JPH10141971A - Route guiding system for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make current position confirmation and course confirmation at a guide intersection easier, by displaying a land mark with priority at a current position and vicinity of guide intersection. SOLUTION: With a top view road map data containing a land mark stared, the tap view road map is converted and drawn to a birds-eye view road map, and a specified numbers of land marks are retrieve d in the order with the highest priority t the one nearest the to-be-passed intersection, and then, retrieved land marks are superimposed on the birds-eye view road map for drawing. Thereby, land marks are displayed round the to-be-passed intersection with priority, so, with these land marks as guide, a course at the to-be-passed can be easily confirmed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle route guidance apparatus for displaying a bird's eye view road map, and more particularly to an improved method for displaying landmarks.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a large number of landmarks (targets) are displayed on a road map display screen, the screen becomes difficult to see. Therefore, a vehicle route guidance apparatus which limits the number of landmarks to be displayed is known. (For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-294)
No. 10 microfilm). In this type of vehicle route guidance device, a display priority is set for landmarks existing in a divided area on a road map, and a predetermined number of landmarks are displayed for each area in descending order of display priority. .

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional route guidance device for a vehicle, when a road map is displayed in a bird's-eye view with a reduced viewpoint height, the distance is determined based on the distance between the current position or the guidance intersection and the landmark. Therefore, there are few landmarks displayed around the current location or around the guidance intersection, and it is not possible to confirm the current location or the route at the guidance intersection using the landmark as a mark.

For example, as shown in FIG. 27, the highest priority is set to a landmark at the upper left of each mesh (area of the road map), and the lower the priority is, the lower the priority is at the lower right.
According to such a display priority setting method, FIG.
When the road map of the bird's-eye view display area (portion surrounded by the trapezoid in the figure) that spans the four road map meshes as shown in FIG. Since the landmark of the first priority is not included in the bird's eye view display area, no landmark is displayed on the actual display screen as shown in FIG.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle route guidance apparatus that displays a landmark preferentially around a current location or around a guidance intersection, thereby facilitating confirmation of the current location and confirmation of a course at the guidance intersection.

In this specification, a landmark refers to a target building, facility, general building, lake, marsh, river, or the like, and a guided intersection is an intersection to be passed next on a guided route to a destination. Means an intersection to which a course at the intersection should be guided. The low-view bird-view display of a road map refers to a bird's-eye view display viewed from a low viewpoint. Further, in this specification, the symbol shown at the right end of FIG. 28 is used as a common symbol.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

(1) Means for storing plan view road map data including landmarks, means for converting a plan view road map into a bird's eye view road map, and means for drawing a bird's eye view road map on a display means The vehicle route guidance device comprising: a means for searching for a predetermined number of landmarks in the order of proximity to the intersection to be passed, the drawing means superimposes the landmarks searched by the search means on the bird's eye view road map draw. (2) In the vehicle route guidance apparatus according to the second aspect, the conversion unit sets the line-of-sight direction in a direction from the current position of the vehicle to the expected intersection, and sets the bird's-eye view display area in the line-of-sight direction on the plan view road map. It is something to do. (3) The vehicle route guidance device according to a third aspect of the present invention includes first calculation means for calculating a guidance route to the destination, and the planned intersection is a guidance intersection on the guidance route to the destination. is there. (4) The vehicle route guidance device according to a fourth aspect includes second calculation means for calculating a distance from the current position to the guidance intersection, and the distance from the calculation result to the guidance intersection is less than a predetermined distance by the drawing means. Then, of the landmarks searched by the search means, the landmark in front of the traveling direction at the guidance intersection is deleted. (5) In the vehicle route guidance device according to the fifth aspect, even when the distance to the guidance intersection as a result of the calculation is less than or equal to the predetermined distance, the drawing unit searches the guidance route in the direction opposite to the traveling direction at the guidance intersection. When there is no landmark to be displayed, the landmark in the leading direction at the guidance intersection is not erased. (6) In the vehicle route guidance apparatus according to claim 6, the search means divides the bird's-eye view display area on the plan view road map into right and left areas with the line of sight as a boundary, and a predetermined number of lands from each of the divided areas. The mark is searched. (7) The vehicle route guidance device according to claim 7, wherein the search means searches for a predetermined number of landmarks so that the landmarks close to the scheduled intersection are prioritized and the landmarks do not overlap. is there. (8) The vehicle route guidance apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the search means searches a predetermined number of landmarks near the current location of the vehicle in addition to landmarks near the intersection to be passed. (9) The vehicle route guidance device according to claim 9, further comprising third calculating means for calculating a distance from the current position to the scheduled intersection, wherein the distance from the calculated result to the scheduled intersection is equal to or less than a predetermined distance. , The landmark near the current location of the vehicle is deleted. (10) In the vehicle route guidance apparatus according to a tenth aspect, the drawing means draws the landmark searched by the search means by moving a predetermined distance in the radial direction around the intersection to be passed. (11) In the vehicle route guidance apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, the landmark searched by the search unit is moved by a predetermined distance in the direction away from the line of sight and drawn by the drawing unit. (12) According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the landmark retrieved by the retrieval means is moved by a predetermined distance in a direction away from the normal of the line of sight and rendered by the rendering means.

[0008]

【The invention's effect】

(1) According to the first aspect of the invention, a predetermined number of landmarks are displayed in the order of proximity to the scheduled intersection, so that the landmarks are preferentially displayed around the scheduled intersection and the landmarks are displayed. This makes it easier to check the course at the intersection you plan to pass. (2) According to the second aspect of the present invention, the line-of-sight direction is set in the direction from the current position of the vehicle to the scheduled intersection, and the bird's-eye view display area in this line-of-sight direction is set on the plan view road map. In addition to the effect of the first aspect, the scheduled intersection is displayed at the center of the bird's-eye view road map, and the scheduled intersection is easily recognized. (3) According to the invention of claim 3, since the scheduled intersection is a guidance intersection on the guidance route to the destination, the above-mentioned claim 1 is also applicable when traveling along the guidance route to the destination.
The same effects as those of (2) and (2) can be obtained. (4) According to the invention of claim 4, when the distance to the guidance intersection as a result of the calculation becomes equal to or less than the predetermined distance, the path direction at the guidance intersection in the predetermined number of landmarks searched in order of proximity to the guidance intersection. Landmarks are erased, making it easier to check the route at the guidance intersection using landmarks that are displayed preferentially around the guidance intersection, and when the vehicle approaches the guidance intersection. It is possible to avoid that the landmark is superimposed and displayed on the guidance intersection in the direction to make the shape of the guidance intersection difficult to see, so that the shape of the guidance intersection in the course direction can be easily confirmed. (5) According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, even if the distance to the guidance intersection as a result of the calculation becomes less than or equal to the predetermined distance, if there is no landmark to be displayed in the direction opposite to the traveling direction at the guidance intersection, The landmark in front of the traveling direction at the guidance intersection is not deleted. When the vehicle approaches the guidance intersection, when there is no landmark in the direction opposite to the course, if the landmark in front of the direction of the course is erased, there is no landmark serving as a mark for the course confirmation at the guidance intersection. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the landmark is displayed in front of the course direction or in the opposite direction, so that the course can be easily confirmed. (6) According to the invention of claim 6, the bird's-eye view display area on the plan view road map is divided into left and right areas with the line of sight as a boundary, and a predetermined number of landmarks are searched from each divided area. Therefore, in addition to the above effects of claims 1 to 3, landmarks are not biased to either the left or right of the bird's-eye view display screen,
The probability that the landmarks overlap will be reduced, and non-overlapping landmarks will be displayed around the expected intersection, making it easier to confirm the intersection shape and course. (7) According to the invention of claim 7, since a landmark near a crossing scheduled intersection is prioritized and a predetermined number of landmarks are searched so that the landmarks do not overlap with each other, the left and right of the bird's eye view display screen can be searched. Crab landmarks are not biased, and non-overlapping landmarks are displayed around the guidance intersection, making it easier to confirm the intersection shape and course. (8) According to the invention of claim 8, a predetermined number of landmarks near the current location of the vehicle are searched in addition to the landmark near the intersection to be passed.
In addition to the above-mentioned effect 3, the present location can be easily confirmed by the landmark displayed near the current location of the vehicle. (9) According to the ninth aspect of the invention, when the distance to the intersection to be passed becomes less than or equal to the predetermined distance, the landmark near the current location of the vehicle is deleted. The landmark close to the target intersection overlaps with the landmark near the scheduled intersection, making the latter landmark difficult to see and hindering the confirmation of the course at the guidance intersection. (10) According to the tenth aspect of the invention, the predetermined number of landmarks retrieved in the order of proximity to the planned intersection are moved by a predetermined distance in the radial direction around the planned intersection to be drawn. In addition to the above effects of items 1 to 3,
The landmarks are not concentrated near the expected intersection, and the shape of the expected intersection does not become difficult to see, so that the shape of the expected intersection can be easily confirmed. (11) According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, a predetermined number of landmarks retrieved in the order of proximity to the scheduled intersection are moved by a predetermined distance in a direction away from the line of sight and are drawn. In addition to the above effects, the landmarks are not concentrated near the expected intersection, and the shape of the expected intersection does not become difficult to see, so that the shape of the expected intersection can be easily confirmed. (12) According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, a predetermined number of landmarks retrieved in the order of proximity to the scheduled intersection are moved by a predetermined distance in a direction away from the normal of the line of sight, and are drawn. In addition to the above-mentioned effect 3, the landmarks are not concentrated near the expected intersection, and the shape of the expected intersection does not become difficult to see, so that the shape of the expected intersection can be easily confirmed.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

-First Embodiment of the Invention- FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment. The controller 1 is composed of a microcomputer and its peripheral parts, executes a control program described later, performs perspective conversion of a plan view road map to a bird's eye view road map, and displays a bird's eye view road map and a guidance route to the current location and destination of the vehicle. I do. Controller 1 has direction sensor 2, distance sensor 3, GP
The S receiver 4, the storage device 5, and the input device 6 are connected. The direction sensor 2 detects the traveling direction of the vehicle, and the distance sensor 3 detects the traveling distance of the vehicle. The GPS receiver 4 receives a GPS signal from a satellite, and receives the current position, heading direction,
Detects running speed, etc. The storage device 5 is a device such as a CD-ROM for storing plan view road map data, and the input device 6 is a device for setting a destination and the like. The controller 1 is also connected with a display 7 for displaying a road map and character information, a speaker 8 for performing voice guidance, and the like.

In the first embodiment, the display priority of the landmark is determined based on the distance between the guide intersection and the landmark. For example, as shown in FIG. Is displayed. Of course, the number of displayed landmarks is not limited to four.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when a vehicle approaches a guidance intersection on a guidance route, the display of four landmarks is determined in the trapezoidal bird's-eye view display area in order of proximity to the guidance intersection. When the road map of the display area is drawn on the display 7, a low viewpoint bird view screen as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. On this screen, landmarks are preferentially displayed around the guidance intersection, so that it is easy to confirm the course at the guidance intersection using these as landmarks.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a road map display process according to the first embodiment. The operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to this flowchart. The controller 1 repeatedly executes this processing when the power of the apparatus is turned on. In step 1, the current position is detected by self-contained navigation based on the measurement data of the direction sensor 2 and the distance sensor 3, and the current position is detected by satellite navigation by the GPS receiver 4, and the final current position is determined from the detection results. I do. In the following step 2, the position coordinates of the guidance intersection on the guidance route through which the vehicle passes next are determined based on the road map data. In step 3, the gaze direction from the current location to the guidance intersection is calculated, and the bird's-eye view display area is determined.

In this embodiment, the line-of-sight direction is set in the direction from the current position of the vehicle to the guidance intersection, and the bird's-eye view display area in this line-of-sight direction is set on the plan view road map. A guidance intersection is displayed at the center, so that the guidance intersection can be easily recognized.

In step 4, landmarks are searched from the road map data in ascending order of the straight line distance from the guidance intersection, and added to the landmark display list. Step 5
Then, from the landmark display list, select the four landmarks closest to the guidance intersection in the bird's eye view display area,
Delete other landmarks from the display list.
Next, a low-view bird-view screen on which a landmark in the display list is superimposed is created in step 6, and a low-view bird-view screen is drawn on the display 7 in step 7.

Second Embodiment of the Invention In this second embodiment, the display priority of landmarks is determined based on the distance between the guide intersection and the landmark, and four display priorities are determined in order of proximity to the guide intersection. Is displayed, and when the vehicle approaches the guidance intersection, the landmark in front of the traveling direction is deleted. Note that the configuration of the second embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and a description thereof will be omitted. Further, the number of displayed landmarks is not limited to four.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when a vehicle approaches a guidance intersection on a guidance route, display of four landmarks is determined in the trapezoidal bird's-eye view display area in the order of proximity to the guidance intersection. When the road map of the display area is drawn on the display 7, a low viewpoint bird view screen as shown in FIG. When the vehicle further approaches the guidance intersection, the landmark in front of the traveling direction is deleted, and a low viewpoint bird view screen as shown in FIG.

On this screen, landmarks are preferentially displayed around the guidance intersection, so that the landmark can be used as a mark to make it easier to confirm the course at the guidance intersection, and that when the vehicle approaches the guidance intersection, the course direction is displayed. Since the landmark in front is erased, the landmark is superimposed on the guidance intersection in the direction of the route, so that the shape of the guidance intersection is not difficult to see, and the shape of the guidance intersection in the direction of the route is easy to check Become.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a road map display process according to the second embodiment. Steps that perform the same processing as the processing shown in FIG. 5 are assigned the same step numbers, and the operation of the second embodiment will be described focusing on the differences. After selecting the four landmarks closest to the guidance intersection in the bird's eye view display area and creating a landmark display list, it is checked in step 5A whether the distance from the current location to the guidance intersection is less than a predetermined distance. , When approaching the predetermined distance or less, proceed to Step 5B,
Erase the landmark in front of the course. On the other hand, if the distance to the guidance intersection is less than the predetermined distance, the landmark in front of the traveling direction is not deleted.

Third Embodiment of the Invention In this third embodiment, the display priority of landmarks is determined based on the distance between a guide intersection and a landmark, and a predetermined number of landmarks are determined in the order of proximity to the guide intersection. Display the landmark of. Furthermore, when the vehicle approaches the guidance intersection, if there is a landmark to be displayed in the direction opposite to the course, the landmark in front of the direction of the course is deleted. Display the mark without deleting it. Note that the configuration of the third embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and a description thereof will be omitted.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when a vehicle approaches a guidance intersection on a guidance route, the display of three landmarks near the guidance intersection in the trapezoidal bird's-eye view display area is determined, and this bird's-eye view display is performed. The road map in the area is drawn on the display 7. Further, when the vehicle approaches the guidance intersection, it is determined whether or not to erase the landmark in front of the course direction based on the presence or absence of the landmark in the opposite direction. In the example shown in FIG. 9, since there is no landmark in the direction opposite to the course, the landmark in the direction before the course is not erased. Therefore, a low-view bird-view screen as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display 7.

On this screen, landmarks are preferentially displayed around the guidance intersection, so that it is easy to confirm the course at the guidance intersection using these as landmarks. In addition, when the vehicle approaches the guidance intersection, if there is a landmark to be displayed in the opposite direction of the course, the landmark in front of the direction of the course is erased. A landmark is superimposed and displayed on the guidance intersection in the course direction to make it difficult to see the shape of the guidance intersection while ensuring the ease of confirmation, and the shape of the guidance intersection in the course direction can be easily confirmed.

On the other hand, when the vehicle approaches the guidance intersection,
If the landmark is not visible in the opposite direction,
If the landmark in front of the course direction is deleted, there is no landmark serving as a mark for the course confirmation at the guide intersection, and the course confirmation becomes difficult. In order to avoid this, when there is no landmark to be displayed in the near side in the direction opposite to the course, the course can be easily confirmed by displaying the landmark in front of the course without erasing the landmark.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a road map display process according to the third embodiment. Steps that perform the same processing as the processing shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 are given the same step numbers, and the operation of the third embodiment will be described focusing on the differences. After selecting the four landmarks closest to the guidance intersection in the bird's eye view display area and creating a landmark display list, it is checked in step 5A whether the distance from the current location to the guidance intersection is less than a predetermined distance. When the vehicle approaches the predetermined distance or less, the process proceeds to step 5C. In step 5C, it is checked whether there is a landmark to be displayed on the near side in the opposite direction to the course, and if there is a landmark to be displayed on the near side in the opposite direction, the process proceeds to step 5B to delete the landmark on the near side from the display list. . On the other hand, if there is no landmark to be displayed in the front in the opposite direction of the course, the landmark in the front of the course is displayed without being erased.

Fourth Embodiment of the Invention In this fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a bird's-eye view display area on a plan view road map is divided into right and left areas with a line of sight as a boundary. Then, landmarks to be displayed two by two in each area are selected. In such a case, priority is given to landmarks near the guidance intersection to avoid overlapping of landmarks. When the road map of the bird's eye view display area shown in FIG. 12 is drawn on the display 7, a low viewpoint bird view screen as shown in FIG. 13 is obtained.

In this low viewpoint bird view screen, landmarks are not biased to either the left or right of the screen, and the probability that landmarks overlap will be low. In addition, since the landmarks near the guidance intersection are avoided with priority given to the landmarks, nonoverlapping landmarks are displayed around the guidance intersection, making it easier to confirm the intersection shape and the course. The configuration of the fourth embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a road map display process according to the fourth embodiment. The operation of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to this flowchart. The controller 1 repeatedly executes this processing when the power of the apparatus is turned on. In step 11, the direction sensor 2
The current position is detected by the self-contained navigation based on the measurement data of the distance sensor 3, and the current position is detected by the satellite navigation by the GPS receiver 4, and the final current position is determined from the detection results. In the following step 12, the position coordinates of the guidance intersection on the guidance route through which the vehicle passes next are determined based on the road map data. In step 13, the gaze direction from the current location to the guidance intersection is calculated, and the bird's-eye view display area is determined.

In step 14, landmarks are searched from the road map data in the left side of the line of sight direction, that is, in the area on the left side of the guidance intersection, in order of decreasing linear distance from the guidance intersection, and are added to the display list of the left area. Next step 15
Then, two landmarks closest to the guidance intersection and having no overlap are selected from the left display list, and other landmarks are deleted from the left display list. Similarly, in step 16, in the area on the right side of the line of sight, that is, on the right side of the guidance intersection, landmarks are searched from the road map data in ascending order of the linear distance from the guidance intersection, and added to the display list of the right area. In the following step 17, two landmarks closest to the guidance intersection and having no overlap are selected from the right display list, and the other landmarks are deleted from the right display list. Next, in step 18, a low-view bird-view screen in which landmarks in the left and right display lists are superimposed is created, and in a subsequent step 19, the low-view bird-view screen is drawn on the display 7.

-Fifth Embodiment of the Invention-In this fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, four landmarks are displayed on a bird's-eye view road map in the order of proximity to a guidance intersection, and a vehicle One landmark near the current location is displayed, and when the vehicle approaches the guidance intersection, the landmark near the current location of the vehicle is erased. When the road map of the bird's eye view display area shown in FIG. 15 is drawn on the display 7, FIG.
A low viewpoint bird view screen as shown in FIG.

In the low viewpoint bird view screen, landmarks are preferentially displayed around the guidance intersection, so that the course at the guidance intersection can be easily checked and a landmark close to the current location of the vehicle is displayed. , It ’s easier to see where you are. In addition, landmarks close to the current location are erased when approaching the guidance intersection, so landmarks near the current location overlap landmarks near the guidance intersection, making the latter landmarks difficult to see and hindering confirmation of the course at the guidance intersection. There is nothing. The configuration of the fifth embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a road map display process according to the fifth embodiment. Steps that perform the same processing as the processing shown in FIG. 5 are assigned the same step numbers, and the operation of the fifth embodiment will be described focusing on the differences. After selecting the four landmarks closest to the guidance intersection in the bird's eye view display area and creating a landmark display list, it is checked in step 5D whether the distance from the current location to the guidance intersection is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance. If it is still a predetermined distance or more from the guidance intersection, the process proceeds to step 5E, where the landmark closest to the current location is searched from the road map data and added to the landmark display list.

-Sixth Embodiment of the Invention- In this sixth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18, four landmarks near a guidance intersection in a bird's-eye view display area are selected and displayed. The position is moved by a predetermined distance in the radial direction about the guidance intersection and displayed. Drawing the road map of the bird's eye view display area shown in FIG. 18 on the display 7 results in a low viewpoint bird view screen as shown in FIG.

In the low viewpoint bird view screen, landmarks around the guidance intersection are displayed preferentially, so that the course at the guidance intersection can be easily checked, and these landmarks are displayed away from the guidance intersection. In addition, the landmark does not concentrate near the guidance intersection, and the shape of the guidance intersection does not become difficult to see, and the shape of the guidance intersection can be easily confirmed. Note that the configuration of the sixth embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a road map display process according to the sixth embodiment. Steps that perform the same processing as the processing shown in FIG. 5 are assigned the same step numbers, and the operation of the sixth embodiment will be described focusing on the differences. After selecting the four landmarks closest to the guidance intersection in the bird's eye view display area and creating a landmark display list, the display position coordinates of the landmarks in the display list are radiated around the guidance intersection in step 5F. The coordinates are converted to a position moved by a predetermined distance in the direction.

-Seventh Embodiment of the Invention- In this seventh embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21, four landmarks near a guidance intersection in a bird's-eye view display area are selected and displayed. The position is moved a predetermined distance in the direction away from the line of sight, that is, in the left-right direction of the bird's-eye view display screen and displayed. When the road map of the bird's-eye view display area shown in FIG. 21 is drawn on the display 7, a low viewpoint bird view screen as shown in FIG. 22 is obtained.

In this low viewpoint bird view screen, landmarks around the guidance intersection are displayed preferentially, so that it is easy to confirm the course at the guidance intersection, and these landmarks are placed on the left and right sides of the bird's eye view display screen by a predetermined distance. Since the display is moved and displayed, the landmark does not concentrate near the guidance intersection and the shape of the guidance intersection does not become difficult to see, and the shape of the guidance intersection can be easily confirmed. The configuration of the seventh embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a road map display process according to the seventh embodiment. Steps that perform the same processing as the processing shown in FIG. 5 are assigned the same step numbers, and the operation of the seventh embodiment will be described focusing on the differences. After selecting the four landmarks closest to the guidance intersection in the bird's-eye view display area and creating a landmark display list, in step 5G, the display position coordinates of the landmarks in the display list are moved a predetermined distance away from the line of sight. Is transformed to the position moved by

-Eighth Embodiment of the Invention- In this eighth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 24, four landmarks near a guidance intersection in a bird's-eye view display area are selected and displayed. The position is moved in a direction away from the normal of the line of sight, that is, up and down on the bird's-eye view display screen by a predetermined distance and displayed. When the road map of the bird's eye view display area shown in FIG. 24 is drawn on the display 7, a low viewpoint bird view screen as shown in FIG. 25 is obtained.

In the low viewpoint bird view screen, landmarks around the guidance intersection are displayed with priority, so that the course at the guidance intersection can be easily checked, and these landmarks can be displayed at predetermined distances above and below the bird's eye view display screen. Since the display is moved and displayed, the landmark does not concentrate near the guidance intersection and the shape of the guidance intersection does not become difficult to see, and the shape of the guidance intersection can be easily confirmed. The configuration of the eighth embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a road map display process according to the eighth embodiment. Steps that perform the same processing as the processing shown in FIG. 5 are assigned the same step numbers, and the operation of the eighth embodiment will be described focusing on the differences. After selecting the four landmarks closest to the guidance intersection in the bird's eye view display area and creating a landmark display list, in step 5H, the display position coordinates of the landmarks in the display list are moved away from the normal line of sight. The coordinate is converted to a position moved by a predetermined distance.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a case where a guide route to a destination is set has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied even when a guide route is not set. it can. In that case, when approaching the intersection, the landmarks may be preferentially displayed around the intersection to be passed by the above-described procedure. In the above-described embodiment, the eight embodiments are separately described. However, the first to eighth embodiments may be combined.

In the configuration of each of the above embodiments, the storage device 5 is a storage unit, and the controller 1 is a conversion unit, a drawing unit, a search unit, a first calculation unit, a second calculation unit, and a third calculation unit. And the display 7 constitutes display means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method for selecting a display landmark according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among a bird's-eye view display area, a guidance intersection, and a display landmark according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a low viewpoint bird view screen according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a road map display process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among a bird's-eye view display area, a guidance intersection, and a display landmark according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a low viewpoint bird view screen according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a road map display process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among a bird's-eye view display area, a guidance intersection, and a display landmark according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a low viewpoint bird view screen according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a road map display process according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a bird's-eye view display area, a guidance intersection, and a display landmark according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a low viewpoint bird view screen according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a road map display process according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a bird's-eye view display area, a guidance intersection, and a display landmark according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a low viewpoint bird view screen according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a road map display process according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among a bird's-eye view display area, a guidance intersection, and a display landmark according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a low viewpoint bird view screen according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a road map display process according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among a bird's-eye view display area, a guidance intersection, and a display landmark according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a low viewpoint bird view screen according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a road map display process according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among a bird's-eye view display area, a guidance intersection, and a display landmark according to the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a low viewpoint bird view screen according to the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a road map display process according to the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a method of selecting a display landmark for each road map mesh in the conventional vehicle route guidance device.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing the relationship among a bird's-eye view display area, a guidance intersection, and a display landmark in a conventional vehicle route guidance device.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a low viewpoint bird view screen of a conventional vehicle route guidance device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Controller 2 Orientation sensor 3 Distance sensor 4 GPS receiver 5 Storage device 6 Input device 7 Display 8 Speaker

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle comprising: means for storing plan view road map data including landmarks; means for converting a plan view road map to a bird's eye view road map; and means for drawing a bird's eye view road map on a display means. A route guidance apparatus, comprising: means for searching for a predetermined number of landmarks in the order of proximity to an intersection to be passed, wherein the drawing means draws the landmarks searched by the search means so as to be superimposed on a bird's-eye view road map. Vehicle route guidance device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The vehicle route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the conversion unit sets a line-of-sight direction in a direction from a current position of the vehicle to a planned intersection, and a bird's-eye view display area in the line-of-sight direction. A route guidance device for a vehicle, which is set on a road map. 3. The vehicle route guidance device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first calculation unit configured to calculate a guidance route to a destination, wherein the first route calculating unit calculates a guidance route to the destination by passing the intersection. A route guidance device for a vehicle, which is an upper guidance intersection. 4. The route guidance device for a vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising a second calculation unit that calculates a distance from a current location to a guidance intersection, wherein the drawing unit calculates a distance from the calculation result to the guidance intersection. A vehicle route guidance device for erasing a landmark located in front of a traveling direction at a guidance intersection, from among the landmarks retrieved by the retrieval means, when the distance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined distance. 5. The route guidance device for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the drawing means is located in a direction opposite to a traveling direction at the guidance intersection, even if a distance to the guidance intersection obtained from the calculation result becomes a predetermined distance or less. Wherein the landmark to be displayed at the guidance intersection is not erased when there is no landmark to be displayed retrieved by the retrieval means. 6. The vehicle route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the search unit is configured to display a bird's-eye view display area on a plan view road map as a left and right area with a line of sight as a boundary. A route guidance device for a vehicle, wherein a predetermined number of landmarks are searched from each divided area. 7. The route guidance device for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the search unit searches for a predetermined number of landmarks so that the landmarks close to the expected intersection are prioritized and the landmarks do not overlap with each other. A route guidance device for a vehicle, comprising: 8. The route guidance device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the search means determines a landmark near a current location of the vehicle in addition to a landmark near a crossing scheduled intersection. A route guidance device for a vehicle, wherein only a number is searched. 9. The route guidance device for a vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising: third calculating means for calculating a distance from a current position to an intersection to be passed, wherein the drawing means is configured to calculate the distance from the intersection to the expected intersection of the calculation result. When the distance of the vehicle becomes equal to or less than a predetermined distance, a landmark near the current position of the vehicle is deleted. 10. The route guidance device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the drawing unit is configured to determine the landmark searched by the search unit in a radial direction around an intersection to be passed. A route guidance device for a vehicle, characterized by drawing by moving a distance. 11. The vehicle route guidance device according to claim 2, wherein the drawing means draws the landmark searched by the search means by moving the landmark by a predetermined distance in a direction away from a line of sight. Characteristic vehicle route guidance device. 12. The route guidance device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the drawing unit moves the landmark searched by the search unit by a predetermined distance in a direction away from a normal line of sight. A route guidance device for a vehicle, comprising: