JPS61217899A - 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 (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a vehicle route guidance device that guides a vehicle to a destination while displaying a route.

(Prior art and its problems) In this type of vehicle route guidance device, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-150814, for example, a travel route to a destination is determined based on the coordinates of a major intersection to be passed. The system memorizes the settings, and each time an approach to an intersection is detected, it guides the vehicle to its destination by displaying an image of the route to take at that intersection.

By the way, some convenient devices have been proposed that automatically search for the shortest route between a departure point and a destination when location information corresponding to a departure point and a destination are given, but it is still difficult to start the search. You must enter two location information corresponding to the departure point and destination using the numeric keypad, etc.
For this reason, even if a vehicle were to travel back and forth between two points on the same route, when searching for a return route, it was necessary to perform the same setting operations as when searching for an outbound route.

(Objective of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to provide a route guidance device for a vehicle that allows a travel route set as an outbound route to be used as a return route with an extremely simple operation. .

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an outward route setting means 1. Storage means 2゜Return route setting means 3
．． Travel guide means 4 is provided.

That is, when the outbound route setting means 1 is given location information corresponding to the departure point and location information corresponding to the destination, it automatically sets a traveling route between them.

The storage means 2 stores each position information given to the outward route setting means.

In response to a predetermined return route request command, the return route setting means 3 sets the departure point information stored in the storage means 2 as destination information, the similarly stored destination information as departure point information, and determines the travel route therebetween. Set automatically.

The travel guide means 4 provides the driver with guidance information necessary for traveling along the set route.

(Description of Embodiments) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a route guidance device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, this route guidance device is mainly composed of a calculation section 11 having a micro-combined configuration mainly consisting of a calculation section 12 and a memory 13. Current position detection circuit 1 that detects the current position based on each output of the distance sensor 14 and the direction sensor 15
6. Setting device for inputting current position and destination 17. Map data storage device 18. Return switch 21. A return switch 23 is connected.

On the output side of the arithmetic unit 11, a display device (CR
T, etc.) 20 are connected, and a buzzer 22 is also connected.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the contents of the road map data stored in the map data storage device 18 shown in FIG. 2, for example, all of Japan or Hokkaido.

Regional maps such as Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu are further divided into multiple regions, and road map information for each region is divided from higher classifications such as national highways to lower classifications such as prefectural roads and city roads. Road map data is divided into stages.

The storage area of the storage device 18 is divided into a plurality of blocks, and each block area corresponds to the contents of each section 31 formed by dividing the map 30 vertically and horizontally.

Furthermore, each block is divided into a plurality of intersection areas, and each intersection area is further divided into an area unique to the intersection and an adjacent intersection area.

The unique area stores intersection type information, XY coordinate information, and intersection name information, and each adjacent intersection area stores:
Intersection number information, en route road number information, direction information, and distance information are stored.

Further, each block is given a code number, and for example, assuming that one section 31 is 1 km square, the code number is determined by the center coordinates (X, Y) of one section 31.

That is, the center coordinates (X, Y) of one section are divided by 1,000 to obtain its integer part (Xn, Yn), and the code number is determined from this value as Xn-j/n.

Next, the operation of the vehicle route guidance device according to this embodiment will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.
0481-220484).

The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 includes a processing flow (steps 101 to 107) related to setting a travel route and initial guidance to the starting intersection, and a processing flow (steps 101 to 107) related to route guidance along the set route, display of the travel trajectory, and correction of the current position. 201 to 400).

Each of these processing flows is based on an algorithm in which the travel route used as the outbound route is shared as the return route.

To set the outward route, first operate the setting device 17,
When the process of setting the departure point, which is the current position of the own vehicle, and the destination, which is the final destination, is executed (step 101), the travel route between them is automatically set (step 102.10).
3>.

That is, in step (102>), the departure intersection and destination intersection are selected and registered, and in step (103)
automatically searches for the shortest route connecting the starting intersection and the destination intersection, and registers the intersection numbers of each intersection in the order of passing.

Thereafter, until the own vehicle reaches the departure intersection and the start switch (not shown) provided in the setting device 17 is operated (
Step 107), as a predetermined display process after setting the starting intersection, the direction of the starting intersection is displayed, and when approaching the starting intersection, the process of showing the course guidance direction with respect to the traveling direction of the own vehicle using an intersection figure. (Step 10
4 to 107).

In this state, when the start switch is operated (step 1071), the process proceeds to step (201) and subsequent steps, and the vehicle is guided to the destination along the set route.

Particularly in this embodiment, the processing from step (201) onwards is executed, and while driving or after arriving at the destination,
When the return switch 23 is operated, a return route setting interrupt process that takes priority over other interrupt processes is executed according to the flowchart of FIG.

That is, other interrupts are prohibited for the priority interrupt (step 501), and then the current position of the own vehicle is set to 2 of the destination.
A process for determining whether the distance is within Km is executed (step 50
2).

If it is within 2 km (step 502 affirmative), exchange the coordinates and code numbers between the destination and departure point (step 50).
3, 504), and after executing the process of setting the departure point and destination using the new code (step 505), the process proceeds to step (102> and subsequent steps) in FIG.

If it is other than 2Km (No in Step 502), the coordinates of the current location and the departure location are exchanged (Step 506), and if the location is within 2Km, the code number of the destination is
The integer part of the center coordinates of the current location area divided by 1000 (XH
, Yl) and exchange it with the code number (X■, Yn) of the place of departure (Step 50).
8).

Then, through step (505), step (
102) Proceed to subsequent processing.

Therefore, when setting a return route, in step (102), the departure point information stored at the time of setting the return route is used as destination information, and the similarly stored destination information is used as departure point information.
A departure intersection and a destination intersection are selected and registered, and in step (103), the shortest route connecting the exchanged departure intersection and destination intersection is automatically searched and registered using the intersection number.

After that, perform steps (104 to 107) in the same way as when setting the outward route.
The process then proceeds to step (201>).

In this way, when proceeding to the processing after step (201>), in step (201>) the coordinates of the departure intersection (XS,
YS) is set as the calculation initial value (XO, YO) of the calculation unit 12.

After setting, each time an interrupt occurs every time a certain travel distance ΔD is detected by the detection output of the current position detection circuit 16, the coordinates in the X direction and the coordinate in the Y direction with respect to the previous travel point are sequentially calculated,
The calculated coordinate positions are supplied to the buffer 7 memory and plotted (step 202.400>).

Except for interruptions due to interruptions, the number of the intersection two places ahead on the guidance route is read based on the departure intersection most recently passed, and
Furthermore, the section distance D to the next intersection, the position coordinates (XN, YN) of the next intersection, and the input and exit directions to the next intersection are read from the map data storage device 18 (step 203.
204).

Next, the reset direction at the next intersection, that is, the intermediate direction between the input direction and the exit direction, and the test dates A and B.

and the error zone (step 205), and display the travel trajectory plotted on the map and the buffer 7 memory on the display device 20 via the display storage device 19 (step 205).
06).

Here, test date A is used when going straight through an intersection, and test date B is used when turning left or right at an intersection, an example of which is shown in FIG.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, in this example, there is a first intersection 62 at a distance ff1D from the starting intersection 61, and a second intersection 62 at a distance D2 from the first intersection 62. Suppose there is 63.

In this case, when going straight through the first intersection 62, the first
The test date A64 determined with the intersection 62 as the center will be used, and when turning left or right at the same first intersection 62, the test date 865, which is concentric, will be used.

Also, the intersection 63 of the rear cylinder 2 that has gone straight through the first intersection 62
When making a left turn, the test date 866 determined with intersection 63 as the center will be used.

In addition, in order to detect a case where the test dates A and B deviate from each other, an error zone 67 including the intersection is defined as shown in the figure.

However, radius of inspection date A = distance between intersections [) x predetermined coefficient α, radius of inspection date = distance between intersections [) x predetermined coefficient β, where β is the distance between the direction sensor and mileage sensor. α is approximately 1/3 of β.

If the next intersection is the destination intersection, a comment such as "Next is the destination" is displayed on the display device (steps 207 and 208>).

If it is not the target intersection, it is checked whether to go straight through the next intersection or turn right or left without going straight (step 209).

If the vehicle is going straight through the next intersection, set the flag FLG to 1 to detect that the vehicle has entered the intersection on inspection date A.
After resetting to 1011 (step 210), intersection search processing when going straight based on test date A (step 211
to 214) and the intersection passing process (step 215) to determine the current position (X).

Y) is corrected, and at the same time, the cumulative distance fΔD is cleared to O (step 216).

Thereafter, the next intersection is replaced as the passing intersection and the guidance intersection is advanced by one (step 217), and step (20
Return to 3>.

“.

In addition, if the own vehicle does not exist within inspection date A (step 211 negative), and if it has entered inspection date A (step 218 "1"), the correction process when going straight is performed. (steps 218 to 220>), and returns to step (203>) via step 217.

If you have never entered test date A (step 218)
In step 22, the vehicle is checked to see if it is within the error zone.
1), and displays the comment "Route Error" on the display device 20 (step 22.222>).

If it is outside the error zone (step 221 negative) -1 If the clear key (not shown) provided in the setting device 17 is on (step 223 portrait), there is some kind of mistake and vehicle guidance cannot be performed. Since this is the case, return to step (101) and start over from the beginning. Also, if the clear key remains off (step 223 negative),
Return to step (210>) and repeat the operation during straight navigation.

On the other hand, if the vehicle is to turn left or right at the next intersection (No in step 209), when the vehicle enters inspection day B (N in step 301), the next intersection is in front of the next intersection. The shape of is displayed (step 302).

Then, based on the test date B, intersection search processing within the bend (steps 303 to 309) and intersection passing processing (
Step 310) is performed to clear the itching distance to O, and the process returns to step (203>) via step 311) and step (217).

In addition, if your vehicle has never entered inspection date B (
If it is within the error zone (step 313 affirmative), the display device 20 will display "
The day of "route error" is displayed (step 222).

If it is outside the error zone (step 313 negative), if the clear key is on (step 314 affirmative),
Return to step (101) (step 203). Also,
If the clear key remains off (step 314
(No), the process returns to step (301) and repeats the above-mentioned right/left movement.

Also, during intersection search processing when turning right or left (step 3).
03 to 309), if the date falls outside of the test date B, the display device 20 displays "Route Error" (Step 222).

As described above, in this embodiment, when returning to the original starting point while traveling along the travel route set as the outbound trip or after arriving at the destination, simply press the return switch. Then, the process of exchanging the coordinates and code number of the current location while driving or at the destination with those of the departure point, and the process of setting the route therebetween are executed.

Therefore, when returning to the original departure point, the driver simply presses the return switch (compared to the case where the route is set in the same way, the troublesome route setting work can be avoided).

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the description of the embodiments above, the vehicle route guidance device to which the present invention is applied can change the travel route set as the outbound route with an extremely simple operation. It can be used as a return trip.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a complaint correspondence diagram, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a route guidance device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is the content of road map data stored in a map data storage device. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the process of the vehicle route guidance device, FIG. 5 is a detailed flowchart of a part of the process flowchart of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the route guidance process shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining some processing principles. 1...Outward route setting means 2...Storage means 3...Return route setting means 4...Traveling guide means

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Outbound route setting means that automatically sets a traveling route between the two when given location information corresponding to the departure point and location information corresponding to the destination; and storing each location information given to the outbound route setting means. a storage means for; a return route setting means for automatically setting the stored departure point information as destination information and the destination information as departure point information in response to a predetermined return trip request command; A route guidance device for a vehicle, comprising: travel guidance means for providing guidance information necessary for traveling along the set route to a driver;