JPH10332392A - On-vehicle navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove stain on a glass to recover the communication sensitivity with an optical beaconing device by giving a warning when a receive error occurs, and/or operating a wiper of a vehicle. SOLUTION: A main body 1 of an on-vehicle navigation device for performing optical communication with an optical beaconing device includes a display part 3 Which is a liquid crystal panel or the like, an optical beaconing transmit/ receive part 5 installed inside the front glass, and a wiper operating interface 8. When the vehicle approaches the optical beaconing device, transmit/receive is started, and in this communication, the existence/absence of a communication error such as a data miss in the midway of a frame of an input signal through the transmit/receive part 5 is detected. When an error is detected, a warning is displayed on a display part 3 or the like, or a wiper wipes out the front glass through a wiper operating interface 8 to remove stains, so that the sensitivity of the transmit/receive part 5 is recovered. It may be constructed for driving a car air-conditioner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an on-vehicle navigation device having an optical communication function for transmitting and receiving data to and from an optical beacon device installed above a road.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An on-vehicle navigation device is composed of a map data storage device such as a CD-ROM or an IC card storing map data, a display device, a self-contained navigation sensor such as a gyro and a mileage sensor, and a GPS (Global Pos.
itioning System) has a vehicle position detecting device that detects the current position and current direction of the vehicle such as a receiver, reads out map data including the current position of the vehicle from the map data storage device, and detects the vehicle position based on the map data. The surrounding map image is drawn on the display screen, and the vehicle position mark (location cursor) is displayed superimposed on the display screen, and the map image is scrolled according to the movement of the vehicle, or the map image is fixed on the screen. By moving the vehicle position mark, it is possible to see at a glance where the vehicle is currently traveling.

[0003] In addition, usually, a car navigation system is equipped with a route guidance function that allows a user to easily travel to a desired destination without making a mistake on a road. According to this route guidance function, the lowest cost route from the starting point to the destination using the map data is automatically searched by performing a simulation calculation such as the horizontal search method or the Dijkstra method, and the searched route is guided. The route is stored as a route, and during driving, the guidance route is drawn on the map image in a different color from the other roads and displayed thicker, or displayed on the screen, or a certain distance to the intersection where the vehicle should change the route on the guidance route When approaching the inside, the user is guided to the destination by drawing an arrow indicating the course at the intersection where the course is to be changed on the map image and displaying the arrow on the screen.

The cost is a value obtained by multiplying a constant according to a road width, a road type (such as a general road or an expressway), a right turn, a left turn, and the like based on the distance, a predicted traveling time of the vehicle, and the like. , The degree of appropriateness as a guidance route is quantified. Even if there are two routes having the same distance, the cost differs depending on whether the user specifies, for example, whether to use a toll road, or gives priority to distance or time.

A map stored in a map data storage device such as a CD-ROM has a longitude width of an appropriate size according to a scale level such as 1/12500, 1/25000, 1/50000, and 1/100000. Roads and the like are stored as a coordinate set of vertices (nodes) represented by longitude and latitude. A road is formed by connecting two or more nodes, and a portion connecting the two nodes is called a link. The map data includes (1) a road layer including a road list, a node table, and an intersection configuration node list, and (2) a background layer for displaying roads, buildings, facilities, parks, rivers, and the like on a map screen. (3) Character / symbol layers for displaying characters such as administrative division names such as municipal names, road names, intersection names, and building names, and map symbols.

In recent years, a traffic information system for transmitting traffic information to a vehicle by FM multiplex broadcasting, an optical beacon, a radio wave beacon, or the like has been put to practical use. According to a navigation device using this type of traffic information system, traffic information such as traffic regulation or occurrence of traffic congestion due to an accident or construction is input from the outside, and a position where traffic is restricted or a location where congestion occurs is displayed on a map. When the vehicle is displayed superimposed on an image or when the vehicle is guided to the destination along the guidance route, the guidance route is searched again so as to avoid a traffic-restricted road or a road where congestion has occurred.

[0007] FM multiplex broadcasting is used to transmit traffic information over a wide range. On the other hand, the optical beacon device is installed on a general road, and the radio wave beacon device is installed on an expressway, and both are used to transmit detailed traffic information to vehicles passing through the installation position of the beacon device.

[0008]

The optical beacon transmitting / receiving section of the navigation device is usually disposed inside the windshield because the design of the vehicle is not impaired and the wiring is easy. However, the reception sensitivity of the optical beacon is significantly reduced when the windshield is contaminated or when the windshield is fogged due to condensation of moisture in the air, which may cause a communication failure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an on-vehicle navigation device that automatically detects a decrease in sensitivity of an optical beacon transmitting and receiving unit due to dirt or fogging of glass and generates an alarm. Further, another object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle device that detects a decrease in sensitivity of the optical beacon transmitting and receiving unit due to dirt and fogging of the glass and automatically removes dirt and fogging of the glass and recovers the sensitivity of the optical beacon transmitting and receiving unit. It is to provide a navigation device for use.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical communication means for optically communicating with an optical beacon device disposed above a road, which is disposed in a vehicle, and a display capable of displaying a map image. Means, map data storage means for storing map data, vehicle position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle,
A navigation device main body that reads map data around the current position of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detection unit from the map data storage unit and draws a map image on the display unit. The problem is solved by an in-vehicle navigation device characterized in that when a reception error occurs in the optical communication means, an alarm indicating that the glass is dirty or cloudy is generated.

In this case, the navigation device body may operate the wiper of the vehicle or the car air conditioner instead of generating the alarm or generating the alarm. The above-mentioned problem is solved by providing an optical communication unit that is disposed in a vehicle and performs optical communication with an optical beacon device provided above a road, a display unit capable of displaying a map image, and an installation of the optical beacon device. Map data storage means for storing map data including a position; vehicle position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle; and map data storage means for storing map data around the current position of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detection means. And a navigation device main body for reading a map image on the display means and reading the map image on the display means, wherein the navigation device main body performs the optical communication even when the vehicle reaches the optical beacon device installation position stored in the map data storage means. A warning that indicates that the glass is dirty or fogged when the optical beacon is not received by the means. It is solved by emissions equipment.

In this case, the navigation device body may operate the wiper of the vehicle or the car air conditioner instead of generating the alarm or generating the alarm. Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be described. In the in-vehicle navigation device according to the present invention, when a communication error occurs in the optical communication, the user is notified that the glass is dirty, or a wiper or a car air conditioner is operated to remove the dirt and fogging of the glass. Thereby, dirt and fogging of the glass can be removed, and the sensitivity of the optical communication means can be restored.

Further, in another navigation system for a vehicle according to the present invention, the installation position of the optical beacon device is stored in the map data storage means, and the optical beacon is transmitted even when the vehicle reaches the installation position of the optical beacon device. Not receiving,
When a communication error occurs, the user is informed that the glass is dirty, or a wiper or a car air conditioner is operated to remove the stain or fogging of the glass. Also in this case, dirt and fogging of the glass can be removed, and the sensitivity of the optical communication means can be restored.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a vehicle-mounted navigation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a navigation device main body constituted by a microcomputer, 2 is a road layer of different scales,
This is a CD-ROM storing map data including a background layer, character / symbol layers, and the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes a display unit composed of a liquid crystal panel. The navigation device main unit 1 reads out map data from the CD-ROM 2 and displays a map image on the display unit 3, or displays a guidance route from the departure point to the destination and the current vehicle. A vehicle position mark indicating the position and other guidance information are displayed.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an operation unit provided with various operation buttons for operating the navigation apparatus body 1. Reference numeral 5 denotes an optical beacon transmission / reception unit that performs bidirectional communication with an optical beacon device arranged above a road. In addition, the navigation device according to the present embodiment includes traffic multiplexed on FM broadcast. An FM multiplex receiving unit (not shown) for receiving information and a radio beacon transmitting / receiving unit (not shown) for performing two-way communication using a radio beacon are provided.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a GPS receiver for detecting the current position of the vehicle by satellite navigation. 7 is a self-contained navigation sensor,
The self-contained navigation sensor 7 includes a gyro 7a for detecting a rotation angle of the vehicle, and a traveling distance sensor 7b for generating a pulse at every constant traveling distance. The navigation device body 1 includes a GPS receiver 6 and a self-contained navigation sensor 7.
Detects the current position of the vehicle based on the signal input from
Using the map data read from the CD-ROM 2, the detected position is corrected (map matching) so that the vehicle is located on the road.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a wiper operation interface for driving a window washer liquid pump for injecting a vehicle window washer liquid onto the windshield 20 and a motor for operating a wiper. As shown in FIG. 2, the wiper operation interface 8 includes a timer relay 8a for controlling a switch 9a connected between the washer fluid pump P and the vehicle-mounted battery 10, and a wiper driving motor M and the vehicle-mounted battery 10. A timer relay 8b for controlling the switch 9b connected therebetween. The navigation device body 1 can drive the washer liquid pump P and the wiper drive motor M via the wiper drive interface 8.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an optical beacon device 15 disposed above a road and an optical beacon transmitting / receiving unit 5 mounted on a vehicle, and FIG. 4 is an optical beacon transmitting / receiving unit 5 mounted on a vehicle.
It is a figure which shows the attachment position of. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the optical beacon transmitting / receiving unit 5 is provided inside the windshield 20 of the vehicle so as to enable two-way communication with the optical beacon device 15 disposed above the road. Installed on the dashboard. The optical beacon device 15 is connected to a traffic information center that manages traffic information, and transmits traffic information sent from the traffic information center to a navigation device mounted on the vehicle or transmitted from the vehicle. And transmitting information to traffic information centers. Note that FIG.
The middle code A indicates a communicable range of the optical beacon.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a frame configuration of data (downlink information) transmitted from the optical beacon device 15 to the vehicle-mounted navigation device. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing data (data) transmitted from the vehicle-mounted navigation device to the optical beacon device. It is a figure which shows the frame structure of (uplink information). The downlink information includes a 1-byte transmission control section, a 5-byte header section, a 123-byte real data section, and a 4-byte transmission control section. Is transmitted after being divided into frames.
The uplink information includes a 1-byte transmission control unit,
It is composed of a 10-byte header section, a maximum 59-byte real data section, and a 4-byte transmission control section. If the real data section exceeds 59 bytes, the data is divided into a plurality of frames and transmitted.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation device of the present embodiment when detecting an error in the optical beacon. The navigation device body 1 continuously checks whether or not an optical beacon has been received in step S11 while the vehicle is running. When the vehicle approaches the installation position of the optical beacon device 15 and receives the optical beacon by the optical beacon transmitting and receiving unit 5, the process proceeds to step S12, and the navigation device main unit 1 transmits the ID number of each vehicle via the optical beacon transmitting and receiving unit 5, Transmits information such as the type of vehicle (eg, distinction between standard and large vehicles) and destination. The optical beacon device 15 receives the information, sends the information to the traffic information center, and transmits route information, congestion information, section travel time information, and the like to the vehicle.
In step S12, the navigation device main body 1 detects the presence or absence of a communication error such as a loss of data in the middle of a frame of a signal input via the optical beacon transmitting / receiving unit 5 during these communications.

If no communication error is detected, the process proceeds from step S12 to step S16, where the received data is processed to provide the user with traffic information sent from the traffic information center, Guides the vehicle to the destination along the guidance route sent from. On the other hand, if a communication error is detected, the process moves from step S12 to step S13, and the navigation device main body 1
Displays, for example, a message on the screen of the display unit 3 that "the sensitivity of the optical beacon has decreased due to contamination of the windshield or the like." As described above, since the optical beacon transmission / reception unit 5 is installed inside the windshield, the cause of the communication error is mainly caused by fogging of the windshield due to dirt on the windshield or condensation of moisture in the air.

Thereafter, the flow proceeds to step S14, in which the navigation device main body 1 operates the washer liquid pump P for several seconds through the wiper operation interface 8 to spray the washer liquid on the windshield, and thereafter turns the wiper drive motor M at a constant speed. Drive only for a time and wipe the windshield. Thus, the dirt on the windshield is removed, and the sensitivity of the optical beacon transmitting / receiving section 5 is restored.

Depending on the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the vehicle and the humidity, it is considered that moisture in the air condenses and fogging occurs on the windshield, and the receiving sensitivity of the optical beacon transmitting / receiving unit 5 is reduced. Therefore, instead of driving the wiper when an error is detected (or after operating the wiper), the car air conditioner may be driven for a certain period of time to remove moisture adhering to the glass surface. Thus, when a communication error occurs in the optical beacon, the fogging is automatically removed, and the sensitivity of the optical beacon transmitting / receiving unit 5 is restored.

In the above example, the case where the wiper is automatically operated after an alarm is generated when a communication error is detected has been described. However, the user may be allowed to select whether or not to operate the wiper. (Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, a vehicle-mounted navigation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. Note that, also in the present embodiment, description will be given with reference to FIGS.

This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the installation position of the optical beacon device 15 is different from that of the CD-ROM 2.
It is recorded in. In step S21, the navigation device main body 1 refers to the map data in the CD-ROM 2, and when the vehicle reaches the installation position of the optical beacon device 15, the process proceeds to step S22, and the optical beacon transmitting and receiving unit 5 transmits the optical beacon. Check whether or not it has been received. When the optical beacon is received, the optical beacon device 15
And two-way optical communication between the
It transmits the vehicle ID number and destination, and receives traffic information. Then, in step S23, it is checked whether a communication error has occurred. If there is no communication error, the process proceeds from step S23 to step S27 to provide traffic information to the user or guide the vehicle along the guidance route.

On the other hand, if no optical beacon has been received in step S22 or if a communication error has been detected in step S23, the operation proceeds to step S24, and the navigation device main body 1 displays "" on the screen of the display unit 3. The sensitivity of the optical beacon has decreased due to dirt on the windshield. " Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S25, in which the navigation device main body 1 drives the washer fluid pump P and the wiper drive motor M via the wiper drive interface 8, injects the washer fluid onto the windshield for a few seconds, and then sets the wiper for a predetermined time. Activate.

When the optical beacon is not detected or a communication error is detected, the car air conditioner may be driven for a predetermined time instead of operating the wiper (or after operating the wiper). In this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and in addition, the installation position of the optical beacon device 15 is changed to
2 and checks whether or not an optical beacon has been received when the vehicle reaches the installation position of the optical beacon device 15. And fogging can be detected.

[0029]

As described above, according to the navigation device of the present invention, upon detecting a communication error caused by the optical beacon, the navigation device body informs the user that the glass is dirty or fogged, and operates the wiper or the wiper. Since the car air conditioner is operated to remove stains and fogging of the glass, the stains and fogging of the glass can be removed, and the sensitivity of the optical communication means can be restored.

In another navigation apparatus according to the present invention, the installation position of the optical beacon device is stored in the map data storage means, and the optical beacon is received even when the vehicle reaches the installation position of the optical beacon device. Notify the user that the glass is dirty or fogged when there is no communication error, or operate the wiper or car air conditioner to remove the dirt or fogging of the glass. And the sensitivity of the optical communication means can be restored.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a vehicle-mounted navigation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection between a wiper operation interface, a washer fluid pump, and a wiper driving motor.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an optical beacon device and an optical beacon transmitting / receiving unit mounted on a vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a mounting position of an optical beacon transmitting / receiving section.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a frame configuration of downlink information.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a frame configuration of uplink information.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the navigation device according to the first embodiment when an error is detected in the optical beacon.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the vehicle-mounted navigation device according to the second embodiment when an error is detected in an optical beacon.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation device main body 2 Operation part 3 Display part 4 Operation part 5 Optical beacon transmitting and receiving part 6 GPS receiving part 7 Self-contained navigation sensor 8 Wiper operation interface 15 Optical beacon device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04B 10/14 10/04 10/06

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An optical communication means disposed in a vehicle for performing optical communication with an optical beacon device provided above a road; a display means capable of displaying a map image; and a map storing map data. Data storage means, vehicle position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, map data around the current position of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detection means is read from the map data storage means, and a map image is displayed on the display means. A navigation device main unit that draws an image. When the reception error occurs in the optical communication unit, the navigation device main unit generates an alarm indicating that the glass is dirty or cloudy. Navigation device. 2. An optical communication means disposed in a vehicle for performing optical communication with an optical beacon device provided above a road; a display means capable of displaying a map image; and a map storing map data. Data storage means, vehicle position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, map data around the current position of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detection means is read from the map data storage means, and a map image is displayed on the display means. And a wiper control means for controlling a wiper, wherein the navigation apparatus body operates the wiper by the wiper control means when a reception error occurs in the optical communication means. A featured in-vehicle navigation device. 3. An optical communication means disposed in a vehicle for performing optical communication with an optical beacon device provided above a road; a display means capable of displaying a map image; and a map storing map data. Data storage means, vehicle position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, map data around the current position of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detection means is read from the map data storage means, and a map image is displayed on the display means. And an air conditioner control means for controlling a car air conditioner, wherein the navigation apparatus body operates the car air conditioner by the air conditioner control means when a reception error occurs in the optical communication means. An in-vehicle navigation device, characterized in that: 4. An optical communication unit disposed in a vehicle for performing optical communication with an optical beacon device provided above a road; a display unit capable of displaying a map image; Map data storage means for storing map data including a position; vehicle position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle; map data storage means for storing map data around the current position of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detection means And a navigation device main body for reading a map image on the display means by reading from the optical communication device, wherein the navigation device main body performs the optical communication even when the vehicle reaches the optical beacon device installation position stored in the map data storage means. A warning that indicates that the glass is dirty or fogged when the optical beacon is not received by the means. Down apparatus. 5. An optical communication unit disposed in a vehicle for performing optical communication with an optical beacon device provided above a road; a display unit capable of displaying a map image; Map data storage means for storing map data including the position; vehicle position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle; wiper control means for controlling the wiper; and around the current position of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detection means A navigation device main body that reads the map data from the map data storage unit and draws a map image on the display unit, wherein the navigation device main body is located at an optical beacon device installation position stored in the map data storage unit. When the optical communication means does not receive an optical beacon even when the vehicle arrives, the wiper control means activates the wiper. An in-vehicle navigation device characterized in that: 6. An optical communication unit disposed in a car for performing optical communication with an optical beacon device provided above a road; a display unit capable of displaying a map image; Map data storage means for storing map data including a position; vehicle position detection means for detecting a current position of the vehicle; air conditioner control means for controlling a car air conditioner; and a current position of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detection means A navigation device main body that reads map data around the map data storage means from the map data storage means and draws a map image on the display means, wherein the navigation device main body is provided with an optical beacon device stored in the map data storage means. When the optical communication means does not receive the optical beacon even when the vehicle reaches the position, the air conditioner control means activates the car air conditioner. An in-vehicle navigation device characterized by being operated.