JPH10281792A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve an optimum guidance corresponding to the driving condition and environment of a vehicle by controlling support information based on the driving condition of the vehicle that is detected by a detection means for detecting the driving condition of the vehicle. SOLUTION: A position detection part 11 consisting of, for example, a self-contained navigation system detects the position of an own vehicle, for example, by a GPS system, a vehicle speed sensor, and an azimuth sensor. A driving condition detection part 3 consists of a wiper speed selection switch 31, a head lamp switch 32, a vibration sensor 33, a vehicle speed sensor 34, and a fellow passenger sensor 35. The position data of its own vehicle being detected by the position detection part 11 are sent to a control part 13. The control part 13 reads map data corresponding to the position of its own vehicle from a map database 12, searches a path according to specific conditions from a departing point, displays the position of the own vehicle and the searched path on a head-up display 21 and a monitor display 22 for guiding a path, and also performs guidance through speakers 23.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device for guiding a traveling route of a vehicle, and more particularly to a navigation device that can provide an appropriate guidance method according to a traveling state or a traveling environment of the vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional navigation device. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings.
Reference numeral 11 denotes a position detection unit including a GPS system, an independent navigation system that detects the position of the vehicle using a vehicle speed sensor, a direction sensor, and the like. 12 is a CD-recording the map information.
It is a map database including a ROM reading device (CD-ROM drive) and the like. Reference numeral 93 denotes a control unit such as a microcomputer that performs a process of specifying the position of the vehicle based on the map information in the position detection unit 11 and the corresponding map database 12, a display process, and the like. 2 is a guidance output unit, and a control unit 9
3, a head-up display 21 that displays map information and the like based on signals from the monitor 3, a monitor display 22 such as a liquid crystal display, and a speaker 23 that provides voice guidance.

Next, the operation will be described. The position data of the vehicle detected by the position detection unit 11 is sent to the control unit 93. The control unit 93 reads map data corresponding to the position of the vehicle from the map database 12 and displays the map data on the head-up display 21 and the monitor display 22. Further, voice guidance is provided by the speaker 23. Then, when performing route guidance, the control unit 93 performs a route search from the departure point to the destination according to predetermined conditions (for example, so as to be the shortest distance), and determines the own vehicle position (current position) and the searched route. Is displayed on the display unit 22 together with the map. In addition, an instruction such as a right turn or a left turn is given by voice at an intersection or the like.

[0004]

In the display by the conventional navigation device, the display or the voice guidance method is constant regardless of the running state of the vehicle and the running environment. Therefore, when the driver is paying particular attention to the driving state and the environment, the guidance method may be unfriendly to the driver. For example, it is dangerous to look away from the front to look at the monitor when driving at night, so it is more appropriate to give guidance that focuses on head-up display and speakers rather than detailed display on the monitor There is also. Also, if there is a passenger, frequent voice guidance may hinder conversation in the vehicle. That is, there is a problem that the driver cannot perform appropriate driving support according to the driving state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation apparatus capable of performing an optimal guidance method according to a traveling state of a vehicle and an environment when the vehicle provides a traveling route guidance by navigation.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a position detecting means for detecting a position of a vehicle and reading out map information corresponding to the position of the vehicle detected by the position detecting means. A navigation device including a reading unit, a route search unit that searches for a traveling route of the vehicle according to a predetermined instruction, and an output unit that outputs support information necessary for traveling of the vehicle such as map information read by the reading unit. , A detection means for detecting a running state of the vehicle, and support information control means for controlling output of the support information based on the running state of the vehicle detected by the detection means. Things.

Further, the output means is a display means for displaying the support information or a voice output means for outputting the support information by voice, and the support information control means includes a display by the display means and a voice output by the voice output means. It is characterized in that audio output is selectively performed. Further, the detecting means detects an environmental condition around the vehicle.

[0008] Further, the detecting means detects a situation inside the vehicle. Further, the detecting means detects a traveling environment of the vehicle based on map information corresponding to the vehicle position. Further, the detecting means detects a traveling state of the vehicle from traffic information from a traffic information receiving means for receiving traffic information.

Further, output state storing means for storing output states to a plurality of output means corresponding to the running state of the vehicle is provided, and the support information control means is adapted to drive the vehicle based on a detection result of the detecting means. The output state stored in the output state storage means is output to the output means in accordance with the state.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a navigation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a route guidance method pattern of the navigation device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart of the navigation device of the present invention when traveling on rainy weather. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a position detecting section comprising a GPS system, a self-contained navigation system for detecting the position of the vehicle by a vehicle speed sensor, a direction sensor, and the like. Reference numeral 12 denotes a map database including a CD-ROM reader (CD-ROM drive) on which map information is recorded. Reference numeral 13 denotes a control unit such as a microcomputer that performs a process of specifying the position of the vehicle based on the map information in the position detection unit 11 and the corresponding map database 12, a display process, and the like. The control unit 1
Reference numeral 3 also controls the guidance output unit 2 based on the detection result (running state, environment) of the vehicle running state detection unit 3. 14 is FM broadcasting in VICS which is a kind of road traffic information system,
The VICS receiver receives information (for example, traffic congestion information) necessary for driving communicated by an optical beacon or the like. Reference numeral 2 denotes a guidance output unit (display unit) for outputting map information and the like by the control unit 13, a monitor including a head-up display 21 for reflecting the map information and the like on a windshield and displaying the map information, and a liquid crystal display for displaying the map information. It comprises a display 22 and a speaker 23 for guiding by voice.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a running state detecting unit for detecting the running state of the vehicle, a wiper speed changeover switch 31 for judging whether it is fine or rain, and a headlamp switch 3 for judging day or night.
2. A vibration sensor 3 provided on a suspension or the like of the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle is traveling on a rough road surface
3. It comprises a vehicle speed sensor 34 for determining whether or not the vehicle is traveling at high speed and a passenger sensor 35 provided on a seat for determining whether or not there is a passenger. In addition, in the navigation including the position detection unit 11, the map database 12, the control unit 13, and the like, the road state corresponding to the position of the own vehicle and the traffic information obtained by the VICS receiver 14 are also included in the detection result of the traveling state. Reference numeral 4 denotes an operation switch for setting a guidance pattern in which the output state of guidance information by display or voice output is patterned.

First, the navigation operation will be described. The position data of the vehicle detected by the position detection unit 11 is sent to the control unit 13. The control unit 13 reads map data corresponding to the position of the own vehicle from the map database 12, performs a route search from the departure point to the destination according to predetermined conditions (for example, so as to be the shortest distance), and Head-up display 2 for location and searched route
1. Display on the monitor display 22 such as a liquid crystal to provide route guidance. Further, voice guidance is provided at an intersection or the like by the speaker 23 as needed.

Next, the route guidance method pattern is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. These patterns indicate the output state to the head-up display 21, the monitor display 22 such as a liquid crystal display, and the speaker 23, for example, in three stages (a circle where output information is normal, a triangle where output information is reduced, and a large amount of output information). And the like, are stored in the control unit 13, and are stored in the control unit 13 according to the route guidance method pattern according to the traveling state of the vehicle or the environment.
A monitor display 22 such as a liquid crystal and a speaker 23 are controlled.

Hereinafter, each route guidance method pattern will be described. In the route guidance method pattern during normal traveling (initial setting), in a standard traveling state, in particular, there is no hindrance to driving. Therefore, guidance using the head-up display 21, the monitor display 22, and the speaker 23 (voice) is similarly performed. It is a pattern that emphasizes. This pattern is a standard output state of the navigation device, for example, a state set in advance by a maker or the like.

In the route guidance method pattern during rainy weather (light rain), since the wiper is operating on the windshield, the head-up display 21 may be difficult to see. Monitor display 2
2 or a pattern emphasizing guidance by the speaker 23 (voice).

In the route guidance method pattern during traveling in rainy weather (heavy rain), when the rain is heavy (the speed of the wiper is high), the visibility becomes worse in addition to the influence of the wiper, and the line of sight is deteriorated from the front. Since it is dangerous to deflect, the information on the monitor display 22 is reduced and the speaker 2
3 is a pattern emphasizing guidance.

In the nighttime route guidance method pattern, there is a risk that the front may be difficult to see at night.
Information by head-up display 21
And a pattern emphasizing guidance by the speaker 23. In the route guidance method pattern at the time of high-speed driving (or at the time of highway driving), since there is no hindrance to the field of view, the information on the head-up display 21 and the monitor display 22 is normal. However, since the wind noise and the running noise increase in high-speed running, a pattern in which the volume of the speaker 23 is increased even if the information amount is the same.

In the route guidance method pattern when traveling on a mountain road or rough road surface, it is dangerous to distract the line of sight from the front when traveling on a mountain road or rough road surface. It is a pattern that emphasizes the guidance by. In the route guidance method pattern when a passenger is present, frequent guidance by voice when a passenger is present interferes with conversation in the vehicle. Therefore, the pattern using the speaker 23 is reduced, and the head-up display 21 is emphasized. And

In the route guidance method pattern at the time of receiving the VICS information, when the VICS information is received and the display information of the navigation changes, it is necessary to frequently provide new information. Therefore, head-up display 2
1. A pattern emphasizing frequent guidance by the monitor display 22 and the speaker 23.

Next, traveling guidance during traveling on rainy weather by the navigation device of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this process, the optimum traveling guidance is performed by judging the weather condition (cloudy or fine, light rain, heavy rain) based on the operation state of the wiper (position of the wiper speed switch 31). In step S11, it is determined whether or not the wiper is operating (continuous operation) for a predetermined time or more.
If it has not been operating for a certain period of time, the process proceeds to step S12. That is, this determination is made based on the state of the wiper speed switch 31 as to whether or not it is raining. The purpose of detecting the operation (continuation operation) for a predetermined time or more is to prevent a temporary wiper operation such as washing of a windshield from being judged as rain.

In step S12, it is determined that the weather is cloudy or fine (not during rainfall), and the flow advances to step S13. That is,
Since the wiper is in a stopped state, it is determined that the weather is cloudy or fine (not during rainfall). In step S13, the default route guidance method pattern is selected, and the process ends. In other words, since the weather is normal, guidance is performed according to the route guidance method pattern for normal driving shown in FIG. 2 which is set in advance.

In step S14, it is determined whether or not the wiper is operating faster than a predetermined time. If the wiper is operating faster than a certain time, the process proceeds to step S17. If not, the process proceeds to step S15. . That is,
This judgment is to judge whether it is light rain or heavy rain from the state of the wiper speed changeover switch 31. Normally, there are four stages of wiper speed switching: off, intermittent, slow, and fast. For example, it is determined that intermittent and slow are light rain and fast are heavy rain.

In step S15, it is determined that light rain has occurred, and the flow advances to step S16. In step S16, it is rainy (light rain)
The route guidance method pattern at the time is selected and the processing is completed. In other words, since it is light rain, guidance is performed according to the preset route guidance method pattern in rainy weather (light rain) in FIG. 2.
In step S17, it is determined that it is heavy rain, and the process proceeds to step S18. In step S18, a route guidance method pattern in rainy weather (heavy rain) is selected, and the process ends. That is, since it is heavy rain, guidance is performed according to the preset route guidance method pattern in rainy weather (heavy rain) in FIG. 2.

As described above, the present embodiment can provide an optimal route guidance method according to the weather when providing the traveling route of the vehicle. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process performed by the navigation device of the present invention during night driving. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings. In this process, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is traveling at night based on the state of the headlamp (the position of the changeover switch 32) to perform optimal traveling guidance.

In step S21, it is determined whether or not the headlamp has been lit (continuously lit) for a certain period of time. If the headlamp has been lit for a certain period of time, the process proceeds to step S22. Move on to That is, this determination is made based on the state of the headlamp switch 32 to determine whether it is nighttime. Note that time data included in data received by the GPS (position detecting unit 11) or time data of a clock mounted on a vehicle may be used as a method of determining at night.

In step S22, it is determined that it is nighttime, and the routine goes to step S23. In step S23, the route guidance method pattern at night is selected, and the process ends. In other words, since the vehicle is traveling at night, guidance is performed according to the preset route guidance method pattern for traveling at night in FIG. 2 shown in FIG. In step S24, it is determined that it is not nighttime, and the routine goes to step S25. In step S25, the default route guidance method pattern is selected, and the process ends. That is, since the operation is not performed at night, the guidance is performed according to the preset route guidance method pattern in FIG.

As described above, the present embodiment can provide an optimal guidance method for daytime and nighttime when providing guidance on the traveling route of the vehicle. In addition, in addition to the above-described embodiment, it may be determined whether or not the vehicle is traveling at high speed based on the output from the vehicle speed sensor 34, and guidance may be performed according to the route guidance method pattern at the time of traveling at high speed in FIG. . Alternatively, whether or not the vehicle is traveling on a rough road surface may be determined based on the output of the vibration sensor 33 attached to the suspension of the vehicle, and guidance may be performed according to the route guidance method pattern shown in FIG. Further, it may be determined whether or not there is a passenger based on the output from the passenger sensor 35 provided in the seat, and guidance may be performed according to the route guidance method pattern when there is a passenger in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a processing flowchart when map information is received by the navigation device of the present invention. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings. In this processing, map information is obtained by navigation, road conditions (general roads, expressways, mountain roads, tunnels, etc.) are determined, and optimal travel guidance is performed. In step S31, the map information data is received, and the process proceeds to step S32. That is, the position of the own vehicle is detected by the position detecting unit 11 as in the normal navigation, the corresponding map data is read from the map database 12 and sent to the control unit 13, and the control unit 13 specifies the own vehicle position. In step S32, the map information data is analyzed, and the process proceeds to step S33. That is, the control unit 13 specifies a road environment (for example, currently running on a highway) corresponding to the position of the own vehicle. In step S33, a route guidance method pattern corresponding to the analysis result is selected, and the process ends. That is, as a result of the analysis, for example, in the case of a highway, guidance is performed according to the preset route guidance method pattern in FIG. There is also a method of detecting a mountain road, a tunnel, an intersection, and the like in addition to the expressway as information on the traveling state from the navigation.

As described above, the present embodiment can provide an optimal guidance method according to the road environment acquired by navigation when providing guidance on the traveling route of the vehicle. FIG.
5 is a processing flowchart at the time of receiving VICS information by the navigation device of the present invention. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings. This processing is performed by the VICS receiver 14 with a new V
When the ICS information is acquired, optimal travel guidance is performed.

In step S41, VICS information is received, and the flow advances to step S42. That is, the VICS receiver 1
The VICS 4 receives the VICS information and outputs it to the monitor display 22 and the speaker 23 in the same manner as the normal VICS reception. In step S42, it is determined whether or not the content of the provided information has been changed based on the VICS information. If the content has been changed, the process proceeds to step S43, and if there is no change in the content, the process ends. That is, the VICS information is repeatedly provided, and the control unit 13 determines whether the received provided information is new provided information (determines whether the provided information is different from the previous provided information).

In step S43, the route guidance method pattern at the time of receiving the VICS is selected, and the process ends. That is,
If the provided information has been changed, guidance based on the previously set route guidance method pattern at the time of receiving the VICS information in FIG. 2 is performed. For example, when the VICS receiver 14 receives congestion information corresponding to the traveling route while traveling according to the route guidance by the navigation, the navigation may change the route so as to avoid the congested section. In such a case, it is necessary to make the driver familiar with the fact that the route has been changed, and frequently switch the entire route from the current location to the destination, a detailed view near the current location, and the like.

As described above, the present embodiment can provide an optimal guidance method according to the VICS information when providing guidance on the traveling route of the vehicle.

[0034]

As described above, the present invention can provide an optimal guidance method according to the traveling state of the vehicle and the environment when guiding the traveling route of the vehicle.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a route guidance pattern of the navigation device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart when the navigation device of the present invention travels on rainy weather.

FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart of the navigation device of the present invention at the time of running at night.

FIG. 5 is a processing flowchart when the navigation device of the present invention receives and runs map information data.

FIG. 6 is a processing flowchart when the navigation device of the present invention travels while receiving VICS information.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional navigation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11: position detection unit, 22: monitor display, 12: map database,
23 ... speaker, 13 ... control unit,
3 ··· Running state detection unit, 14 ··· VIC
S receiver, 4 ··· Operation switch, 21 ·
・ ・ Head-up display.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A position detecting means for detecting a position of a vehicle;
Reading means for reading map information corresponding to the position of the vehicle detected by the position detecting means; route searching means for searching for a traveling route of the vehicle in accordance with a predetermined instruction; map information read by the reading means; A navigation device provided with an output unit that outputs support information necessary for traveling of the vehicle, wherein a detection unit that detects a traveling state of the vehicle, and a driving state of the vehicle that is detected by the detecting unit. A navigation device comprising: support information control means for controlling output of support information. 2. The output means is a display means for displaying the support information or a sound output means for outputting the support information by voice. The support information control means is a display by the display means and a voice output means by the voice output means. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein voice output is selectively performed. 3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means detects an environmental condition around the vehicle. 4. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means detects a situation inside the vehicle. 5. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means detects a traveling environment of the vehicle based on map information corresponding to the vehicle position. 6. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means detects a traveling state of said vehicle from traffic information from a traffic information receiving means for receiving traffic information. 7. An output state storage means for storing output states to a plurality of output means corresponding to a running state of the vehicle, wherein the support information control means is configured to drive the vehicle based on a detection result of the detection means. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein an output state stored in said output state storage means is output to said output means in accordance with a state.