In the current position processing (step SA2), the absolute azimuth data ZD and the relative azimuth data Dθ
And the travel distance data ML are obtained using the absolute direction sensor 21, the relative direction sensor 22, and the distance sensor 23. From the absolute azimuth data ZD, the relative azimuth data Dθ, and the traveling distance data ML, an arithmetic process for specifying the own vehicle position is performed. The position of the host vehicle obtained by this calculation process is compared with the map data stored in the data 38c of the information storage unit 37, and correction is performed so that the current position on the map screen is accurately displayed. By this correction processing, even when a GPS signal cannot be received in a tunnel or the like, the current position of the own vehicle can be accurately obtained.

In the destination setting process (step SA3),
The geographical coordinates of the destination desired by the user are set as the registered destination data TP. For example, the coordinates of the destination are specified by the user using a road map or a house map displayed on the display 33. Or, from the itemized list of destinations displayed on the display 33,
The destination is specified by the user. When the user performs a destination designation operation, information data such as geographic coordinates of the destination is stored in the RAM 5 as registered destination data TP.

In the route search processing (step SA4), an optimum route from the guidance start point data SP to the final guide point data ED is searched. Note that the optimum route here is, for example, a route that can reach the destination in the shortest time or the shortest distance, or a route that preferentially uses a wider road. Alternatively, when a highway is used, the route may be a route that can reach the destination in the shortest time or the shortest distance using the highway.

The same data as the current position data MP is set in the guidance start point data SP, or
The node data of the guidance target road close to the current position data MP is set. Note that there is an auto reroute mode in which, when the current traveling position of the host vehicle deviates from the guide route, an optimal route from the deviated current position to the final guide point is automatically re-searched. If the auto reroute mode is not set, the route is not searched again. When a stopover point is set as the guide route, a route via the stopover point may be searched.

In the guidance / display processing (step SA5),
The guidance route obtained in the route search process (step SA4) is displayed on the display 3 with the current position of the vehicle as the center.
3 is displayed. The guidance route displayed on the display 33 is displayed on the display map so as to be identifiable. For example, on the map displayed on the display 33, only the guidance route is displayed in different colors. Further, according to this guide route, road guidance information is output from the speaker 13 so that the vehicle can travel favorably. Similarly, various kinds of guidance information are displayed on the display 33 at any time. As the image data for displaying the guidance route, the road map data around the current position in the data 38c in the information storage unit 37 or the house map data around the current position is used.

The switching between the road map data and the house map data is performed under the following conditions. For example, a guide point (destination, drop-in place, intersection, etc.)
Distance, the speed of the host vehicle, the size of the displayable area, the switch operation of the operator, or the like. In addition, guidance points (destinations, stopovers, intersections, etc.)
In the vicinity, an enlarged map near the guide point is displayed on the display 33. Note that a simplified guidance route image may be displayed on the display 33 instead of the road map.
In the simplified guide route image, for example, display of geographical information is omitted, and only necessary minimum information such as a guide route, a direction of a destination or a stopover place, and a current position is displayed.

Further, as will be described later, the screen of the display 33 on which information such as a map is displayed is divided into two in response to the operation of the operator. The two screens display various types of guidance information and road information by independent operations.

After the guidance / display processing in step SA5, other processing (step SA6) is executed. In the “other processing” of step SA6, the nearest facility processing may be executed. The nearest facility process is a process of searching for and specifying a stopover place (facility, etc.) other than the registered destination data TP. The data relating to the drop-in place is determined using a map displayed on the display 33 or item information. The nearest facility processing is performed in the same manner as the destination setting processing in step SA3.

Further, in other processes, for example, it is determined whether or not the traveling position of the own vehicle is along the calculated guide route. Further, it is also determined whether or not a destination change command has been input by an operator's switch operation. When the processing in step SA6 ends, the processing is repeated from the current position processing (step SA2) again. In addition,
Even when the vehicle has arrived at the destination, the route guidance / display process is terminated, and the process returns to step SA2 again. In this manner, the processing from step SA2 to step SA6 is sequentially repeated.

7. Guide / Display Process of First Embodiment The guide / display process is an information notifying process for causing the own vehicle to travel along the guide route. That is, the guidance route is searched in step SA4. The searched guidance route is displayed on the display 33. Moreover, the displayed guidance route is always displayed such that the vehicle is at the center of the screen. In addition, information about a point to be turned right or left in the guide route is notified as needed. As described above, the process of informing or displaying various information at any time so that the vehicle can travel favorably along the guidance route is the guidance / display process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the guidance / display processing performed in this embodiment. First, it is determined whether the display screen of the display 33 is in the split state (step SB2). For example, when the display screen of the display 33 is long in the horizontal direction, the display screen is divided into two left and right screens with the center of the screen as a boundary. Then, a unique map is displayed for each divided screen. In addition,
In the present embodiment, the passenger side screen of the split screen of the display 33 is defined as a second screen, and the driver side screen is defined as a third screen. Therefore, in a right-hand drive vehicle, the screen on the left side of the display 33 is the second screen. vice versa,
In a left-hand drive car, the screen on the right side of the display 33 is the second screen.

When the screen is determined to be in the divided state by the processing in step SB2, it is determined whether or not a screen division release request has been input (step SB4). The cancel request command is input when a specific switch of the touch switch 34 is pressed. Note that, instead of the touch switch 34, a push switch or the like provided at the lower part of the screen of the display 33 may be used.

If there is a screen division release request, a subroutine "single screen display processing" is executed (step SB).
6). In the single screen processing, a map is displayed on the entire screen of the display 33 based on the scale of the first screen before division. This “single screen display process” will be described later in detail. When the single-screen display process is completed, a subroutine "other guidance / display process" is executed (step SB8). In this step SB8, information on the guide route on which the host vehicle travels is displayed or notified as needed.

When the “other guidance / display processing” processing is completed, the processing returns to the “whole processing” flow of FIG. On the other hand, if there is no screen division release request in step SB4, the “third screen display processing” of the subroutine
Is executed (step SB14). This “display processing of the third screen” will be described later.

If it is determined in step SB2 that the display screen of the display 33 is not in the split state, it is determined whether a screen split request has been input (step SB10). This screen division request is also input when a specific switch set on the touch switch 34 is pressed.

If there is no screen division request, step SB
8 "Other guidance / display processing" is executed. However, when there is a screen division request, a subroutine "screen division processing" is executed (step SB12). In this “screen division processing”, the display screen of the display 33 is divided into two screens with the center of the screen as a boundary. Then, an independent map or guidance information is displayed on each split screen. This “screen division processing” will be described later in detail.

When the “screen division processing” of step SB12 is executed, a subroutine “display processing of third screen” is further executed (step SB14). In the “display process of the third screen”, a process of switching the information displayed on the third screen according to the traveling state of the host vehicle is performed. This “display processing of the third screen” will be described later.

When the "display processing of the third screen" in step SB14 is completed, it is determined whether or not the route forward display mode has been selected by the operator (step SB1).
6). If the route forward display mode is selected, a "route forward display process" of a subroutine is executed (step SB18). In this “route forward display processing”, the upper end of the guidance route displayed on the third screen (cross point C
A process of displaying a guidance route leading to SP) on the second screen is executed. This “route front display process” will be described later in detail.

When the "front route display processing" in step SB18 is completed, the "other guidance / display processing" in step SB8 is executed. Then, the process returns to the flow of the “overall process” in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step SB16 that the route forward display mode has not been selected, it is determined whether the all route display mode has been selected (step SB20). The choice of this all route display mode is
Input is performed by pressing a specific switch set on the touch switch 34. When the all route display mode is selected, a subroutine "all route (front) display process" is executed (step SB22). If the all route display mode is not selected, the “other guidance / display processing” of step SB8 is executed.

In the above “all route (forward) display processing”,
A process of connecting to the upper end of the guidance route displayed on the third screen and displaying the guidance route to the destination on the second screen is executed. This subroutine "all route (front) display processing" will be described later in detail. After this all route (front) display processing, "other guidance / display processing" of step SB8 is executed. After that, the process returns to the flow of the “overall process” in FIG.

8. Single Screen Display Processing FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a subroutine of “single screen processing”. In the single screen process, a process of returning the split screen of the display 33 to a single screen is performed. at first,
The screen state GJ of the RAM 5 is read (step SH)
2). This screen state GJ represents the display mode of the map displayed on the third screen in the split state.

For example, when a map including a narrow street is displayed on the third screen in the divided state, information indicating the display mode is stored in the RAM 5 as the screen state GJ. Then, based on the screen state GJ, a map is displayed on the screen where the division has been canceled. Therefore, when the map including the narrow street is displayed on the third screen at the time of the division, the map including the narrow street is displayed on the first screen after the division is released. Note that the first screen means the entire screen of the display 33 that is not in the split state.

Thus, based on the read screen state GJ, it is determined whether or not the narrow street is included in the map displayed on the third screen (step SH4). If a narrow street is included, the “scale WDC of the third screen” in the RAM 5 is displayed.
Is read (step SH6). Then, a map based on the screen state GJ and having a reduced scale WDC is displayed on the entire screen of the display 33 (step SH).
8). That is, the map including the narrow street is displayed on the first screen after the division is released.

On the other hand, when the map including the narrow street is not displayed on the third screen, the “scale WD of the first screen” in the RAM 5 is displayed.
"A" is read (step SH10). Then, a map based on the screen state GJ and on the reduced scale WDA is displayed on the entire screen of the display 33 (step SH12). When a simplified diagram is displayed on the third screen at the time of division, the display mode is stored in the screen state GJ. Therefore, this simplified diagram is displayed on the first screen after the division is released.

When the screen division of the display 33 is canceled in step SH8 or SH12,
The flow returns to the guidance / display processing of FIG.

9. Screen Dividing Process FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the subroutine “screen dividing process” of FIG. In this screen division processing, the entire screen of the display 33 is divided, and a second screen and a third screen are formed. This screen division is performed as follows.
Image data displayed on the display 33 is written to the image memory 10. Therefore, the memory area of the image memory 10 is divided according to the divided screen. Different map information is written by the image processor 9 in each memory area of the divided image memory 10. Thereby, the display screen of the display 33 is divided into two. Moreover, different map information is displayed on each screen.

Note that the division position of the screen is not particularly limited in the present invention, but in the present embodiment, it is set substantially at the center of the screen of the display 33.

At the beginning of the screen division processing, the display mode of the first screen, that is, the screen before division is detected (step SC).
2). Based on the detected display mode, it is determined whether or not a road map including a narrow street is displayed on the first screen (step SC4). If the map including the narrow street is displayed on the first screen, the road map excluding the narrow street is displayed on the second screen (passenger seat side screen) after the screen division (step SC).
6). Then, a road map having the same display mode as the first screen is displayed on the third screen (driver's seat side screen) after the screen division (step SC8). Here, a road map including narrow streets is displayed on the third screen.

On the other hand, if a road map that does not include a narrow street is displayed on the first screen before screen division, a road map that includes a narrow street is displayed on the second screen (passenger seat side screen) (step SC18). ). Then, a road map not including the narrow street is displayed on the third screen (step SC20).

As described above, a map different from the screen before the division is displayed on the second screen of the divided screen. Then, on the third screen of the divided screen, a map in the same mode as the screen before the division is displayed.

Thereafter, the display mode of the road map displayed on the third screen is stored as the screen state GJ in the RAM 5 (step SC10). If the road map including the narrow street is displayed on the third screen, data representing the mode is set in the screen state GJ. The other data set in the screen state GJ include a simplified diagram display mode or a diagram display mode showing only the right / left turn direction.

When a road map other than the simplified map is displayed on the third screen, the geographical coordinates of the guide route whose display is interrupted at the edge of the screen are detected. Then, the detected geographic coordinate values are stored in the RAM 5 as a cross point CSP (step SC12). Note that this cross point CS
P is a point on the guide route that is ahead of the current position of the own vehicle on the guide route and that is interrupted on the display map on the third screen.

The scale of the first screen before division is RA
M5 is stored as “scale WDA of first screen” (step SC14). Further, the “scale WD of the first screen”
"A" is stored in the RAM 5 as "scale WDB of the second screen".
Then, it is copied as “scale WDC of third screen” (step SC16). This is because the display screen of the display 33 is immediately after the division, and the maps of the same scale are displayed on both the second screen and the third screen. Therefore, the second
If the scale of each of the screen and the third screen is changed, each scale W
The values of DB and WDC are changed.

When the data of the scale WDA is copied to the scale WDB and WDC, the flow returns to the guidance / display processing of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state of the map displayed on the display 33 before division. That is, the state of the first screen is shown. Symbol 100 indicates the current position of the vehicle and the traveling direction. On this screen 104, only the main arterial roads 102 are displayed. The symbol 130 indicates the north of the absolute bearing. The numerical value 132 of the symbol 130 represents the scale of the map displayed on the screen 104. In FIG. 9, the scale is 1
It can be seen from the numerical value 132 that the value is / 400.

FIG. 10 shows the display 3 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state where a third display screen 104 is divided into two right and left parts. Symbol 112 in FIG. 10 indicates the current position of the vehicle and the traveling direction. On the second screen 108, the main highway 102 and the narrow street 116 are displayed. Also, the third
On the screen 110, only the main highway 102 is displayed. As described above, the road map having the same display mode as the first screen before the division is displayed on the third screen.

Symbols 134 and 138 in FIG. 10 indicate the north of the absolute bearing. Numerical value 136 indicates the contraction scale of the second screen.
Numerical value 140 indicates a contraction scale of the third screen. Information represented by the numerical value 136 is stored in the “scale WDB of the second screen”.
Information represented by the numerical value 140 is stored in the “scale WDC of the third screen”.

In the above-described screen division processing, a map having a display mode different from that of the third screen is displayed on the second screen.
A map in the same mode as the third screen may be displayed on the second screen.

10. Third Screen Display Processing FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of “third screen display processing” in FIG. In the "third screen display process", a process of changing the scale of the road map displayed on the third screen and the like are executed.

First, it is determined whether the distance between the current position of the host vehicle and the next right / left turn point on the guide route is within a predetermined value (step SD2). That is, it is determined whether or not the own vehicle that is traveling approaches the next right / left turn point on the guide route. If the distance between the host vehicle and the next turning point is within a predetermined value, a simplified diagram showing the turning direction of the host vehicle with respect to the straight traveling direction is displayed on the third screen (step SD4).

When the simplified diagram showing the right / left turn direction is displayed on the third screen, data indicating the map display mode of the third screen is stored as the screen state GJ in the RAM 5 (step SD22). Thereafter, the process returns to the flowchart of FIG.

If the distance between the host vehicle and the next turning point is not within a predetermined value, it is determined whether there is a request to change the scale of the map displayed on the third screen (step SD).
6). When there is a scale change request, a map of the changed scale is displayed on the third screen. Further, the changed scale is stored in the RAM 5 as "scale WDC of the third screen" (step SD8). In addition, change of scale is
The operation is performed by operating a specific switch provided on the touch switch 34. If a road map including a narrow street is displayed on the third screen before the scale change of the map, and the scale is changed to a scale that cannot sufficiently display the narrow street, the road map excluding the narrow street is displayed on the third screen. Will be displayed.

When the processing accompanying the request for changing the scale is completed, the traveling speed of the host vehicle is then reduced to a predetermined value (0 km / h).
(Stop) or several km (slow speed)) or less (step SD10). If the vehicle speed is lower than or equal to the predetermined value, the road map including the narrow street is displayed on the third screen (step SD12). If the vehicle speed is not lower than the predetermined value, a road map excluding narrow streets is displayed on the third screen (step SD14).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has moved a predetermined distance (step SD16). If it has been moved by the predetermined distance, the "screen scrolling process" of the subroutine is executed (step SD18). In this screen scrolling process, the map is scroll-displayed such that the current position of the vehicle is at the center of the third screen.

After the scrolling of the screen is executed (step SD18), or when the host vehicle has not moved a predetermined distance (step SD16), the geographical coordinates at the screen edge of the guidance route displayed on the third screen are displayed. It is detected (step SD20). That is, the guidance route displayed on the third screen is interrupted at the edge of the screen. Therefore, a point on the guide route that is interrupted at the end of the screen is detected.
The coordinate value of the detected point is stored in the RAM 5 as a cross point CSP.

Then, data representing the map display state of the third screen is stored in the RAM 5 as the screen state GJ (step SD22). Thereafter, the processing returns to the guidance / display processing of FIG.

11. FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of a subroutine "front route display process" in the guidance / display process of FIG. In this route front display processing, the remaining guide route following the guide route displayed on the third screen is displayed on the second screen.

First, it is determined whether or not the map displayed on the second screen is in the route forward display mode (step SE2). If it is not the route forward display mode, it is determined whether a forward display request has been issued (step SE1).
2). The front display request is input by operating a specific switch provided on the touch switch 34.

If there is no forward display request (step SE1)
2), the "route forward display process" is terminated, and the process returns to the guidance / display process of FIG. On the other hand, if there is a forward display request (step SE12), a subroutine "displayable range calculation process" is executed (step SE8).

When it is determined in step SE2 that the second screen is not in the front display state, it is determined whether or not there is a scale change request (step SE4). If there is no scale change request, a subroutine "displayable range calculation process" is executed (step SE8). Conversely, if there is a scale change request, the data value of "scale WDB of second screen" in RAM 5 is changed (step SE6). The process of changing the scale is also performed by operating a specific switch provided on the touch switch 34.

The subroutine "displayable range calculation processing" will be described later. The point node NDP is obtained by the displayable range calculation processing. Then, the guidance route is displayed on the second screen using the point node NDP and the cross point CSP. Note that the point node NDP
Is the geographical coordinate value of the end point of the guide route that can be displayed by the scale WDB.

That is, on the map that can be displayed by the reduced scale WDB, the cross point CSP and the point node ND
A guidance route to P is displayed. This point node N
DP is detected by a subroutine "displayable range calculation process".

A road map including a guide route such that the middle point between the east longitude coordinate values of the cross point CSP and the point node NDP is substantially located on the center perpendicular to the second screen, and the cross point CSP is located at the lower end of the screen. Is displayed on the second screen (step SE10). When the remaining guide routes other than the guide route displayed on the third screen are displayed on the second screen in this way, the process returns to the guide / display process of FIG.

12. Displayable Range Calculation Process FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the subroutine “displayable range calculation process” in FIG. First, the scale WD
B calculates the geographical range of the map that can be displayed on the second screen (step SF2). That is, when the map of the reduced scale WDB is displayed on the second screen, the linear distance in the screen horizontal direction of the map displayed on the screen is calculated. The displayable horizontal distance in the horizontal direction of the screen is stored in the RAM 5 as the horizontal distance XLM. Similarly, the linear distance in the screen vertical direction that can be displayed is set as the vertical distance YLM in the RAM 5.
Is stored.

Next, the processing of steps SF6 to SF10 is repeated until the condition of step SF12 is satisfied.
These processes are processes for effectively displaying the guide route on the second screen starting from the cross point CSP of the guide route. That is, when the cross point CSP is used as the base point, the remote point of the guidance route that can be displayed by the reduced scale WDB is within a rectangular area constituted by the horizontal distance XLM and the vertical distance YLM.

Therefore, it is sequentially examined whether or not the coordinate value of each node on the guide route is within a rectangle defined by the cross point CSP as one vertex and surrounded by the horizontal distance XLM and the vertical distance YLM. Therefore, the value of the count value N in step SF4 indicates the Nth node on the guide route starting from the cross point CSP. Then, based on the number of times N incremented by "1", each processing of steps SF4 to SF22 is repeatedly executed.

The count value N is initialized to "1", and the interval XN is initialized to "0". Further, the east longitude coordinate value of the cross point CSP is stored in the horizontal position XP (step SF).
4). Next, the coordinate value of the N-th node of the guidance route connected to the cross point CSP is read from the road data file F4 and the node data file F3. The read coordinate value of the node is stored in the RAM 5 as a point node NDP (step SF6). The north latitude value of the cross point CSP is subtracted from the north latitude value of the point node NDP. The result of the subtraction is stored in the RAM 5 as the vertical value YM (step SF8).

Further, the value of the horizontal position XP is subtracted from the east longitude value of the point node NDP. Then, the absolute value of the subtraction value is stored in the RAM 5 as the horizontal value XM (step SF10). Next, it is determined whether or not the horizontal value XM is larger than the interval XN (step SF12). If the horizontal value XM is larger than the interval XN, the value of the horizontal value XM is substituted for the interval XN (step SF14).

On the other hand, when the horizontal value XM is less than the interval XN,
The east longitude value of the (N-1) th node of the guide route is stored in the horizontal position XP (step SF20). And
The interval XN is cleared to 0 (step SF22). These steps SF12, SF20 and SF22 are performed to detect that the guide route is curved in the east longitude direction.

That is, although the cross point CSP is displayed at the lower end of the second screen, if the guide route is curved in the east longitude direction, the guide route including the curved portion must be efficiently displayed on the second screen. No. Therefore, the point node NDP which is the displayable end of the guide route is sequentially searched using the curved portion of the guide route as a new base point (horizontal position XP).

Next, the horizontal value XM and the vertical value YM obtained in steps SF8 and SF10 are compared with the horizontal distance XLM and the vertical distance YLM in the following manner.

XM> XLM... (A) 0>YM> YLM... (B) That is, whether or not the horizontal value XM is larger than the horizontal distance XLM is determined by the equation (A). Whether the vertical value YM is smaller than “0” or larger than the vertical distance YLM is determined by the equation (B).

If either equation (A) or (B) is positive, a series of processing in steps SF6 to SF22 is completed. Then, the process returns to the route front display process of FIG. However, if both equations (A) and (B) are incorrect,
The count N is incremented by "1", and the process for the next node of the guide route is executed (step SF18).

By the processing in steps SF6 to SF22, the cross point CS is added to the point node NDP.
A coordinate value of an end point of the guide route which is a guide route starting from P and is efficiently displayed on the second screen is stored.

Note that the guidance route displayed on the second screen is
The guide route of the cross point CSP portion is set so as to face the vertical direction of the screen.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state where the front part of the guide route is displayed on the second screen by the route front display processing of FIG. The guidance route 144 on the second screen is connected to the cross point CSP of the guidance route 146 displayed on the third screen 110. Then, when a road map including the guide route 144 is displayed on the second screen by the scale WDB,
A point on the guide route, which can be effectively displayed, is a point node NDP. Further, the curved portion 148 in the east longitude direction of the guide route is detected by steps SF12 to SF22 in FIG. That is, the east longitude value newly stored at the horizontal position XP in step SF22 is the
Are coordinates.

13. All Route (Front) Display Process FIG. 15 shows a subroutine of all route (front) display process in FIG. In this all route (forward) display processing, the remaining guide route following the cross point CSP, which is the display break point of the guide route displayed on the third screen, and the entire guide route to the destination is displayed on the second screen. Will be displayed. In addition, in the entire route (forward) display processing, the display scale can be changed. That is, a wider range of road map including the remaining guide route can be displayed.

First, it is determined whether or not all routes are displayed on the second screen (step SG2). If all routes are displayed on the second screen, it is determined whether or not a scale change request has been made (step SG4). The process of changing the scale is executed when a specific switch provided on the touch switch 34 is operated by the user.

When a change in the scale is requested, the value of the scale WDB is changed (step SG6). Then, a map is displayed on the second screen using the changed scale WDB (step SG8). When the scale is reduced and the guide route from the cross point CSP to the destination cannot be displayed on the entire second screen, the same process as the route forward display process in FIG. 12 is executed. That is, the display position of the guide route is adjusted so that the guide route is displayed most efficiently on the second screen.

If it is determined that there is no request to change the scale (step SG4), the processing in FIG.
The processing is returned to the guidance / display processing. Furthermore, if the display mode of the second screen is not in the all route display state (step SG2), it is determined whether an all route display request has been input (step SG10). This all route display request is input by operating a specific switch set on the touch switch 34.

If there is no request to display all routes, the processing in FIG. 15 is terminated, and the processing returns to the guidance / display processing in FIG. On the other hand, when the all route display request is input, the following processing is executed. In the coordinate values of each node in the guide route from the cross point CSP to the final guide point data ED, the maximum value and the minimum value of the latitude and longitude are detected (step SG12). A reduced scale that can display the geographical interval between the maximum value and the minimum value of each of the latitude and longitude on the second screen is obtained (step SG14). For this scale calculation, a numerical conversion table obtained in advance may be used.

A road map including a guide route is displayed on the second screen based on the obtained scale (step SG16). Further, the scale obtained in step SG14 is stored in RAM 5 as "scale WDB of second screen" (step SG18). Thereafter, the scale change processing of step SG4 and subsequent steps is executed.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a state in which a guide route from the cross point CSP to the destination 152 is displayed on the second screen 108 by the display processing of all routes (forward). As described above, in the entire route (forward) display processing, the entire guide route ahead of the cross point CSP, which is the end of the guide route on the third screen, is displayed on the second screen.

In the above embodiment, when a screen division is instructed, more important map information during traveling is displayed on the third screen. Moreover, the relatively insignificant map information is
Displayed on the screen. Important map information means information that is more necessary for the driver during traveling on the guide route. That is, when the vehicle approaches an intersection where the vehicle turns right or left while traveling on the guide route, the information indicating the direction of turning right or left is more important than the information regarding the entire guide route. Therefore, information indicating the direction of turning right or left is displayed on the third screen.

Then, the road information having relatively low importance is displayed on the second screen. Here, a general road map including the guide route is displayed on the second screen. When the host vehicle is not approaching the right or left turn point, the processing automatically determines which screen displays the map including the narrow street and the map not including the narrow street. That is, if the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a certain value, the road map including the narrow street is not so important for the driver. Therefore, a road map of only the main highways is displayed on the third screen, and a road map including narrow streets is displayed on the second screen.

Note that the third screen in the above embodiment is on the right side of the display surface of the display 33. In a right-hand drive vehicle, the third screen is a split screen close to the driver.
That is, the third screen is a divided screen closer to the driver. Therefore, in a vehicle with a left-hand drive, the split screen on the left side of the display 33 becomes the third screen.

That is, when the split screen display is selected,
Guidance information with higher importance is preferentially displayed on a screen closer to the driver. Then, auxiliary guidance route information is displayed on the screen on the passenger seat side. In the above embodiment, the heading-up map is displayed on the first to third screens. However, a north-up map may be displayed. Heading-up is a state in which a map is displayed such that the traveling direction of the own vehicle is always above the screen. North-up is a state in which a map is displayed such that north in the absolute direction is always above the screen.

FIG. 17 is a simplified diagram displayed on the screen of the display 33. The screen 104 includes a symbol 120 indicating an absolute azimuth (north of geomagnetism), a symbol 126 indicating the current position of the vehicle, an arrow 122 indicating the direction of the destination, and a character information string 124 indicating the distance to the destination. Is displayed.
Such a simplified diagram may be displayed on any of the first to third screens.

The present invention is not limited to the simplified diagram shown in FIG. For example, the display may be such that the traveling direction of the host vehicle is always above the screen 104. In this case, the symbol 120 representing the absolute azimuth is rotated on the screen 104 according to the relative azimuth angle data Dθ.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a part of the circuit configuration of the image processor 9 inserted between the image memory 10 and the display 33. The circuit of FIG. 18 is also used when the screen of the display 33 is divided as shown in FIG. The output of the image memory 10 is a palette RAM
204 and the pallet RAM 208 are connected in parallel. That is, the same image data is input to the palette RAM 204 and the palette RAM 208. Palette RAM
The output of 204 is connected to terminal 22 of digital switch 214.
2 is connected. The output of the palette RAM 208 is connected to the terminal 224 of the switch 214. Switch 214
Output is a digital / analog converter (DAC) 218
It is connected to the.

The analog video signal output from the DAC 218 is input to the display control circuit of the display 33. The display control circuit of the display 33 generates various control signals for driving the liquid crystal display. The control signal 202 of the image processor 9 is input to the image memory 10. Digital switch 21
The four switching control signals 216 are generated by the image processor 9.

Although not shown, the palette RAM 20
4, 208 are connected to other circuits of the image processor 9 and write conversion table data. That is, the conversion table data written to the palette RAM 204 is different from the conversion table data written to the palette RAM 208. The difference between the conversion table data is data relating to the display color of the narrow street. For example, the conversion table of the pallet RAM 204 stores data for displaying narrow streets in a color different from the background color of the screen. On the other hand, the conversion table of the pallet RAM 208 stores data in which the narrow street has the same color or an approximate color as the screen.

[0177] The colors of other map display items are determined by each palette R
It is almost the same in the conversion table of the AM 204. In such a circuit, digital image data read from the image memory 10 is input to the address terminals of the palette RAMs 204 and 208 after being subjected to serial / parallel conversion. Digital color signals output from the palette RAMs 204 and 208 are input to the switch 214. The switching control of the switch 214 is performed by the image processor 9. This switching is performed on the second screen 1
08 and the divided portion of the third screen 110. That is,
When the image data of the second screen 108 is being read from the image memory 10, the switch 214 is set to the palette RAM.
Switch to the 204 side. Thereby, the pallet RA
The color signal output from M204 is input to DAC 218.

When the image data of the third screen 110 is being read from the image memory 10, the switch 21
4 is switched to the pallet RAM 208 side. As described above, the conversion table of the palette RAM 204 includes:
Data for displaying the narrow street is written. In the conversion table of the pallet RAM 208, data in which a narrow street is not displayed is written. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the narrow street is displayed on the second screen 108, and the narrow street is not displayed on the third screen 110.

In FIG. 18, the palette RAM 20
Although only one of each of the palette RAMs 4 and 208 is shown, these palette RAMs are composed of three palette RAMs of red, green and blue.

14. Guide / Display Process of Second Embodiment FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a guide / display process according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the display screen of the display 33 is divided as in the first embodiment. Then, a north-up screen is displayed on one of the divided screens, and a heading-up screen is displayed on the other screen. On the north-up screen, a map is displayed such that north of the geomagnetism is always above the screen. On the heading-up screen, a map is displayed such that the traveling direction of the own vehicle always faces upward of the screen.

The processing in FIG. 19 will be described in detail. at first,
It is determined whether or not the sketch display selection has been instructed by the user (step SK2). The command of the schematic display is input by pressing a specific switch of the touch switch 34.

When the schematic display is selected, the display 3
3 is displayed on the entire screen (step SK1).
6). This schematic diagram is the same as the first embodiment, and FIG.
It is shown in FIG. If there is no selection of the simplified diagram display (step SK2), it is determined whether or not the split screen display is instructed (step SK4). This split screen display command is also
The input is performed when a predetermined switch of the touch switch 34 is turned on. If the split screen display is not selected, other guidance / display processing in step SK18 is executed. In this step SK18, information on the guide route on which the vehicle travels is displayed or notified as needed.
Thereafter, the subroutine of the guidance / display processing of FIG. 19 is terminated.

On the other hand, when the split screen display is selected (step SK4), the display state of the first screen is detected (step SK6). The first screen means a screen of the display 33 before the division. That is, the state of the map displayed on the entire display 33 is detected. The state of the displayed map means the display mode of the map displayed on the display 33. That is, it is determined whether the map is displayed on the display 33 based on the north-up screen or the heading-up screen.

If the heading-up map is displayed on the first screen, that is, the screen before the division of the display 33 (step SK7), the north-up map is displayed on the second screen (step SK8). Further, a heading-up map is displayed on the third screen (step SK10). Thereafter, other guidance / display processing is executed (step SK18). Then, the subroutine of FIG. 19 ends. When the subroutine in FIG. 19 ends, the process returns to the main process in FIG.

When the heading-up map is not displayed on the screen of the display 33 before the division (step SK7), the heading-up map is displayed on the second screen (step SK12). Further, a map of north-up is displayed on the third screen (step SK1).
4). In other words, the map that was displayed before the screen was split,
It is always displayed on the third screen. Then, on the second screen, a map in a display state that is paired with the third screen is displayed. Thereafter, other guidance / display processing is executed (step S).
K18). Then, the subroutine of FIG. 19 ends. When the subroutine of FIG. 19 is completed, the processing proceeds to FIG.
Is returned to the main process.

The second screen and the third screen correspond to the first screen.
As in the embodiment, the screen of the display 33 is divided and provided. That is, the split screen closer to the driver is the third screen, and the split screen closer to the passenger seat is the second screen.

FIG. 20 shows a state of a divided screen according to the second embodiment. The first screen, that is, the display 3
The screen before the division of No. 3 is shown in FIG. That is, it is assumed that a heading-up map is displayed before the division. In this state, when a screen division is instructed, a north-up map is displayed on the second screen 108.
That is, the symbol 120 indicating the absolute azimuth of the second screen 108 faces upward on the screen. Moreover, the symbol 100 indicating the traveling direction of the own vehicle is turned sideways.

On the third screen 110, a map of a heading up is displayed. That is, the symbol 100 indicating the traveling of the host vehicle is directed upward on the screen. This third screen 1
The north direction at 10 is the right-hand direction of the screen as indicated by the symbol 122.

15. Guide / Display Process of Third Embodiment FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a guide / display process according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the same processes as those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the third embodiment, the display screen of the display 33 is divided.
Then, the map displayed before the division is directly displayed on one of the divided screens. A schematic diagram is displayed on the other screen.

The processing in FIG. 21 will be described in detail. at first,
It is determined whether or not the sketch display selection has been instructed by the user (step SK2). The command of the schematic display is input by pressing a specific switch of the touch switch 34.

When the schematic display is selected, the display 3
3 is displayed on the entire screen (step SK1).
6). This schematic diagram is the same as the first embodiment, and FIG.
It is shown in FIG. If there is no selection of the simplified diagram display (step SK2), it is determined whether or not the split screen display is instructed (step SK4). This split screen display command is also
The input is performed when a predetermined switch of the touch switch 34 is turned on. If the split screen display is not selected, other guidance / display processing in step SK18 is executed. In this step SK18, information on the guide route on which the vehicle travels is displayed or notified as needed.
Thereafter, the subroutine of the guidance / display processing of FIG. 21 ends.

On the other hand, when the split screen display is selected (step SK4), the display state of the first screen is detected (step SK6). The first screen means a screen before the division of the display 33 as in the second embodiment. On the first screen, that is, the screen before the division of the display 33,
If a heading-up map is displayed (step SK7), a heading-up map is displayed on the second screen (step SK20). Further, a simplified diagram of FIG. 17 is displayed on the third screen (step SK24). Thereafter, other guidance / display processing is executed (step S).
K18). Then, the subroutine of FIG. 21 ends. When the subroutine of FIG. 21 is completed, the processing proceeds to FIG.
Is returned to the main process.

If the heading-up map is not displayed on the screen before division on the display 33 (step SK7), a north-up map is displayed on the second screen (step SK22). Further, a simplified diagram as shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the third screen (step SK).
24). That is, the map that was displayed before the division of the screen is always displayed on the second screen. Then, on the third screen, the minimum necessary guidance information such as the direction of the destination is displayed. Thereafter, other guidance / display processing is executed (step SK18). Then, the subroutine of FIG. 21 ends. When the subroutine in FIG. 21 ends, the process returns to the main process in FIG.

The second screen and the third screen are provided by dividing the screen of the display 33, as in the first and second embodiments. That is, the split screen closer to the driver is the third screen, and the split screen closer to the passenger seat is the second screen.

16. Guide / Display Process of Fourth Embodiment FIG. 22 is a flowchart of the guide / display process of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, another guide route is newly searched in accordance with the operation of the operator, in addition to the guide route obtained first. Then, the obtained new guide route and the previously obtained guide route are respectively displayed on the split screen. When a further search is instructed, another guide route is searched again. As a result, it is possible to select a guide route that is more suitable for the operator.

The flowchart of FIG. 22 will be described. First, it is determined whether the screen of the display 33 is in the split state (step SL2). In the case of the divided state, a separate guide route searched independently is displayed on each screen. That is, in the present embodiment, if the operator does not determine a guide route after a re-search operation described later is commanded, 1
Each time, the process of FIG. 22 is terminated, and the flow returns to the main process of FIG. Then, when the subroutine of FIG. 22 is called again, the processing executed immediately before is repeated again. That is, even if the re-search operation is instructed by the operator, if the determination of the guide route is not input, the entire subroutine of FIG. Moreover, the split screen state of the display 33 is maintained until the operator performs a guide route determination operation.

If the screen is not in the split state (step SL
2) It is determined whether a search start command for another route has been input (step SL4). The search start instruction for the different route is determined based on whether or not an icon such as “research” displayed on the display 33 has been touched by the operator. That is, the icon of “research” is displayed on the screen of the display 33. Whether the operator touches the icon display portion is detected by a touch switch 34 attached to the display surface of the display 33.

If another route search is not instructed, "other guidance / display processing" is executed (step SL3).
8). In this "other guidance / display processing", the vehicle needs to operate well on the first guidance route.
Various audio information and image information are notified. Thereafter, the guidance / display processing of FIG. 22 is terminated, and the flow returns to the overall processing of FIG.

On the other hand, if there is another route search operation (step SL4), the number of routes N is initialized to 1 (step SL6). The number of routes N means the number of searched guidance routes. Then, a guidance route from the current position of the vehicle to the registered destination is newly searched (step SL).
8). The guide route searched in step SL8 is different from the guide route searched in the route search process (step SA4) in FIG.

In the alternative route search in step SL8,
A process similar to the route search process of FIG. 5 is performed. That is, using the road data and the intersection data recorded in the information storage unit 37, a route from the current position of the vehicle to the final guide point is searched. For example, when the host vehicle is on the guidance target road, the intersection at the end point of the guidance target road is searched from the road data and the intersection data. Then, a search is made for a road that travels the shortest distance from each road starting from the intersection to the next intersection closer to the destination direction. As described above, the vehicle proceeds to the intersection existing in the direction of the destination, and the roads with shorter distances are sequentially selected, and the guide route is searched.

In this route search, a search condition is added to each road so that a wider road is preferentially selected. Also at an intersection, a search condition based on the presence or absence of a traffic light, the presence or absence of an intersection, and the like is defined. For example, an intersection with a traffic light is preferentially selected over an intersection without a traffic light. in this way,
An intersection with better conditions is preferentially selected as an intersection of the guidance route.

When the vehicle is not on the guidance target road, a node on the guidance target road that is closer to the vehicle and closer to the destination is set as the guidance start point. This is the same process as the route search process (step SA4) in FIG. The road of the guide route searched in the route search processing of FIG. 5 is excluded as much as possible so as not to be used for the guide route searched in step SL8. For example,
A new condition is added to the search condition of the road already used for the guide route obtained in the previous search process. As a result, the conditions for selecting a road that has already been used become worse.
As a result, it is difficult to select this road when searching for a new guide route.

[0203] The new guide route searched in step SL8 is stored in the RAM 5 as the Nth guide route. When the new guide route is searched, a screen division process is performed in which the display screen of the display 33 is divided into right and left (step SL10). In this screen division processing, the screen of the display 33 is divided into two in the horizontal direction. Then, on the display screen, the left screen is the second screen.
Screen. The right side is the third screen.

Then, the above-mentioned step SL8 is displayed on the second screen.
The N-th guidance route searched in is displayed (step SL12). The (N-1) th guidance route is displayed on the third screen (step SL12). Here, the (N-1) th guide route is the first guide route searched by the route search process of FIG. However, when the operator repeatedly instructs the re-search for the guide route, the latest guide route is displayed on the second screen, and the one-year-old guide route searched immediately before is displayed on the third screen.

When the respective guide routes are displayed on the second screen and the third screen, it is determined whether or not the icon “RETURN” displayed on the screen of the display 33 has been pressed (step SL16). Click on the "RETUR" icon
"N" is pressed or not.
Judged by off.

When "RETURN", that is, the return key is turned on, the guide routes displayed on the second screen and the third screen are each set to the previous guide route. Guide of Fig. 22
When another route search command of the display process is repeated, N guide routes are searched. Immediately before the return key is pressed, the latest Nth guide route is displayed on the second screen, and the (N-1) th guide route is displayed on the third screen.

If the return key is pressed in this state, the second
The (N-1) th guide route is displayed on the screen, and the (N-2) th guide route is displayed on the third screen. That is, when the return key is pressed, the display state of the display 33 is returned to the previous state. These series of processes are performed by steps SL16 to SL22.

That is, the value of the number of routes N is decremented by 1 (step SL18). Then, it is determined whether or not the value of the number of routes N has become smaller than 1 by the processing of step SL18 (step SL20). If the value of the number of routes N is smaller than "1", it is forcibly set to the value "1" (step SL22). If the value of the number of routes N is smaller than 1, that is, “0”, “N−1” becomes “−1”. Therefore, the (N-1) th guidance route displayed on the third screen cannot be designated. Therefore, step SL22
Is performed.

Step SL20 or step SL22
Is performed, the process of step SL12 is executed again. That is, the guidance route searched immediately before is displayed on the second screen. Similarly, the third screen displays the guidance route searched two times before.

Note that the process of step SL16 is also performed when the subroutine of the guidance / display process of FIG. 22 is called in the screen division state. That is, it is determined whether the return key is pressed or the route determination key described later is pressed in the divided display state of the screen. When another route search is instructed once, the screen of the display 33 is divided. If the guide route of the second screen or the third screen is not selected by the operator in the divided state, the divided state is continued. However, when a guidance route is selected, the divided state is canceled, and guidance processing based on the determined guidance route is executed. The guidance / display processing in FIG. 22 is repeatedly executed until the vehicle reaches the final guidance point. However, a search command for another route is not permitted unless the vehicle is in a stopped or slow-moving state.

If it is determined in step SL16 that the return key, that is, the "RETURN" key has not been turned on, it is determined whether another root key has been pressed (step S16).
L28). That is, whether or not the “other route” of the icon displayed on the display 33 has been touched by the operator is determined by turning on / off the touch switch 34.

When another root key is turned on, the number of roots N
Is added by "1" (step SL24). Then, a new guide route is searched again. The new guide route found is stored in the RAM 5 as the Nth guide route (step SL26). This step SL26
In the search for the guide route of, the road used for the guide route searched in the past is excluded as much as possible. That is,
Processing is performed so that a plurality of guide routes constituted by different roads are searched.

[0213] The search condition of the guide route searched in steps SL8 and SL26 may be different from the search condition of the guide route searched first. For example, if the first search route is a route that preferentially uses a toll road (highway), the guide route searched second is searched so as to be a route that does not use a toll road. If the first guide route is a guide route that reaches the destination in the shortest distance, the second search is performed so as to be a guide route that preferentially uses a wider road. Thus, in the repeated guidance route search, each route search condition may be changed.

The guidance route searched in step SL26 is displayed on the second screen. In addition, the guidance route previously displayed on the second screen is displayed on the third screen (step SL12). It should be noted that the third screen may always display the guide route first searched by the route search process of FIG.

If it is determined in step SL28 that another route key has not been turned on, it is determined whether the route determination key has been turned on (step SL30). This route determination key is also displayed on the screen of the display 33 as an icon “route determination”. Then, the touch switch 34 determines whether or not the icon display portion has been touched by the operator.

If the route determination key is not pressed, the "other guidance / display processing" of step SL38 is executed.
Then, the process of FIG. 22 is terminated once. Conversely, when the route determination key is pressed, it is determined which of the second screen and the third screen has been selected (step SL3).
2). The selection of the guide route is also determined by turning on / off the touch switch 34. When the guidance route on the second screen is selected, the screen division state of the display 33 is released. Then, the guidance route displayed on the second screen is
It is displayed on the released single screen (first screen) (step SL34). Then, "other guidance / display processing" such as information display and notification for assisting the operation of the vehicle along the selected guidance route is executed (step SL38).

Also, when the guidance route on the third screen is selected, the split state of the display 33 is released. Then, the selected guidance route is displayed on the single screen of the display 33 (step SL36). Furthermore, "other guidance / display processing" such as information display and notification to assist the operation of the vehicle along the selected guidance route.
Is executed (step SL38). Thereafter, the process of FIG. 22 is terminated, and the process returns to the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 23 shows a display 33 before screen division.
Shows the state of the display screen. On the screen 104, the first guide route 162 searched by the route search process of FIG. 5 is displayed. Further, a symbol 100 indicating the current position and the traveling direction of the own vehicle traveling on the guide route 162
Is displayed. In addition, the screen SL has a step SL
The icon 160 of “Alternate route” to be determined in No. 4 is displayed.

FIG. 24 shows a screen division state of the display 33. This screen division state corresponds to step SL in FIG.
8 shows the state of the screen of the display 33 immediately after the first execution of step 8. On the second screen 108, a new guide route 170 searched by the route search process in step SL8 is displayed. On the third screen 110, the guidance route 162 displayed in FIG. 23 is displayed. The icons 164 and 16 are displayed on the second screen 108 and the third screen 110.
6, 168 are displayed. The icon 164 indicates “another route”. The icon 166 is displayed in step SL30.
Represents a "route determination" key to be determined. The icon 168 indicates “RET” to be determined in step SL16.
A "URN" key, that is, a return key.

FIG. 25 shows the state of the display screen of the display 33 immediately after execution of step SL26 in FIG. Second
On the screen 108, a guidance route 172 newly searched in step SL26 is displayed. On the third screen, the guidance route 170 displayed on the second screen of FIG. 24 is displayed.
Is displayed. The icons 164, 166, 168
Has the same function as the icon in FIG.

FIG. 26 shows a state where the screen of display 33 has been returned to a single screen by step SL36 of FIG. For example, in FIG. 25, the icon 166 is pressed, and the guidance route 170 on the third screen 110 is selected.
When the guidance route 170 is selected, the split screen is released. Then, the guidance route 170 is displayed on the entire first screen 104 of the single screen. Note that an icon 160 is also displayed on the screen 104 after the screen division is released.

17. Guide / Display Process of Fifth Embodiment FIG. 27 is a flowchart of the guide / display process of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the guidance / display processing of the fifth embodiment, when the host vehicle deviates from the initially searched guidance route, a return route returning to the guidance route and another newly searched route are displayed on the split screen. .

First, it is determined whether or not the traveling position of the own vehicle deviates from the guide route (step SP2). RAM
5 and the guide route data M
The geographical coordinates of the roads constituting W are compared. Thereby, it is determined whether the own vehicle is traveling on the guide route. If the own vehicle is traveling on the guidance route, "other guidance / display processing" is executed (step SP4).
2). Then, processing such as notification and display of guidance information that assists the operation of the vehicle along the guidance route is performed. After this,
The processing in FIG. 27 ends, and the processing returns to the flowchart in FIG.

However, when the vehicle deviates from the guide route, it is determined whether or not the screen is in the split state (step SP).
4). In the screen division state, the two guide routes that have already been searched are displayed on the left and right screens respectively. in this case,
The return key may be turned on, or the route determination key may be turned on. Therefore, in the case of the screen division state, the processing of step SL18 is executed.

However, if the screen is not divided, it is determined whether or not a re-search command has been input (step SP).
6). That is, it is determined whether or not the start of the process of searching for a route returning to the guide route has been instructed. This re-search command is determined based on whether or not the “re-search” icon displayed on the screen of the display 33 has been touched by the operator. The presence / absence of a touch is determined by turning on / off the touch switch 34.

[0226] If there is no re-search command, a map in which the vehicle deviates from the guide route is continuously displayed on the display 33. In this case, information that warns that the vehicle has deviated from the guidance route may be notified as needed. If there is a re-search command, the number of routes N is initialized to "1" (step SP8). Then, a route that returns from the current position of the host vehicle to the guide route is searched. The search for the return route is a peripheral route search process. In this return route search,
Weighting is performed so that the search condition for the road toward the guidance route becomes more superior. In other words, a search condition is added to a road extending in the traveling direction of the host vehicle, in which a road connected via an intersection and extending in the guide route direction is preferentially selected.

When the return route returning to the guide route is searched in this way, this return route is set as the N-th route (step SP10). And display 3
The screen of No. 3 is divided (step SP12). The Nth guidance route is displayed on the second screen of the divided screens (step SP14). In this case, N = 1, and the return route to the guide route obtained first is displayed on the second screen. Note that the Nth guide route is displayed in a different color or the like from the initially obtained guide route.
That is, the first guide route and the return route are displayed on the display 33 so that they can be identified.

Further, the (N-1) th guide route is displayed on the third screen. Here, N-1 = 0, which is the first guide route searched by the route search process of FIG.
When each guidance route is displayed on the second screen and the third screen,
The icon “RE” displayed on the screen of the display 33
TURN ”is pressed (step S).
P18). Whether or not “RETURN” of this icon is pressed is determined by turning on / off the touch switch 34.

[0229] When "RETURN", that is, the return key is turned on, the guide routes displayed on the second and third screens are each set to the previous guide route. Note that, when the all route search process of step SP30 described later is repeated, N guide routes are searched. Immediately before the return key is pressed, the latest Nth guide route is displayed on the second screen, and the (N-1) th guide route is displayed on the third screen.

When the return key is pressed in this state, the second
The (N-1) th guide route is displayed on the screen, and the (N-2) th guide route is displayed on the third screen. That is, when the return key is pressed, the display state of the display 33 is returned to the state of one previous time. These series of processes are performed in steps SP18 to SP24.

That is, "1" is subtracted from the value of the number of routes N (step SP20). Then, it is determined whether or not the value of the number of routes N has become smaller than “1” by the processing of step SP20 (step SP22). If the value of the number of routes N is smaller than "1", the value is forcibly set to the value "1" (step SP24). If the value of the number of routes N is smaller than “1”, that is, “0”, “N−1” becomes “−”.
1 ". Therefore, the (N-
1) The second guidance route cannot be specified. Therefore, the process of step SP24 is performed.

Step SP22 or step SP24
Is performed, the process of step SP14 is executed again. That is, the guidance route searched immediately before is displayed on the second screen. Similarly, the third screen displays the guidance route searched two times before.

It should be noted that the own vehicle deviates from the original guide route,
Moreover, even when the guidance / display processing subroutine of FIG. 27 is called in the screen division state, the processing of step SP18 is performed first. That is, in the divided display state of the screen, it is determined whether the return key is pressed or a route determination key or the like described later is pressed. When the re-search command is input once, the screen of the display 33 becomes
It is divided. If the guide route of the second screen or the third screen is not selected by the operator in the divided state, the divided state is continued. However, when a guidance route is selected, the divided state is canceled, and guidance processing based on the determined guidance route is executed. The guidance / display processing of FIG. 27 is repeatedly executed until the vehicle reaches the final guidance point.

If it is determined in step SP18 that the return key, that is, the "RETURN" key has not been turned on, it is determined whether the re-search key has been pressed (step SP18).
32). That is, whether or not “re-search” of the icon displayed on the display 33 is touched by the operator is determined by turning on and off the touch switch 34.

When the re-search key is turned on, "1" is added to the number of routes N (step SP28). Then, a new guide route is searched. The searched new guide route is stored in the RAM 5 as the Nth guide route (step SP30). In the guidance route search in step SP30, roads used in the guidance routes searched in the past are excluded as much as possible. That is, processing is performed so that a plurality of guidance routes configured by different roads are searched. In this all route search in step SP30, the same processing as in step SL8 in FIG. 22 is executed.

For example, a new condition is added to the search condition of the road already used for the guide route obtained in the previous search processing. As a result, the search condition of the used road becomes worse. As a result, in searching for a new guide route, it is difficult to select a used road.

The search condition of the guide route searched in step SP30 may be different from the search condition of the guide route searched first. For example, if the first search route is a route that preferentially uses a toll road (highway), the guide route searched second is searched so as to be a route that does not use a toll road. If the first guide route is a guide route that reaches the destination in the shortest distance, the second search is performed so as to be a guide route that preferentially uses a wider road. Thus, in the repeated guidance route search, each route search condition may be changed.

[0238] The guide route searched in step SP30 is displayed on the second screen. In addition, the guidance route previously displayed on the second screen is displayed on the third screen (step SP14). It should be noted that the third screen may always display the guide route first searched by the route search process of FIG.

If it is determined in step SP32 that the re-search key has not been turned on, it is determined whether the guidance start (route determination) key has been turned on (step SP34).
When the peripheral route search processing in step SP10 has been executed, a return route is displayed on the second screen. Further, the initial guidance route is displayed on the third screen, but the own vehicle is not on this guidance route. Therefore, when the guidance of the route by the guidance route on the third screen is requested,
Route guidance is performed using the return route on the second screen.
Therefore, when the return route is displayed on the second screen,
The icon “guide start” is displayed on the second screen. Then, it is determined whether or not the guidance start key has been pressed as the determination target in step SP34.

However, when the entire route search in step SP30 is repeated, the icon “determine route” is displayed on the screen of the display 33 as in the fourth embodiment. Then, it is determined by the touch switch 34 whether or not the icon display portion has been touched by the operator (step SP34).

If the guidance start (route determination) key is not pressed, the "other guidance / display processing" of step SP42 is executed. Then, the process of FIG. 27 is terminated once.
Conversely, when the route determination key is pressed, the second screen, the third screen
It is determined which guide route has been selected on the screen (step SP36). The selection of the guide route is also determined by turning on / off the touch switch 34. When the guidance route on the second screen is selected, the screen division state of the display 33 is released. Then, the guidance route displayed on the second screen is displayed on the released single screen (first screen) (step SP38). Then, "other guidance / display processing" such as information display and notification for assisting the operation of the vehicle along the selected guidance route is executed (step S).
P42).

Also, when the guidance route on the third screen is selected, the split state of the display 33 is released. Then, the selected guidance route is displayed on the single screen of the display 33 (step SP40). Furthermore, "other guidance / display processing" such as information display and notification to assist the operation of the vehicle along the selected guidance route.
Is executed (step SP42). Thereafter, the processing in FIG. 27 ends, and the processing returns to the flowchart in FIG.

FIG. 28 shows a display 33 before screen division.
Shows the state of the display screen. On the screen 104, the first guide route 162 searched by the route search process of FIG. 5 is displayed. Further, a symbol 100 indicating the current position and the traveling direction of the own vehicle deviating from the guide route 162 is displayed. Further, an icon 174 of “research” to be determined in step SP4 is displayed on the screen 104.

FIG. 29 shows a screen division state of the display 33. This screen division state corresponds to step SP in FIG.
10 shows the state of the screen of the display 33 immediately after step 10 is executed. On the second screen 108, the return route 178 searched by the peripheral route search processing in step SP10 is displayed. On the third screen 110, the guidance route 162 displayed in FIG. 28 is displayed. The icons 174 and 17 are displayed on the second screen 108 and the third screen 110.
6, 168 are displayed. The icon 174 represents “re-search”. The icon 176 represents a “guidance start” key to be determined in step SP34. Icon 16
8 is “RETUR” to be determined in step SP18.
"N" key, that is, a return key.

FIG. 30 shows a state of the display screen of the display 33 immediately after step SP30 of FIG. 27 is executed. On the second screen 108, a guide route 180 newly searched in step SP30 and a guide route 162 searched first are displayed. On the third screen, FIG.
9, the return route 178 displayed on the second screen is displayed. The icons 174 and 168 have the same functions as the icons in FIG. Icon 1
Reference numeral 66 denotes a route determination key, which is "guidance start" in FIG.
Corresponding to the icon. The second screen 108 in FIG.
Displays two guide routes, but only the guide route 180 may be displayed.

FIG. 31 shows a state where the screen of display 33 has been returned to a single screen by step SP40 of FIG. For example, in FIG. 30, it is assumed that the icon 166 has been pressed and the return route 178 on the third screen 110 has been selected. When the return route 178 is selected, the split screen is released. Then, the return route 178 and the guide route 162 are displayed on the entire first screen 104 of the single screen. Note that the icon 174 is displayed on the screen 104 after the screen division is released.
Is also displayed.

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS.
FIG. 31 is a diagram showing another example of FIG. 30 of the fifth embodiment.
In this embodiment, distance and time information 186 is displayed in accordance with the display of the guide route. In the distance and time information, the distance along the route to the final guide point along the route and the time required to arrive at the final guide point are displayed. For example, in the case of FIG. 32, the distance along the route when the vehicle travels to the final guide point by the guide route 182 and the required time when the vehicle travels the distance at a legal speed are the information 18.
6 is displayed.

The third screen 110 shown in FIG.
The travel distance to the final guide point 84 and the time required to travel the distance are displayed in the distance and time information 186. FIG. 33 shows a state in which the display of the guidance route is switched from that of FIG. 32 by executing step SL26 in FIG. 22 and the like. The distance and time information 186 in FIG. 33 includes the travel distance to the final guide point of the guide route 188,
The required time required to travel the distance is displayed. The third screen 110 in FIG. 33 is a copy of the second screen in FIG.

18. Guide / Display Process of Sixth Embodiment FIG. 34 is a flowchart of the guide / display process of the sixth embodiment. In the sixth embodiment, when the traveling position of the vehicle deviates from the first guide route, the return route to the guide route is displayed on the second screen. The first guide route is searched by the route search process (step SA4) in FIG.
Moreover, when the return route is selected, the scale of the second screen on which the entire return route is displayed is automatically adjusted according to the position of the own vehicle traveling on the return route.

First, it is determined whether or not the current position of the vehicle coincides with the guide route (step SQ2). RA
The current position information PI and the guide route data MW are read from M5. Then, it is determined whether or not the coordinates indicated by the current position information PI substantially coincide with the geographic coordinates of each node of the road constituting the guide route data MW. If they match,
Your vehicle is traveling on the guide route. Conversely, if they do not match, it means that the host vehicle is running off the guide route.

Therefore, if the vehicle is on the guide route,
“Other guidance / display processing” is executed (step S
Q18). After that, the process of FIG. 34 ends, and the process returns to the main process of FIG. However, if the own vehicle is not on the guide route, the “routine departure process” of the subroutine is executed (step SQ4).

In the "route departure process", a return route that returns to the first searched guide route is searched according to the mode setting state of the navigation device of the present invention. If the mode is set to the all-route re-search mode (auto-re-route mode), the route from the current position of the host vehicle to the final guide point is searched again. This off-route processing will be described later. Then, the screen is divided, and the return route or all the searched routes are displayed on the second screen.

When the "route departure process" of the subroutine is executed and the return route or the entire route is searched, it is determined whether or not the state is the all route search state (step SQ6).
In the all-route search state, the guidance route from the current position of the vehicle deviating from the guidance route to the final guidance point is searched again. In addition, all the routes searched again are displayed on the second screen of the divided display 33. Therefore, it is determined whether or not all the re-searched routes have been selected (step SQ10).

When all the re-searched routes are designated by the operator, the screen of the display 33 divided by the "route departure process" of step SQ4 is returned to a single screen (step SQ12). In addition, all re-searched routes are displayed on a single screen of the display 33. Thereafter, processes such as voice notification and display of guidance information by the specified re-searching all routes are executed (step SQ1).
4). Further, "other guidance / display processing" is executed (step SQ18). Thereafter, the process returns to the overall process of FIG.

If it is not in the all route search state (step SQ6), it is determined whether or not the return route is selected (step SQ20). The return route is a route that returns to the guidance route from which the host vehicle has deviated. If the return route has been selected, it is determined whether or not the single-screen route guidance has been selected (step SQ22).
That is, the return route is set to the display 3 that has been split.
3 is selected to be displayed on the entire screen.

If single screen display is selected (step SQ22), the single screen processing of step SQ12 is executed. That is, the split state of the display 33 is released. The return route is displayed on the entire canceled first screen (step SQ12). If display on a single screen is not selected, processing such as notification of audio information by a return route is performed (step SQ24). In addition, the return route is displayed on the second screen in the split screen state (step SQ26). Further, on the third screen, a map including the current position of the vehicle is displayed at a fixed scale (step SQ).
28).

[0257] In the second screen display processing in step SQ26, adjustment of the map display accompanying the travel of the host vehicle and the like are performed. Also, in the third screen display processing of step SQ28,
The map is scrolled while the host vehicle is displayed at the center of the third screen. On the third screen, the map is displayed in the north-up or heading-up state implemented in the second embodiment. When the second screen display processing and the third screen display processing (steps SQ26, SQ28) are executed, “other guidance / display processing” is executed (step SQ18). Then, the process returns to the main flowchart of FIG.

If a return route is not selected in the screen division state, steps SQ26 and SQ28 are executed. That is, the guidance process of the voice or the like by the return route is not performed. However, the return route from the current position of the vehicle to the guidance route is always displayed on the second screen. In addition, a map centering on the current position of the vehicle is displayed on the third screen. Note that the map scale of the third screen may change according to the traveling position of the vehicle.

[0259] 19. Route departure process of the sixth embodiment FIG. 35 shows a flowchart of the "route departure process" of the subroutine in FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the mode is the auto reroute mode (step SR2). In the auto re-route mode, it is determined whether or not the current position of the vehicle is on all re-searched routes (step SR4). In the process such as step SR4, in the auto reroute mode, after all routes have been searched again, if a guide route is not specified, the processes of FIGS. 34 and 35 are repeated. Therefore, the process of step SR4 is performed when the guide route is not specified by the operator after the entire route has been searched again once.

When the host vehicle is not on all the re-searched routes, a state where all the routes are not re-searched is also included. Therefore, if the own vehicle is not on all the re-searched routes, the entire route from the current position of the own vehicle to the final guide point is searched again (step SR6). After that, the screen division processing is executed. Then, all the re-searched routes are displayed on the second screen. Moreover, FIG. 5 shows the third screen.
The guidance route searched by the route search process (step SA4) and the own vehicle are displayed (step SR8).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the return route search key has been pressed (step SR10). This return route search is determined based on whether or not the icon displayed on the display 33 has been touched by the operator.
The presence / absence of a touch is determined by turning on / off the touch switch 34. If the return route search key is pressed, the return route search process of step SR14 is executed (step SR14). If the return root key is not pressed,
The process of FIG. 35 is terminated, and the flow returns to the process of FIG.

If the mode is not the auto reroute mode (step SR2), it is determined whether or not the own vehicle is on the searched return route (step SR12). In the process of step SR12, once the return route is searched, and the return route is not selected, the processes of FIGS. 34 and 35 are repeated. Therefore, if the own vehicle exists on the searched return route, it is not necessary to search again for the return route.
In this case, the processing of steps SR14 and SR16 is passed. Then, it is determined whether or not the re-search key for searching the entire route from the current position of the host vehicle to the final guide point has been pressed (step SR18). If pressed, step S
The entire route re-search processing of R6 is executed. If the re-search key has not been pressed, the processing in FIG. 35 ends. Then, the flow is returned to the processing in FIG.

The state where the host vehicle is not on the searched return route includes the state where the return route has not been searched at all. Therefore, if your vehicle is not on the return route,
“Return route search processing” is executed (step SR1)
4). In this "return route search process", the same process as the peripheral route search process in the fifth embodiment of the guide / display process is executed. In other words, the search condition of the road is weighted so that the road traveling to the guide route is preferentially selected.

When the return route is searched, a subroutine of "screen division processing & display processing" is executed (step SR16). In this “screen division processing & display processing”, the screen of the display 33 is divided, and the return route is displayed on the second screen at the optimal scale. Note that a map is displayed on the third screen centering on the current position of the host vehicle.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the search key has been pressed (step SR18). If pressed, the entire route re-search process is executed (step SR6). However, if the re-search key has not been pressed, the processing in FIG. 35 ends. Then, the flow is returned to the processing in FIG.

20. FIG. 36 shows a first embodiment of the screen division processing and display processing of FIG. 35. In the screen division processing and display processing of FIG. 36, the entire return route is displayed on the second screen such that the current position of the own vehicle is at the center of the screen.

First, the node coordinate value of each road constituting the return route is read from the node data file F3 or the like (step ST2). From the coordinate values of each node read in step ST2, the maximum value (Emax, Nmax) and minimum value (Emi) in the east longitude direction and the north latitude direction.
n, Nmin) are retrieved (step ST4).

For example, FIG. 45 shows the return route PC12. In the return route PC12, the node having the maximum coordinate value in the east longitude direction is the node P18. Therefore, the east longitude coordinate value of the node P18 is the maximum value Ema
x is stored in the RAM 5. Similarly, the node having the maximum coordinate value in the north latitude direction is the node P12. Therefore, the north latitude coordinate value of the node P12 is stored in the RAM 5 as the maximum value Nmax.

The node having the minimum coordinate value in the east longitude direction is the node P14. Therefore, the east longitude coordinate value of the node P14 is stored in the RAM 5 as the minimum value Emin. The node having the minimum coordinate value in the north latitude direction is the node P16.
Therefore, the north latitude coordinate value of the node P16 is stored in the RAM 5 as the minimum value Nmin.

Then, the current position coordinates (GX, G
The following formula is calculated from Y).

| GX−Emax | (1) | GX-Emin | (2) In (1) and (2), the absolute values of the calculation results are obtained. Then, the larger value of the expressions (1) and (2) is stored in the RAM 5 as the east longitude width WE (step ST6).

Further, the current position coordinates (GX, G
The following formula is calculated from Y).

| GY−Nmax | (3) | GY-Nmin | (4) In (3) and (4), the absolute values of the calculation results are obtained. Then, the larger value of the expressions (3) and (4) is stored in the RAM 5 as the north latitude width WN (step ST8).

The scale of the map on which the east longitude width WE and the north latitude width WN can be displayed is obtained by using a numerical conversion table or the like recorded in the information storage unit 37 in advance. That is, a scale is required on the second screen at which the return route is efficiently displayed such that the own vehicle is at the center of the screen. FIG. 46 shows a state of the divided display 33. The horizontal width PC of the display area of the second screen 108 is equal to the east longitude width WE.
Can be displayed and the north latitude width WN is included in the vertical interval PC22.
Is selected so that can be displayed (step ST1).
0).

The horizontal width PC20 and the vertical width PC22
Is set to be a display screen that is substantially smaller than the full size of the second screen 108.

When the map scale is determined in step ST10, a return route is displayed at the determined scale and with the host vehicle at the center of the screen (step ST12). Then, the original guidance route and the current position of the vehicle are displayed on the third screen (step ST14). Although the scale of the third screen is not particularly defined, the first screen before the division is
The scale of the screen may be used as it is, or step S
The map may be displayed at the scale obtained at T10.
Thereafter, the flow is returned to FIG.

21. Second Embodiment of Screen Splitting and Display Processing FIG. 37 is a flowchart of a second embodiment of the screen splitting and displaying processing of FIG. First, the node coordinate value of each road constituting the return route is read (step SU2). The maximum value (Emax, Nmax) and the minimum value (Emin, Nmin) in the east longitude direction and the north latitude direction are retrieved from the coordinate values of each node and the current position coordinate value of the vehicle read in step SU2 (step SU).
4). This process is the same as step ST4 in FIG.

For example, FIG. 45 shows the return route PC12. In the return route PC12, the node having the maximum coordinate value in the east longitude direction is the node P18. Therefore, the east longitude coordinate value of the node P18 is the maximum value Ema
x is stored in the RAM 5. Similarly, the node having the maximum coordinate value in the north latitude direction is the node P12. Therefore, the north latitude coordinate value of the node P12 is stored in the RAM 5 as the maximum value Nmax.

The node having the minimum coordinate value in the east longitude direction is the node P14. Therefore, the east longitude coordinate value of the node P14 is stored in the RAM 5 as the minimum value Emin. The node having the minimum coordinate value in the north latitude direction is the node P16.
Therefore, the north latitude coordinate value of the node P16 is stored in the RAM 5 as the minimum value Nmin.

Then, the maximum value in each east longitude and north latitude direction,
The following equation is calculated from the minimum value (step SU6).

Emax-Emin = XE (5) Nmax-Nmin = YN (6) The scale of the map on which the horizontal distance XE and the vertical distance YN can be displayed is stored in the information storage unit 37 in advance. It is obtained using the recorded conversion table (step SU8). That is, the scale at which the return route is displayed most efficiently on the second screen is required. In the embodiment of FIG. 37, the map display is fixed, and the vehicle is displayed so as to move on the return route on the display map. That is, the display position of the own vehicle is not fixed on the second screen.

FIG. 46 shows the divided display 33. The horizontal distance XE obtained in step SU6 can be displayed within twice the horizontal interval PC20 of the display area of the second screen, and the vertical interval PC22
The map scale is selected so that the vertical distance YN can be displayed within a factor of two.

The horizontal width PC20 is twice as wide as the vertical width P20.
The double width of C22 is set to be a display area substantially smaller than the full size of the second screen 108.

When the map scale is determined in step SU8, the east longitude coordinates (Em) are obtained at the determined scale.
(in + XE / 2), the return route is displayed such that the north latitude coordinate (Nmin + YN / 2) becomes the center of the screen (step SU10). Then, the original guidance route is displayed on the third screen,
The current position of the vehicle is displayed (step SU1).
2). Although the scale of the third screen is not particularly defined, the scale of the first screen before division may be used as it is, or a map may be displayed at the scale obtained in step SU8. Thereafter, the flow is returned to FIG.

[0285] 22. First Embodiment of Second Screen Display Process FIG. 38 shows a second embodiment of the second embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 34).
4 shows a flowchart of a screen display process. The second screen display process of FIG. 38 is a process of displaying the return route most efficiently in the display area of the second screen when the own vehicle is moved. In other words, when the own vehicle moves on the return route, the distance from the current position of the own vehicle to the end point of the return route is the second position.
The maximum is displayed on the screen.

First, the data of the remaining routes of the return route, that is, the data of each road constituting the untraveled route is stored in the information storage unit 3.
7 is read. Then, each node coordinate value is read from the read road data (step SV2).
From the coordinate values of each node read in step SV2, the maximum values (Emax, Nm
ax) and the minimum values (Emin, Nmin) are retrieved (step SV4).

The processing in step SV4 is the same as step ST4 in FIG. Then, the current position coordinates (GX, GY) of the own vehicle and each maximum value (Emax, Nma)
x) and the minimum value (Emin, Nmin), the following equation is calculated.

| GX−Emax | (7) | GX-Emin | (8) In (7) and (8), the absolute values of the calculation results are obtained. Then, the larger value in the expressions (7) and (8) is stored in the RAM 5 as the east longitude width WE (step SV6).

Further, the following equation is calculated.

| GY−Nmax | (9) | GY-Nmin | (10) In (9) and (10), the absolute value of the calculation result is obtained. Then, the larger value in the expressions (9) and (10) is stored in the RAM 5 as the north latitude width WN (step SV8).

Also, the current map display scale KA of the second screen is shown.
P is identified (step SV10). This scale KAP
Is a value calculated in the process of FIG. Then, the distance R in the east longitude direction that can be displayed by the identified scale KAP.
E and the distance RN in the north latitude direction are obtained (step S
V12).

Next, the magnitude comparison between the east longitude width WE and the distance RE and the magnitude comparison between the north latitude width WN and the distance RN are performed.
And the east longitude width WE is greater than or equal to the distance RE, or the north latitude width W
If N is greater than or equal to the distance RN, the scale KAP is changed to a value that can display a map in a wider geographical range (step SV).
16). That is, this is the case where the remaining route of the return route cannot be displayed on the second screen due to the movement of the host vehicle.

However, the east longitude width WE is shorter than the distance RE,
In addition, if the north latitude width WN is shorter than the distance RN, it is determined whether or not the appropriate scale KAP that can display the east longitude width WE and the north latitude width WN (step SV18). In other words, the east longitude width W
E is substantially equal to distance RE, or north latitude width WN is distance R
It is determined whether it is substantially equal to N. And east longitude width WE
If the north latitude width WN is significantly shorter than the distances RE and RN, the scale KAP value is changed to a scale value at which the map can display a smaller geographical area (step SV20). That is, it is assumed that the remaining route is shortened and a margin occurs in the display of the second screen.

When the scale KAP is adjusted in steps SV16 and SV20, steps SV14 and SV1 are performed again.
8 is executed. That is, the value of the scale KAP is increased or decreased so that the east longitude width WE and the north latitude width WN can be displayed most appropriately. Then, when the appropriate scale KAP is obtained in steps SV14 and SV18, the remaining route of the return route is displayed on the second screen centering on the own vehicle (step SV22). Thereafter, the processing returns to the guidance / display processing of FIG.

[0295] The map scale KAP may be obtained by using a table recorded in the information storage unit 37 in advance. That is, on the second screen, the reduced scale KAP in which the own vehicle is the center of the screen and the remaining return route is efficiently displayed on the map is directly obtained using the table or the like of the information storage unit 37. The scale KAP is set to a value that allows the remaining return route to be properly displayed in a display area slightly smaller than the effective display area of the second screen. This is the same as the processing in FIGS.

[0296] 23. Second Example of Second Screen Display Processing The display processing of the second screen in FIG. 38 may be performed as shown in FIG. FIG. 39 shows a flowchart of the second embodiment of the second screen display processing. First, untraveled road data from the current position of the vehicle to the end of the return route is read from the information storage unit 37. The node coordinate value of each road constituting the remaining return route is read (step SW2). The maximum value (Emax, Nmax) and the minimum value (Emin, Nmin) in the east longitude direction and the north latitude direction are retrieved from the coordinate values of each node and the current position coordinate value of the vehicle read in step SW2 (step S).
U4). This process is the same as step ST4 in FIG.

Then, the maximum value in each east longitude and north latitude direction,
The following equation is calculated from the minimum value (step SU6).

Emax−Emin = XE (11) Nmax−Nmin = YN (12) The scale of the map that can display the horizontal distance XE and the vertical distance YN is stored in the information storage unit 37 in advance. It is obtained using the recorded table (step SU8). That is, the scale at which the remaining portion of the return route is displayed most efficiently on the second screen is required. In the embodiment of FIG. 39,
The map display is fixed, and the vehicle is displayed so as to move on the return route on the display map. However, the scale of the map may change as the vehicle moves.

When the map scale is obtained in step SU8, the map scale is obtained, and the east longitude coordinate (Emin + XE / 2) and the north latitude coordinate (Nmin + YN /
An untraveled return route is displayed such that 2) is centered on the screen (step SU10). And the flow is shown in FIG.
Returned to 4. That is, the processing in FIG. 39 is the same as that in FIG. 37, and the own vehicle is moved and displayed on the fixedly displayed map.

FIG. 40 shows the guide route 14 searched first.
6 shows a state in which the own vehicle has deviated. A symbol 100 indicates the current position and the traveling direction of the host vehicle. FIG.
Shows a state in which a return route has been searched in the route departure process of FIG. 35 after the host vehicle deviated from the guide route. That is, the return route 258 is displayed on the second screen 108. Icons 252 and 254 are also displayed at the same time. The icon 252 represents a switch for instructing the start of the all route search process in FIG. The icon 254 indicates a switch for instructing the start of the return route search processing in FIG.

In FIG. 41, the return route 258 is indicated by a dotted line, but any display form that can be identified as the guide route 146 may be used. Icon 250, 2
Reference numeral 56 denotes a switch for manually changing the map scale of the third screen. That is, when the icon 250 or the icon 256 is touched by the operator,
The map scale of the third screen is changed.

FIG. 42 shows how the return route 260 is displayed on the second screen. FIG. 42 shows a case where the own vehicle deviates further from the guide route than the display state of FIG. 41. That is, return route 2 in FIG.
Even if the vehicle 58 is searched once, if the own vehicle deviates again from the return route, a new return route 260 is searched by the processing of steps SR12 and SR14 in FIG. Then, a new return route 260 is displayed on the second screen 108.

FIG. 43 shows a state in which the return route 260 has been selected as the guide route. This is a state where the processing of steps SQ20, 22, 24, 26, and 28 in FIG. 34 has been executed. That is, the return route 260 is combined with the previously obtained guide route 146 and displayed on the second screen. In this two-screen display state, route guidance processing is performed. That is, the guidance display of the return route is performed on the second screen. Moreover, on the third screen, the current position of the own vehicle is displayed at the center of the screen.

FIG. 44 shows an application example of the second screen display of the return route. Instead of the return route being clearly displayed on the second screen, the intersection of the return route and the first searched route is indicated by a symbol 262. In addition, the return route may be simply indicated by a plurality of arrows 268 to indicate the traveling direction. Further, the direction of the destination in the guide route may be displayed by the destination direction mark 264.

When the host vehicle arrives at the end of the return route, the two-screen split display state may be automatically canceled, and the guide route searched first may be displayed on the entire first screen. .

The display processing of the destination direction mark 264 will be briefly described. The intersection of the guide route displayed on the second screen and the end of the map screen displayed on the second screen 108 of the display 33 is calculated. In this process,
The road data included in the range of the coordinates displayed on the display 33 is read out by the image processor 9 from the roads constituting the optimum route data MW.
Then, the road closest to the registered destination TP is obtained from the road data. In the optimum route data MW, road number data connecting the guidance start point to the registered destination is arranged and stored in order. Therefore, the road number having the largest order (address number) is the road closest to the registered destination.

[0307] From the shape data constituting the road, those within the coordinate range displayed on the display 33 are read. And in this shape data,
Shape data ND1 with the largest order (address number)
Is selected. Further, coordinate data of a point where a straight line connecting the shape data ND1 and the shape data ND2 of the next address number intersects the screen edge of the display 33 is obtained. The obtained coordinate data is the intersection data C
It is stored in the RAM 4 as P.

Next, a process for obtaining the destination direction of the guide route displayed on the display 33 is performed. Although various types of this processing are conceivable, for example, it is obtained by calculating the inclination angle (Tan θ1) of a straight line connecting the coordinates of the intersection data CP (or the coordinates of the shape data ND1) and the coordinates of the shape data ND2.

Next, a process of displaying a destination direction mark 264 indicating the destination direction at the calculated intersection is performed. This processing is executed, for example, as follows. Information storage unit 37
Alternatively, the ROM 4 stores character pattern data of an arrow used for a destination direction mark. Then, according to the intersection data CP, the character pattern of the arrow is rotated so as to become an arrow indicating the direction of the destination direction data SH. This character pattern data is sent to the image processor 9 and incorporated into the image data. Thereby, the destination direction mark 264 is displayed at the coordinates indicated by the intersection data CP. actually,
In order for the tip of the arrow to coincide with the coordinates of the intersection data CP,
The coordinates of the destination direction mark have a deviation from the intersection data CP.

As described above, in the sixth embodiment, when the vehicle deviates from the guide route, a return route for returning to the guide route is searched. Then, the return to the guidance route using the return route is performed by the operator's selection.
Guide processing is performed. Further, in the return route guidance processing, a two-screen display or a one-screen display is performed according to an operator's selection. In the case of a two-screen display or the like, if the return route does not meet the operator's desire, a new route to the destination is searched for, and a full route search is possible. That is, it is possible to select a guidance route according to the traveling position of the own vehicle.

In the present invention, the re-search, the return route search, the route determination operation, and the like in each of the above embodiments are operable when the vehicle is stopped or running at a speed lower than the creep speed.

[0312] 24. FIG. 47 shows a flowchart of the nearest facility setting process of the present invention. This nearest facility setting processing is executed in the destination setting processing of FIG. 5 or other processing. In the nearest facility processing, a search and a selection process of a drop-off facility other than the final destination near the current position of the vehicle or on the guide route are performed. Drop-off facilities include the following. For example, there are gas stations for refueling, restaurants for meals, banks, post offices, and supermarkets for shopping. In other words, facilities other than the final destination correspond to various facilities required in daily life.

In FIG. 47, first, a genre for specifying a drop-in facility is displayed. Then, one genre is designated using the genre list. The facility corresponding to the specified genre is displayed on the map on the second screen. At this time, on the third screen, a list of sale item names, which are conditions for narrowing down the search facilities, is displayed. Third
A specific item name is specified from the sales item name list on the screen.

[0314] Then, the list of the sale item names is displayed on the second screen. Further, only the facility corresponding to the sale item name is displayed on the map on the third screen. In this way, when specifying the drop-in facilities, narrower categories are sequentially specified in order from the larger category. In addition, the search result according to the designation is displayed on the divided screen. In addition, the search result or search condition according to the category specified immediately before is also displayed.

Referring to FIG. First, it is determined whether a request for genre selection has been made by the operator (step SX2). The genre selection request is displayed on display 3
The input is made by pressing the “stop-by place setting” of the icon displayed in 3 or the like. If there is no request for genre selection, the processing in FIG. 47 ends. Then, the flow is returned to the overall processing of FIG. However, when a genre selection request is input, a genre selection list is displayed on the screen of the display 33 (step SX4).

FIG. 48 shows the first screen 1 of the display 33.
4 shows an example of a genre list displayed in 04. In each column of the list 270 shown in FIG. 48, the name of a genre (for example, a convenience store, a family restaurant, a gas station, etc.) is displayed.

When the genre list is displayed, it is determined whether one genre has been selected from the genre list (step SX6). If the genre is not selected, that is, the touch switch 34
Is not performed, the processing in FIG. 47 is forcibly terminated (step SX6). Then, the process returns to the entire process of FIG. However, when a specific genre is designated, the facility corresponding to the designated genre within a predetermined distance from the current position of the host vehicle is stored in the facility data file F1.
6 is retrieved (step SX8). That is, only the facilities corresponding to the specified genre are searched from the facilities in the facility data file F16. Further, a geographical linear distance from the current position of the vehicle is calculated from the searched east longitude coordinate SEO and north latitude coordinate SNO of each facility.

Then, the identification numbers of the respective facilities whose calculated linear distances are within a predetermined distance are stored in the RAM 5 as search facility numbers GBn. When the extraction of the facilities corresponding to the selected genre is completed, the process of dividing the front screen of the display 33 is executed (step SX10). Then, each facility extracted in step SX8 is displayed on the map on the second screen (step SX12). Further, a list of sale item names, for example, brand names is displayed on the third screen. That is, if a gas station is selected as the genre, a list of gasoline brand names is displayed on the third screen as the sale item name (step SX1).
4). If a bank is specified for the genre, step SX1
By the process of 4, the names of the bank companies are displayed in a list on the third screen.

FIG. 49 shows a state where the screen of the display 33 is divided. On the second screen 108, facilities corresponding to the designated genre are extracted and displayed on a map centered on the own vehicle. In addition, a list 272 of gasoline brand names (sales item names) is displayed on the third screen.

Next, it is determined whether there is a return request (step SX16). The return request is a process of returning the information displayed on the display 33 to the information content displayed immediately before. If it is determined in step SX16 that a return request has been input, the display returns to the genre list display in step SX4. The input of the return request is performed by pressing an icon displayed on the display 33.

If there is no return request, it is determined using the list 272 displayed on the third screen whether or not an item for sale has been designated (step SX18).

Note that what is specified in step SX18 corresponds to the search condition used in the secondary search. By specifying this secondary search, a specific facility is narrowed down.

When the sale item is specified in step SX18, a list of sale item names is displayed on the second screen (step SX20). Further, only the facility that handles the designated sales item is displayed on the map on the third screen (step SX22). FIG. 50 shows a step SX20,
The state where information is displayed on the second screen 108 and the third screen 110 by the SX 22 is shown. FIG. 4 shows the second screen 108.
A list 272 of the third screen indicated by 9 is displayed. On the third screen 110, only the facilities 278 corresponding to the sale item 278 of the list 272 are displayed on the map.

Next, it is determined whether there is a return request (step SX24). The return request is a process of returning the information displayed on the display 33 to the information content displayed immediately before. If it is determined in step SX24 that a return request has been input, the process returns to step SX12. That is, if a return request is made in the display state of FIG. 50, the display state is returned to the display state of FIG.

However, if there is no return request, it is determined whether or not a facility designation operation has been performed (step SX2).
6). That is, it is determined whether or not the specific facility has been designated using the third screen shown in FIG. When the facility is designated, information such as the coordinate value of the designated facility is read from the information storage unit 37 and stored in the RAM 5 as the stopover point DP (step SX28).

On the other hand, using the display on the third screen 110,
If one facility is not specified or the operation is not performed for a predetermined time, a split screen release process or the like is performed (step SX30). That is, the nearest facility setting process shown in FIG. 47 is forcibly terminated. Even when a specific facility is designated, the split screen is canceled (step SX30).

As described above, in the nearest facility setting process shown in FIG. 47, designation of facilities such as drop-in places, designation of genre, designation of sale item name, and the like are sequentially performed. In addition, when the category is designated, the facility corresponding to the category and the means for designating the next category are displayed in parallel on the split screen of the display 33. Therefore, the category designation can be changed immediately. In addition, the extraction result of the facility corresponding to the changed category is directly displayed on the adjacent screen. Therefore, the facility designation operation can be performed more quickly and accurately.

In the above embodiment, the genre was specified as the first search condition. As a second search condition, a sales item name was specified. The present invention is not limited to such search conditions. For example, a search condition for extracting only facilities within a predetermined distance from the searched guide route is
The second search condition may be used instead, or the third search condition may be used.

25. FIG. 51 shows a subroutine for extracting facilities along a route. In this subroutine, the geographical shortest linear distance from the facility to the guidance route is calculated based on the searched geographical coordinate data of each facility (step SX32). The subroutine for calculating the shortest linear distance is shown in FIG. The guide route means the guide route data MW obtained by the route search process in the overall process of FIG. FIG. 53 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the detected facility and the guidance route. The route from the guidance start point ε to the destination α is the route obtained by the route search process (step SA4).

The shortest straight-line distance between each facility and the guide route, which is obtained by the processing in step SX32 shown in FIG.
Only facilities within about 150 m are extracted (Step SX
34). It is determined whether each facility extracted in step SX34 is on the left or right with respect to the traveling direction of the guide route (step SX36). FIG. 54 is a diagram for explaining the process of step SX36. The coordinates (X1, Y1) represent the coordinates of the node near the facility at the target coordinates (Xb, Yb) of the facility, and correspond to the node SAS1 shown in FIG. In addition, reference coordinates (X0, Y
0) corresponds to the coordinates of the node SAS2 shown in FIG. 53 or the current position of the host vehicle. Therefore, the coordinates (X
The reference vector a = (ax, ay) connecting the reference coordinates (X0, Y0) to the reference coordinates (X0, Y0) represents the branch 300 in FIG. Note that the reference vector a is represented by a = (ax, a
y) = (X1-X0, Y1-Y0). As the coordinates (X1, Y1) and the reference coordinates (X0, Y0), a node having coordinates closest to the target coordinates (Xb, Yb) of the facility is selected from the road data corresponding to the guide route data MW.

An orthogonal vector c = (− ax, ay) obtained by rotating the reference vector a by 90 degrees counterclockwise.
Is defined. In addition, the target vector b connecting the reference coordinates (X0, Y0) and the target coordinates (Xb, Yb) of the facility and the orthogonal vector c have a spread of the angle θ. Note that the target vector b is b = (Xb−X0, Yb−Y
0).

The reference vector a and the target vector b
Is defined as follows:

C · b = | c | × | b | × cos θ If the value of the inner product of the vectors c and b is positive, the facility of interest is on the left side in the traveling direction in the guide route. Conversely, if the dot product value is negative, the facility is to the right of the direction of travel. In this way, the relative left and right positions of each extraction facility with respect to the guide route are determined by the plus and minus of the inner product of the vectors (step SX36). Therefore, if only the sign of the inner product calculation result is determined, the left-right direction of the target is easily determined. The determined left and right data RL is the above R data
Stored in AM5. The reference coordinates (X0, Y0) shown in FIG. 54 are necessarily the coordinates of the node closest to the starting point (FIG. 53) among the two nodes closest to the inspection target facility.
In the case of, the node SAS2) is set. Conversely, the coordinates (X1, Y1) are the node coordinates on the side closer to the destination (FIG. 5).
3, the node SAS1).

The orthogonal vector c may be obtained by rotating the reference vector a clockwise by 90 degrees, or the cross product of the reference vector a and the target vector b (| a |
× | b | × sin θ). When the left and right positions of each extraction facility with respect to the guide route are detected, the facility-destination distance Zn from each extraction facility to the destination is calculated (step SX38). Here, the facility-destination distance Zn is a distance on the guide route. That is, it means the distance along the route from the point PP1 shown in FIG. 53 to the destination α. Therefore, in the case of FIG.
Branches 364, 365, 3 in the straight distance to AS1
The sum of the 66 linear distances is the facility-destination distance Zn. Further, the reference vector a includes a traveling direction of the own vehicle, a direction from the own vehicle to the destination, north, south, east, west,
Any direction set by the operator may be used. In addition, this facility
The shortest straight-line distance (the value obtained in step SX32 in FIG. 51) may be added to the destination distance Zn.

Then, the obtained facility-destination distance Z
The sorting of the extracted facility data is executed based on n (step SX40). For example, each facility is arranged from the largest facility-destination distance Zn.

26. Calculation of Shortest Straight Distance FIG. 52 shows a subroutine (step SX32) for calculating the shortest straight distance between the search facility in FIG. 51 and the guidance route. FIG. 53 is a diagram for explaining a relative geographical positional relationship between facilities along the guide route and the guide route. FIG. 55 is a diagram illustrating the calculation of the shortest linear distance. As described above, the route from the guidance start point ε to the destination α shown in FIG. 53 is the route obtained by the route search process (step SA4 in FIG. 5).

The nodes SAS1 and SAS2 shown in FIG.
The nodes SAS1 and SAS2 shown in FIG.
Corresponding to The geographically shortest linear distance between the searched coordinate PP2 of one facility and the guidance route is obtained as follows. In the guide route, the nodes SAS1 and SAS2 closest to the coordinates PP2 of the facility are selected (step SX42 in FIG. 52). In order to detect the two nodes closest to the facility of interest among the nodes on the guide route, the following processing is executed. First, each node and coordinates PP
2 is calculated. Among the calculated linear distances, the node having the minimum value and the next smaller linear distance are detected. Then, the two nodes are the nodes closest to the guidance route.

Next, the two nodes SAS1, SAS
Are calculated from the geographical coordinates of the nodes SAS1 and SAS2 (step SX44). Each intermediate point JJ1, J
A geographical straight-line distance between straight lines RR1, RR2,... Connecting each of J2 and the coordinates PP2 of the facility of interest is calculated (step SX46).

Next, as an initial value setting, the minimum value Rmin
Is set to the distance value of the straight line RR1. Further, an initial value “2” is set to the condition variable NS (step SX4).
8). NS-th straight line R specified by this condition variable NS
A magnitude comparison between the geographical distance of R (NS) and the minimum value Rmin is performed (step SX50). Straight line RR (N
If the value of S) is smaller than the minimum value Rmin, the minimum value Rm
In is set the geographic distance value of the straight line RR (NS) (step SX52). After the replacement of this numerical value, the condition variable NS is incremented by 1 (step SX5
4).

However, the minimum value Rmin is equal to the straight line RR (N
If the distance value is smaller than S), the process of step SX52 is not performed, and only the process of step SX54 is performed. Thereafter, the condition variable NS is changed to the nodes SAS1 and SAS2.
Is determined to be greater than the number of intermediate points at which the data is divided at equal intervals (step SX56). This step SX5
If the determination of No. 6 is NO, the process is executed again from the process of step SX50. However, when all the processes for each of the intermediate points that divide the nodes SAS1 and SAS2 at equal intervals have been executed, the process in FIG. 52 ends.

With the above processing, the minimum value Rmin is
A numerical value substantially equal to the shortest linear distance from the coordinate PP2 of the facility of interest to the straight line connecting the nodes SAS1 and SAS2 is set. Therefore, the minimum value Rmin is set as the shortest facility-route distance Rmin between the facility and the guide route. This minimum value Rmin is determined from the target facility by the nodes SAS1 and SAS2.
It represents the distance between the foot of the vertical line to the target facility and this target facility. The shortest linear distance calculation process may be performed as follows. The distance between the node SAS1 or the node SAS2 and the target facility is calculated. Further, it may be obtained indirectly from the straight line distance between the node and the facility.

[0342] In addition, in the extraction condition of each facility, a nearby facility on the right hand side of a road where a median strip exists at the center of the road and a right turn is not allowed may be excluded. In this case, a road condition extracting means for extracting the road environment of each road in the searched guide route is provided. Based on the road condition read by the road condition extraction means, the facility exclusion means determines whether to exclude the extracted facility by using the processing result of step SX36. That is, in step SX36, it is possible to determine whether each facility is located on the left or right along the guide route. Therefore, if the road environment is compared with the left and right positions of each facility, the above-described extraction processing can be performed.

The road condition extracting means reads road attribute data, attention data, and the like from the road data file F4 of each road. The road environment of the guide route closest to the extracted facility is determined using the read road attribute data and the like. That is, the facility exclusion means determines whether it is difficult to stop at the facility. Thereby, it is possible to prevent a facility that is extremely difficult to drop in from being selected.

Furthermore, external information such as VICS and ATIS may be fetched and used as extraction conditions for drop-in facilities. For example, when a parking lot around the destination is to be extracted as a drop-in facility, the facility is taken into consideration by using external information such as VICS and ATIS in consideration of whether each parking lot is fully occupied, vacant or the congestion of a road near the facility. Let it be extracted. As a result, it is possible to further reduce an error in selecting a facility. It should be noted that the start instruction for the nearest facility setting process is executed so that it cannot be executed while the host vehicle is running.

As described above, according to the navigation device of this embodiment, when a place to drop in occurs on the way to the initially set destination or the like, the facility along the guide route determines the current position of the vehicle. Search with the considered distance. Therefore, the selection range of the drop-off facilities is widened, and more optimal facilities can be selected.

For example, in the middle of the route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination, there may be the following states even if there is no drop-in facility that matches the purpose. For example, there is a facility that matches the purpose at the point where the guide route is slightly turned back to the departure place. Also in this case, according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, facilities that are along the guide route and that have already passed are also searched, so that it is easier to select a standing facility.

In the case where there are a plurality of drop-in facilities extracted, if the narrowing-down conditions are strict as described above,
Since only the drop-off facilities that match the user's desire are displayed, the time required for the facility selection process is reduced.

In the facility setting process, a facility search may be performed in the entire map information based on the route. In this case, the user traveling on the route can stop at a desired facility without greatly deviating from the route. In addition, if the system is configured to selectively display facilities within a desired range from a reference point (current position, destination, cursor position, etc.), required information can be promptly and clearly provided to the user. In addition, based on route information and facility information,
Since each facility position indicating the positional relationship is displayed, the position of the desired facility with respect to the route can be clearly shown.

27. Postal Code Selection Data 50 FIGS. 56 to 61 show the structures of various data recorded in the information storage unit 37. These data are used in the destination setting processing of FIG. FIG. 56 shows postal code selection data 50. The postal code data 50 includes a postal code RDN, a street list address LA, a size LD, a facility genre list address NA, a size ND, a representative point east longitude coordinate PEO, a representative point north latitude coordinate PNO, and an area shape data address EA. One postal code RDN specifies one local area. The storage addresses of various data relating to the specified area in the information storage unit 37 are the street list address LA and the facility genre list address N
A or the like.

The storage start address and the memory size where each street list is recorded are specified by the street list address LA and the size LD. Similarly, the storage start address and the memory size where the genre list to which each facility belongs are recorded are identified by the facility genre list address NA and the size ND. The genre refers to stations, museums, golf courses, bookstores, pharmacies, restaurants, etc., public facilities of such facilities, transportation facilities, sports and leisure facilities, shopping facilities, etc., classification of destinations or stopovers, fields, Indicates the type, purpose, use or business (sales) content.

The representative point east longitude coordinate PEO and the representative point north latitude coordinate PNO represent the approximate center of the area corresponding to the postal code RDN. When the map data in the information storage unit 37 is displayed on the display 33, the geographical coordinates specified by the representative point east longitude coordinate PEO and the representative point north latitude coordinate PNO are substantially at the center of the display 33. As a result, the designated postal code area is displayed substantially at the center of the display 33. That is, the map data of the postal code area is displayed on the display 3 by the representative point east longitude coordinate PEO and the representative point north latitude coordinate PNO.
3 is displayed almost at the center. Note that a part of the edge of the area may be cut depending on the display scale.

The storage start address and memory size of the data storage unit 37 for specifying the outer shape of the designated area of the postal code RDN are specified by the area shape data address EA and the size ED. Specifically, latitude data and longitude data (geographic coordinates) at a plurality of locations on the outer edge of the area are recorded from the memory address specified by the address EA. With the latitude and longitude (geographic coordinates) of the plurality of locations, one postal code area is specified in the map according to the map data in the information storage unit 37. Then, if all of the latitude and longitude are within the display 33, the designated postal code area is displayed without cutting the end.

As described above, the postal code selection data 50 includes the postal code RDN, street list address LA, facility genre list address NA, representative point east longitude coordinate PEO, representative point north latitude coordinate PNO, and area shape data address EA.
Is a data group in which is a unit. Therefore, if the postal code RDN is specified, one area is stored in the information storage unit 37.
Is specified in the map data.

Therefore, the designated postal code (telephone number) area is displayed substantially at the center of the display output means based on the representative point data of this area. Further, an optimum display scale is selected based on the shape data of the area, and the display scale is displayed on the display output means without being cut off.

Also, the representative point east longitude coordinate and the representative point north latitude coordinate may be selected based on a part (upper part) of the postal code and the telephone number. That is, by inputting a part of the postal code and the telephone number, an area corresponding to the input part of the postal code and the telephone number is specified. For example, when the upper two digits “12” of the three-digit postal code “123” are input, an area corresponding to the upper order “12” of the input postal code may be displayed and output. Further, similarly to the postal code and the telephone number, a specific identification number may be given for each area that is distinguished, classified, or divided according to predetermined conditions. For example, a number or symbol for each prefecture, city, town or village, a number or symbol for each state, a number or symbol for each time zone, a number or symbol for each country of the European Community, and the like.

28. Street List Data 55 FIG. 57 shows the data structure of the street list data 55. The street list data 55 is composed of group data of the number of streets SS (m), and is stored from the head address indicated by the street list address LA. One street list data 55 includes a street name SSN, a display representative point east longitude coordinate SEO, a display representative point north latitude coordinate SNO, a shape data address SEA, and a size SED.

The street name SSN indicates the name of the m-th street. The street name may include a national road name (national road number), a local road name (local road number), or a highway name (highway number). The display representative point east longitude coordinate SEO and the display representative point north latitude coordinate SNO indicate the longitude and latitude (geographic coordinates) of the representative point of this street. The representative point is the center point of the street, but may be the northeast end or the southwest end, or the northwest end or the southeast end.

[0358] Shape data address SEA and size SE
By D, the storage start address and the memory area of the geographic coordinate data of each node on this street are designated. The outer shape of this street is identified by the geographic coordinate data of each node. These display representative points east longitude SE
A graphic of the street designated by the street name SSN is displayed on the display 33 by using O, the display representative point north latitude coordinate SNO, and the geographic coordinate data of each node.

When one street extends over a plurality of postal code areas, the street list data 55 of this street is stored for each postal code area, each street name is the same, and the display representative point east longitude coordinate SEO, The display representative point north latitude coordinate SNO, shape data address SEA, and size SED are different.

29. Facility Genre List Data 60 FIG. 58 shows the data structure of the facility genre list data 60. This facility genre list data 60
It is composed of NC (k) data groups of facility genres. One facility genre list data 60 is
Facility genre name NM and facility list address NLA,
It is composed of a size SED. Facility genre name NM
Represents the name of the genre.

From the memory start address specified by the facility list address NLA, list data of facilities belonging to this genre is stored in the memory area specified by the size NLD. Thus, the data read from the memory specified by the facility list address NLA and the size NLD identifies the geographical coordinates of each facility belonging to the facility genre name NM and the facility-specific name.

30. Street Shape Data 65 FIG. 59 shows the data structure of the street shape data 65. The street shape data 65 includes the number of nodes ES
It consists of (t) data groups. One street shape data 65 includes an east longitude coordinate EEO and a north latitude coordinate EN
O, an address ENO, and a street name SSN. The east longitude coordinate EEO and the north latitude coordinate ENO determine the geographical position of the node in the map data in the information storage unit 37. The address ENO indicates the address data of the address of this node. When the street is displayed on the display 33, the address ENO is displayed along the street (node), whereby the address along the street is identified.

The street name SSN indicates the name of a street (guide road) to which this facility is in contact or nearby. Therefore, when a plurality of streets (guide target roads) exist around the facility, a plurality of street names SSN are stored in one facility data.
The street name SSN is the same as the street name SSN of the street list data 55 shown in FIG. The guidance target road means a road searched in a route search process described later.

31. Facility List Data 70 FIG. 60 shows the data structure of the facility list data 70.
The facility list data 70 is composed of a data group of the number IS (u) of facilities. The facility list data 70 represents a plurality of facilities belonging to one genre of one facility genre list data 60 shown in FIG.

One facility list data 70 includes a facility name IM, east longitude coordinates IEO, north latitude coordinates INO, and an address IB. The facility name IM is a unique name of the facility. The east longitude coordinate IEO and the north latitude coordinate INO indicate the longitude and latitude (geographical position) of this facility. The location on the map of this facility is specified by the east longitude coordinate IEO and the north latitude coordinate INO. The address IB indicates the address of the address.

32. Area Shape Data 75 FIG. 61 shows a data structure of a data string of the area shape data 75. The area shape data 75 indicates the outer edge of the postal code area on the map as described above, and specifies the area range. That is, the geographical range of the area is specified by a plurality of nodes. One area shape data 75 includes longitude and latitude, that is, east longitude coordinates A
It consists of EO and north latitude coordinate ANO. The node number data ANC (v) indicates the number of nodes.

33. Destination Setting Process (Step SA5) FIGS. 62 to 65 show flowcharts of the destination setting process executed by the navigation device of the present invention.
FIG. 62 is a view illustrating a flowchart of the destination setting process (step SA3). First, the screen of the display 33 is divided (Step SX60). And the second
A screen for inputting the postal code is displayed on the screen (step SX).
62). An example of this postal code input screen is shown on the second screen 108 in FIG. Further, an image for item selection is displayed on the third screen (step SX64).

As shown in FIG. 66, the second screen 108
Above, an input numeral display column 402 and a numeral 40 from 0 to 9
8 and an “END” character 410 for selecting that the numerical input has been completed are displayed. Further, a mouse cursor 406 that can freely move within the screen 108 is also displayed. When the mouse cursor 406 is moved over each numeral 408 and the confirmation input key is pressed, the numeral is recognized by the navigation device. Note that the confirmation input key is a key switch provided on the navigation device.

[0369] The mouse cursor 406 may be moved by a small joystick. Confirm input key
The switching mechanism for pushing the joystick may be used instead. The mouse cursor 406 may not be displayed on the third screen 110. In this case, screen 11
Each display item in 0 is selected by driving the joystick. The display color may be changed within the frame of the selected display item so that the selected state can be identified.

The numerical value input using the input screen of the second screen 108 in FIG. 66 is used as the postal code RDN. When the postcode RDN is input, postcode selection data 50 (see FIG. 56) based on the postcode RDN.
Is retrieved from the information storage unit 37. That is, from the data group of the postal code selection data 50, the input postal code R
One piece of postal code selection data matching the DN is read from the information storage unit 37.

Next, an item selection screen is displayed on the third screen 110 of the display 33 (step SX64). A display example of this item selection screen is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 66, characters 418 of "representative point map display", characters 420 of "input street name", characters 422 of "input facility name", and "destination setting by another item"
Is displayed.

Then, the mouse cursor 406 displayed on the screen of the display 33 is moved by the operator. Further, the relative position of the mouse cursor 406 on the screens 108 and 110 at the time when the enter key is turned on is detected (step SX66). That is,
The mouse cursor 40 at the time when the enter key is pressed
The position on the screen of No. 6 is identified by the CPU 2. Then, the information content displayed at the position of the mouse cursor 406 is selected. For example, when the mouse cursor 406 is displayed over the character 418 of “representative point map display”, the enter key is pressed. In this case, the process of displaying the representative point map is selected.

Next, it is determined whether or not “destination setting by another item” is selected (step SX68). When the "destination setting by another item" is selected, the processing in FIG. 62 is terminated. That is, the process of setting the destination from the area specified by the postal code is canceled.
Therefore, if the decision result in the step SX68 is YES, a destination setting processing subroutine based on another item is executed (step SX70). For example, a process of directly selecting a destination from the address of the destination is executed.
When the subroutine of step SX70 is completed,
The processing returns to the main flow of FIG.

However, the judgment result at step SX68 is N
In the case of O, the processing after step SX72 is executed. When any of the representative point map display processing, the street name input processing, and the facility name input processing is selected in the item selection processing in steps SX64 and SX66, the selection result is stored in the RAM 5 as the mode set data MD.

If "destination setting by another item" is not selected, the item selection image displayed on the third screen is displayed on the second screen (step SX72). Then, it is determined whether or not the mode for displaying the representative point map has been selected based on the data of the mode set data MD (step SX74). If it has been selected, a "representative point map display and destination setting" subroutine is executed (step SX76).

However, if the representative point map mode has not been selected, or if the processing in step SX76 has been completed, the determination in the next step SX78 is executed. That is, it is determined whether or not the mode selection is the street input mode (step SX78). If the street input mode is selected, the "display of street name and destination setting" subroutine is executed (step SX8).
0).

If the "street name display and destination setting" subroutine is terminated, or if the decision result in the step SX78 is "NO", a step SX8 is executed.
The determination of 2 is performed. That is, it is determined whether the genre setting mode has been selected (step SX8).
2). In the genre selection mode, a "genre list display and destination setting" subroutine is executed (step SX84). This subroutine of step SX84 is terminated, or the result of step SX82 is "NO".
In this case, it is determined whether the return key has been pressed (step SX86). If the return key has been pressed, the processes in and after step SX62 are executed again. That is, the image for inputting the postal code is displayed on the second screen. However, if the return key is not pressed, the process returns to the main flow of FIG.

34. FIG. 63 shows a representative point map display and a destination setting subroutine. First, the postal code selection data 50 specified by the postal code RDN is read from the information storage unit 37. Note that this postal code RDN is stored in step SX62.
Is entered. Further, the area shape data address EA and the size ED recorded in the postal code selection data 50
Is extracted.

From the memory area specified by the area shape data address EA and the size ED, the east longitude coordinate AEO and the north latitude coordinate ANO (see FIG. 61) of each node that defines the outer edge (outer circumference) of the area are sequentially read. Then, the maximum value and the minimum value in the east longitude coordinate AEO of each node are extracted (step SX90). Similarly, the maximum value and the minimum value in the north latitude coordinate ANO of each node are extracted.

Each east longitude coordinate AEO and each north latitude coordinate AN
The scale at which the map is displayed on the display 33 is obtained from the maximum value and the minimum value of each O (step SX).
92). As a result, the entire area of the postal code RDN is displayed on the third screen 110 of the display 33 so that the end of the area is not cut off (step SX94). In addition,
The geographic range of the designated area of the postal code RDN is determined by the area shape data 75. Display 3
3 is stored in the information storage unit 37.

The designated area is displayed on the third screen at the scale calculated in step SX92 (step SX94). FIG. 67 shows a display example of the designated area at the appropriate scale. In FIG. 67, the designated area is a range surrounded by a dotted line 456. The turning points 460 and 462 shown in FIG. 67 represent nodes.
Further, the symbol 452 indicates the current position of the host vehicle. Curves 458 and 459 represent roads. In step SX94, the shapes of all streets or main streets in the designated area are also displayed. In this case, FIG.
The street shape data 65 of each of the nine areas is used.

The process of selecting the proper scale in step SX92 may be omitted, or the proper scale may be selected manually by the operator. If the process of step SX92 is omitted, the area map displayed on the display 33 is the largest enlarged map. Moreover, the representative point east longitude coordinate PEO and the representative point north latitude coordinate P of the designated area
NO (see FIG. 56) becomes the center of the third screen 110.

As described above, when the area map is displayed on the third screen of the display 33, each facility is further displayed in the designated area using the graphic symbol stored in the flash memory 3 ( Step SX96). In this facility display, the facility list data 70 in FIG. 60 is used.
A specific symbol is displayed at coordinates corresponding to the geographical coordinates of the facility. The symbols are stars, circles, triangles, squares, forks, cups, bags, flags, houses, and the like. Note that this facility display may be performed only when the largest area map is displayed on the third screen of the display 33.

Thereafter, an arbitrary point in the display map area is designated using the mouse cursor 406 displayed in the display 33. That is, the mouse cursor 406 is moved by the operation of the operator, and the enter key is pressed. The mouse cursor 406 at the time when this confirmation key is pressed
Is the destination desired by the operator. Therefore, the display position of the mouse cursor 406 at the time when the enter key is pressed is obtained (step SX98). From the cursor display position, the actual geographic coordinate position is calculated by calculation. The geographic coordinate position obtained by this calculation is
It is stored in the RAM 5 as the registered destination data TP (Step SX100).

When the process of step SX100 is completed, the process returns to the destination setting process of FIG. It should be noted that the setting of the drop-in place may be performed according to the same procedure as described above. Then, the geographical coordinates of the stopover location are also stored in the RAM 5 as the stopover location DP.

[0386] 35. Street Name Display and Destination Setting Subroutine FIG. 64 shows a street name display and destination setting subroutine. The process of FIG. 64 is executed when the determination result of step SX78 is YES in FIG. In FIG. 64, first, all the streets in the area specified by the postal code RDN are read (step SX110). The list of all the streets is performed using the street list data 55 of FIG. The street list data 55 stores a street name in an area specified by the postal code RDN. Therefore, by extracting only the street name from the street list data 55, a list of streets is created.

The list of street names listed in step SX110 is displayed on third screen 110 of display 33 (step SX112). When the number of streets SS (m) is large, all the streets cannot be displayed on the display 33 at once. In this case, each street name is displayed by scrolling the screen of the display 33. FIG. 68 shows a display example of the street list. In addition to the street list display, each street name may be notified by voice.

At the time of displaying the street list in step SX112, the mouse cursor 406 is also displayed on the screen 108 of the display 33. Then, the display position of the mouse cursor 406 at the time when the enter key is pressed is acquired (step SX114). This mouse cursor 4
Based on the display position 06, which street is selected is identified (step SX116).

The display representative point east longitude coordinate SEO and the display representative point north latitude coordinate SNO of the street selected in step SX116 are read from the street list data 55 (step SX118). Further, the street shape data 65 of the selected street is stored in the information storage unit 3.
7 is read. This street shape data 65
Consists of an east longitude coordinate EEO and a north latitude coordinate ENO of each node, and determines the shape of this street. Therefore, the maximum value and the minimum value of each of the node east longitude coordinate EEO and each north latitude coordinate ENO are obtained (step SX12).
0).

The calculation of the maximum value and the minimum value of each of the east longitude and the north latitude of the node coordinates is the same processing as that in step SX90 in the area map display described above. Therefore, the appropriate scale of the map displayed on the display 33 is obtained from the obtained maximum value and minimum value of each east longitude and each north latitude. The street is displayed on the third screen of the display 33 at the obtained scale (step S
X122). When a street is displayed on the third screen of the display 33, each address associated with the street is displayed together. Along with this street display, this street name may be notified by voice.

[0391] Along with the street display on the third screen, a street list is displayed on the second screen (step SX).
123). An example of a street displayed on the third screen 110 of the display 33 is shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, the selected street is the third screen 110
In, the road is identified and displayed. In FIG. 69, this is indicated by a thick line 500. On an actual screen, it may be displayed in a characteristic identification color. The name of the selected street is displayed as characters 504 in a display area 502 provided at the top of the third screen 110. Note that the street name SSN of the street list data 55 is used as the display street name. A character 506 in FIG. 69 indicates an address. For this address display, the data of the address ENO of the street list data 55 is used.

The calculation of the appropriate scale in step SX122 may be omitted. In this case, the map is displayed so that the street is enlarged most. In addition, the adjustment is performed so that the representative point of the street is substantially at the center of the screen 100. The representative point of this street is determined by the display representative point east longitude coordinate SEO and the display representative point SNO in the street list data 55.

As described above, when the street is displayed on the third screen 110, the destination is designated by the mouse cursor 406. Therefore, the position of the mouse cursor 406 on the screen 110 at the time when the enter key is pressed is detected (step SX124). Next, it is determined whether the return key has been pressed (step SX125). If the return key is pressed, the display state of the display 33 is returned to the state before one process. That is, step SX72 in FIG.
The processing is returned to. If the return key has not been pressed, the actual geographic coordinate position is calculated by calculation from the cursor display position. The geographic coordinate position obtained by this calculation is stored in the RAM 5 as the registered destination data TP (step SX126).

When the processing in step SX126 is completed, the processing returns to the destination setting processing in FIG. It should be noted that the setting of the drop-in place may be performed according to the same procedure as described above. Then, the geographical coordinates of the stopover location are stored in the RAM 5 as the stopover location DP. Further, when the street is displayed in step SX122, the entire designated area including the street may be displayed.

36. Genre List Display and Destination Setting Subroutine FIG. 65 shows a genre list display and destination setting subroutine. In FIG. 65,
First, the genres of the facilities in the area specified by the postcode RDN are listed (step SX).
130). The listing of the genre is performed using the facility genre list data 60 of FIG. The memory area of the information storage unit 37 of the facility genre list data 60 is specified by the facility genre list address NA and the size ND of the postal code selection data 50.

Next, the number of facility genres NC (k) facility genre names NM are obtained from the facility genre list data 60.
Is read. Then, the genre list is displayed on the third screen of the display 33 (step SX13).
2). An example of this genre list screen display is shown in FIG. Thereafter, when the confirm key is pressed,
The display position of the mouse cursor 406 on the screen 110 is obtained (step SX134). Further, it is determined whether the return key has been pressed (step SX13).
5). If the return key has been pressed, the process returns from the process in FIG. 65 to step SX62 in FIG.

If the return key has not been pressed, it is determined that the displayed genre has been selected at the position of the cursor 406 (step SX136). The facilities belonging to the specified genre are listed (step SX138). This facility is listed using the facility list data 70 of FIG. The memory area of the facility list data 70 is a facility list address NLA.
And size NLD. The facility list address NLA and the size NLD are included in the facility genre list data 60. That is, when a genre is specified, a list of facilities belonging to the genre and located in the designated area is immediately read from the information storage unit 37.

Next, the facility name I of the facility list data 70
Only M is extracted and displayed in a list on the third screen of the display 33 (step SX140). Further, a genre list is displayed on the second screen (step SX14).
1). Then, the display position of the mouse cursor 406 on the screen 110 at the time when the enter key is pressed is acquired (step SX142). The facility at the display position of the cursor 106 is set as the destination (Step S)
X144).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the return key has been pressed (step SX145). If the return key has been pressed, the process returns to step SX72 in FIG. However, if the return key is not pressed, step SX146
The following processing is executed.

[0400] The east longitude coordinate IEO and the north latitude coordinate INO of the facility selected in step SX144 are read from the facility list data 70. Based on the east longitude coordinate IEO and the north latitude coordinate INO, a map around the designated facility is displayed on the third screen of the display 33 (step SX).
146). In addition, the facility list is displayed on the second screen (step SX147). The scale of the map display may be a scale at which the map is displayed at the maximum, or a scale selected by the operator. Further, the name of the facility may be notified by voice along with the display of the map around the specified facility. After the display of step SX147 is performed, it is determined whether or not the return key is pressed (step SX14).
8). If the return key has been pressed, the process proceeds to step SX140.
Is executed again. However, if the return key has not been pressed, the process returns to the destination setting process of FIG.

As described above, in the destination setting process of this embodiment, after a specific area is designated by the postal code RDN, a plurality of types of information (three types,
3 mode). This makes the search for the destination easier. When the return key is pressed in each selection state, the display is returned to the previous selection screen.

[0402] The destination setting process may be performed as follows. First, a specific area is specified by a zip code. Next, a specific street is selected from the streets in the area. In addition, facilities around the selected street are listed. Finally,
A desired destination is selected from the listed facility names. Thereby, a desired destination can be searched from near the street.

Further, the destination setting processing may be performed as follows. The specific area is specified by the postal code. Next, a specific street is selected from the streets in the area. In addition, facilities along the selected street are listed. Finally, a desired destination is selected from the listed facility names. Therefore, a desired destination is extracted along a specific street in a specific area.

Further, the destination setting processing may be performed as follows. First, a specific area is designated by the postal code RDN. Thereafter, a specific genre is selected. Next, the names of the streets where the facilities corresponding to the specified genre exist are listed. Then, a facility is selected based on the street name list.
Therefore, when setting a destination, it is possible to search in the order of area, genre, and street.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, at the time of street selection in step SX116 in FIG. 64, the street list is displayed on the display 33 as shown in FIG. 68, but this may be performed as follows. That is, as in the second screen 110 of FIG. 67, the area is displayed on the divided screen of the display 33, and the street names are also displayed on the screen. When an arbitrary geographic coordinate on the display area is selected by the mouse cursor 406, an enlarged view centering on the selected portion is immediately displayed. At the time of displaying the enlarged view, facilities within the displayable range of the display 33 are also displayed at the same time. As a result, the operator can search for each facility along a specific street in a specific area while viewing the map.

In each of the above embodiments, the area is specified by the postal code. However, the postal code can be replaced with the whole or upper part of the telephone number.
That is, an area can be designated only by the area code, or the area can be designated by using the area code and the first several digits of the remaining telephone numbers excluding the area code. Further, the postal code to be input may be a part of the upper part or all.

Further, in step SX94 or SX
After 96, the above step SX110 or SX13
You may jump to zero. As a result, a list of streets or a figure or a list or location of facilities in the displayed area is displayed and / or output as audio. In step SX112, step SX is executed.
94 may be executed, or the processing in step SX1
In step 40, the process of step SX96 may be executed instead or together. Thereby, the figure of the street in the designated area or the position of the facility in the designated area is displayed. Note that the above step SX146
And the order of step SX144 may be interchanged.

[0408] Further, the selection by the mouse cursor may be executed by voice from the operator. in this case,
A desired item is selected from the list output and / or output by voice, and this item is pronounced by the operator.

In the above embodiments, the postal code RDN
A search process for a destination or a stopover location based on the input is performed before the route search process (step SA4).
However, these destination or drop-in search processes
It may be performed during the guidance / display processing in step SA5. In other words, a new stopover or destination is set in the middle of the guide route by interruption. However, these operations are performed with the host vehicle stopped or in a slow running state. As a result, the setting of the destination or the stopover location can be easily changed. Further, the selection of the destination and the stop-by place may be performed based on the business hours of each facility. For example, facilities that are open from 11:00 am to 11 pm may be extracted.

As described in detail above, in the destination setting process of the present invention, the screen is divided and the search conditions and the search results are displayed in parallel on each of the divided screens. As a result, the search conditions for the destination can be narrowed down step by step, so that an effect such that the search for the destination can be performed more easily can be achieved.
Especially when the address of the desired destination is not clearly understood,
You can search for a destination based on a number that specifies the area.

[0411] The division position on the display screen of the display 33 is not particularly limited in the present invention. In each of the above embodiments, the screen of the display 33 is divided in the vertical direction so that the second screen and the third screen have an equal area. However, the display area of the second screen may be smaller than the display area of the third screen. Conversely, the display area of the second screen may be larger than the display area of the third screen. Further, when the display screen of the display 33 is vertically long, the display screen may be divided in the horizontal direction, and the third screen may be an upper screen and the second screen may be a lower screen. Here, the third screen means a screen that displays map information that is more necessary for the driver. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the screen is divided into two, but may be divided into three or more screens. For example, the second screen in each of the above embodiments is divided in the horizontal direction, and is divided into upper and lower screens. Then, different geographic information may be displayed on each split screen.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, geographic information is displayed on each of the second screen and the third screen. This may be performed as follows. For example, a television image is displayed on the second screen. Conventional map information may be displayed on the third screen. In each of the above embodiments, when the user instructs to cancel the screen division,
One map is displayed on the entire screen of the display 33. When the division is released, the map displayed on the third screen is displayed on the entire screen of the display 33.

(1) In addition to the above, the screen is divided into
In addition to left / right, top / bottom, diagonal top / diagonal bottom, etc., the display areas of both screens may be different. In this case, the image memory 10 is divided according to these division forms,
The addressing of each image memory element is also divided according to these division modes. Further, the number of divided screens may exceed two, and accordingly, the number of divisions of the image memory 10 increases, and the number of palette RAMs 204 and 208 also increases.

(2) In addition to the above (1), the information displayed on the third screen 110 (or the second screen 108) of FIG. 10 or FIG. 14 may be a simplified diagram of FIG. In this case, the above steps SC8, SC20, SD12, S
D14 or the above steps SC6, SC18, SB1
8, SB22, SK8, SK12)
The processing of K16 or SK24 is executed.

[0415] In addition to the above, in step SK4, the operation of the touch switch on the icon displayed on the display 33 or the switch corresponding to this icon may be determined. This icon is "map oriented".

In addition to the above, steps SB4 and SB1
The operation performed by the operator according to the icon may be determined in any of 0, SE4, SE12, SG10, and SG4.
This icon is “divided” in step SB4, “divided screen” in step SB10, steps SE4, SG
4, "change scale", "step forward display" in step SE12, "all route display" in step SG10, and the like.

[0417] In the screen division processing of Fig. 8, a map displayed on each screen may be manually selected. In this case, when "Details" displayed by the icon is selected, the main screen is changed from the full screen mainly including only the main road (guided road) to the divided screen including the non-main road (small street or non-guided road) and the main road. The screen is switched to the divided screen only for the road (guide target road). Further, when the “summary” displayed by the icon is selected, the screen is switched from the entire screen including non-trunk roads to the divided screen including only trunk roads and the divided screen including non-trunk roads.

Also, step S of the third screen processing shown in FIG.
Also in D4, the mode of the display map may be manually selectable. In this case, when "intersection" displayed by the icon is selected, from the full screen of the road map,
The screen is switched between a split screen indicating the left / right turn direction at an intersection or a turning point and the split screen of the road map. As described above, the display content before screen division is displayed on one screen after division, and the content to be displayed is displayed on another screen after division by display switching.

(3) In addition to the above (1) and (2), the switching to the split display may be in accordance with a change in the azimuth of the own vehicle. In this case, based on information from the absolute direction sensor 21 or the relative direction sensor 22, if the direction of the vehicle deviates from “north” by a predetermined angle (for example, ± 45 degrees, ± 30 degrees), the above steps SK12 → SK14 →. , Step SK8 → SK
.., Step SK20 → SK24 →, Step SK22 → SK24 →. Alternatively, what is determined in step SD2 in FIG. 11 may be whether or not the distance from the host vehicle to the destination or the stopover point is less than a predetermined distance. In this case, the above step SD4
Then, on the third screen, the type of business, brand,
The price, name, telephone number, etc. are displayed.

(4) In addition to the above (1), (2) and (3), the information displayed on the second screen 108 (or the third screen 110) of FIG. 10, FIG. 14 or FIG. However, a detailed road map including the narrow street may be displayed.

In addition to the above, step SK2 may be omitted and the process of steps SK6 → SK7 →... May be entered while the divided screens of the respective processes of FIG. 6 are displayed. Alternatively, the process of step SD2 or step SD10 may be started while the divided screens by the processes of FIG. 19 or FIG. 21 are displayed. Thereby, the display contents of the divided screens are simultaneously switched.

[0422] In addition to the above, "details", "summary", "intersection", "map orientation", "screen division", "scale change", "route forward display", "all route display" for each divided screen May be displayed, and a switch corresponding to the icon may be operated by the operator, and the display contents may be individually switched for each divided screen.

(5) In addition to the above (1), (2), (3), and (4), it is possible to return to the single screen display while the divided screens of the respective processes of FIG. 6, FIG. 19, or FIG. 21 are displayed. Good. In this case, the map information displayed on this single screen is the map information displayed on any of the split screens, the map information not displayed on any of the split screens, or the original information before the split screen. Map information.

In this case, the switching to the single screen is performed by the above-described switching operation by the operator, a change in the traveling state of the own vehicle, a change in the speed of the own vehicle, a change in the azimuth of the own vehicle, and a change from the intersection or the turning point. It is based on a change in the distance to the car, a change in the distance to the destination or the stopover point, and the like.

In accordance with the display switching, the above steps SK16, SK24, SD4, SC6, SC8, SC1
8, SC20, SK8, SK10, SK12, SK1
4, SK20, SK22 and SK24 are executed. In this case, the display information is not a split screen but a display 33.
Will be displayed on the full screen.

(6) In the above embodiment, the screen closer to the driver is the third screen 110 in FIGS. 10, 14, 16 and 20. Here, the above (1) (2) (3)
In addition to (4), the third screen 110 and the second screen 108 may be exchanged according to the left steering wheel and the right steering wheel or according to a change in the traveling state of the own vehicle. in this case,
The above-described switching operation of the operator, the change of the traveling state of the own vehicle, the change of the vehicle speed of the own vehicle, the change of the direction of the own vehicle, the change of the distance from the intersection or the turning point to the own vehicle, the change of the distance to the destination or the stopover place Based on the change in distance and the like, FIG.
The computer programs in the flowcharts of FIGS. 19 and 21 are changed.

In this change, steps SC6 and SC
8, SC18, SC20, SD12, SD14, SE1
20, SG16, SK12, SK14, SK8, SK1
The display processing in 0, SK20, SK22, and SK24 is switched between the third screen 110 and the second screen 108.

Alternatively, steps SC6 and SC8, steps SC18 and SC20, steps C18 and SC2
0, at steps SK12 and SK14, at steps SK8 and SK10, at steps SK20 and SK22, at steps SK20 and SK24, the information previously displayed on the second screen 108 is transferred to the third screen 110, and is displayed on the third screen 110. The displayed information is moved to the second screen 108, and the two display screens are switched. As a result, the display contents of each divided screen can be exchanged with each other.

(7) In addition to the above, the map displayed on the second screen is different from the map displayed on the third screen in the north, northeast, east, southeast, south, southwest,
A map extending in the west or northwest direction may be used. In this case, for example, it is determined whether or not the mode determined in step SB16 of the first embodiment is the map display mode for connecting in the above-described direction. If the mode corresponds to step SB16, a map display suitable for the mode is performed in step SB18. For example, the map displayed on the third screen is a north-up screen. In this case, it is assumed that the map display mode connected in the east direction is selected.

The geographical coordinates of the map connection part are detected in step SD20 in FIG. 11 (third screen display processing) where a cross point CSP at the end of the third screen is detected. That is, in step SD20, the geographical coordinates of the eastern end of the map displayed on the third screen are detected. Then, in response to the above mode selection, FIG.
In step SB18, a map connected to the east end of the map displayed on the third screen is displayed on the second screen.

[0431] Further, the map display on the second screen may be performed by detecting the operation based on the operation of the operator, the operation of the installer, or the like. Further, the position of the driver may be detected by an object detection sensor provided on the surface near the navigation device, for example, an infrared sensor. Then, the second position depends on the position of the driver.
Map display processing on the screen may be performed. Further, the map display processing of the second and third screens may be performed based on a change in the traveling state of the own vehicle detected by a speed sensor or the like or a change in the vehicle speed of the own vehicle.

Further, the map display on the second and third screens may be performed based on a change in the direction of the vehicle detected by the relative direction sensor. The change in the distance from the intersection or the turning point to the own vehicle and the change in the distance to the destination or the stop-in place according to the traveling position of the guide route are detected, and the second and third screens are displayed according to the detection result. You may. These detection methods are as described above.

(8) In addition to the above, the map displayed on the third screen may be map information representing the surroundings of the vehicle, the departure place, the destination, the stopover place, or any selected place. . Then, a map connected to one of all directions of the map displayed on the third screen may be displayed on the second screen. In other words, it is assumed that a map around the destination (stopping place, designated place, etc.) is displayed on the third screen. On the second screen, a map that is connected to the map on the third screen and that includes a guide route from the departure point to the destination may be displayed. The processing in this case is also performed in step SD20 of the third screen display processing in FIG. 11, similarly to the above (7). That is, geographical coordinates corresponding to the edges of the map displayed on the third screen are detected in step SD20 and the like. Then, in step SB18 of FIG.
On the screen, a map connected to the geographical coordinates of the edge of the third screen is displayed.

[0434] Further, the map connected to the third screen displayed on the second screen may be a map connected on an extended line of the vehicle. That is, it is assumed that a map around the destination is displayed on the third screen when the vehicle is not traveling on the guide route.
On the second screen, a map leading to the third screen is displayed.
However, since the vehicle is not traveling on the guide route, the guide screen may not be included in the second screen. In addition, the second
A map in a direction irrelevant to the position of the vehicle or the guide route may be displayed on the screen.

Furthermore, the maps displayed on each of the second and third screens have their display centers shifted from each other, but may be the same. The display range of each map may not overlap each other between the second and third screens, and a geographically distant map may be displayed. Further, a part of the map displayed on each of the second screen and the third screen may overlap.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the recording medium for storing various data shown in FIG. 2 may be a writable recording medium such as a floppy disk. Further, the navigation device may include a voice input device including an analog / digital converter. Each operation may be executed by a voice command input by the voice input device.

In each of the above embodiments, the screen of one display 33 is divided into two display surfaces. this,
It may be implemented by two display devices. That is, two liquid crystal displays are arranged adjacent to each other in one housing. Before the division, one map is displayed on the two liquid crystal displays. When division is instructed, different map information is displayed on each liquid crystal display.

Further, in the navigation device according to the present invention, all or part of the processing of the above-described flowchart may be executed in an information management center such as VICS or ATIS. This processing result (processing information) is received by the data transmitting / receiving device 27. For example, the destination setting process (step SA3) and the route search process (step SA4) in FIG. 5 are executed in the information processing center in which the map information is stored. Then, the searched guidance route data is transferred to the navigation device of the present invention via the data transmitting / receiving device 27.

In the navigation device of the present invention, guidance display processing is executed based on the transmitted guidance route data. That is, information such as a search condition for a destination or a drop-in facility and a route search condition is sent from the navigation device of the present invention to the information management center. In the information management center, a search for a desired facility and a search for a route to a destination are performed based on the transmitted conditions. And search and navigation from the information management center to the navigation device
Information on the extraction / search results is transmitted together with map information and the like.

In the navigation device, the search facility is displayed on the display 33 based on the received search / extraction / search results. In this way, it is possible to search, extract, and search for each facility based on the detailed and latest information of each facility related to the vicinity of the current position of the vehicle. Further, in the facility search, it is possible to perform a search in consideration of an environmental change of a surrounding road (new construction of a one-way road or the like). In this case, the information on each facility stored in the information management center needs to be constantly updated.

Furthermore, the information storage unit 37 storing the programs described in the present invention and information such as maps and display symbols may be made available to general computer devices. That is, the program stored in the information storage unit 37 is a program that can be executed by a general computer. If the information storage unit 37 is connected to a portable computer device together with a device whose current position can be detected by the GPS receiving device 25, the computer device can also perform navigation processing. Further, the present invention can be applied to a navigation device such as a vehicle other than an automobile, a ship, an aircraft, a helicopter and the like. Furthermore, the present invention may be applied not only to a navigation device mounted on a moving body such as a car, but also to a navigation device carried by a human.
This allows cycling, travel,
The navigation device can be used for mountain climbing, hiking, fishing, and the like.

[1] A screen for displaying map information is divided into two or more screens, and stored or received first map information is displayed on one or more of these screens. A second map information different from the displayed first map information is simultaneously displayed on a screen other than the displayed screen, wherein the first map information and the second map information are different from each other. Is a navigation apparatus characterized in that display control is performed on different map information of different road types.

[2] The above-mentioned road type is information on a guide target road and a non-guide target road for navigation, and the first map information is information on a guide target road and a non-guide target road for navigation. The navigation apparatus according to the above [1], wherein the second map information is information of only a guide target road for navigation.

[3] The screen for displaying the map information is divided into two or more screens, and the first map information stored or received is displayed on one or more of the screens. In a navigation device for simultaneously displaying second map information different from the displayed first map information on a screen other than the displayed screen, the map orientation of the displayed first map information and the display A navigation device that performs display control so as to be different from the direction of the map of the generated second map information.

[4] The navigation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first map information is displayed by north-up, and the second map information is displayed by heading-up.

[5] The navigation device detects a change in the display content of the screen displaying the map information. According to the detection result, the first map information is displayed before the change. [1] and [2], wherein the second map information is used as the map information to be displayed after the switching according to the detection result. ],
The navigation device according to [3] or [4].

[6] The display screen before the switching of the display contents is not divided or divided, and the switching of the display contents is performed by the switching operation of the operator, the change in the traveling state of the own vehicle, the own vehicle. [1], [1], [2], [3], [4], [3], [4], [4], [6], [7], [6], [7], [6], [7], [9], [9], [9], [9], [9]. 2], [3],
The navigation device according to [4] or [5].

[7] The first map information or the second map information is further sequentially switched to another map information,
Thereby, the display contents of a part or the whole of the divided screen are sequentially switched individually or simultaneously, or the first map information or the second map information is divided according to the further switching of the display contents of the screen. The map information displayed on the single screen which is not displayed is different from the first map information, the second map information, and the first map information and the second map information. This is the map information or the original map information before the screen division.
[1] characterized in that it responds to a change in the vehicle speed of the own vehicle, a change in the azimuth of the own vehicle, a change in the distance from the intersection or the turning point to the own vehicle, and a change in the distance to the destination or the drop-in place. , [2], [3], [4], [5] or [6].

[8] The screens on which the first map information and the second map information are displayed are exchanged with each other, and this exchange is performed by the operation of the operator, the operation of the installer, the detection of the position of the driver, Changes in the running state of the vehicle, changes in the speed of the vehicle,
Based on the change in the direction of the own vehicle, the change in the distance from the intersection or the turning point to the own vehicle, and the change in the distance to the destination or the stop-by place, the first divided screen is displayed on the screen closer to the driver. [1], [2], wherein the map information or the second map information is displayed.
The navigation device according to [3], [4], [5], [6] or [7].

[9] The map information searches for a route from the vicinity of the departure point or current position of the own vehicle to the vicinity of the destination or the stop-by place, and is the map information on the searched route. The information is simplified map information representing the geographical relationship between the vicinity of the departure point or current position of the own vehicle and the vicinity of the destination or stopover, and the second map information is detailed geographic information near the current position of the own vehicle. Yes, or the first map information is travel information based on the travel information of the own vehicle in the searched route, and the second map information is detailed geographic information near the current position of the own vehicle. Alternatively, the first map information is information on a main road and a non-trunk road or a target road and a non-target road for navigation, and the second map information is mainly only a main road or a target of navigation. Information about roads only,
Alternatively, the first map information is a display by north-up, the second map information is a display by heading-up, or the first map information indicates the absolute north direction in any direction of the screen. The above [1], [2], and [2], wherein the second map information is information of a map in which the traveling direction of the vehicle is substantially maintained in any direction of the screen. [3], [4], [5],
The navigation device according to [6], [7] or [8].

[0451]

As described above, according to the present invention, the display screen on which the map is displayed is divided into at least two screens. Then, on one screen, more important information is displayed. Auxiliary information is displayed on the other screen. In addition, the map information displayed on each screen is changed according to the running state of the vehicle. This allows
Two different types of information can be obtained simultaneously. That is, according to the present invention, two pieces of information conventionally obtained with a time difference by switching the screen display state can be obtained at the same time. In addition, since the two types of displayed information can be compared with each other, it is possible to accurately know the geographical environment near the current position of the vehicle and the state of the guidance route. Also, in setting a destination or a stopover, each selection condition and the selection result are displayed on each of the divided screens, so that the selection condition can be changed and the result can be obtained quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall circuit diagram of a navigation device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data structure stored in data 38c of an information storage unit 37.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing data stored in a RAM 5;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a road data file F4.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flowchart of an overall process.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flowchart of guidance / display processing of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a single screen display processing subroutine of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen division processing subroutine of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state of a screen displayed on a display 33.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state where the screen of the display 33 is divided.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a third screen display processing subroutine of the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a route forward display processing subroutine of the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a displayable range calculation processing subroutine of the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state in which the front of the guidance route is displayed.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an entire route (front) display processing subroutine of the first embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the rest of the guide route and the entire route to the destination are displayed.

17 is a diagram showing a simplified diagram displayed on a display 33. FIG.

18 is a diagram showing a circuit interposed between the image memory 10 and the display 33. FIG.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of guidance / display processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a state of a split screen on a display 33 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of guidance / display processing according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a view illustrating a flowchart of guidance / display processing according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a state of a display screen of a display 33 before screen division.

24 is a diagram illustrating a screen division state of the display 33. FIG.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a screen division state of the display 33.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a state where the screen of the display 33 has been returned to a single screen.

FIG. 27 is a view illustrating a flowchart of guidance / display processing according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a state of a display screen of a display 33 before screen division.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a screen division state of the display 33.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a screen division state of the display 33.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a state where the display 33 is returned to a single screen.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a screen division state of the display 33.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a screen division state of the display 33.

FIG. 34 is a view illustrating a flowchart of guidance / display processing according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a view illustrating a flowchart of a route departure process.

36 is a diagram showing a first example of the screen division processing and display processing of FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the screen division processing and display processing of FIG. 35.

38 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a second screen display process in the guidance / display process of FIG. 34.

FIG. 39 is a view showing a flowchart of a second embodiment of the second screen display processing in the guidance / display processing of FIG. 34.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a state of the display 33 before division.

FIG. 41 is a diagram showing a state of a divided screen after a return route search.

FIG. 42 is a diagram showing a state in which a return route 260 is displayed on the second screen.

FIG. 43 is a diagram showing a state in which a return route 260 is selected as a guidance route.

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating an application example of the second screen display of the return route.

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing the entire return route.

FIG. 46 is a diagram showing a state of the display 33 divided.

FIG. 47 is a view showing a flowchart of a nearest facility setting process.

FIG. 48 is a diagram showing an example of a genre list.

FIG. 49 is a diagram showing a state where facilities corresponding to a designated genre are displayed on the split screen.

FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating a state of a split screen.

FIG. 51 is a diagram showing an extraction subroutine of facilities along a route.

FIG. 52 is a diagram showing a subroutine for calculating the shortest straight-line distance between a search facility and a guide route.

FIG. 53 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a detected facility and a guide route.

FIG. 54 is an explanatory diagram of step SX36.

FIG. 55 is a diagram for explaining calculation of the shortest linear distance.

FIG. 56 is a view showing postal code selection data 50;

FIG. 57 is a diagram showing the contents of street list data 55.

58 is a diagram showing the contents of facility genre list data 60. FIG.

59 is a diagram showing the contents of street shape data 65. FIG.

60 is a diagram showing the contents of facility list data 70. FIG.

FIG. 61 is a diagram showing the contents of area shape data 75;

FIG. 62 is a view illustrating a flowchart of a destination setting process (step SA3).

FIG. 63 is a diagram showing a representative point map display and a destination setting subroutine.

FIG. 64 is a diagram showing a display of a street name and a destination setting subroutine.

FIG. 65 is a diagram showing a genre list display and a destination setting subroutine.

FIG. 66 is a diagram showing a state of a postal code and item selection screen.

FIG. 67 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a designated area.

FIG. 68 is a diagram showing a street list.

FIG. 69 is a diagram showing a state of street display.

FIG. 70 is a diagram showing a screen display example of a genre list.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Central processing unit, 2 ... CPU, 3 ... Flash memory, 4 ... ROM, 5 ... RAM, 7 ... Sensor input interface, 8 ... Communication interface, 9 ... Image processor, 10 ... Image memory, 11 ... Sound processor , 13 ...
Speaker, 20: current position detecting device, 21: absolute direction sensor, 22: relative direction sensor, 23: distance sensor, 24
... speed sensor, 25 ... GPS receiver, 26 ... beacon receiver, 27 ... data transceiver, 30 ... input / output device, 33 ... display, 34 ... touch panel, 37 ...
Information storage unit, 38a: disk management information, 39: data transmission / reception unit

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A means for dividing a screen for displaying map information into two or more screens, a means for displaying stored or received first map information on one or more of the divided screens, Means for simultaneously displaying, on a screen other than the screen on which the first map information is displayed, the second map information that is different from the displayed first map information and that is stored or received, A map display device, wherein the first map information is map information according to a predetermined process, and the second map information is map information linked to the first map information. 2. The first map information is map information indicating the surroundings of the own vehicle, or information of a simplified diagram indicating a geographical relationship between the vicinity of the departure point or current position of the own vehicle and the vicinity of the destination or stopover. Yes, the second map information is linked to the first map information,
Further, the map information is a map information capable of displaying a map in the direction of the destination of the vehicle, a map from the vicinity of the departure point or the current position of the vehicle to the vicinity of the destination or the stop-by place.
A map display device as described. 3. The map display device detects a change in the display content of a screen displaying the map information, and displays the first map information before the change in accordance with the detection result. And the second map information described above, according to the detection result.
3. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the map information is to be displayed after the switching. 4. The display screen before the switching of the display content is not divided or divided, and the switching of the display content is performed by a switching operation by an operator, a change in a traveling state of the own vehicle, a change of the own vehicle. 4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle speed is changed, the direction of the vehicle is changed, the distance from the intersection or the turning point to the vehicle is changed, and the distance from a destination or a stop is changed. A map display device as described. 5. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein a scale displayed on each of the divided screens is changed individually or in conjunction with each other. 6. The first map information or the second map information is further sequentially switched to another map information, whereby the display contents of a part or all of the divided screen are further sequentially switched individually or simultaneously. Or the first map information or the second map information,
Alternatively, any one of the first map information and the second map information, or the original map information before the screen division is displayed on a single screen that is not divided according to further switching of the screen, The switching of the display contents is performed by an operator's switching operation, a change in the traveling state of the own vehicle, a change in the speed of the own vehicle, a change in the direction of the own vehicle, a change in the distance from the intersection or the turning point to the own vehicle, the destination. 6. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the map display device responds to a change in a distance to a stopover place. 7. The screens on which the first map information and the second map information are displayed are exchanged with each other, and the exchange is performed by an operator's operation, an installer's operation, a driver's position detection, and The above division is performed based on a change in the traveling state of the vehicle, a change in the speed of the own vehicle, a change in the direction of the own vehicle, a change in the distance from the intersection or the turning point to the own vehicle, and a change in the distance from the destination or the stopover point. 7. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the first map information or the second map information is displayed on a screen closer to a driver among the screens. . 8. One of the first map information and the second map information is a display by north-up, the other is a display by heading-up, or the first map information and the second map information One of the map information is information of a map in which the absolute azimuth of north is substantially maintained in any direction of the screen, and the other is information of a map in which the traveling direction of the own vehicle is substantially maintained in any direction of the screen. Yes, or the first map information and the second map information have the same scale or different scales, and the second map information is based on the first map information,
North, northeast, east, southeast, south, southwest, west, or northwest map information.
The operation of the installer, the detection of the driver's position, the change of the running state of the own vehicle, the change of the speed of the own vehicle, the change of the direction of the own vehicle, the change of the distance from the intersection or the turning point to the own vehicle, the destination or 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of the two is selected based on a change in the distance to the stopover place.
The map display device according to 5, 6, or 7. 9. The first map information includes a vehicle, a departure place,
The second map information is map information representing a destination, a drop-in place, or the periphery of a selected arbitrary place. The second map information is information of a map linked to the first map information. The map is adjacent to the map of the first map information or adjacent to or ahead of the map of the first map information along the traveling direction or the search path of the vehicle, and the display centers of the maps are mutually adjacent. The display range of each map is shifted from each other and does not overlap or partially overlap each other.
Or the map display device according to 8. 10. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the map display device is provided in a device that searches for a route to a destination or a stop-off location and provides guidance based on the searched route. The information on a road and a non-guided road is included in the first map information and / or the second map information.
The navigation device according to 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9. 11. A process for dividing a screen for displaying map information into two or more screens, a process for displaying stored or received first map information on one or more of the divided screens, A process for simultaneously displaying, on a screen other than the screen on which the first map information is displayed, the second map information that is different from the displayed first map information and that is stored or received, The first map information is map information according to a predetermined process, and the second map information is map information linked to the first map information. A medium that stores