KR0175135B1 - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

In response to a driver's request, a navigation apparatus capable of providing a variety of easy-to-understand guide information in advance regarding a necessary point has been sought.

According to the information transmitted from the map information storage means for storing the map information and from the current position detection means for specifying the current position of the vehicle, the map information search means must guide not only the current position of the vehicle but also the vehicle in front of the vehicle. The target point information is also detected by generating a point to be guided, and the guide information processing means generates guide information from the guide point information. Further, the guide target point information display apparatus generates outline guide information according to the guide target point information and displays it on the display means.

Description

Navigation device

1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a main part of the overall configuration of map information in the navigation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a network map showing a road network in the navigation apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams showing the details of map information in the navigation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

6A and 6B are road intersection point maps showing road intersection points displayed by the navigation apparatus according to the second and third embodiments of the present invention, respectively.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of road intersection point data for displaying an intersection map shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

8 is an explanatory diagram of a map normally displayed by the navigation device of the first embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a flowchart showing part of the operation of the navigation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

11 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between an input code and an output voice in the audio output means of the navigation apparatus of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing processing in the case of outputting voice guidance in the navigation apparatus of Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing part of the operation of the navigation apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing road intersection point data intermediately saved in the navigation apparatus of Embodiment 4 of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of the navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a road intersection point map displayed by the navigation apparatus of Embodiment 4 of the present invention; FIG.

18 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a navigation apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

19 is a block diagram showing a part of the operation of the navigation apparatus of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a display example diagram displayed on a screen of a navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention as shown in FIG.

21 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of the navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram of display example displayed on a screen of a navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention as shown in FIG.

23 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a navigation device according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

24 is a block diagram showing another system configuration of the navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

25 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of the navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention shown in FIG. 23 and FIG.

FIG. 26 is a display example diagram displayed on a screen of a navigation apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 23 and 24;

Fig. 27 is a display example diagram of displaying on a screen of a navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a diagram of another display example displayed on a screen of a navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention; FIG.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

1: Map information storage means 2: Current location detection means

3: map information search means 4: guide information processing means

5: input means 7: drawing means

8: route setting means 9: voice output means

10: guide point information display device (guide point information display means)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a navigation device for generating guidance information for a destination while driving a car or a vehicle by using both a voice method and a screen display, or by providing either method to a driver. The present invention relates to a navigation device that provides the driver with guidance information about the destination at the driver's request.

In the conventional navigation apparatus, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 60-202307, when detecting that the vehicle has entered a specific range of the intersection, the navigation direction of the vehicle at the intersection is voiced or voiced and visualized. It is to inform the driver by a sign.

Since the conventional navigation device is configured as described above, the guide information is notified regardless of the driver's intention, and thus it is not possible to obtain the guide information when the driver needs it.

For example, if the car did not approach the intersection, it could not be provided with the guidance information about the intersection, so that it was impossible to obtain the information in advance to the destination and drive flexibly.

However, in order to solve such a problem, if the guidance information is provided at a predetermined distance or at a predetermined time, the driver may not be required, but may listen to the guidance information and give annoying information.

That is, the conventional apparatus provides guidance information irrespective of the driver's intention, and therefore, there is an irrationality that the driver must wait for guidance from the system even if the driver needs the guidance information.

Another conventional navigation device that solves the above-mentioned problems is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 99678/93 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-99678), which is voiced in response to the driver's operation when needed by the driver. It is configured to notify the guide information along a certain path.

However, since the amount of information that can be displayed by voice is relatively small, it cannot be said that the navigation device of the related art can always be provided exactly the guidance information desired by the driver.

For example, at a point where there are roads crossing at an angle rather than at an intersection, or when there are a plurality of accessible roads in the same direction, the driver may be confused in deciding which road to enter even if the user notices by turning right or left by voice. There was this.

In addition to what the driver wants, there are various items to help the driver's driving, as well as the left black turns to the right, for example, the name of the point or the presence of facilities, the route name and route number of the road to be suppressed.

As a result, there was also a problem that it is not enough to supply the guidance information only by voice at the request of the driver.

It is an object of the present invention to obtain a navigation device capable of generating and outputting guide information in response to a driver's request, in consideration of various drawbacks of the conventional navigation device described above.

Another aspect of the present invention is to obtain a navigation device that can generate and provide guidance information that is easy to understand and recognize to a driver, and can reduce the occurrence of misreads of the driver. Purpose.

Although the navigation device can provide various types of guide information items, it is also desirable to obtain a navigation device capable of reducing the memory array of the navigation device in which the guide information items are stored as map information. One purpose.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the navigation apparatus detects a map information storage means for storing map information, a GPB (Global Positioning System) signal, a gyroscope signal, a speed pulse signal, and the like. Current position detecting means for specifying the position of the subject vehicle on the information, map information detecting means for detecting a point to be guided by searching the map information stored in the map information storage means from the current position of the subject vehicle, and the map Guide information processing means for processing the map information stored in the information storage means and creating guide information of a point to be guided, display means for displaying guide information of the point to be guided, and the guide in response to a driver's request. It is provided with an input means for inputting various inputs including an input for displaying information.

As described above, according to the first invention of the present invention, the navigation apparatus searches for points to be guided from map information stored in the map information storage means based on the current position of the vehicle in which the apparatus is installed. The input means processes the map information stored in the map information storage means for displaying the guide information in response to the driver's request, thereby generating guide information on the point to be guided.

As a result, the navigation device may display guide information on a previously requested point in addition to guide information on the current position of the vehicle.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a navigation apparatus includes a route setting means for determining a driving route to a destination input by an input means, and a route determined by the route setting means from map information stored in the map information storage means. It consists of a map information search means for searching the guide information about the point to be guided along.

As described above, in the navigation apparatus according to the second invention of the present invention, the map information search means searches for guide information about a point to be guided along a path determined by the route setting means from the map information stored in the map information storage means. Thus, guide information about a point to be guided on the display device is generated in response to the driver's request input by the input means.

As a result, the navigation device can display guide information about the requested point along the route in addition to the guide information about the current position of the vehicle.

According to the third invention of the present invention, the navigation device is provided with a device for displaying the guide information on the point to be guided, and the vehicle provided with the navigation device by the guide information related to the road intersection is the current route. You will meet this intersection when driving along the road.

As described above, the navigation device according to the third invention of the present invention is a vehicle equipped with a navigation device when the vehicle travels along the current path from the map information stored in the map information storage means based on the current position of the vehicle. Points to be guided by retrieving the point to be guided related to the intersection of roads that are encountered and processing the map information stored in the map information storage means to display the guide information on the display means in response to a driver's request from the input means. Generate guide information about.

As a result, the navigation device can display guide information on the road intersection as a previously requested point in addition to the guide information on the current position of the vehicle.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the navigation apparatus is a guide for performing a process of outputting voice output means for output guide information by voice as voice guide information, and at the same time, outputting guide information for displaying the display guide information on the display means. It consists of information processing means.

As described above, in the navigation apparatus according to the fourth invention, since the voice guidance information related to the display guide information is simultaneously output together with the display guide information to the voice output means, that is, the guide information can be displayed in two forms. And one is visual information and the other is audible information according to the contents of the guide information.

In the navigation apparatus according to the sixth invention of the present invention, at least by using a link and a node, the road information is represented by the guide information processing means based on network information as guide information displayed on the display means. There is provided a navigation device for generating and providing map information using the generated graph information.

As described above, the navigation apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention generates and describes map information as network information indicating a relationship between roads connected to each other by at least links and nodes on display means.

As a result, the amount of information to be stored in the map information storage means can be reduced, and the graph information generated according to the network is displayed on the display means as guide information.

This makes it easy for the driver to instantly recognize the complex guide information and the relationship between them, and can reduce misreads that occur when the driver recognizes the generated guide information.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a navigation apparatus includes a guide information item generated by a means for generating and displaying guide information items from a current position of a vehicle to a target destination point or near a target destination point. And destination means information display means for displaying.

As described above, the navigation apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention provides a destination guide information means for generating a guide information item from a current position of a vehicle to or near a destination point and providing it to the display means 6. Further, even when the driver does not need detailed guide information, the guide information items are recognized in a rough and effective manner such as the distance to the destination point, the orientation to the destination point, the driving direction of the driving vehicle, or the vicinity of the destination point. can do.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Now, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example 1

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system of a navigation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, 1 is a map information storage means for storing map information, specifically, a CD on which map data as map information is recorded. A large amount of data such as a compact disk read only memory (ROM) and a CD-ROM drive for reading data therefrom, a hard disk device, a photo magnetic disk device, or an IC card incorporating a semiconductor memory Are various recording media capable of recording.

2 is a current position detecting means, which receives a radio wave signal from at least a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite and calculates the vehicle's moving distance calculated from the latitude and longitude, vehicle speed, and tire revolutions calculated according to the received radio wave signal. And vibrating gyroscopes, which have a function of obtaining the current position coordinates of the vehicle according to the traveling distance calculated from the angular velocity sensor or the magnetic sensor such as the optical fiber gyroscope and the vehicle orientation. .

In addition, in order to improve the reliability, map matching means for determining the most reliable point on the map data by comparing the individual map data stored in the map information storage means 1 with the obtained position coordinates of the vehicle ( The current position detecting means 2 including Map Matching Means) can also be adopted.

These are all known techniques, and any of the suspension position detecting means 2 is not related to the subject matter of the present invention.

3 is a map information search means for searching a point guided by map information.

4 generates guidance information from the output of the map information detecting means 3 and the information stored in the map information storing means 1, and responds to the display means 6 in response to a driver's request input from the input means 5; Guide information processing means for displaying.

A hard key switch that can be used as the input means 5 or a touch panel switch formed integrally with the display means 6 can be used. By changing the input voice to a signal equivalent to that of an electric signal, an effect equivalent to that of a hard key switch can be obtained.

As the display means 6, there is an image display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray-Tube) device or a liquid crystal display (LCD), which is usually used as a display terminal of a navigation device. Meet the requirements of

Details of the map information stored in the map information storage means 1 will be described here for the detailed description of the operation of the map information search means 3 and the guide information processing means 4.

2 is a block diagram showing main parts of map information.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes management information indicating the existence of individual information constituting the map information, and is essential information when the map information retrieval means 3 or the guide information processing means 4 described later accesses the individual map information. .

However, since this management information does not directly contribute to the effect of the present invention and is usually present when constructing this kind of database, the details are not described here, and the individual information is accessed even in subsequent operations. The process of using this management information when doing so will be omitted.

12 is a link data group describing information on a road intercept of a road network, and 13 is a node data group describing information about a node of a road network.

14 is an intersection map data group, which will be described later.

3 is an example of a road network illustrating the operation of the present invention.

N1, N2, and the like are intersection points, and are represented as nodes in the above-described map information.

L1, L2, L3 and the like represent road intercepts between intersections, and are represented by links in the above-described map information.

20 shows the position of the motor vehicle provided with the navigation device.

4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams showing the details of link data and node data.

As shown in FIG. 4A, one link data includes node numbers 15a of nodes forming both ends thereof, and coordinates of interpolated points representing road shapes in polygonal lines. (15b), road type (15d) indicating road management divisions such as link length (15c), national road or prefsctural road, management number of road, proper name (15e), the road Proceeding along, it consists of a destination name 15f which is a place name indicating where to reach.

In addition, link type data indicating whether the link is a main track or side track, width data indicating the width of a road or the number of available lanes, and traffic restriction data such as a one-way are required. You may remember.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the other node data includes the position coordinates 15g of the node, the number of links 15h connected to the node, the link number 15i of each link, and the link that the link connects to the node. Pointer of the intersection map data unique to the present embodiment other than the connection angle 15j, the node type 15k indicating whether the node is an intersection point or a branch point, the name of the intersection point indicated by the node (15m), and the like ( 15n).

The data of the intersection map data group 14 is image data expressing the detailed shape of the intersection corresponding to the node or the facilities around it in the form of figure information, and the pointer of the intersection map data 15n is a node in the intersection map data group. Indicates the point of the intersection map data corresponding to.

How the map information retrieval means 3 which selects a point to be guided from such map information selects a point will be described using a flowchart in FIG.

In the following embodiments, a process for realizing a function of selecting an intersection point whether a main road (here, a national road) intersects in front of a vehicle equipped with a navigation device or if there is no straight road is described.

First, the map information detecting means 3 obtains the link number in which the car position exists from the current position detecting means 2, and checks whether it is updated by comparing with the link number of the previous vehicle position (step ST100). .

If it is not updated, it waits for it to change, and if it is updated, the map information detecting means 3 obtains the link number and forward direction in which the own vehicle exists from the current position detecting means 2 (step ST101).

Next, the map information detecting means 3 sets the obtained link as one entry link and obtains node data at the end of the entry link on the traveling direction side of the vehicle (step ST102).

Then, access link data other than the entry link is obtained from the access link number described in the node data, and road types of each link are obtained to check whether a link of a national road exists in the direction intersecting with the entry link (step ST103). .

If there is a link of the national road, the node is output to the guide information processing means 4 as the guide target point (step ST108).

If the national road does not exist, the map information retrieval means 3 checks whether there is a link which can be outflowed within a predetermined angle from the entry direction among the links other than the entry link connected to the node (step ST104).

If there is no link that can be leaked within a predetermined angle, the map information retrieval means 3 outputs this node as a guide target point because there is no road that can go straight, so that the driver must perform some driving operation. Step ST108).

If there is a link that can be leaked, the map information detecting means 3 determines this link as an entry link to be inspected next (step ST105).

If the distance accumulated from the current position to the node at the end of the entry link exceeds the predetermined distance range (step ST106), the map information search means 3 performs a search because the vehicle has reached the upper limit of the search distance. Then, it outputs that there is no guide target point (step ST107).

If the car does not reach the upper limit of the search distance, the map information search means 3 returns to step ST102 and repeats the link search in front of the car position.

When the map information retrieval means 3 finishes step ST107 or step ST108, the process returns to step ST100 to wait for the update of the link at the vehicle position.

In step ST108, in addition to the node number of the guide target point, the angle of entry from the vehicle position to the node, the entry link number, the distance from the node, etc. are also output as necessary. It is described as being output to the processing means 4).

The entry angle can be obtained from the link connection angle existing in the link data, and the distance to the node can be obtained by integrating the link length in the link data.

Next, how the guide information processing means 4 displays the guide information on the display means 6 for the guide target point determined by the map information retrieval means 3 is explained.

In this explanation, the case where the enlarged map of the intersection point as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed as the display means 6 is demonstrated as an example.

In FIGS. 6A and 6B, reference numeral 30 denotes an outline of a road, 31 to 34 denote a road center line drawn on a road intercept, referred to as a link determined by road network data shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. A road number mark, 36 is a symbol representing a roadside facility, 37 is a mark indicating a direction of entry of a vehicle equipped with a navigation device, and 38 is a display mark indicating that guideable information exists in the system.

FIG. 7 shows the specific contents of the intersection map data group 14 shown in FIG. 2, and includes picture drawing information for drawing an enlarged view of the intersection point shown in FIG. have.

The road outline data 14a is a solid line data group for drawing the road outline 30.

The road center line data 14b is a dotted line data group for drawing the road center lines 31 to 34, and a link number corresponding to the road intercept is recorded in pairs.

The symbol data 14c has a font pattern for drawing the road number mark 36 or the facility symbol 36 and display center coordinate data indicating the position where the symbol data is drawn.

8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of operation as a system of a navigation apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

The display means 6 displays a map around the vehicle with the navigation device together with the vehicle location mark 39.

The vehicle location mark 39 and the background map are drawn by the map information stored in the map information storage means 1 or the drawing means 7 shown in FIG. 1 using the current position coordinates detected by the current position detection means 2. This is achieved by sending a video signal to the frame memory and to the display means 6 as a video signal.

It is possible to display the guide information in response to the driver's operation by the input means 5 only when the display mark 38 indicating that the guideable information exists in the system is displayed.

The display mark 38 is merely a mark, and the input means 5 may be configured with a hard key switch separately installed, and a touch panel input device formed integrally with the display means 6. It may be configured to start to provide the guide information by contacting the portion of the display mark 38 using "

9 shows the flow of the processing of the guide information processing means 4.

First, the guide information processing means 4 obtains guide target point information from the map information search means 3 (step ST200).

The guide point information is not necessarily present as indicated in step ST107 of FIG. 5, so the existence thereof is checked (step ST201).

If not present, the process proceeds to step ST211.

If there is an important point to be guided, the guide information processing means 4 obtains a pointer (denoted by 15n of the fourth (B)) of the intersection map data described in the node data using the node number as a key ( Step ST202).

Then, the guide information processing means 4 checks whether the effective space is set in the pointer 15n of the intersection map data (step ST203). If the valid pointer value is set, the guide information processing means 4 maps to the effective pointer value. The intersection map data corresponding to the guide target point is obtained from the intersection map data group 14 stored in the information storage means 1, and is saved in the memory of the guidance information processing means 4 (step ST204).

If no valid pointer value has been set, the process proceeds to step ST211 because there is no corresponding intersection point map data.

After obtaining the intersection map data, the guide information processing means 4 instructs the drawing means 7 to draw the guide mark 38, and enters a state waiting for a driver request from the input means 5 (step ST206). ).

After receiving the driver's request from the input means 5, the guide information processing means 4 sends the entry link number and the entering angle received from the intersection map data and the map information retrieval means 3 to the drawing means 7, whether it is saving. By the transfer, the drawing means 7 starts drawing the intersection map, and displays it on the display means 6 (step ST207).

As shown in Fig. 7, the drawing of the intersection map is performed by converting the rotational coordinates according to the angle of entering the road outline data 14a, the road center line data 14b, the symbol data 14c, etc. sequentially into the intersection. 7) Execute by expanding to frame memory.

The rotation coordinate transformation is a procedure of changing the entry direction to the intersection point into the upper part in the data order of the figure information arranged in accordance with the predetermined reference coordinate system.

After completing the creation of the intersection map, the guide information processing means 4 obtains the road center line data corresponding to the entry link by checking the corresponding rung number recorded in the form combined with the road center line data.

And the guide information processing means 4 draws the arrow 37 which shows the entrance direction shown in FIG. 6A on the road center line.

Since the intersection map drawn after a certain time has elapsed is displayed on the display means 6 (step ST208), the guide information processing means 4 sends a command to the drawing means 7 to erase the intersection map (step ST209). .

Upon receiving this command, the drawing means 7 erases the intersection map displayed so far and displays the map screen as shown in FIG. 8 again.

Here, the guide information processing means 4 again checks the guide target intersection point (step ST210).

If the intersection point is not changing, the process returns to the waiting state for the request in step ST206.

If there is no request in step ST206, the guide information processing means 4 instructs to proceed to step ST210 to check only if there is a change in the guide target intersection point while the vehicle moves.

When the guide target intersection point changes in step ST210, a command is sent to the drawing means 7 to erase the display mark guide 38 on the display means 6 shown in FIG. 8, and step ST200 Return to.

After a predetermined time has elapsed automatically (steps ST208 and ST209), the Net of Road Intersection displayed on the display means of Fig. 6A is erased, but in addition to this function, other functions are added to the guide information processing means 4. Can be easily added to

For example, the new touch panel switch return 55 shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 6B is displayed as an instructing means for erasing the intersection point network displayed on the indicator means 6 of FIG. 6B.

In this case, when the driver touches this new touch panel switch return 55 displayed on the display means 6, the guide information processing means 4 causes the display means 6 to erase the intersection network from the display means. Send this command).

The display means 6 then displays the map taught in FIG. 8 and returns to step ST210.

Example 2

The navigation apparatus of Embodiment 2 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, has routing means 8 in addition to the components of FIG.

The route setting means 8 may be configured to select road links to the destination one by one using the input means 5, or may be configured to allow the driver to set only the destination point using the input means 5, and The optimal path from the position of may be calculated and presented by the system.

There are a number of well-known techniques such as the Dijkstra method for calculating the path of the lightest path, and the algorithm of well-researched algorithms of graph search can be applied, and the method of calculating the path is the present invention. The detailed description is omitted since it is not a subject.

In the road network as shown in FIG. 3, route data calculated as a link sequence continuous from a starting point (current point) to a destination point is introduced into the map information retrieval means 3, and the intersection of the left and right turns ahead along the route For example, the following description will be given.

In this embodiment, this action is realized only when the vehicle position exists on the route set by the route setting means 8.

The method of detecting the guide object intersection point is substantially the same as the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, and the following points are different.

In other words, the step ST103 is deleted and the processing contents of the step ST104 are changed to, "Are there any path links in which the car can flow out within a predetermined angle in the front of the entry direction among links other than the entry link connected to the node?" The point where the path is bent by a predetermined angle or more is output as the guide target point in step ST104.

The processing of the guide information processing means 4 after step ST104 is the same as the operation of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9 or in the same procedure as the process of drawing the arrow 37 during the processing of step ST207. Road center line data corresponding to the route link entering the intersection and the route link flowing out from the intersection may be obtained, and the route selected by the vehicle may be highlighted on the line represented by the route center line data, for example, by drawing a thick solid line. have.

Example 3

The navigation apparatus of the third embodiment of the present invention adds the audio output means 9 to the configuration of the second embodiment as shown in the block diagram showing the system configuration of FIG.

Here, the voice output means (9) is a mode for converting into a voice signal while referring to a phonetic dictionary having a phonetic code string (音韻 符號 列, Phonemic cod train) as shown in the regular voice calling method, The recorded voice is digitized by digital data by PCM method (Pulse Code Modulation Method) or ADPCM method (Adaptise Differential Pulse Code Modulation Method), and then divided into cut-offs of sentences and stored in internal memory. And a mode of acquiring a voice signal by sequentially reading the voice data corresponding to the sentence code of a given sentence and performing D / A (Digital / Analon) conversion, and configuring a buffer random access memory (RAM) of the voice output means 9. Mode, the PCM / ADPCM audio data stored together in the map information storage means (1) is temporarily read from the buffer RAM corresponding to the clause code of a sentence given from the outside. Dokdoen data can be considered a mode to be transmitted to the D / A converter for converting the audio signal.

Here, a system is provided for reproducing an audio signal corresponding to a clause code of a sentence given from the outside in accordance with PCM / ADPCM audio data on cutting of a sentence stored in the audio output means 9, and the operation of the system will be described below. .

FIG. 12 shows the contents of the speech waveform generated when the clause code of the sentence assigned to each clause of the sentence and the clause code of the sentence are input in the speech output means 9.

This content is set in consideration of guiding the distance from the position of the subject vehicle to the front guide point and the direction to proceed at the point.

The method of detecting the guide point during operation of the system is the same as described in the second embodiment.

The processing in the following guide information processing means 4 is the same as that in the first embodiment and the second embodiment until step ST207 shown in FIG.

After the processing of step ST207, and before the processing of step ST208, the present embodiment executes the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, left and right rotation at the guide target point on the route is determined (step ST271).

This determination can be carried out by obtaining an entry link and an exit route link connecting to the node of the guide point from the route data, and the outflow angle of the route with respect to the entry direction to the node is linked to the node recorded in the map information. It is obtained by calculating from the connection angle.

That is, if the outflow angle is changing clockwise with respect to the entry direction, it is "right", and if it is changing counterclockwise, it is "left".

Originally, the guide target point selects a node whose path is bent by a predetermined angle or more, so that the above determination can give a result which is roughly inconsistent with the driver's sense.

Next, the distance from the vehicle position to the guide target point is obtained (step ST272).

When the map information retrieving means 3 detects the guide target point, this distance may be obtained and transferred to the guide information processing means 4 by using the transmitted value.

If there is no distance information transmitted from the map information retrieval means 3, a link number in which the vehicle exists from the current position detecting means 2 is obtained, and the link information of the vehicle existing in the link entering the guide target point is obtained from the map information. The length of each link may be integrated by obtaining the link length of each link constituting the link string.

After the result of determining the distance to the guide point and the result of the left-right rotation is obtained, a section code string of sentences of the guide message is generated (step ST273).

As shown in the explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the sentence code and the voice shown in FIG. 12, the first two digits of the sentence codes of the sentence of four digits are 1 for distance messages, and 2 for messages indicating the direction of travel. to be.

Therefore, the distance is expressed in km and the first two digits of the code are set as the clause code of the first sentence.

The clause code of the second sentence is set as 201 or 202 depending on the determination result in the left-right rotation direction.

For example, if a voice message of "rotating approximately 2km ahead and left" is required, a sentence code sequence of sentences consisting of two sentence codes 102 and 202 is generated.

The section code string of the obtained sentence is transferred to the audio output means 9 in this order (step ST274).

When the audio output means 9 receives this code string, it carries out D / A conversion of the audio waveform data corresponding to the relationship shown in Fig. 12 and outputs it as a voice signal.

As a result, the navigation system displays on the road intersection point map as shown in Fig. 6a in response to a request from the driver, and the driver is notified of the voice guidance of " turning approximately 2km forward leftward ".

Example 4

In the above-described embodiments, the intersection point map data is prepared in advance as a set of graphic information and stored in the map information storage means 1 for guidance.

However, this system has a problem that it may be assumed that the guidance map of the point may not be displayed even though it is selected as the guide point as shown in step ST203 of FIG.

There is a problem that it is difficult to prepare the intersection map for all nodes in terms of the amount of work and data amount.

In the fourth embodiment, to solve this problem, a method of directly generating an intersection map from road network data is provided.

The system configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment shown in the tenth degree.

Of course, it is good also as a structure of FIG. 11 which has the audio output means 9. As shown in FIG.

The operation of the map information retrieving means 3 of this embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

First, the route data set by the route setting means 8 is received, and the first link of the link string constituting the route is a link to be inspected (step ST300).

Next, node data of the end point of the destination side of the link to be inspected is obtained from the map information (step ST301).

If the obtained node is the destination node which is the end point of the path, the process ends and the process proceeds to {step ST302}, otherwise step ST303.

In step ST303, the next path link (outflow path link) connected to the link to be checked through the obtained node is obtained from the path data.

Next, the relative angle between the link to be inspected and the outgoing path link is calculated by referring to the connection link angle described in the obtained node data, and it is checked whether or not the calculated angle is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle (step ST304).

If this exceeds a predetermined angle, the map data retrieval means 3 determines the node of the point to be guided, and maps the node data and all the link data connected to the node to the map information stored in the map information storage means 1. It reads with reference, and it saves to the map information search means 3 (step ST306).

If the angle formed between the link to be inspected and the outflow path link in step ST304 is less than or equal to the predetermined value, the map information retrieving means 3 skips step ST306 and executes the processing of step ST306.

In step ST306, the outflow path link is set again as the link to be inspected, and the flow returns to step ST301 to repeat the same processing as above.

15 shows an example of the guide object intersection data group created by the above method.

When the map information retrieval means 3 receives the route link data from the route setting means 8, a search is performed from this range to the destination. Therefore, at the stage of the processing of FIG. Node data and connection link data for all guided intersection points leading to the destination are obtained in the form of FIG.

After the processing of FIG. 14 is completed, if the vehicle position is displayed on the route, the guidance information generated in the navigation device which can be provided to the driver by displaying it on the normal map display screen as shown in FIG. An indication mark 38 is displayed to inform the driver that guidance is possible.

When a request from the driver is input to the navigation apparatus in the manner of the input means 5 while the guidance is enabled, the guide information processing means 4 executes the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

According to the flowchart of FIG. 16, first, the current position link number in which the vehicle position exists from the current position search means 2 is obtained (step ST400).

Next, the guide information processing means 4 searches the nodes on the path link sequentially from the current position link toward the destination side from the path link data stored in the map information retrieval means 3, and then the nodes on the path link and the guidance target. The intersection point data is compared to detect the next guiding target intersection point in front of the vehicle position (step ST401).

The guide information processing means 4 obtains the detected intersection data of the guide target intersection points from the map information retrieving means 3, and uses this to generate the intersection map drawing data of the guide target intersection points (step ST402).

Various intersection maps may be generated, but the intersection map as shown in FIG. 17 will be described here as an example.

In the figure, numerals 40 to 43 are solid lines having rectangles or widths representing road links connecting to intersections.

Number 44 is a circle representing an intersection point.

Number 45 is a character string indicating the name of the intersection.

Reference numerals 46 and 47 are character strings indicating destination names which are names of points where the vehicle arrives when the vehicle proceeds in a predetermined direction.

Number 48 is a path mark indicating the direction of travel at the intersection.

First, the guide information processing means 4 obtains the link connection angle of the link to connect from the node data in the intersection data, and draws straight lines 40 to 43 having a width in the connection angle direction with the center of the display surface as the origin.

As the connection angle of each road, the direction of the path link into which the vehicle enters the intersection is set vertically, and the other link is drawn according to the relative angle from the direction of the entry link.

Of course, depending on the application, for example, the north may be set to the upper direction of the screen.

The straight line drawing angle may use the link connection angle in the node data as it is, or may be quantized to 8 or 16 directions for shaping.

Next, a colored circle 44 representing an intersection is drawn at the center of the screen where each road meets.

In the lower part of the display screen, an intersection name 45 is drawn by the node name described in the node data.

If there is a description of the destination name data in the link data, the guide information processing means 4 obtains this data and draws the destination name strings 46 and 47 at the end of a straight line having a width indicating the corresponding link. .

Finally, the guide information processing means 4 draws a straight line having a slightly narrow width from the center of the display screen to the connection angle direction by using the link connection angles of the entry path link and the exit path link to the intersection.

A triangle is drawn at the end of the outflow path link.

This is the path mark 48 at the intersection.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 16, drawing data generated in this manner is transferred from the guide information processing means 4 to the drawing means 7 and displayed on the display means 6 (step ST403).

After a predetermined time has elapsed since the display (step ST404), the drawing data is displayed, and a command is sent to the drawing means 7 to erase the intersection map (step ST405).

Since the fourth embodiment operates as described above, after the map information retrieval means 3 processes the map information, the map information storage means 1 at the timing of requesting the vehicle movement from the current position or the input means 5. There is no reading of the map information, so no waiting time for reading the CD-ROM occurs.

Therefore, a quick response to the request from the input means 5 can be realized.

In addition, in the present embodiment, only the guidance of the guide target intersection point is described at a very close point in front of the vehicle position, but the display of the guide target intersection point at a farther distance can be made in response to the continuous request by the input means 5. Of course it is.

Example 6

18 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of a navigation apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 18, 10 indicates guide information obtained by generating information from the current position of the vehicle to the guide target point according to the guide target point information transmitted from the map information retrieval means 3 to the guide information processing means 4. Is a guide target point information display device 10 (guide target point information display means) for displaying on the display means 6 via the drawing means 7.

As described above, in addition to the system configuration of the fifth embodiment and the first embodiment, the guide information processing means 4 has a guide target point information display device 10, and as a guide information, from the current position of the vehicle to the guide target point. The guidance information point information display apparatus 10 generates the distance from the map information search means 3 and provides the driver with the display means 6.

In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same thing as Example 1 shown in FIG. 1, and duplication description is abbreviate | omitted.

Next, the operation of the navigation device will be described.

19 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation apparatus according to the fifth embodiment.

The method of displaying the guide object point information by the display means 6 is the same as that in the first embodiment shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 except for the following points and the processing of the guide information processing means 4.

That is, in the process of FIG. 19, step ST221 is inserted between step ST205 and ST206 to "display the distance to the guide target point", and the process of step ST221 shown in FIG. Instead, a step (ST222) for executing the process of "erasing the indication of the guiding mark and the distance" is inserted.

The operations of steps ST221 and ST222 are executed by the guide target point information display device 10 in the guide information processing means 4 and the execution result is sent to the display means 6 through the drawing means 7. .

As a result, in step ST221, a process of "displaying the distance to the destination to be guided" is executed, and the execution result is displayed on the display unit 6 as shown in Fig. 20 (51) irrespective of a request from the driver. Is displayed on the screen.

In the figure, a distance of 2 km as a guide information from the current position of the vehicle indicated by the vehicle position mark 39 to the guide target point is displayed on the display mark 38 displaying the guide switch, which is a guide display symbol.

This outline guide information is updated by the guide point information display device 10 with the movement of the vehicle.

In step ST222, the display mark guide and the distance 2km of the distance displayed in step ST206 and step ST221 are erased.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, the guide point information display apparatus 10 calculates the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the guide point as the guide information and gives the driver to the driver through the display means 6. In particular, when the driver does not need the detailed information of the guide point, the driver can obtain the outline guide information of the guide point easily in an easy-to-understand manner without pressing the display mark 38 of the guide.

Example 6

21 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen of the display means 6, and in FIG. As shown in Fig. 21, the step for displaying the direction to the guide target point is displayed, and the direction to the guide target point displayed on the display means 6 (indicated by arrow 52 in Fig. 22) is displayed. Display.

Step ST224 is a step of executing a process of "removing the display of the guide display mark and the direction".

The operation of each other step is the same as that of the flowchart of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG.

As described above, in the sixth embodiment, in addition to the system configuration of the first embodiment, the guide information processing means 4 has a guide object point information display device 10, and the guide object point display device 10 is a schematic guide information. The orientation from the current position of the target to the guide target point is calculated according to the guide target point information transmitted from the map information retrieval means 3 to the guide information processing means 4 and is provided to the driver through the display means 6. .

In addition, since the system configuration of the navigation apparatus according to the sixth embodiment is the same as that of the fifth embodiment, redundant description is omitted here.

Next, the operation will be described.

The outline guide information used in step ST223 is generated by the guide target point display device 10 in the guide information processing means 4, and the generated outline guide information is displayed on the display means (7) through the drawing means (7). 6) are sent to.

As a result, in the operation of step ST223, the arrow 52 (guide information) indicating the orientation of the guide target point from the current position of the car indicated by the car position mark 39 is displayed on the display screen shown in FIG. Is displayed on the mark 38.

The driver can see the direction to the guide point by looking at this arrow 52.

In step ST224, the arrow 52 indicating this orientation and the display mark 38 for guidance are erased from the display screen.

The operation of each other step is the same as the operation of the flowchart showing the operation of the navigation apparatus of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 19, and therefore, redundant description is omitted here.

As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, the guide object point information display apparatus 10 calculates the orientation of the guide object point viewed from the current position of the vehicle as outline guide information and displays it on the display means. When the driver does not need the detailed information of the guide target point, the driver can obtain the guide information of the outline of the guide target destination easily in an easy-to-understand manner without pressing the guide display mark 38.

Example 7

23 and 24 are block diagrams showing the system configuration of the navigation apparatus according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes a guide subject point display device, which is a guide information transmitted from the map information retrieval means 3 to the guide information processing means 4 as a general guide information of the direction in which the vehicle should proceed. It calculates according to the information of the target point, and provides it to the driver through the display means 6.

Thus, the system configuration of the navigation apparatus of the seventh embodiment shown in FIGS. 23 and 24 is applied to the navigation apparatus according to the second and third embodiments shown in FIGS. 18 and 11 and guided as outlined guide information. It is to provide the driver with the driving direction of the vehicle to the target point.

In addition, since the system configuration of the navigation apparatus according to the seventh embodiment is the same as that of the fifth embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment, redundant description is omitted.

Next, the operation will be described.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation apparatus according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen of the display means 6. In FIG. 25, step ST225 is a guide object. A step of displaying a traveling direction mark (guide information) indicating the traveling direction of the vehicle to the point on the display means 6, and step ST226 is displayed on the display means 6 by steps ST205 and ST225. It is a step of performing a process of erasing the display of the mark indication and the direction of travel.

The operation of the other steps is the same as the operation of the flowchart of FIG. 1 in the fifth embodiment.

The progress direction mark 53 as the guide information used in this step ST225 is generated by the guide target point information display apparatus 10 in the guide information processing means 4 and displayed on the display screen by the display means 6. .

Next, the operation of the navigation apparatus of the seventh embodiment will be described.

The guide information used in step ST225 is generated in the guide target point information display apparatus 10 combined with the guide information processing means 4, and the generated guide information is displayed through the drawing means 7 in the display means 6 Is sent to.

As a result, in step ST225, the progress direction mark (arrow) 53 as the guide information is displayed on the display mark guide on the display means 6.

The driver can obtain the direction of travel toward the guidance target point by looking at the progress direction mark (arrow) 53 from the guidance information in a simple and simple form 53.

In step ST226, the progress direction mark arrow 53 and the display mark guide 38 indicating this progress direction are erased from the display screen.

The operation of the other steps is the same as the operation of the flowchart of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 19, and therefore redundant description is omitted here.

As described above, according to the seventh embodiment, the progress direction mark 53 (guide information) going to or near the guiding target point is easy to identify or is simplified and effective by the display means 6 in a simple form (arrow). Since the information is provided to the driver as the guide information, in particular, when the driver does not need the information of the detailed guide target point, the driver does not need to press the display mark guide 38 displayed on the display means 6 so that Outline and effective guidance information is available.

Example 8

27 and 28 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a display screen of a navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention, a display mark 38 indicating a guide switch, an arrow 52 indicating an orientation to a guide target point, and Since the arrow 53 indicating the traveling direction to proceed from the current position of the vehicle to or near the guiding target point is the same as that used in Embodiments 5, 6 and 7, the description thereof is omitted here.

Next, the operation will be described.

The navigation apparatus of the eighth embodiment includes the display 51 of the distance to the guide target point, the arrow 52 indicating the orientation from the car position mark 39 to the guide target point, and the guide target point information display apparatus 10. The telegram of the arrow 53 indicating the traveling direction to be advanced to or near the guide target point of the vehicle generated by the above, or some of these is simultaneously displayed on the display screen of the display means 9 and the display means 6 do.

These guide information items are generated by the guide target point information display apparatus 10 and sent to the display means via the drawing means 7.

As a result, the processing of steps ST205 and ST221, ST205 and ST223, ST205 and ST225 in the flowcharts of FIGS. 19, 21 and 25 is performed. These guide target items are generated by the guide target point information display apparatus 10 and displayed on the display means 6.

These guide information items are deleted from the display means 6 in steps ST222, ST224, and ST226 shown in FIG. 19, 21, and 25. FIG.

As described above, according to the eighth embodiment, the guide information is displayed in the form of an easy or simple form (arrow) for identifying the distance 51 to the guide target point or the orientation 52 to the guide target point (arrow). 6), the driving direction mark 53, which is a destination provided to the driver as the guide information which is rough and effective as the guide information, is a guide information, and thus, when the driver does not need the information about the detailed guide target point, Can be obtained in an easy-to-understand form of outline guide information about the guide target point without the operation of pressing the guide mark 38 of the guide.

According to the first invention of the present invention, a navigation information storage means for storing a map information in a navigation device and a signal such as a GPS signal, a gyroscope signal, a speed pulse signal, and the like to detect a vehicle position (or vehicle position) on the map information. Guidance for processing guide information on the guidance target point by processing the information stored in the map information search means and the map information storage means for searching for a point to be guided from the map information based on the current position detecting means to be specified. It consists of information processing means, display means for displaying guide information on a guide target point, and input means for inputting various inputs including input of guide information in response to a driver's request. In addition, there is an effect that the driver can obtain guidance information about the guide target point when necessary.

According to the second invention of the present invention, a route setting means for determining a driving route to a destination inputted by a navigation device as an input means, and guided according to a route determined by the route setting means from map information stored in the map information storage means. Since the navigation information is configured as a map information search means for searching for guide information on a target point, the navigation device can output guide information of a required point along a route to a destination.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a navigation device detects a map information storage means for storing map information, a signal such as a GPS signal, a gyroscope signal, and a speed pulse signal to detect a location of a vehicle (or vehicle location) on the map information. Current location detecting means for specifying a), map information searching means for searching for a point to be guided from the map information based on the current position, and map information stored in the map information storage means, and the car processes its current route. Guide information processing means for generating guide information about the intersection to be guided by the vehicle when the vehicle passes through the vehicle, display means for displaying guide information about the intersection of the points to be guided, and the driver's request. In response, the navigation device is composed of input means for inputting various inputs including inputs for guide information. In response to a request party has the benefit that is capable of outputting the guidance information regarding the required intersection.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the navigation apparatus comprises voice output means for outputting guide information as voice as voice guide information, and guide information processing means for processing guide information. Since it is configured to provide easy visual information and audio information, the voice output means outputs the voice guide information on the displayed guide information simultaneously with the display. As a result, the driver can understand the guide information through the display means or the voice output means. There is an effect that can be obtained in both easy visual and auditory information.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the navigation device is configured to store map information described as network information indicating a road connection relationship by a link and node of the map information storage means, the navigation device as a result is a map information memory. This has the advantage of suppressing the amount of information to be stored in the device.

According to the sixth invention of the present invention, a navigation apparatus comprises a guide target point information display device for generating guide information from a current position of a vehicle to a target point or a vicinity of a target point and providing the same to the display means 6. When the driver does not need detailed guidance information, it is possible to know the guide information items, such as the distance to the target point, the azimuth to the target point, the driving direction to be made or near the target point. There is.

The embodiments selected by the present invention are described using a special terminology, but such descriptions are for explanation only, and changes or modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims. To say.

Claims (7)

Map information storage means for storing map information, current position detection means for specifying the current position of the car on the map according to the map information, and a map for searching for a guide point from the map information based on the current position of the car Guide information processing means for processing the map information stored in the map information storage means, generating information on the area around the guide target point, and outputting the guide information in response to a driver's request; A drawing means for drawing a map around the current position of the vehicle or the guide information output from the guide information processing stage and a voice output means for outputting the guide information by voice, and the guide information processing stage is adapted to display contents of the drawing means. And outputting voice guidance information related to the guide information to the voice output means in association. The navigation device. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a route setting means for determining a driving route to a destination of the vehicle, wherein the map information search means determines a guide target point along a route determined by the route setting means. Device. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the map information search means determines an intersection as a guide target point that the vehicle makes when the vehicle travels along the current route. The map information stored in the map information storage means is expressed by road network information expressing at least a road connection relationship with a link and a node, and the guide information processing means is a figure in accordance with the road network information as guide information. Navigation device, characterized in that for generating information. The map information retrieving means generates map target intersection map data by obtaining the road connection relationship expressed by the link and node related to the guide target point from the map information stored in the map information storage means, and guide information processing. And means for generating a guide target intersection point map as guide information according to the guide target intersection point map data. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising guide target point information display means for generating schematic guide information related to the current position of the vehicle and around the guide target point according to the information indicating the guide target point from the map information search means. Navigation device characterized in that. 7. The guide point information display means according to claim 6, wherein the guide point information display means generates, as outline guide information, information on a part or all of the distance from the current position of the car to the guide point, the bearing, and the driving direction of the car. Navigation device to do.