WO2007077829A1

WO2007077829A1 - Navigation device and guidance map display method

Info

Publication number: WO2007077829A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/325929
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shunichi Kumagai
Original assignee: Pioneer Corporation
Priority date: 2005-12-28
Filing date: 2006-12-26
Publication date: 2007-07-12

Abstract

A navigation device has a display device mounted, for example, on a vehicle and displaying a map, route guidance information etc. Further, the navigation device has the so-called route search function that searches for a route that is set by the user or is automatically set by other means, and as the result of the search, guidance waypoints are determined on the searched route. Also, the navigation device determines a display region determined based on the current position, displaying on the display screen of the display device a map of the place around the current position, and displays on the display screen a route from the current position up to a destination. In addition, the navigation device displays guidance maps corresponding to all the guidance waypoints included in the current display region. Accordingly, the user can previously know guidance information on all the guidance waypoint present in the region currently displayed.

Description

Specification

Navigation device and guide map display method

Technical field

The present invention relates to a technique for displaying map data on a display device.

Background art

[0002] Generally, a navigation device displays a predetermined range of map information on a display device around the current position of a moving body such as a vehicle. In addition, in a navigation device having a route search function and a route guidance function, when a user performs a route search by specifying a destination or waypoint, the navigation device searches for a route to the destination. Display on the display device. The route set by the search is displayed in a conspicuous color on the map displayed on the display device.

[0003] In the navigation device as described above, a guide map is generally displayed before a guide point on the searched route. For example, when a moving object approaches an intersection to turn left on the searched route, an enlarged view of the intersection is displayed, and an arrow indicating a left turn is displayed on the enlarged view, so that the user is in the direction of travel. Indicated. The guidance point is a point where the navigation device displays guidance information because the moving body needs to change the direction of travel on the searched route, for example, at an intersection, a highway entrance, via The ground is included.

[0004] In a general navigation apparatus having a route search function and a route guidance function, when a moving object approaches the guide point, a window separate from the map including the current position of the moving object is displayed in an enlarged area near the proposed point. Many figures are displayed as guide maps. In addition, a navigation device that simultaneously displays enlarged views of a plurality of guide points when a continuous guide position on the searched route is close in distance is also proposed (see Patent Document 1).

[0005] Patent Document 1: JP 2001-159535 A

[0006] In a navigation device having a route search function and a route guidance function, generally, a guide map is not displayed unless a mobile object approaches the guide point. The same applies to the navigation device described in Patent Document 1. Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] The above is given as an example of the problem to be solved by the present invention. The purpose of the present invention is to display driving required at a plurality of guide points existing on the searched route so that the user can instantly know the order of the guide points. Means for solving the problem

[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, a navigation device searches for a route to a destination and determines route guidance means for determining a guide point on the route, and a geographical location based on the current position of the mobile object. Display area for displaying the map information corresponding to the display area on the display screen of the display device, and all guide points included in the display area have a display size according to the order of guidance. Guide map display means for displaying a guide map on the map information.

[0009] The navigation device described above is mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle, for example, and has a display device that displays a map, route guidance information, and the like. The navigation device has a so-called route search function, and searches for a route to a destination set by a user or automatically set by another method. As a result, a plurality of guide points are determined on the searched route. Note that the guidance point is a point where guidance information is presented in route guidance, such as an intersection where the moving body changes the traveling direction, an entrance to an expressway, and the like. The navigation device also determines the display area based on the current position, displays a map near the current position on the display screen of the display device, and displays the route from the current position to the destination on the display screen. . The navigation device displays the corresponding guide map for all the guide points included in the current display area. Therefore, the user can know in advance the guide information for all the guide points existing in the currently displayed area.

[0010] In one aspect of the above navigation device, the guide map display unit displays each of the guide maps in a pop-up manner in association with the corresponding guide points. Thereby, it is possible to display the guide map in association with each guide point while displaying the original map information.

[0011] In another aspect of the above navigation device, the guide map display means is configured such that the guide map corresponding to a guide point with a small guide order of the current position force has a larger display size. A guide map is displayed. As a result, the user can know detailed guidance information for the guidance point near the current position. On the other hand, it is possible to display a guide map so that map information is not lost even at a guide point that is far from the current position.

[0012] Still another aspect of the above navigation apparatus has selection input means for selecting a guide map displayed on the map information, and the guide map display means is selected by the selection input means. The displayed guide map is temporarily enlarged and displayed. As a result, the user can view in advance a guide map for a certain guide point by operating and selecting an input device or the like.

[0013] In still another aspect of the above navigation device, the guide map display means displays the guide map so as not to overlap the route. Thereby, even when a plurality of guide maps are displayed, the searched route that the user should travel is always displayed.

[0014] In still another aspect of the above navigation apparatus, the guide map display means determines the display size of each guide map so that the display positions of the plurality of guide maps do not overlap. In this aspect, the user can always see the information on the displayed guide map.

[0015] In still another aspect of the above navigation device, the guide map display means may be configured such that when the display positions of a plurality of guide maps partially overlap, the guide order from the current position is small. The plurality of guide maps are superimposed and displayed so that the guide map is on the upper side of the display screen. In this aspect, even if it is difficult to display all the guide maps due to space problems on the display screen, all the guide maps are displayed in a partially overlapped state. In addition, since a plurality of guide maps are superimposed so that the guide map with the nearer current position is on the upper side, the user can see all of the guide maps with the closer position.

[0016] In still another aspect of the above navigation apparatus, the guide map display means uses only the arrow indicating the traveling direction as the content of the guide map that is equal to or smaller than a predetermined display size. In this mode, for a guide map whose display size is far from the current position, the road display is omitted, and only the traveling direction can be reliably communicated to the user.

[0017] In another aspect of the present invention, a guide map display method in a navigation device that displays map information corresponding to a geographical display area based on the current position of a mobile object is a route to a destination. A route search step for searching and determining a guide point on the route; A display step of displaying, on the map information, a guide map having a display size corresponding to the guide order for all guide points included in the display area.

[0018] According to this method, the navigation device displays the corresponding guide map for all the guide points included in the current display area. Therefore, the user can know in advance the guide information for all the guide points existing in the currently displayed area.

In another aspect of the present invention, a guide map display program executed by a navigation device including a display device and a computer searches for a route to a destination and determines a guide point on the route. Search means, map display means for determining a geographical display area based on the current position of the moving object, and displaying map information corresponding to the display area on the display screen of the display device, and the display area The computer is caused to function as guide map display means for displaying, on the map information, a guide map having a display size corresponding to the guide order for all guide points included in the map.

[0020] By executing this program in a navigation device including a computer, the above-described navigation device can be realized. This program may be stored in a storage medium.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment.

[Figure 2] An example of a guide map display is shown.

[Figure 3] Shows an example of a guide map.

[Fig.4] An example of an enlarged display of a guide map is shown.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of guide map display processing according to an embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

[0022] 1 navigation device

10 Independent positioning device

18 GPS receiver

20 System controller

22 CPU

36 Data storage unit 40 display unit

60 input devices

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following description shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a navigation apparatus mounted on a vehicle.

[0024] [Navigation device]

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the navigation device 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 includes a self-supporting positioning device 10, a GPS receiver 18, a system controller 20, a disk drive 3 1, a data storage unit 36, a communication interface 37, a communication device 38, a display unit 40, An audio output unit 50 and an input device 60 are provided.

The self-supporting positioning device 10 includes an acceleration sensor 11, an angular velocity sensor 12, and a distance sensor 13. The acceleration sensor 11 is made of, for example, a piezoelectric element, detects the acceleration of the vehicle, and outputs acceleration data. The angular velocity sensor 12 also has, for example, a vibration gyro force, detects the angular velocity of the vehicle when the direction of the vehicle is changed, and outputs angular velocity data and relative azimuth data. The distance sensor 13 measures a vehicle speed pulse having a pulse signal force that is generated as the vehicle wheel rotates.

[0026] The GPS receiver 18 receives radio waves 19 carrying downlink data including positioning data from a plurality of GPS satellites. The positioning data is used to detect the absolute position of the vehicle from latitude and longitude information.

The system controller 20 includes an interface 21, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 22, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 23, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 24, and controls the entire navigation device 1.

[0028] The interface 21 performs an interface operation with the acceleration sensor 11, the angular velocity sensor 12, the distance sensor 13 and the GPS receiver 18. From these, vehicle speed pulses, acceleration data, relative bearing data, angular velocity data, GPS positioning data, absolute bearing data, and the like are input to the system controller 20. The CPU 22 controls the entire system controller 20. The ROM 23 includes a nonvolatile memory (not shown) in which a control program for controlling the system controller 20 is stored. RAM24 is used via input device 60 Various data such as route data preset by the user can be stored in a readable manner, or c

Provide a working area for PU22.

[0029] System controller 20, disk drive 31 such as CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive, data storage unit 36, communication interface 37, display unit 40, audio output unit 50 and input device 60 are bus lines 30 They are connected to each other via.

The disc drive 31 reads and outputs content data such as music data and video data from a disc 33 such as a CD or DVD under the control of the system controller 20. The disk drive 31 may be either a CD-ROM drive or a DVD-ROM drive, or may be a CD and DVD compatible drive.

[0031] The data storage unit 36 is configured by, for example, an HDD or the like, and stores various data used for navigation processing such as map data and facility data.

[0032] The communication device 38 includes, for example, an FM tuner, a beacon receiver, a mobile phone, a dedicated communication card, and the like, and is distributed from a VICS (Vehicle Information Communication System) center via the communication interface 37. Receive road traffic information such as traffic jams and traffic information, and other information.

[0033] The display unit 40 displays various display data on a display device such as a display under the control of the system controller 20. Specifically, the system controller 20 reads map data from the data storage unit 36. The display unit 40 displays the map data read from the data storage unit 36 by the system controller 20 on a display screen such as a display. The display unit 40 includes a graphic controller 41 that controls the entire display unit 40 based on control data sent from the CPU 22 via the bus line 30 and image information that can be displayed immediately, such as a VRAM (Video RAM). A display memory 43 that temporarily stores data, a display controller 43 that controls display of a display 44 such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) based on image data output from the graphic controller 41, and a display 44 are provided. . The display 44 is, for example, a liquid crystal display device having a diagonal angle of about 5 to 10 inches and is mounted near the front panel in the vehicle. [0034] The audio output unit 50 is a digital to analog (DZA) of audio digital data sent from the CD-ROM drive 31 or DVD-ROM 32 or RAM 24 via the bus line 30 under the control of the system controller 20. A DZA converter 51 that performs conversion, an amplifier (AMP) 52 that amplifies the audio analog signal output from the Ό / 51 converter 51, and a speaker 53 that converts the amplified audio analog signal into audio and outputs it to the vehicle. It is configured with.

[0035] The input device 60 includes keys, switches, buttons, a remote controller, a voice input device, and the like for inputting various commands and data. The input device 60 is arranged around the front panel and the display 44 of the main body of the in-vehicle electronic system mounted in the vehicle. When the display 44 is a touch panel system, the touch panel provided on the display screen of the display 44 also functions as the input device 60.

Note that the CPU 22 in FIG. 1 corresponds to route search means, and the CPU 22 and the display control unit 43 function as map display means and guide map display means. The input device 60 corresponds to selection input means.

[0037] [Guide map display]

Next, guide map display will be described. FIG. 2 shows a display image example during route guidance by the navigation device of this embodiment. The display image example shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display 44 of the navigation device 1. As shown in the figure, a map around the current position of the vehicle on which the navigation device 1 is mounted is displayed on the display screen 70. A self-vehicle position mark 73 indicating the current position of the vehicle is displayed on the map. Further, the search route 72 searched by the route search function is indicated by, for example, a thick line or a conspicuous color line. The user travels along the search route 72 to the destination.

The present invention is characterized in that a guide map is displayed for all guide points included in the display screen displayed on the display 44. In the example of FIG. 2, three guide points 74a, 74b and 74c existing on the searched route 72 are displayed on the display screen. The vehicle travels on the search route 72 in the order of the first guide point 74a, the second guide point 74b, and the third guide point 74c. As shown in the figure, for each guide point 74a, 74b and 74c, the corresponding guide maps 75a, 75b and 75c are displayed in a pop-up. It is. “Pop-up display” refers to displaying a guide map by imposing on a map in association with a corresponding guide point.

As described above, in this embodiment, all of the search routes included in the geographical area (hereinafter referred to as “display area”) displayed on the display screen of the display device! A guide map is displayed for each guide point. In other words, in this embodiment, the user can always know the traveling direction at the next guidance point and drive while being aware of the direction regardless of whether or not the vehicle has approached the next guidance point.

[0040] As shown in the figure, the display sizes of the plurality of guide maps 75a to 75c differ depending on the order on the searched route. Specifically, the guide map at a guide point with a closer current position force of the vehicle is larger, and the guide map at a guide point with a farther current position force is displayed smaller. Therefore, the guide map of the next guide point closest to the current position will have the largest size. In this way, by changing the display size of the guide map according to the order from the current position, the user can easily specify the guide map of the next guide point even if multiple guide maps are displayed. it can. In addition, the user can easily and intuitively grasp the order of the plurality of guide points based on the display size of each guide map. In addition, by displaying a small guide map at a guide point far from the current position, the display screen 70 is occupied by the guide map and the map is not visible.

[0041] This method also has an advantage that screen transition does not occur even when the vehicle approaches the next guide point. In general navigation devices, a map including the search route and the vehicle position is usually displayed. When the vehicle enters the next guide point force within a predetermined distance, a map display remains on a part of the display screen. At the same time, guide maps such as enlarged intersections are displayed in other areas of the display screen. In contrast, in this embodiment, even when the vehicle approaches the next guide point, the guide map is displayed in the same way as before, so there is no problem for the user whose display screen does not change greatly. .

It should be noted that the display size of the guide map can be determined in advance in consideration of the size of the display screen 70. For example, the guide map for the nearest guide point is 1.5 inches long x 2 inches wide, the guide map for the second nearest guide point is 1 inch long x 1.5 inches wide, and so on. It can be determined to be smaller as the guide map. Na If the size of the guide map is too small, the contents of the guide map cannot be seen. Therefore, the size of the guide map ahead of the guide points in a certain order may be fixed. For example, all guide maps for the fifth and subsequent guide points from the current position may be fixed to a predetermined size.

In the present embodiment, each guide map is displayed at a position and size that do not overlap with the searched route 72. Therefore, the search route 72 is not visible to the user by displaying a plurality of guide maps.

[0044] When displaying a plurality of guide maps, if there is not enough display space, the guide maps may be displayed so as to partially overlap each other. In that case, the guide map of the guide point closer to the current position is displayed on the upper side. As a result, at least all of the nearest guide maps can be displayed, and it is possible to show that another guide point exists in the vicinity.

In the present invention, there are no particular restrictions on the content and mode of the guide map. In general, guide points are often intersections, highway entrances, etc. As shown in Fig. 2, a schematic diagram showing the direction of travel on the road at the guide point with an arrow (also called "deformation map") Is often displayed as a guide map. In this case, how detailed the facilities and buildings near the guide point are displayed can be arbitrarily determined according to the display size of the guide map and the processing capability of the navigation device. The display size that is far from the current position is small, and the guide map may reduce the amount of information to be displayed. You may use map data that is sufficiently detailed to be a guide map. For a guide map with a display size that is somewhat small, the road map may be removed and a guide map 75x including only an arrow indicating the direction of travel may be displayed as shown in FIG.

In addition, the guide map displayed in the display screen 70 can be configured to be enlarged and displayed by the user's selection. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when a user selects one (guide map 75b in the example of FIG. 4) from a plurality of guide maps displayed in the display screen 70, as shown by an arrow 77, as shown in FIG. Only the guide map 75b can be enlarged and displayed on the display screen 70. As a result, the user can see only a specific guide map existing on the searched route 72 in detail in advance. The enlarged display of a specific guide map is shown in Figure 4. Thus, when the user presses the return button 79, it is possible to return to the original display, or to automatically return to the original display after a predetermined time elapses.

Next, guide map display processing according to the present embodiment will be described. Figure 5 shows a flowchart of the guide map display process. This process is realized by executing a program stored in advance in the ROM 23 or the like of the CPU 22 of the navigation device 1. This guide map display process is periodically executed when a route is guided after the user has performed a route search and a search route to the destination has already been determined.

[0048] First, the CPU 22 determines whether or not there is a guidance point within the current display area (step Sl l). The current display area is calculated by the CPU 22 based on the current position of the vehicle and the scale of the map display selected by the user. In addition, when the route search is completed, the geographical location information (latitude, longitude, etc.) of each guide point on the searched route is already known. Therefore, the CPU 22 detects the presence or absence of a guide point in the display area covered by the current display screen based on the information. If there is no guide point in the display area, the guide map is not displayed and the process ends.

[0049] On the other hand, when a guide point exists in the current display area (step Sl l; Yes), the CPU 22 determines the order of the plurality of guide points existing in the current display area (the guide point on the search route). The route order (hereinafter referred to as “guide order”) is checked, and a plurality of guide points are sorted (ordered) in that order (step S12).

[0050] Next, the CPU 22 selects one guide point from among a plurality of guide points (step S13), and specifies the position of the guide point on the display area (step S14). Here, it is assumed that the CPU 22 sets the guide order in the order from the current position. Therefore, the guide point closest to the current position is selected first. This process is performed based on information indicating the current display area and position information of the guide point.

Next, the CPU 22 determines the display size of the guide map (step S15). Then, based on the determined display size, the CPU 22 creates a guide map for the guide point (step S16). As described above, the guide map can take various forms such as a deformed map, a detailed map, and an arrow alone.

[0052] Then, the CPU 22 pops up the created guide map on the display screen (steps). S17). Thus, a guide map for one guide point among a plurality of guide points belonging to the current display area is displayed.

Next, the CPU 22 determines whether or not it is the power that has displayed the guide map for all the guide points included in the current display area (step S18). If the display of the guide map has not been completed for all the guide points (step S18; No), the process returns to step S13, and the same process is repeated for the next guide point. In this way, the CPU 22 repeats the processes of steps S13 to S18 until the guide map is displayed for all the guide points included in the current display area. When the guide map display is completed for all guide points (step S18; Yes), the CPU 22 ends the guide map display process.

[0054] As described above, in the present embodiment, in the navigation device, the system controller 20 centering on the CPU 22 searches for a route to the destination and determines a guide point on the route. Next, the system controller 20 determines a geographical display area based on the current position of the vehicle, and displays map information corresponding to the display area on the display screen of the display device. Further, the system controller 20 displays a guide map having a display size corresponding to the guide order on the map information for all the planned points included in the display area. Therefore, the guide map can be displayed for all the guide points included in the current display area among the guide points existing on the searched route. As a result, the user can be made aware in advance of driving at a future guide point.

Industrial applicability

The present invention can be used for a navigation apparatus for a moving body represented by a vehicle.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A route search means for searching for a route to the destination and determining a guide point on the route;

Map display means for determining a geographical display area based on the current position of the mobile object and displaying map information corresponding to the display area on the display screen of the display device;

A navigation map display means for displaying on the map information a guide map having a display size corresponding to the guide order for all the guide points included in the display area.

[2] The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the guide map display means displays each of the guide maps in a pop-up in association with the corresponding guide points.

[3] The guide map display means displays the guide map such that the guide map corresponding to a guide point with a small guide order from the current position has a larger display size. The navigation device according to item.

[4] having a selection input means for selecting a guide map displayed on the map information;

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the guide map display means temporarily enlarges and displays the guide map selected by the selection input means.

5. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the guide map display means displays the guide map so as not to overlap the route.

6. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the guide map display means determines the display size of each guide map so that the display positions of the plurality of guide maps do not overlap.

[7] When the display positions of the plurality of guide maps partially overlap, the guide map display means is configured to display the plurality of guide maps so that the guide map with the smaller guide order from the current position is on the upper side of the display screen. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide maps are displayed in an overlapping manner.

[8] The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the guide map display means uses only an arrow indicating the direction of travel as the content of the guide map that is equal to or smaller than a predetermined display size.

[9] A guide map display method in a navigation device for displaying map information corresponding to a geographical display area based on a current position of a moving object,

A route search process for searching for a route to the destination and determining a guide point on the route;

A display step of displaying, on the map information, a guide map having a display size according to a guide order for all guide points included in the display area;

A guide map display method characterized by comprising:

[10] A guide map display program executed by a navigation device including a display device and a computer,

A route search means for searching for a route to the destination and determining a guide point on the route,

Included in the display area is a map display means for determining a geographical display area based on the current position of the mobile object and displaying map information corresponding to the display area on the display screen of the display device. A guide map display program for causing the above-mentioned computer to function as a guide map display means for displaying a guide map having a display size corresponding to a guide order for all guide points on the map information.

[11] A recording medium in which the guide map display program according to claim 10 is recorded.