JPH11248454A - Device for measuring azimuth and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable to measure an exact azimuth even when the user is standing still. SOLUTION: An antenna 20 receives radio waves transmitted from satellites 10a-10c. A present time detecting means 21 detects the present time based on information included in the received radio wave. A present position detection means 22 detects the difference of the arriving time of the radio waves transmitted from the satellites 10a-10c for detecting the present position of its own station (mobile station). A celestial body azimuth calculating means 23 calculates the present azimuth of the sun by referring to the present time detected by the present time detecting means 21 and the present position detected by the present position detection means 22. The azimuth of destination is inputted from an azimuth inputting means 24. An azimuth direction information calculating means 25 displays an azimuth corresponding to the azimuth of the destination inputted from the azimuth inputting means 24 by referring to the present azimuth of the sun.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an azimuth measuring device and a recording medium, and more particularly to azimuth measurement for calculating information on a desired azimuth or direction by referring to a current position and time, and a predetermined azimuth of a celestial body. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a recording medium that records a program that causes a computer to execute such processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art GPS (Gl) originally designed for military purposes
Since the obal positioning system has become usable in the private sector, various devices using GPS (for example, car navigation devices) are expanding their markets.

In the GPS, the position of the mobile station itself on a plane can be measured by measuring the distance between the user's mobile station and three or more satellites. By the way, the position of the mobile station at a certain point in time is measured by GPS, and after the mobile station has moved a predetermined distance,
By measuring the position of the mobile station, it is possible to detect the azimuth of the mobile station in the moving direction.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of an azimuth measuring device using such a method. In this figure,
The current position detecting unit 1 and the current time detecting unit 2 detect the current position and the current time of the mobile station using GPS.

[0005] The arithmetic unit 3 calculates the azimuth of the moving direction of the mobile station from the position of the mobile station at a certain point in the past and the current position. The display unit 4 displays the azimuth calculated by the calculation unit 3. The control unit 5 controls the calculation unit 3 and the display unit 4.

With such an azimuth measuring device, it is possible to easily and accurately know the azimuth of the mobile station in the moving direction.

[0007]

However, in the conventional azimuth measuring apparatus, the azimuth is calculated from the moving direction of the mobile station. Therefore, it is difficult to calculate the azimuth accurately when the moving speed is low. There was a problem.

In particular, when the mobile station moves on foot, the moving speed is extremely low. In such a case, when it is necessary to know the direction, the mobile station is often stopped. Therefore, it was very difficult to calculate the azimuth using GPS.

Therefore, in such a use situation, when trying to detect the azimuth, for example, the azimuth is determined by referring to the geomagnetism detected by a terrestrial magnetism detection sensor or the like, or based on the point where the mobile station has passed in the past. It was necessary to calculate the bearing. However, such a method has a problem that components such as a geomagnetic sensor are separately required and a burden on a user increases.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an azimuth measuring apparatus capable of accurately detecting an azimuth without increasing a burden on a user, and a program for causing a computer to execute such processing. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium on which is recorded.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an azimuth measuring device capable of accurately detecting an azimuth without requiring a new component and a recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute such processing. Aim.

[0012]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a present position detecting means for detecting a present position, a present time detecting means for detecting a present time, and a present position detecting means are provided. With reference to the detected current position and the current time detected by the current time detecting means, the celestial azimuth calculating means for calculating the azimuth of a predetermined celestial object at present, and the celestial azimuth calculated by the celestial azimuth calculating means An azimuth direction information calculation unit that calculates information about a desired azimuth or direction with reference to a direction of a predetermined celestial body, and a display unit that displays information about the azimuth or direction calculated by the azimuth direction information calculation unit. There is provided an azimuth measuring device characterized by having:

Here, the current position detecting means detects the current position. The current time detecting means detects a current time. The celestial azimuth calculating means calculates the azimuth of a predetermined celestial object at present by referring to the current position detected by the current position detecting means and the current time detected by the current time detecting means. The azimuth direction information calculating means calculates information on a desired azimuth or direction with reference to the azimuth of a predetermined celestial object calculated by the astronomical azimuth calculating means. The display means displays information on the azimuth or direction calculated by the azimuth direction information calculation means.

For example, the current position detecting means detects the current position using GPS, and the current time detecting means
S to detect the current time, the astronomical azimuth calculating means obtains the current azimuth of the sun by referring to the current position and the current time, and the azimuth direction information calculating means refers to the azimuth of the sun,
A direction corresponding to the input azimuth is calculated and displayed on the display means.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an embodiment of the present invention.

In this figure, the antenna 20 is connected to the satellite 1
Radio waves transmitted from 0a to 10c are received. The current time detecting means 21 detects the current time based on information included in the received radio wave. Current position detecting means 2
2 detects the current position of its own station (mobile station) by detecting the difference between the arrival times of the radio waves transmitted from the satellites 10a to 10c.

The astronomical azimuth calculating means 23 refers to the current time detected by the current time detecting means 21 and the current position detected by the current position detecting means 22 and calculates the current position of the sun based on the following method. Calculate the bearing.

That is, the mid-south time Ts of the sun at the measurement point P on the earth can be obtained by the following equation.

[0019]

Ts = 12 − ((λ−λ0) / ΔH) −ΔT (1) Here, each parameter is defined as follows.

T [hour]: time of the middle of the sun at the measurement point P λ [degree]: longitude of the measurement point P λ0 [degree]: standard time longitude of the area to which the measurement point P belongs ΔT [hour]: measurement point P The hourly difference ΔH [degrees / hour] of the sun at noon is the hour angle of the sun. The hourly difference ΔT is a correction value for correcting the mid-south time of the sun, which varies slightly depending on the season. Such a correction value may be stored in the celestial body azimuth calculating means 23 as a reference table, and may be searched using date and time information as a key.

Next, the absolute azimuth θ [degree] of the sun at an arbitrary time T is obtained by the following equation.

[0022]

Θ = ((T−Ts) × ΔH) + 180 ° (2) The direction of the destination is input from the direction input unit 24.
The azimuth direction information calculating unit 25 refers to the current azimuth of the sun and displays a direction corresponding to the azimuth of the destination input from the azimuth input unit 24 on the display unit 26.

The display means 26 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display or the like, and is configured to display the direction and direction of the sun, and the direction and direction of the destination.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration example of the display means 26 shown in FIG. The display unit 26 is formed, for example, by superimposing a touch panel on the surface of a liquid crystal display. By operating the touch panel with reference to an image displayed on the liquid crystal display, predetermined information is input. It is configured as follows.

The direction display section 30 displays the sun and the direction to the destination (WP: Way Point). Sun pointing arrow 3
1 is referenced when pointing the device towards the sun. The destination indicating arrow 32 indicates the direction of the destination obtained by the arithmetic processing of the azimuth direction information calculating means 25. In the destination location input window 33, the direction of the destination is input. The sun azimuth display window 34 displays the azimuth of the sun calculated by the celestial azimuth calculation means 23.

The direction detection button 35 is operated when the direction of the destination is input and the direction is to be detected.
The direction detection button 36 is operated when the direction of the destination is input to detect the direction.

The plus button 37 is operated, for example, when inputting the direction of the destination and the direction of the destination. Similarly,
The minus button 38 is operated when inputting the direction and direction of the destination.

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that this flowchart is executed when the direction detection button 36 is operated on the display unit 26 shown in FIG. When this flowchart is started, the following processing is executed. [S1] The azimuth direction information calculation means 25 includes the azimuth input means 2
If the azimuth of the destination is input from step 4, the process proceeds to step S
If not, the process returns to step S1 to repeat the same processing.

For example, on the display screen shown in FIG. 2, after the direction detection button 36 is operated (the process of detecting the direction of the destination is selected), the plus button 37 or the minus button 38 is operated. If the direction to the destination (WP) is input and the plus button 37 and the minus button 38 are simultaneously pressed to determine the input value, the process proceeds to step S2. In this example, the value “330 °” is input as the direction to the destination. [S2] The current time detecting means 21 determines whether the satellites 10a to 10c
The current time is calculated based on the information contained in the radio wave from. The time of a timer (not shown) provided in the device (mobile station) may be referred to. [S3] The current position detecting means 22 includes the satellites 10a to 10c.
The current position of the mobile station is calculated from the information contained in the radio wave from the mobile station. The position is calculated using a method generally used in GPS. [S4] The celestial azimuth calculating means 23 is the current time detecting means 2
1 and the current position detecting means 2
Then, the absolute position of the current sun is obtained by substituting the current position detected by (2) into the above-described equations (1) and (2). [S5] The azimuth direction information calculation unit 25 causes the sun azimuth display window 34 to display the sun azimuth calculated by the celestial body azimuth calculation unit 23. At this time, the sun pointing arrow 31 is displayed in a predetermined direction as shown in FIG. In this example, an arrow pointing upward in the figure is displayed. [S6] The azimuth direction information calculation means 25 proceeds to step S7 when the direction of the device is changed, otherwise returns to step S6 and repeats the same processing. That is, when a predetermined button is operated after the direction of the device is changed so that the sun is directed in the direction indicated by the sun pointing arrow 31 displayed in step S5 (for example, the plus button 37 and the minus button 38 are simultaneously pressed). If it is pressed twice consecutively), the process proceeds to step S7. [S7] The azimuth direction information calculating unit 25 obtains the direction of the destination by referring to the absolute azimuth of the sun calculated in step S4 and the azimuth of the destination input in step S1, and displays the direction of the destination on the display unit 26. The ground instruction arrow 32 is displayed.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the calculated azimuth of the sun is “270 °”, and the azimuth of the destination is “330 °”.
゜ ”, the destination indicating arrow 32 is displayed at a position rotated clockwise by“ 60 ° ”from the sun indicating arrow 31.

According to the above processing, the direction of the destination is input simply by rotating the apparatus so that the sun pointing arrow 31 points in the direction of the sun by inputting the azimuth of the destination.
Is displayed, so that the direction of the destination can be accurately obtained even when the user is stopped.

FIG. 4 is a data flow diagram showing a data flow in the above embodiment. As shown in this figure, in the present embodiment, first, the celestial body direction d3 is obtained from the current position d1 and the current time d2 by GPS. Then, while the user inputs the target direction d4, the direction indicated by the sun pointing arrow 31 (celestial direction d5).
The target direction d6 can be obtained by directing the device toward.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the second embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

In this embodiment, the direction input means 24 shown in FIG. Also,
The processing of the azimuth direction information calculation means 25 and the display format on the display means 26 are partially different. Other structures are the same as those in FIG.

From the direction input means 40, the direction in which the direction is to be obtained is input. In this embodiment, the direction input means 40 is configured to supply the value input by operating the plus button 37 or the minus button 38 shown in FIG. I have.

The azimuth direction information calculating means 25 refers to the azimuth of the sun calculated by the celestial azimuth calculating means 23,
The direction corresponding to the direction input from the direction input unit 40 is calculated and displayed on the display unit 26.

FIG. 6 is a display example of a screen displayed on the display means 26 of the embodiment shown in FIG. In this display example, the destination location input window 33 is replaced with a destination location (HDG: Heading) display window 50 as compared with the display example shown in FIG. Also, the sun indicating arrow 32 is
The direction indicated by the plus button 37 or the minus button 38 can be changed. For example, when the plus button 37 is pressed, the sun pointing arrow 31
Rotate clockwise, and rotate counterclockwise when the minus button 38 is pressed.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This flowchart is based on the azimuth detection button 35 on the display screen shown in FIG.
Is executed when is pressed. When this flowchart is started, the following processing is executed. [S21] The current time detecting means 21 determines whether the satellites 10a to 10a
The current time is calculated based on information included in the radio wave from c. As described above, the time of a timer (not shown) provided in the apparatus (mobile station) may be referred to. [S22] The current position detecting means 22 determines whether the satellites 10a to 10a
The current position of the mobile station is calculated from the information contained in the radio wave from c. Note that this position is calculated by the GPS
The method generally used in is used. [S23] The celestial azimuth calculating means 23 calculates the current time detected by the current time detecting means 21 and the current position detected by the current position detecting means 22 by the above-mentioned equation (1).
Then, the absolute azimuth of the current sun is obtained by substituting into the equation (2). [S24] The azimuth direction information calculation unit 25 causes the sun azimuth display window 34 to display the sun azimuth calculated by the celestial body azimuth calculation unit 23. At this time, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the sun direction indicator arrow 31 is displayed in a predetermined direction, and the destination direction arrow 32 is displayed in a predetermined direction (in this example, an arrow pointing upward in the figure is displayed). ing). [S25] The azimuth direction information calculation means 25 proceeds to step S26 if the direction of the sun is input, otherwise returns to step S25 and repeats the same processing.

That is, the user operates the plus button 37 or the minus button 38 while pointing the destination indicating arrow 32 in the direction of the destination (the direction in which the user wants to find), and moves the sun indicating arrow 31 to one of the directions. After the direction of the arrow is matched with the direction of the sun, for example, when the plus button 37 and the minus button 38 are simultaneously pressed, the azimuth direction information calculating means 25 Is entered, the process proceeds to step S26. [S26] The azimuth direction information calculation means 25 determines in step S2
The azimuth of the destination is calculated with reference to the azimuth of the sun calculated in step 3 and the direction of the sun input in step S25, and the azimuth of the destination is displayed in the destination location display window 50 of the display means 26.

In this example, the direction of the destination is the upper direction of the figure, the direction of the sun is the upper left direction of the figure, and the direction of the sun at that time is 270 °. Then, the azimuth direction information calculation means 25 calculates 330 ° which is the azimuth of the destination, and displays the destination local position display window 50.
To be displayed.

According to the above-described processing, the destination indicating arrow 32 is directed to the destination, and the plus button 37 or the minus button 38 is operated to turn the sun indicating arrow 31 in the direction of the sun. The direction pointed by the pointing arrow 32 can be known.

FIG. 8 is a data flow diagram showing a data flow in the above embodiment. As shown in this figure, in the above embodiment, first, the celestial body direction d3 is obtained from the current position d1 and the current time d2 by GPS.
Then, the device is turned in the direction of the destination (destination direction d6), and the plus button 37 or the minus button 38.
The sun pointing arrow 31 in the direction of the sun (celestial direction d
5), the direction of the target value (target direction d)
4) can be obtained.

According to the above-described embodiment, the azimuth of the desired direction can be easily obtained based on the azimuth of the sun. In the above embodiment, the direction of the sun pointing arrow 31 is changed in the direction in which the device is to be obtained, but the direction of the destination pointing arrow 32 is changed by fixing the sun pointing arrow 32. You may make it.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the sun is used as a reference celestial body. However, another celestial body such as the moon may be used. In that case, the equations (1) and (2) may be changed according to the celestial body to be used.

The above processing functions can be realized by a computer. In this case, the processing contents of the functions that the azimuth measuring device should have are described in a program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the above processing is realized by the computer by executing this program on the computer. Is done. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a magnetic recording device and a semiconductor memory.

When distributing in the market, a CD-ROM
(Compact Disk Read Only Memory) or a program stored in a portable recording medium such as a floppy disk and distributed, or stored in a storage device of a computer connected via a network and transferred to another computer via the network You can also. When the program is executed by the computer, the program may be stored in a hard disk device or the like in the computer, loaded into the main memory, and executed.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, the current position detecting means detects the current position, the current time detecting means detects the current time, and the celestial azimuth calculating means includes the current position detecting means. The current azimuth of the predetermined celestial object is calculated with reference to the current position detected by the current time and the current time detected by the current time detecting means, and the azimuth direction information calculating means is calculated by the astronomical azimuth calculating means. By referring to the direction of the predetermined celestial body, information about the desired direction or direction is calculated, and the display means displays the information about the direction or direction calculated by the direction information calculation means. Even when the vehicle is stopped, the direction and the direction can be easily known. Further, according to the present invention, since components such as a geomagnetic sensor are not separately required, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a display example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process performed in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a data flow diagram showing a data flow in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a display example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process performed in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5;

8 is a data flow diagram showing a data flow in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional direction measurement device.

[Explanation of symbols]

20: antenna, 21: current time detecting means, 2
2 current position detecting means 23 celestial azimuth calculating means 24 azimuth input means 25 azimuth direction information calculating means 26 display means 40 directional input means

Claims (4)

[Claims] A current position detecting means for detecting a current position; a current time detecting means for detecting a current time; a current position detected by the current position detecting means;
An astronomical azimuth calculating means for calculating a current azimuth of a predetermined celestial object with reference to a current time detected by the current time detecting means; and an azimuth of the predetermined astronomical object calculated by the astronomical azimuth calculating means And an azimuth direction information calculating means for calculating information about a desired azimuth or direction; and a display means for displaying information about the azimuth or direction calculated by the azimuth direction information calculating means. Measuring device. 2. An azimuth input means for inputting an azimuth of a destination, wherein the azimuth direction information calculating means refers to the azimuth of the predetermined celestial body and changes the azimuth input from the azimuth input means. 2. The azimuth measuring device according to claim 1, wherein a corresponding direction is calculated and output to the display unit. 3. A direction input unit for inputting a direction in which an azimuth is to be obtained, wherein the azimuth direction information calculating unit is input from the direction input unit with reference to the azimuth of the predetermined celestial object. 2. The azimuth measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the azimuth corresponding to the determined direction is calculated and output to the display means. 4. A computer, comprising: a current position detecting means for detecting a current position; a current time detecting means for detecting a current time; a current position detected by the current position detecting means;
Astronomical azimuth calculating means for calculating the current azimuth of a predetermined celestial object with reference to the current time detected by the current time detecting means; and referencing the azimuth of the predetermined celestial object calculated by the astronomical azimuth calculating means A computer-readable program recorded with a program functioning as an azimuth direction information calculating means for calculating information about a desired azimuth or direction; a display means for displaying information about the azimuth or direction calculated by the azimuth direction information calculating means. Recording medium.