JPH11281387A - Navigation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable display wherein a driver can look at indication of navigation without moving the line of sight, visual easiness is not affected by condition difference of external sight, environment brightness, night and day, etc., by visually displaying the running direction and indication information of a navigation apparatus, on a road when running. SOLUTION: A driver previously inputs run information such as a start spot, a destination and path spots in a processor 11 through an input device 13, and inputs position information in the processor 11 when running which information is obtained from a satellite, geomagnetism, sign posts beside a road, and a run speed by using a position run sensor. The processor 11 compares the information with map information stored in a CD memory 14, automatically display a map of a present spot on a display unit 15, automatically display its own present position on the map, and projects run indication display on a road with a projector 16. Hence difference is not generated in visual easiness in day and night and stable recognition is enabled. Since run indication information of a car is directly displayed on a road, a driver needs a little movement of a line of sight and is safe.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device mounted on a vehicle, and more particularly to a navigation device that allows a driver to observe a navigation display without moving his / her eyes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In-vehicle navigation devices are widely used as devices for guiding a driver who is not guided on a road and guiding them to a destination. Such a navigation device detects the current position of the own vehicle by satellite navigation or the like, reads a map image including the vehicle position from a memory to a display device,
It has a function to automatically scroll the map according to the running of the vehicle and keep displaying the map image centering on the current vehicle position to the destination, and the driver can change the position of the own vehicle on the map image and the target You can check things, drive against the scenery outside the vehicle, and head to your destination.

[0003] However, the display device of the conventional navigation device has been arranged on a dashboard or the like, for example. For this reason, each time the driver approaches an intersection, etc., shift the line of sight from the windshield to the display device of this dashboard, check the display on the display device, and determine whether to drive straight ahead, turn right, or turn left. However, it is inevitable that the driver must perform inattentive driving, disturb the driver's concentration, and cause a dangerous driving state.

In order to avoid this, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1-21988
3. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-256657, a map display, a display indicating whether the vehicle is going straight, turning right or turning left is projected above the windshield, or projected so as to draw a virtual image in front of the field of view, and is displayed without moving the line of sight. Even the display is visible. However, even in these methods, when projecting above the windshield, it is inevitable that the line of sight moves upward from the front. In addition, the display of a virtual image on the windshield or in front of the field of view changes its visibility between daytime and nighttime,
Depending on the brightness of the external light and the scenery that is the background of the display, it may be quite difficult to see, and it is undeniable that the burden is placed on the driver.

[0005]

As described above, since the display device of the conventional navigation device is arranged on a dashboard or the like, the driver must shift his / her line of sight from the windshield to the display device of the dashboard. Inevitably, there is a risk of inattentive driving. Further, a method of projecting a display above the windshield or showing a virtual image in front of the display is not always safe, and the display may be difficult to see.

The present invention solves this problem and, in a relatively simple manner, allows a driver to see navigation instructions without moving his / her gaze, and to provide external scenery, ambient brightness,
It is an object of the present invention to realize a navigation device capable of performing display in which visibility is not affected by differences in conditions such as nighttime and daytime and performing safe driving.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an input means for inputting a destination, a waypoint, a road selection condition, and the like of a traveling of a vehicle, and a current position and a traveling direction of the vehicle. And a storage means for storing map information, a display means, and the map information read from the storage means and the current vehicle position and traveling direction detected by the position detection means. A navigation device having a processing unit for indicating a current position and a driving direction on a map shown in the display unit and instructing the vehicle to travel, wherein the traveling direction information and the traveling instruction information indicated by the processing unit are displayed on a traveling road. It is characterized by comprising visual information projection display means for displaying.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a navigation device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the navigation device of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a navigation device of the present invention, 11 denotes a processing device including a microcomputer, and 12 denotes a GPS (Global Positioning System) using a satellite.
ositioning system), a position / travel sensor such as a geomagnetic sensor or a distance / speed sensor, 13 is an input device such as a keyboard or mouse, 14 is a memory such as a CD or RAM storing map information, 15 is a liquid crystal display or C
A display device 16 such as an RT, and a projection device 16 such as a projector, a laser projector, or a hologram device.

The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The driver uses the input device 13 to input in advance the information regarding the travel starting point, the destination, the waypoint, the information on traveling such as whether to use a highway or a general road to the processing device 11. During traveling, the position / travel sensor 12 obtains position information from any one or a combination of satellites, geomagnetism, and signposts on the side of the road and the traveling speed of the vehicle, and sends the information to the processing device 11. The processing device 11 compares this information with the map information stored in the memory 14 such as a CD, and automatically copies a map of the current location to the display device 15,
The current position of the vehicle is automatically displayed thereon, and the display of the travel instruction is projected on the road by using the projection device 16.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show examples of a driving instruction display in the present embodiment by the projection device 16 in comparison with a conventional example. 2A and 2B show an example of a right turn instruction at an intersection or the like. FIG. 2A shows a display example of a conventional navigation information presenting apparatus, and FIG. 2B shows a display of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2A, in the conventional method, an arrow indicating an angle difference between the current traveling direction and the direction to be traveled at the intersection is displayed on a display such as a liquid crystal display device in the vehicle in front of the intersection to be turned right or left. Was. In order to see this display, the driver must lower his / her gaze once and look at the display on the display placed on a dash board, etc., and accordingly, the amount of movement of the driver's gaze becomes large, The burden on the driver was increasing.

In the present embodiment, the projection device 16 projects an arrow indicating the angle difference between the current traveling direction and the direction to travel at the intersection as shown in FIG. With this, the driver can know the direction to go next with a slight movement of the line of sight, so that the burden is reduced, and the danger of driving because the instructions projected on the road enter the view even when looking at the direction of travel. Less.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which the current position and traveling direction of the vehicle are displayed on a map. FIG. 3A shows a conventional display example, and FIG. 3B shows a display according to the present embodiment. Is shown. In such a case, in the conventional navigation information presentation device, a map is shown on a display, and the position and traveling direction of the own vehicle are shown by arrows and the like. Therefore, the driver determines the traveling direction by comparing the map with the actual road. With such a presentation method, the driver has to search for the actual target on the map in his / her head or convert the map to the actual road, which places a burden on the driver. That would be. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the information is displayed directly on the road, the driver does not need to convert the map to the actual road, and can receive the information on the driving more intuitively. become.

Also, since the instruction information is displayed directly on the road, it is much easier to see than when a virtual image is displayed in the space, and there is no great difference in the visibility between day and night, and it is recognized stably. be able to. Furthermore, by making it possible to select the brightness and color of the instruction to be displayed on the road by setting from the input device 13, it is possible to perform a display that is more easily recognizable. Furthermore, it is effective to provide an optical detection sensor that detects the color of the road and the brightness of the surrounding environment, and to change the brightness and color of the instruction displayed on the road according to the detection result of the optical detection sensor. It is.

As described above, in the present invention, the instruction information relating to the traveling of the vehicle is displayed directly on the road, so that the movement of the driver's line of sight is reduced as compared with the conventional instruction on the display placed in the vehicle. Information can be presented more safely. In addition, since the display can be more intuitively determined, it is possible to realize a navigation device that is easier for the driver to recognize and has less burden.

[0015]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided an input means for inputting a destination, a waypoint, a road selection condition, and the like of a traveling of a vehicle, a current position and a traveling direction of the vehicle. Detecting means for detecting vehicle speed and traveling speed, storing means for storing map information, display means, and displaying the map information read from the storing means and the current position and traveling direction of the vehicle detected by the position detecting means. A navigation device having a processing means for indicating a current position and a driving direction on a map indicated by the means and issuing a driving instruction, wherein the driving direction information indicated by the processing means and the driving instruction information are displayed on a traveling road. The information projection display means is provided. This allows the driver to see the navigation instructions in a relatively simple manner without moving the line of sight, and to make it easier to see due to differences in external scenery, ambient brightness, nighttime and other conditions. It is possible to realize a navigation device that can perform safe driving, with a display that is not affected, that is, a load that is less burdensome for the driver, that is easy to recognize, and that has less discomfort.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the visual information projection display means can select the color and brightness of the display shown on the traveling road by the setting made by the driver through the input means. Features. As a result, the color and brightness of the display can be changed according to the driver's preference, so that it is possible to realize a navigation device capable of reducing the burden on the driver and providing an easily recognizable display.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical detecting device for detecting the color and the brightness of the surroundings of the road, and the visual information projection display means displays the color and brightness of the display on the running road. It is characterized in that it can be selected according to the detection result of this optical detection device. As a result, the color and brightness of the display can be automatically changed in accordance with the surrounding conditions and the color of the road, so that it is possible to realize a navigation device capable of reducing the burden on the driver and providing an easily recognizable display. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a comparison diagram of a driving instruction display in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and a conventional example.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a comparison between a driving instruction display in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation device, 11 ... Processing device, 12 ... Position / travel sensor, 13 ... Input device, 14 ... Memory, 15 ...
Display device, 16: Projection device.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An input means for inputting a destination, a waypoint, a road selection condition, and the like of a traveling of a vehicle, a position detecting means for detecting a current position, a traveling direction, and a traveling speed of the vehicle, and storing map information. Storage means, display means, map information read from this storage means, and the current position and traveling direction on the map shown on the display means from the current vehicle position and traveling direction detected by the position detection means. A navigation device comprising: a processing unit for performing a traveling instruction; and a visual information projection display unit for displaying the traveling direction information indicated by the processing unit and the traveling instruction information on a road on which the vehicle is traveling. Navigation device. 2. The visual information projection display means is capable of selecting a color and brightness of a display shown on a traveling road by a setting made by a driver through the input means. The navigation device according to claim 1. 3. An optical detecting device for detecting the color of a road and the brightness of the surroundings, wherein the visual information projection display means detects the color and brightness of a display shown on a running road. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device can be selected according to a detection result of the navigation device.