JPS60209900A - Course guidance unit for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a device that presets a route to a destination and guides a vehicle to the destination based on the set route. The present invention relates to a vehicle route guidance device that enables accurate navigation.

[Technical Background of the Invention] With the development of microcomputers in recent years, when a destination and current location are input on a map displayed on a display, the microcomputer processes the detection signals from the direction sensor and distance sensor, and Various devices have been proposed for guiding one's own vehicle to a destination while confirming the location of the vehicle. By using such devices, drivers can grasp the direction and distance to their destination with just a glance at the display, reducing the burden of finding a way in an unfamiliar area, allowing them to focus on driving and driving safely. It can be done. As such a guidance device, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-701
A method as shown in No. 17 has been proposed in the past.

This device manually sets the route to the destination using position information of the destination and target points such as intersections that exist on the route to the destination, and as the vehicle travels, When the vehicle reaches a certain range including the target point, the direction in which the vehicle should proceed next with respect to the destination at the target point is instructed by display or voice.

However, when setting a route to a destination, it is necessary to do it in as much detail as possible to ensure reliable vehicle guidance, but the farther the destination is, the more information must be entered. It is clear that the amount of data required will increase. For this reason, in the route setting work, it is desirable to be able to perform efficient route setting by minimizing the amount of data that must be input. However, in the conventional guidance device described above, when setting a route to a destination, the location information of the destination and target points such as intersections on the route leading to the destination is determined by operating the keyboard while looking at the display. Since the configuration is such that the coordinate data is input sequentially, it is inefficient to set intersections.
On the other hand, if the positional information of the target intersection, which originally has to be input, is forcibly reduced, there is a problem that accurate guidance will no longer be possible.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and its object is to provide a route guidance device for a vehicle that can efficiently and accurately set a route to a destination. It is in.

"Summary of the Invention" In order to achieve the above object, in a device that specifies the direction in which the vehicle should proceed at each designated intersection as the vehicle travels along a pre-stored route while detecting the location of the vehicle, As shown in FIG.
Display means 5 reads the route data selected in accordance with the designated rank and displays intersections belonging to the designated rank that are adjacent to each other via the road, and The specifying means 3 for specifying an intersection reads from the road map storage means 1 the sequentially specified intersections and all intersections existing on the route connecting the sequentially specified intersections, and creates a route connecting each intersection. a route storage means 7 for storing the specified rank; and a display switching means for switching the display displayed on the display means 5 to a display of the next intersection belonging to the specified rank in the adjoining relationship after the specifying means 3 is operated. 9.

[Embodiments of the invention] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which reference numeral 21 denotes a direction L sensor for detecting the traveling direction of the vehicle from, for example, the earth's magnetic field;
3 is a sensor amplifier that amplifies and shapes the output signal of the orientation sensor 21; 25 is a mileage sensor that generates pulses for calculating the mileage 1111 according to the rotation of the tires; 27 is a display device that displays various displays; 29 Reference numeral 31 indicates an operation unit for setting a route to the destination, and 31 controls the display output on the display device 27 when setting a route to the destination, and inputs a signal from the operation unit 29 to set the route. When the vehicle is running, it inputs the detection signals from the direction sensor 21i1j and the mileage sensor 25 to determine the current position, compares it with the set route, and displays the traveling direction of the vehicle on the display device 27.

The display device 27 includes a buffer memory 33 and a display control section 3.
5, and a CR7 display section 37. Barahua Memory 3
3 has a storage capacity corresponding to at least the number of pixels of the CRT display section 37, and temporarily stores an image pattern signal to be displayed on the CI<1-display section 37 in response to a signal from the microcomputer 31. The display control section 35 sequentially reads out the image pattern signals stored in the batza memory and outputs them in synchronization with the scanning lines of the CRT display section 37, thereby causing the CRT display section 37 to display and output the image patterns. be.

The operation section 29 includes a transparent operation panel 39 provided on the display surface of the CRT display section 37 or arranged with a gap therebetween, and a key switch 4 provided near the CRT display section 37.
1. The transparent operation panel 39 is connected to the CRT display section 3
For example, the 7 screen has 25 switch parts arranged in 5 blocks in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the driver operates the switches according to the contents of the screen when setting a route to the destination.

The microcomputer 31 is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CP).
43, first and second ROMs 45 and 47, RAM 49, a first input boat 51 that receives detection signals from the direction sensor 21 and mileage sensor 25, and the transparent operation panel. 39 and the key switch 41, and an output port 54 that outputs the display-related signals processed by the CPU 43 to the display device 27. 1st RO
M45 stores a processing program for the CPU 43, which will be described later. The second ROM 47 stores route data.

Specifically, the second ROM 47 stores data related to routes as described below. Second R
The memory area of OM47 is shown in (a) and (b) in Figure 3.
), a group of pages is created by dividing the whole country into several regions and made into pages, and a group of blocks is created by dividing each of the divided regions into several parts at the city or ward level, for example, and creating blocks. ((C) in Figure 3), the 1917 group ((d) in Figure 3), which is the block group divided into several at the town level, and the number classification of intersections that exist in each area of the area. intersection group ((e) in Figure 3)
I can't stand it anymore. The contents of the intersection point group include route data such as the number and name of the adjacent intersection, the classification rank as described later, the distance to the adjacent intersection,
It has an area for storing the absolute direction, route number, and route type (type of expressway, national highway, prefectural road, city road, etc.) of the road toward the adjacent intersection (FIG. 3(f)). in particular,
Figure 3 shows the intersection No. 03 (named Muraura 2) located in the first area A7 (named ΔTsubama) of No. 7-11 (named Kanagawananbu) on page 02;
This shows that the content related to the intersection shown in Figure (0) is stored, and this 03m (Muraura 2) intersection is connected to three roads (■ to ■). Since the intersection No. 03 (Muraura 2) is adjacent to another intersection (not shown), data storage 1 rear is 3
There will be one. For the allocation of numbers for the aforementioned page groups, block groups, 1-17 groups, and intersection groups, for example, use the "Road Information Handbook Map" published by the Road Bureau of the Ministry of Construction. This is done based on the intersection number of each block.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained separately in the route setting work to the destination and the vehicle guidance control based on the set route.

First, route setting work will be explained using FIGS. 4 and 5. In addition, (a) to (h) in FIG. 4 are CRs in FIG.
3 is a diagram illustrating a situation in which display contents on a T display section 37 are viewed through a transparent operation panel 39. FIG. Or Figure 5 is
It is a processing flowchart of CPU43 regarding route setting work.

1> First, as an initial setting, when you operate the [ON] switch for starting the operation of the route guidance device installed in the key switch 41, the CRT display section 37 will display the block group level (city or The area name is displayed at the ward level (it is convenient to match this to the location of the owner's residence, etc.).

). The driver specifies the name of the area where the intersection, which is the starting point for guidance, is located by looking at the display and pressing the button on the transparent operation panel 39 (Figure 4 (a)).
.

2) With this designation, the area name is displayed on the CRT display section 37 at the level (town level) of the aforementioned area 17 group that corresponds to the specified area. The driver specifies an area (Oppama) using the same operation as the area specification at the block group level (FIG. 4(b)).

3) By specifying the area at the area 17 group level, the CRT display section 37 displays the names of intersections existing in the specified area and the routes connecting them (however, the maximum number of intersections to be displayed is, for example, 20). .

The driver specifies the guidance starting intersection among the displayed intersections using the same operation as the area designation described above (here, for example, "Muraura 2"), and then presses the key to confirm the guidance starting intersection. Push the rsETJ key of the switch 41 (FIG. 4(C)). In addition, in the above-described series of operations for setting the guidance starting intersection, if an incorrect designation is made, the following correction operation is performed. 1, that is, l-S
If you have not yet pressed the E T J key, you can re-specify it, or you can return to the display state before the incorrect designation by covering the displayed l-RE T tJ RN J section with the -C button through the transparent operation panel 39. Just re-specify. Also, rsE
If the guidance starting intersection has been determined by pressing the TJ key, the rcLEARJ key of the key switch 41 may be pressed to clear the determined guidance starting intersection and redo the determination process.

4) When the guidance starting intersection is determined, the CRT display unit 37 displays the name and shape of the intersection set in 3), the names of adjacent intersections, and route numbers connecting these adjacent intersections (numbers of national highways, prefectural roads, city roads, etc.) ) is displayed (Figure 4(d))
. In order to display the adjacent intersections, the intersections are classified and color-coded in advance according to the crossing paths, for example, as shown in Table 1, and a rank designation section is provided in the display on the CRT display section 37. Display accordingly. However, initially, it is shown as rank 3 as shown in FIG. 4(d).

According to Table 1 ([I3, IC indicates interchange -5l-]), by this ranking, including tll operation panel 3
9, if the status is rank 3, the displayed adjacent intersection will be rank 3 or higher rank (
It is an intersection belonging to rank 1, rank 2), and specifically, it is an intersection that will be reached next when driving from the reference intersection displayed in the center of the CRT display section 37,
An intersection that is substantially adjacent to the reference intersection point (
Figure 4(d)). Here, since the destination is far away, if you specify rank 2, the adjacent intersection that will be displayed will be C.
It is an intersection that belongs to rank 1 or rank 2, and specifically, it is an intersection that belongs to rank 1 or rank 2 that you will reach next when you drive from the reference intersection displayed in the center of the CRT display section 37 and go to -C. (Fig. 4(e)), and intersections belonging to rank 3 existing on the way are not displayed. Note that the route numbers are classified and displayed, for example, as shown in Table 2, so that they can be easily distinguished.

Among the adjacent intersections displayed in the rank 2 state designated (Table 2 5), select the adjacent intersection to which you wish to proceed via the transparent operation panel 39 ((e, Negishi) and (f, scarab). With this operation, the CRT display unit 3 will be displayed with the specified intersection as the reference intersection.
7, and intersections of the same designated rank or higher rank adjacent to the reference intersection are newly displayed.

Next, when rank 3 is specified (Fig. 4 (f)), adjacent intersections centered around the specified intersection (] Ganechou) are displayed as rank 3, and the intersection to be proceeded through is specified via the transparent operation panel 39 (hip Butterfly) Figure 4 (Q)
), adjacent intersections are newly displayed around the specified intersection (Fig. 4 (h)). By repeating this operation and sequentially specifying the intersections to proceed to, the microcomputer 31 stores the specified intersections one after another, and sets the guidance starting intersection as 1 and 2 in Fig. 4.
The intersection closest to the final destination ends (the 4th intersection).
In the figure, find the route that leads to ``Hipcho'' and memorize it. However, when setting this route, -C1
If the settings are made with the display in rank 1 or rank 2, the reference intersection displayed in the center of the CRT display section 37 and the rank 1 or rank 2 you are trying to proceed to will be displayed.
Intersections that exist between adjacent intersections that belong to a lower rank and are not displayed are automatically memorized. In other words, in route setting work, rank 1
If this is the case, the route will be set by jumping over the intersections of rank 2 and rank 3 and displaying the intersection belonging to rank 1, but in reality, the route will be set by crossing the intersections of rank 2 and rank 3. The route including the intersections will be memorized. Similarly, in the case of rank 2, the route is set by displaying intersections belonging to rank 1 or rank 2 that jump over intersections of rank 3;
The route including the intersections will be memorized and the route will be taken.

Therefore, when setting a route to a destination, for example, if a change of course is not required, set an intersection with a higher rank as much as possible, and if you frequently change course, set an intersection with a lower rank as much as possible. By performing the settings based on the current state and appropriately performing the jump settings, efficient route settings can be performed.

In addition, in the operation of specifying an intersection in route setting, if the intersection is specified incorrectly, operating the [C'LEAR] key returns to the screen before the specified specification, so the intersection can be specified again.

6) When the intersection (Hinodechi J) at which the guidance ends is set (Fig. G84 (h)), the route is started by operating the L S T A RT key provided on the key switch 41 that instructs the start of guidance. As soon as the setting work is completed, route guidance is started.

Next, the processing flow of the CPU 43 during this route setting work will be briefly explained below using FIGS. 4 and 5.

The operation of the [ON] switch in the key switch 41 is detected, and the level of the block group in the ROM 47 shown in FIG.
)) is displayed and becomes the samurai friend Qi for area designation operation (steps 100 to 110).

When a region is designated from among the index 1 images, the area name (index 2 image list, ie, Figure 4 (
b)) is displayed, and a standby state is entered for region designation operation (steps 115 and 120). When an area is specified from the index 2 image, a network of intersections existing in the specified area is displayed (Fig. 4 (C)), and a waiting state is entered for the specification of the guidance starting intersection (steps 125 and 130). )
. When a guidance starting intersection is specified from the network and the rsETJ key is operated, the guidance starting intersection is stored and displayed at the center of the dRT display section 37 as a reference intersection (steps 135 and 140). Furthermore, after reading intersection data to display intersections adjacent to this guidance starting intersection according to their ranks, the ranks are determined and the process proceeds to display according to the ranks (
Step 145.150).

1, if the result of rank determination (step 150) is rank 1, intersections existing on each route branching from the reference intersection are searched and an intersection belonging to rank 1 is detected. , Display the detected intersection as an adjacent intersection and search rank 2 and rank 3.
(step 155~
170).

In the case of rank 2, when an intersection belonging to rank 1 or rank 2 is detected by performing a search in the same manner as in the case of rank 1 described above, the detected intersection is displayed as an adjacent intersection, and the searched intersection belonging to rank 3 is memorized. hold (steps 175-190). In the case of rank 3, intersections adjacent to the guidance starting intersection via the road are displayed regardless of their ranks (Sfutsub 2
00). In this way, intersections are selected according to the designated rank.

Proceeding to step 210, the CR'T display section 37 displays the reference intersection and the intersection J adjacent to the reference intersection:
, i is displayed, the right front of the [S King △ RTj key operation on the key switch 41 is determined. Based on this determination result, if there is an operation, it is assumed that the route setting work has been completed, and the vehicle is moved based on the set route a Q-3
1, proceed to the double guidance process described later (step 210,
215>. However, this scene C proceeds to step 220 immediately after the route setting task has just started. In step 220, it is determined whether or not the cCLEAR] key has been operated, and if the key has been operated, it is determined that the intersection has been erroneously specified and the process proceeds to step 270. but,
In this scene, it is assumed that the guidance starting intersection has been specified without error, and the process proceeds to step 225. Step 22
In step 5, in a state in which intersections adjacent to the guidance starting intersection are displayed, it is detected that any of the adjacent intersections has been specified, and the process proceeds to step 230.
Proceed to.

When the process proceeds to step 230, the designated intersection is determined, and the rank is determined again, and the intersection to be passed is stored according to the rank (steps 230 to 265). However, if the result of rank determination is rank 1, the adjacent intersection belonging to the designated rank 1 and the intersections belonging to rank 2 and rank 3 searched in steps 155 to 170 described above are selected as intersections to be passed through. Store (step 240). In the case of rank 2, the specified intersection belonging to rank 1 or rank 2 and the intersection belonging to rank 3 searched in steps 175 to 190 described above are stored as intersections to be passed through (step 250). In the case of rank 3, only the specified intersection is memorized as an intersection to be passed through (step 260).
.

When the storage processing of these intersections to be passed through is completed, in order to continue the route setting work by specifying an intersection on the route to proceed from the specified intersection, the specified intersection is set as a reference intersection and displayed in the center of the CRT display section 37. After the display is moved (steps 245, 255, 265), the process returns to step 140 to newly display and output 4 intersections corresponding to the specified rank adjacent thereto.

However, by repeating the processing loop of the above-mentioned blocks 140 to 265, the intersections that must be passed sequentially to reach the destination are set and stored.
I leave. Then, when the [5TART] key is operated in the display output state centering on the intersection at the end of the Trigger S (Fig. 4 (il)), the sequentially stored intersection data is revealed and the vehicle begins to be guided to the destination. (Steps 210.215
). Note that if the [CLEAR] key is operated in the processing loop of steps 140 to 265, this means that an incorrect intersection has been specified. In order to return to the display state before the designation for re-designation, the intersection specified before the erroneous designation is read out and erased, and then the process returns to step 140 to restore the display centered on the intersection.Step 2
70-280). If it is determined in step 275 that the guidance starting intersection is incorrect, the process returns to step 125 to restart the route setting process from the beginning.

Next, vehicle guidance processing based on the set route will be explained using FIGS. 6 and 7. In addition, (a
) to (d) are diagrams showing display conditions on the CRT display unit 37 accompanying the vehicle guidance process. FIG. 7 is an overall flowchart of the vehicle guidance process including the route setting work described above.

1) When approaching the intersection (Muraura 2) where the guidance will start as set in the route setting work, the above <[5TART])
Operate the key to start guidance.

2) By operating the [5TART] key, the CR7 display section 3
7 displays the status of adjacent intersections centered around the intersection where the driver passes (ranked as the next intersection, Riebegi intersection) after the guidance starting intersection (Muraura 2) (FIG. 6(a)).

Specifically, in the CR7 display section 37, the guidance start intersection (Muraura 2) is at the bottom center, the next intersection (Bun) is in the center, and the intersection (rank) that the aircraft should pass is located adjacent to it. Intersections 2E' and 2E', for example, are displayed at the ends of the screen corresponding to the orientations of the intersections (ranks) to be passed next, so that they are connected to each other via road section displays. In addition, the display at this time shows J5 Isa line starting intersection Muraura 2) and the next intersection J
The road section connecting to the Besa intersection (rank) is displayed, for example, in a half graph consisting of segments in units of 100 rn (FIG. 6(b)). This bar graph is
As the vehicle approaches the next intersection (rank) it will pass, each segment goes out in sequence. Also, the road number display (National Route 16) indicating the route to proceed from the next intersection (Kubun) is lit.

3) The vehicle is traveling towards the intersection (rank) that it should pass next, and the vehicle is moving towards the intersection (rank), for example 5.
When approaching 00m, a warning sound "Bing Bone" will be emitted and the segment of the bar graph indicating 50Qm or more will be turned off. Thereafter, each time the vehicle approaches 100 m, the bar graph does not show 500 rn or more, and the segments go out one after another from the segment side (FIG. 6(b)).

4) 100m from the intersection (rank) that the vehicle should pass next
When approaching the intersection, the warning name "Binpon" will be issued again, and the driver will pass the Zubegi intersection (Sugita) next to the intersection (rank), which is lit as an indicator of the direction to proceed after passing the intersection (rank). Change the road number display to a blinking state (Fig. 6(a)).

5) The driver sets the display to IF H and continues driving from the next intersection (rank) to the next intersection (sugita).

6) When a vehicle passes an intersection (rank), the above ■
In the same way as in the above process, this time the display is corrected to center around the intersection (not shown). In this way, each time the driver passes an intersection according to the guidance on the display, the next intersection to pass and the intersection to pass after that are displayed sequentially, so the driver can follow the guidance by driving according to the display. It is possible to reach the final destination intersection (for example, hip-cho) ((C) J in Figure 6).
3 and (d)). In addition, in the display where the vehicle is traveling toward the final destination intersection Nlt (Hipcho), as shown in Figure 6 (tj), the final destination intersection (Hipcho) is surrounded by a large frame. It will be done.

In addition, this series of vehicle guidance displays will be displayed at rank 3 level novels to ensure reliable guidance.

The processing flow of the CPU 43 during this route guidance processing will be briefly described below.

Steps 300 to 360 are steps 70-CH1? of the route setting process shown in FIG. 5 in Section 611. - Steps 100 to 28
Since it corresponds to 0, the explanation here will be omitted.

In step 360, when the [5TART] key is operated and the route setting work is completed and the process proceeds to step 370 to guide the vehicle, first, the intersection two ahead on the route set based on the intersection number currently passed is selected. Steps 370 and 380> read out the number, and further read out the distance from the current intersection to the next intersection to pass and the shape of the intersection. Then, based on the 8-distributed data, the intersection to be passed next is displayed at the center of the display, and adjacent intersections are also displayed. At this time, (a) in FIG.

As shown in (b), the intersection you are currently passing through and the intersection you will pass next.
The intersection to be passed through is displayed as a bar graph with all bars lit, and the road number section between the intersection to be passed next and the next intersection to be passed is lit (step 390). ~420).

Proceeding to step 430, if the distance to the next intersection to pass is less than 500 meters remaining, based on the result of the distance traveled after passing through the set intersection on the route, all lights are turned on according to the remaining distance. A certain bar graph is turned off (steps 430 to 460). That is, when the vehicle position approaches the next intersection to be passed by 500 tn, a warning sound such as "ding-dong" is emitted, and the bar graph indicates a value of b OOm or more and the -y segment is turned off (see Fig. 6). (b)). Thereafter, the segments of the bar graph are sequentially turned off before the vehicle position approaches the next intersection to be passed. Then, when the vehicle position approaches 100rn before the next intersection, for example,
At the same time, the bar graph's segment that indicates 100m or less and the road number section that indicates the route for the next intersection after passing the next intersection flash, and the vehicle's direction is 100 m or less. ) Guide the direction to the power of 9 ((a) in Figure 6)
, (C)).

Note that during the control to turn off the J bar graph shown in steps 430 to 460, the [CLEAR] button of the key switch 41 is pressed.
If the key has been operated, the vehicle guidance is stopped and the process returns to step 300 to set a new guidance route (step 455). In addition, if the distance between intersections is less than 500 m or less than 100 m, steps 390 to
At the same time, the screen is set by the process of 420, and at the same time, the process is performed according to the respective distance, that is, if the distance is less than 500m, the screen is set by 50
Lights are turned off for segments longer than 0 m, and if the distance is less than 100 m, the direction of travel after passing the intersection is displayed.

Proceeding to step 470, it is determined whether the direction of travel after passing the next intersection is to go straight. If the result of the determination is that the vehicle is traveling straight, the process proceeds to step 480, where the segment flashing for a length of less than 100 m is continued until the vehicle passes the intersection, and after passing the intersection, the orientation sensor 21 determines the new direction in which the vehicle is traveling. is detected and the process proceeds to step 510 (steps 480 to 500). - If you want to change direction without going straight at the intersection, proceed to step 473 and use the direction sensor 2.
1 starts reading the direction in which the vehicle is traveling, and as soon as the vehicle moves in the direction specified by the blinking at the intersection, after confirming from the direction detection result that this direction is the direction in which it was guided, The process proceeds to step 490 described above (steps 473 to 478). Note that the reset direction indicates the direction in which the vehicle leaves the intersection, and is used to detect that the vehicle has passed through the intersection. Also, in the processing of steps 473 to 478, the vehicle turns at an intersection and travels, for example, 100 m.
If it cannot be confirmed that the direction of travel is correct even after driving, it is assumed that the direction sensor 21 has not been able to accurately detect the direction due to noise etc. Proceed (step 478).

In step 510, it is determined whether or not the intersection to be passed is the final intersection at which the guidance ends, and if there is a final destination intersection, the process proceeds to step 530 to perform final guidance processing, If so, the process advances to step 520, where a predetermined counter is incremented, and then the process returns to step 370 to continue guiding the vehicle.

Proceeding to step 530, the distance and shape of the final destination intersection are read out, and as shown in FIG. 6(d), the @
The CRT display section 37 after the shape of the oral intersection (Igi)
and display it in a large frame (step 530).
~550). Note that when displaying this final destination intersection, the route connecting the final destination intersection and the previous intersection is displayed as a bar graph with all segments lit, as in the case of normal guidance described above. Furthermore, since no route has been set for the vehicle to follow from the final destination intersection, the road number section connecting the final destination intersection and the adjacent intersection is in a normal display state in which it does not blink horizontally.

Proceeding to step 560, steps 430 to 4 described above
Similarly to step 60, based on the calculation result of the travel distance after passing the intersection before the final destination intersection, segments of the bar graph are sequentially turned off as the distance to the final destination intersection decreases (steps 560 to 610). In other words, when the vehicle is 500 m short of the final destination intersection, a warning sound will be emitted and the vehicle will stop for 500 m.
After accepting the above, the lights of the segments are turned off. From then on, the lights of each segment are turned off one after another every time the vehicle approaches the final destination intersection by 100 meters. When the vehicle approaches 100 meters before the final destination intersection, a warning sound is heard. and 1
The segment indicating the distance below 00m starts flashing.

When the vehicle arrives at the final destination intersection, the flashing segment of the bar graph indicating 100 rn or less is turned off to notify the driver that the vehicle guidance process has been completed.

In addition, in the processing of steps 560 to 610, for example, when the driver determines that it is no longer necessary to guide the vehicle to the final destination intersection, the key switch 41 is set to [CLEAR].
If the key is operated, the vehicle guidance is stopped and the process returns to step 300 to enter the state where it is time to set a new guidance route.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the rank designation means and the pre-stored rank-classified routes can be stored in advance.
display means for reading out data belonging to the rank designated by the rank designation means from among the data belonging to the rank designation means, and displaying an intersection and an intersection having an adjacent relationship with the intersection according to the designated rank; a designation means for designating an intersection to be passed through, and a display switching means for switching the display on the display means to a display of the next intersection belonging to the designated rank in the adjoining relationship after the designation/means is operated. ◆ When setting a route to the destination by sequentially specifying the intersections on the route, it is necessary to Even if you set a jump intersection that belongs to a certain rank, all J-intersections that exist on the route to the jump intersection can be automatically set, making it easier to set the route to the destination than with conventional devices. It can be done efficiently and accurately.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram corresponding to claims of this invention, Fig. 2 is a drawing showing an embodiment of this invention, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a second RO not shown in Fig. 2.
4 is a diagram illustrating changes in the display status accompanying the route setting task, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a processing flowchart of the route setting task, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the status of the memory area of M. FIG. 7 is a diagram that does not show changes in the display status accompanying the vehicle guidance process, and FIG. 1...Road map storage means 3...Designation means 5...Display means 7...Route arrangement means 9...Display switching means 11...
・Data selection means 13...Rank designation means Fig. 6 (
0) Figure 6(d)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A device for instructing the direction in which a vehicle should travel at each designated intersection as the vehicle travels along a pre-stored route while detecting the location of the vehicle, in which route data is assigned a plurality of ranks. a road map storage means for storing road map data; a rank specifying means for specifying one of the ranks among the plurality of ranks; and a data selection means for selecting route data corresponding to the specified rank; a display means for reading route data sorted according to the designated rank and displaying intersections belonging to the designated rank that are adjacent to each other via the road; and a specifying means for designating an intersection to be passed through among the displayed intersections; , while sequentially storing the designated intersections, reading out and storing all intersections existing on the route connecting each of the stored intersections from the route data stored in the road map storage means; a route storage means for storing a route connecting these memorized intersections; and a display for switching the display on the display means to a display of the next intersection belonging to the specified rank in the adjacency relationship after the specifying means is operated. A route guidance device for a vehicle, comprising a switching means.