JPS61229199A - Route 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 along a set route.

(Prior art and its problems) In this type of vehicle route guidance device, for example, as shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 150814/1982, a guidance route to a destination is determined based on the coordinates of a major intersection to be passed. The settings are memorized, and each time an approach to an intersection is detected, the driver is shown an image of the route to take at that intersection.

By the way, it is not necessarily a good idea to always set the intersection at which the guidance display starts on the set route (hereinafter referred to as the starting intersection) to be the one that is the shortest distance from the current location. For example, if there is an intersection near the current location that you can remember going to in the past, it is more convenient to set that intersection as the departure intersection.

Therefore, the present applicant first, given current location information and destination information, automatically selects multiple intersections where route guidance is available within a predetermined area near the given current location, and plots these on a map. Display one of them on the image display in a superimposed manner.
An application has been filed (Japanese Patent Application No. 59-255640, unpublished) for a vehicle route guidance system that allows the user to arbitrarily select one intersection as a departure intersection.

However, even if multiple intersections are displayed in this way, people who are unfamiliar with geography may find it confusing to choose the starting intersection, and if the destination point does not fit within the map range on the screen, However, there were drawbacks such as erroneously setting an intersection far from the destination point as the starting intersection.

(Objective of the Invention) The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle that can instantly determine the optimal departure intersection for going to a destination from among multiple intersections that are displayed on the screen and are capable of providing route guidance. An object of the present invention is to provide a route guidance device for use in a vehicle.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, when current location information and destination information are given, superimposes a plurality of intersections existing in a predetermined area near the given current location on a road map. In a vehicle route guidance device that displays guidance on an image display and selects one of the intersections as a starting intersection, for example, as shown in FIG. 4d is superimposed on the road map 3, a symbol mark 2 indicating the direction of the destination 5 is displayed on the same screen, and in the illustrated example, at the current location 3a, the intersection 4a is immediately set as the starting intersection. It gives you a choice.

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

(The inventor of this application previously filed Japanese Patent Application No. 59-220481 to Sho 59-220484 for determining intersections.) FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a vehicle route guidance device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

As shown in the figure, this route guidance device is mainly composed of an arithmetic unit 11 having a microcomputer configuration mainly consisting of an arithmetic unit 12 and a memory 13. On the input side of this arithmetic unit 11, a mileage sensor 14 and a A current position detection circuit 16 that detects the current position based on each output of the direction sensor 15
, a setting device 17 for inputting the current position and destination, a map data storage device 18, a return switch 21, and a return switch 23 are 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. , Shikoku, and Iyo are further divided into multiple regions, and the road map information for each region is divided step by step from higher classifications such as national highways to lower classifications such as prefectural roads and city roads to create route map data. It is said that

The storage area in the storage device 18 is divided into a plurality of blocks, and each block area corresponds to the contents of each division 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 roughly divided into an area specific to the intersection and an adjacent intersection area.

The unique area stores intersection type information, XY coordinate axis information, and intersection name information, as well as each adjacent intersection area.
(2) stores intersection number information, en route road number information, direction information, and distance information.

Next, the operation of the vehicle route guidance system according to this embodiment will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 shows the processing flow (step 1
01 to 107), and a process flow (steps 201 to 400) related to route guidance along the set travel route, display of the travel trajectory, and correction of the current position.

When setting a travel route, when the current location and destination are set by the setting device 17 (step 101), a process for selecting a departure intersection and a destination intersection is started (step 102).

That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, which is the main part of the present invention, first, based on the road map data (see FIG. 3), the center of the destination area including the destination is set as a temporary destination; The closest registered intersection is searched as the target intersection (step 501).

Next, the centers of the departure area and the destination area, which have a size within a predetermined range specified by the setting operation of the setting device 17, are respectively set to the temporary current position (coordinates XS, Ys) and destination coordinates (Xd, After setting the performance as Yd), based on the coordinates of this temporary current location and destination, create an (x, y) area near the current location that satisfies 1'1/ (Yd-YS)>X (Xd-XS). This (X.

y) Extract all registered intersections existing in the area (shaded area in FIG. 6) (step 502).

Then, among the registered intersections extracted in step (502), registered intersections a to d that have names, that is, route guidance is available, are selected as starting intersection candidates.Step 5
03) Among the selected registered intersections, four registered intersections near the current location are displayed on the display device 10 in a manner superimposed on a map as shown in FIG. 7 (Step 504). Also, at this time,
Numbers ■ to ■ are assigned to each intersection position, and the name is displayed at the bottom of the screen.

At the same time, the coordinates (XS, YS) are the starting point, and the coordinates (Xd,
-(Xs-Xd)2+ <Ys-Yd) Display on the screen (step 505).

Therefore, the user, referring to the arrow indicating the destination direction,
The optimal starting intersection can be immediately selected from among the four starting intersection candidates.

In other words, if there is an intersection that you are familiar with among the four intersections displayed on the screen, you can select that intersection as the starting intersection. A nearby intersection etc. can be selected as appropriate.

Note that in this example, only intersections that are within a predetermined area on the destination side when viewed from the current location are extracted.
There is no risk of selecting an intersection on the opposite side of the destination based on the current location data, but if you simply want to display intersections within a predetermined area centered on the current location along with the current location, you can use this type of arrow display. , it is possible to prevent selecting an intersection in the opposite direction to the destination.

When the user selects the starting intersection (step 506), the process proceeds to step (103) to search for the shortest route connecting the starting intersection and the destination intersection.

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 graphic ( Step 104
to 107).

In this state, when the start switch is operated (
Step 107 (Yes), the process proceeds to step (201) and subsequent steps, and the vehicle is guided along the set route.

That is, in step (201>) the coordinates (
XS, YS) are the calculation initial values of calculation device 2 (XO, YO)
is set as .

After setting, each time an interrupt occurs every time a certain traveling distance of 15ΔD is generated 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 traveling point are calculated one after another, and the calculated coordinates are The position is supplied to the buffer 7 memory and plotted (step 202, 400>).

Except when the interruption is due to an interruption, the intersection number two places ahead on the guidance route is read based on the most recently passed intersection, and the section distance D to the next intersection and the position of the next intersection are also read from the map data storage device 18. Read the coordinates (Xn, Yn), the direction of entry and direction of exit to the next intersection (steps 203, 2
04).

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

and error zones are calculated (step 205), and the travel trajectory plotted in the map and buffer 1 memory is displayed on the display device 20 via the display storage device 19 (step 2
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. 8, in this example, there is a first intersection 82 at a distance D1 from the starting intersection 81, and a second intersection 82 is located a distance D2 from the first intersection 82.
Suppose there is an intersection 83.

In this case, when going straight through the first intersection 82, the first
The test date A84 determined with the intersection 82 as the center will be used, and when turning left or right at the same first intersection 82, the test date 885, which is concentric, will be used.

Also, the intersection 83 of the rear cylinder 2 that has gone straight through the first intersection 82
When making a left turn, the test date B86 determined with intersection 83 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 87 including the intersection is defined as shown in the figure.

However, test date A = distance between intersections DX predetermined coefficient α,
Test date B = distance between intersections DX predetermined coefficient β,
β is determined by the maximum error ratio between the direction sensor and the travel distance sensor, and 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, 208).

If it is not the target intersection, check whether to go straight at the next intersection or turn instead of going straight (step 2).
09).

When the vehicle is going straight through the next intersection, the flag FLG that detects that the vehicle has entered the intersection on inspection date A is set to “
After resetting to 011 (step 210), intersection search processing when going straight based on test date A (steps 211 to 2
14) and the intersection passing process (step 215) to determine the current position (X).

Y) and at the same time clear the cumulative distance ΔD to O (step 216). Thereafter, the next intersection is replaced as the intersection to pass through, and the guidance intersection is advanced by one (step 217>, and the process returns to step (203)).

Note that 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 traveling straight is performed. (steps 218 to 220), and returns to step (203>) via step (2'17).

If there has been no intrusion on test date A (step 218)
"O"), it is checked whether the own vehicle exists within the error zone, and if it is within the error zone (Yes at step 221), a comment is displayed as "route error" on the display device 20 (step 222). ).

If it is outside the error zone and the clear key (not shown) provided in the setting device 17 is on, it means that there is some kind of mistake and vehicle guidance cannot be executed, so the process returns to step (101) and returns to the beginning. Start over (step 20)
3). Further, if the clear key remains off, the process returns to step (210>) and repeats the operation when traveling straight.

On the other hand, when the own vehicle turns at the next intersection (
Step 209 (No), when the own vehicle enters within inspection date B (Step 301, No), the shape of the next intersection is displayed with the intersection passed as the front (Step 302).

Then, based on the test date B, the intersection search process (steps 303 to 309) at the time of turning and the intersection passing process (step 310) are performed to correct the current position (X, Y>, and at the same time calculate the cumulative distance ΔD. After clearing to O (step 311), step (217> and then step (203)
).

Note that if the own vehicle has not entered inspection date B (step 301, negative), check whether the vehicle is within the error zone (step 313), and if it is within the error zone (step 313, affirmative), the display device 20, a "route error" screen 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). If the clear key remains off (No in step 314), the process returns to step (301) and the bending operation is repeated.

Also, during intersection search processing when making a turn (step 303).
~309), if it deviates from the test circle B, (step 3
12>, a "route error" screen is displayed on the display device 20 (step 222).

As described above, in this embodiment, a plurality of navigable intersections existing within a predetermined area near the current location and close to the destination are displayed on the display in a manner superimposed on the map. A guidance display is displayed, making it easy to select an intersection that is suitable as a departure intersection and has guidance.

When displaying such guidance, an arrow whose length is normalized using a predetermined formula from a line segment connecting the temporary coordinates of the current location and the temporary coordinates of the destination is pointed in the direction of the destination. Since the information is displayed on the same screen, it is possible to instantly select the optimal departure intersection, and additional considerations can be made regarding the distance to the destination based on the length of the arrow. .

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the description of the embodiments above, when the device of the present invention is used, even a person who is unfamiliar with geography will not have any hesitation in selecting a starting intersection. Even if the destination point does not fall within the map range on the screen, that is, even if the destination point exists in a remote location, there is no possibility that an intersection far from the destination point will be determined as the starting intersection.

[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. A diagram showing an example, FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart of the vehicle route guidance device, FIG. 5 is a partial detailed flowchart of the processing flowchart of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 explains the processing principle of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the display status of the display device, and FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the principle of a part of the route guidance process in FIG. 4. 1... Image display 2... Symbol mark 3... Road map

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) When current location information and destination information are given, a plurality of navigable intersections existing within a predetermined area near the given current location are displayed as guidance on an image display in a manner superimposed on a road map; A route guidance device for a vehicle that selects one of them as a departure intersection; When displaying the guidance, a symbol mark indicating the direction of a given destination is displayed on the screen of the image display. route guidance device.