JPH10197279A - Portable navigation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve positional accuracy by installing a sensor so that its center of gravity is disposed on a vertical axis passing a spherical center under a horizontal axis passing the center in a spherical capsule, and supporting a holder case so that the capsule is rotatable to the horizontal and vertical axes. SOLUTION: An acceleration sensor 1 of three-axis constitution is installed so that its center of gravity is disposed on a vertical axis V passing a spherical canter in a sealed spherical capsule 8 under a horizontal axis H passing the spherical center, and the capsule 8 is supported in a holder case 9 rotatable on the horizontal and vertical axes H, V. The sensor 1 is formed as a chip, carried on a base 10 used also as a weight, and filled in the capsule 8. A power source line 11, line lead parts 13, 14 of the sensor 1 are provided at both ends of the axis H of the capsule 8. A spherical chamber 11 for containing the capsule 8 is formed at the case 9. A guide 12 for filling the parts 13, 14 is formed to protrude. Viscous liquid is charged in the chamber 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable navigation device for displaying a pedestrian's current position on a map.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a portable navigation device which measures the position by GPS and displays the current position of a pedestrian on a map (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 8-2029).
No. 82).

[0003]

The problem to be solved is that even if a pedestrian carries a portable navigation device using positioning means by GPS and tries to know the current position in an unguided area, the pedestrian will not be able to know the current position. There are many cases where GPS radio waves cannot be received, such as when inside a building or in an underground shopping mall, so that the current position cannot be known.
In addition, the GPS receiver consumes a large amount of power, consumes a battery quickly, and is not suitable for long-time portable navigation.

[0004] In addition, GPs that cannot be positioned depending on the location
It is conceivable that the position on the map is obtained by independent inertial navigation while detecting the distance and direction of the pedestrian's walking by a sensor without using the positioning means by S. There is a problem that the sensor attitude when carrying a navigation device for use is uncertain, the sensor accuracy decreases, and the position accuracy deteriorates.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable navigation device, which detects a pedestrian's walking distance and direction by a sensor and obtains a pedestrian's current position on a map. Regardless of the pedestrian's carrying condition, the sensor is always kept in a constant posture and the position accuracy is improved, using a navigation system. The capsule is mounted on the holder case so that the center of gravity is located below the axis and on the vertical axis passing through the spherical center, and the capsule is rotatable with respect to the horizontal axis and the vertical axis, respectively. I try to make it.

[0006]

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a portable navigation device according to the present invention. Basically, a three-axis acceleration sensor 1 for detecting the number of steps and direction of a pedestrian, and digital map data Map information storage medium 2 such as a memory card or a CD-ROM in which map information is stored, a map information reproducing unit 3 for selectively reading necessary map information from the map information, and a read map A display unit 4 for projecting a map of a predetermined area on a screen based on the information and an output of each axis of the acceleration sensor 1 are read, and a walking distance is calculated from a preset stride based on the detected number of steps. The position on the map is obtained cumulatively from the detected walking distance and the detected walking direction,
ECU for updating the current position of the pedestrian on the map projected on the screen of the display unit 4 and controlling the entire device
5 and an appropriate input command to the ECU 5 to select and specify the map to be displayed on the display unit 4, change the setting of the display scale, and set the starting point and destination on the displayed map.
The operation unit 6 is capable of performing various input operations such as setting a stride.

The ECU 5 counts the number of steps by detecting the peak of acceleration (impact) generated in the Z-axis direction output from the acceleration sensor 1 having a three-axis configuration, and counts the number of steps, based on the outputs of the X-axis and the Y-axis. Determine the walking direction on the horizontal plane.

The ECU 5 searches for a guidance route from a starting point set on a map to a destination, and allows one of the searched guidance routes to be selected by an input operation. Has become.

Instead of using the acceleration sensor 1 having a three-axis structure, an angular velocity sensor having a three-axis structure may be used. Further, in order to increase the detection accuracy of the walking distance and direction, a hybrid sensor system may be used in which a three-axis acceleration sensor and a three-axis angular velocity sensor are provided side by side.

[0010] Instead of using an acceleration sensor or an angular velocity sensor having a three-axis configuration, a step number sensor for detecting the number of steps from an impact accompanying a pedestrian's walking and a direction sensor for detecting the direction of walking are separately provided. It may be.

At this time, as the direction sensor, a geomagnetic sensor having a two-axis configuration of XY axes or an angular velocity sensor having a two-axis configuration sensitive to a horizontal component of the geomagnetism is used.

The map information includes, in addition to ordinary road map information, information on positions and connections of train stations and route bus stops in transportation. In addition, information on the floor plan of each floor of a large building such as an underground shopping mall or a department store is also included.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a portable navigation device according to the present invention. Here, the portable navigation device is integrated with a portable telephone so that the two can be selectively switched. In the figure, reference numeral 7 denotes a screen of the display unit 4.

When the starting point and the destination are respectively set on the map in the predetermined area shown in the drawing, the ECU 5 searches for a route from the starting point to the destination. The searched route is displayed on a map. Then, when the pedestrian starts walking from the starting point, the current position of the pedestrian is updated and displayed on the map with a directional mark.

If a plurality of routes are being searched, E
Under the control of the CU 5, the routes are displayed in order from the route with the smallest distance cost, so that the pedestrian selects the guidance route.

At this time, especially when using a transportation system, if a human power instruction is given to the effect, the ECU 5 gives a signal from the starting point to the nearest station or bus stop within a predetermined distance range (for example, a radius of 1 km). The first route is searched, and the second route from the destination to the nearest station or bus stop within a predetermined distance range is searched. And
A determination is made as to whether the station or bus stop according to the first route and the station or bus stop according to the second route are connected by the same transportation, and if they are connected, the transportation is used. The route is determined from the starting point to the destination.

When the guidance route is selected, the ECU 5
Displays the name of the nearest station or bus stop together with the name of the transportation facility on the screen. Then, when you come to the nearest station or bus stop at the starting point, turn off the navigation start switch that activates the sensor once, and use that transportation to turn on the switch again when you arrive at the nearest station or bus stop at the destination To inform you.

When the vehicle arrives at the destination or approaches a predetermined distance (for example, 5 m), the ECU
5 emits a guide sound indicating arrival.

In the portable navigation device constructed as described above, in particular, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, a three-axis acceleration sensor 1 (or a three-axis angular velocity sensor or a step number sensor) is used. And a direction sensor having a two-axis configuration) are placed in a sealed spherical capsule 8 so that the center of gravity is located below the horizontal axis H passing through the spherical center and on the vertical axis V passing through the spherical center. And the capsule 8
Are supported in the holder case 9 so as to be rotatable with respect to the horizontal axis H and the vertical axis V, respectively.

The acceleration sensor 1 is formed into a chip, mounted on a base 10 also serving as a weight, and placed in a capsule 8.

The capsule 8 has a power line 11 for the acceleration sensor 1 and an acceleration sensor 1 at both ends on the horizontal axis H.
Line drawing units 13 and 14 for drawing output lines 12
Is provided.

A substantially spherical chamber 11 for accommodating the capsule 8 is formed in the holder case 9.
Is formed with a guide groove 12 into which the line drawing portions 13 and 14 of the capsule 8 are inserted.

Although not shown here, the case cover is covered with the capsule 8 placed in the spherical chamber 11 of the holder case 9, and the spherical chamber 11 and the guide groove 12 are sealed. (Fig. 4
reference).

The interior of the spherical chamber 11 of the holder case 9 is filled with a viscous liquid, and the capsule 8 is suspended in the liquid so as to buffer the rotation.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show another example of the configuration of the capsule 8 and the holder case 9 thereof. here,
Electrodes 15 and 16 are provided on line leading portions 13 and 14 protruding on the horizontal axis H of the capsule 8 without directly drawing out a power supply line and a sensor output line from the capsule 8, and a brush is provided on the guide groove 12 side of the holder case 9. An electrode 17 is provided, and the electrodes 15 and 16 of the line lead portions 13 and 14 placed in the guide groove 12 come into contact with the brush electrode 17 to supply power to the acceleration sensor 1 in the capsule 8 and take out a sensor output. Is to be made. In the figure, reference numeral 18 denotes a case cover.

Thus, in particular, according to the present invention, regardless of the carrying state of the portable navigation device,
The acceleration sensor 1 having a three-axis configuration (or an angular velocity sensor having a three-axis configuration, or a step sensor and a direction sensor having a two-axis configuration) is always kept in a horizontal attitude so that the sensor accuracy does not decrease, and the map is used. The position accuracy of the pedestrian displayed above can be improved.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the distance and direction of a pedestrian's walk are detected by a sensor, the position on the map is calculated from the detected distance and direction of the walk, and the map is displayed on the screen. In a portable navigation device that displays the current position of a pedestrian, the sensor is placed in a spherical capsule such that the center of gravity is located below the horizontal axis passing through the ball center and on the vertical axis passing through the ball center. After being installed in the holder, the capsule is supported on the holder case so as to be freely rotatable with respect to the horizontal axis and the vertical axis, regardless of the carrying state by the pedestrian,
There is an advantage that the position accuracy of the pedestrian displayed on the map can be improved by keeping the sensor in a horizontal posture so that the sensor accuracy does not decrease.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a portable navigation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the appearance of the portable navigation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a capsule for accommodating a sensor and a holder case thereof.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view showing another structure of a capsule for accommodating a sensor and a holder case thereof.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing another structure of a capsule for accommodating a sensor and a holder case thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Acceleration sensor 2 Map information storage medium 3 Map information reproducing part 4 Display part 5 ECU 6 Operation part 7 Display screen 8 Capsule 9 Holder case

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A pedestrian's walking distance and direction are detected by a sensor, a position on a map is calculated from the detected walking distance and direction, and the pedestrian's walking is displayed on a map displayed on a screen. In a portable navigation device that displays the current position, a sensor is placed in a spherical capsule, below the horizontal axis passing through the spherical center, and with the center of gravity on the vertical axis passing through the spherical center. A portable navigation device wherein the capsule is supported on a holder case so as to be rotatable with respect to the horizontal axis and the vertical axis, respectively. 2. The portable navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is an acceleration sensor or an angular velocity sensor having a three-axis configuration. 3. The portable navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a hybrid sensor provided with an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor having a three-axis configuration. 4. The portable navigation device according to claim 1, wherein a viscous liquid is placed in the holder case, and the capsule is suspended in the liquid.