JP3386604B2 - Map display method and map display device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a map display method and a map display device capable of displaying on a display device a road map within a range from a set present location to a destination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a road map is displayed on a display device, a road map is displayed in a so-called bird's-eye view display format in which the road map around the vehicle's current location is displayed in an enlarged manner compared to a distance. Is known (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-244188). The device disclosed in the above publication places a viewpoint behind the current position of the vehicle and displays a state in which the traveling direction of the vehicle is looked down from this viewpoint on the screen of the display device. When such a bird's-eye view display is performed, the map information around the current location can be enlarged and displayed, and a wide range from the current location to the distant area can be displayed, so that the connection status of the road map can be visually easily grasped.

[0003]

[PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION]
A map display device for vehicles that can display various bird's-eye views
It is preferable that the road conditions be easy to understand when guiding the route.
Good

An object of the present invention is to provide a map display method and a map display device that make it easy to grasp road conditions .

[0005]

The invention according to claim 1 is a road
It is applied to the map display method that displays the map on the display screen,
Set the destination of the vehicle, from the starting point of the vehicle to the destination
A recommended route is set and the vehicle's current location is on the recommended route.
When approaching the guidance point required for route guidance,
Change the display area from one to two, and use one table before the change.
The road map displayed in the display area should be viewed diagonally from above.
This is a top-down map, and it is displayed in two display areas after the change.
The road map shown is the top-down map and the guidance point circumference.
It is a plane map of the side. The invention of claim 2 is a contract
In the map display method described in Requirement 1, guidance points
Is an intersection or a curve on the road map.
It is something. The invention according to claim 3 is the ground according to claim 1.
Roads displayed in two display areas in the map display method
A map of the vehicle's own position is displayed on the map or on the two road maps.
Is to be displayed. From claim 4
Ming is a flat surface in the map display method according to claim 1.
The figure is based on the road map data for displaying a two-dimensional map.
Generated, top-down map for displaying a flat map
It will be generated based on the road map data of
is there. The invention of claim 5 is a road for displaying a plane map.
Display road map on display screen based on road map data
Applied to the map display method, set the destination of the vehicle,
Set the recommended route from the departure point to the destination of
Guidance point necessary for route guidance where the location is on the recommended route
The display area of the display screen changes from one to two
The road area displayed in one of the two display areas
The figure is based on the road map data for displaying a two-dimensional map.
In a top-down map that was generated from above and looked down diagonally from above
Yes, the road map displayed on the other one is a plane map.
Plane generated based on road map data for showing
It is a figure. The invention of claim 6 displays a road map.
It is applied to the map display method displayed on the display screen,
Set a destination and recommend a route from the vehicle's origin to the destination
Is set and the current location of the vehicle is on the recommended route.
Approach the induction points required, the display area of the table 示画surface
Change from one to two, and one of the two display areas
The road map displayed in
Diagonal from above including the vehicle position mark of the vehicle facing upward
Is a top-down map overlooked by and displayed on the other one
The road map of the
It is a plan map including the vehicle position mark of the vehicle
It

According to the invention of claim 7, the road map is displayed on the display screen.
It is applied to the map display device to be displayed and sets the destination of the vehicle.
Determining destination setting means and from the starting point of the vehicle to the destination
Recommended route setting method to set the recommended route of the current vehicle
Guidance point required for route guidance where the ground is on the recommended route
The display area of the display screen changes from one to two
The display control means for
The road map displayed is a top view that is looked down diagonally from above.
It is a grated map and is displayed in the two display areas after the change.
The road map is the top-down map and the plane around the guidance point.
It is a map. The invention of claim 8 provides a plan map.
Display road map based on road map data to display
It is applied to a map display device that is displayed on the screen and displays a planar map.
Diagonal from above, based on road map data for display
Generating a top-down map that looks down on
Means and road map data for displaying a plan map.
Based on the plan map generating means for generating a plan map,
From the destination setting means to set the destination and the departure point of the vehicle
Recommended route setting means to set the recommended route to the destination,
The current location of the vehicle is on the recommended route.
When approaching the guiding point, the display area of the display screen starts from one
Two display areas are provided with display control means for changing to two
The road map displayed in one of them is a top-down map.
The road map displayed on the other one is a flat map.
Of. The invention of claim 9 displays the road map on the display screen.
It is applied to the map display device that is shown, and looks down diagonally from above.
Top-down map generation means for generating a top-down map
And a plane map generating means for generating a plane map, and the eyes of the vehicle.
The destination setting means for setting the destination and the starting point of the vehicle
Recommended route setting means to set the recommended route to the target location
Guidance required for route guidance where both current locations are on the recommended route
When approaching the point, the display area of the display screen is changed from 1 to 2
Display control means for changing the two display areas
The road map displayed on one of them is displayed on the display screen.
Look down including the vehicle position mark of the vehicle with the row direction facing upward
The road map displayed on the other one is a table.
Vehicle position of the vehicle with the traveling direction facing upward on the display screen
It is a plan map including marks.

The configuration of the present invention has been described above.
But the present invention is not limited to the examples.

[0008]

【Example】

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a vehicle map display device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a current position detection device that detects the current position of the vehicle, for example, a direction sensor that detects the traveling direction of the vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor that detects the vehicle speed, and a GP.
It is composed of a GPS sensor or the like for detecting GPS signals from S (Global Positioning System) satellites. 2 is a map storage memory for storing road map data, such as a CD-R
It consists of an OM and its reader. The road map data stored in the map storage memory 2 mainly includes road data, name data, background data, and the like. The map storage memory 2 also stores road map data of a plurality of map scales.

Reference numeral 3 is a control circuit for controlling the entire apparatus,
It consists of a microprocessor and its peripheral circuits. 4 is an input device for inputting the destination of the vehicle, 5 is a memory for plane map data that stores road map data used when a plane map of the road map viewed from directly above is displayed on the display device, 6 is a road map 3 is a bird's-eye view data memory for storing road map data used when displaying the bird's-eye view.

An image memory 7 stores image data to be displayed on the display device 8. The image data stored in the image memory 7 is read out as appropriate and displayed on the display device 8. Reference numeral 9 is an antenna for receiving traffic information transmitted from a beacon receiver (not shown) or the like.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the main processing of the control circuit 3, and the operation of this embodiment will be described below based on this flow chart. The control circuit 3 starts the process of FIG. 2 when the key is operated to the ignition on position. In step S1 of FIG. 2, a recommended route and a destination are set. The destination is set by the operator via the input device 4, and the recommended route is automatically set by calculation using, for example, the well-known Dijkstra method. Alternatively, the recommended route candidates may be stored in advance in the ROM or the like, and any one of them may be selected as the recommended route.

In step S2, the display screen mode is set. The display screen modes set here include, for example, the following eight modes. The operator selects these modes via the input device 4. Mode in which the window screen is always displayed Mode in which the window screen is not always displayed Mode in which the window screen is automatically displayed when approaching a predetermined guidance point on the recommended route Mode in which the window screen is automatically displayed when traffic / guidance information is received The base screen is a bird's-eye view, the window screen is a plane map, the mode base screen is a bird's-eye view, the window screen is a bird's-eye view, the mode base screen is a two-dimensional map, the window screen is a bird's-eye view. Is a plan map. The base screen refers to the entire display screen of the display device 8, and the window screen refers to a screen displayed in part of the base screen.

In step S3, the display environment is set.
There are the following five display environments set here, for example. The operator selects these display environments via the input device 4. Window screen size setting Base screen and map scale setting in window screen Setting display position of window screen Setting display color of base screen and window screen Setting display direction of base screen and window screen

In step S4, the current position of the vehicle is detected. In step S5, a map display process whose details are shown in FIGS. By performing this processing, for example, a road map as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. FIG. 6 shows an example in which a bird's-eye view is displayed on the base screen and a plane map is displayed on the window screen.

In step S6, the current position of the vehicle is detected as in step S4. In step S7, it is determined whether or not the road map on the screen is updated, that is, whether or not the road map is rewritten. Here, it is determined that the road map is updated, for example, when the vehicle travels for a predetermined distance or more, or when the operator instructs scrolling through the input device 4.

If the determination in step S7 is affirmative, the process returns to step S5, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S8. In step S8, it is determined whether to continue the main process of FIG. For example, when a power switch (not shown) is turned off or a switch for stopping the process is operated, the determination in step S8 is denied and the main process of FIG. 2 is ended.

If the determination in step S8 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S9, the display of the attached information is updated, and then the process returns to step S6. Here, the attached information indicates, for example, a vehicle position mark displayed at the current position of the vehicle. In step S9, the display position of the accessory information such as the vehicle position mark is changed according to the traveling distance of the vehicle. When the vehicle position mark is displayed on both the base screen and the window screen, the display positions of both vehicle position marks are changed.

3 to 5 are flow charts showing details of the map display processing in step S5 of FIG. In step S101 of the figure, it is determined whether or not the road map displayed on the base screen is a bird's-eye view. Here, the determination is made based on the display screen mode set in step S2 of FIG. If the determination in step S101 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S102, the bird's-eye view display process shown in detail in FIG. 4 is performed, and the bird's-eye view is displayed in the base screen display area on the screen.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S101 is negative, the process proceeds to step S103, the planar map display processing shown in detail in FIG. 5 is performed, and a bird's-eye view is displayed in the base screen display area on the screen. When the process of step S102 or S103 ends, the process proceeds to step S104 to determine whether to display the window screen. Here, the determination is made based on the display screen mode set in step S3 in the figure.

If the determination in step S104 is affirmative, the flow advances to step S105 to determine whether or not the road map displayed on the window screen is a bird's-eye view. This determination is also made based on the display screen mode set in step S2 of FIG. If the determination in step S105 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S106, and the bird's-eye view display process shown in detail in FIG. 4 is performed to display the bird's-eye view in the window screen. On the other hand, if the determination in step S105 is negative, step S107
Then, the process goes to step 2 to execute the plane map display processing, the details of which are shown in FIG. 5, to display the plane map in the window screen.

When the process of step S106 or S107 is completed, or when the determination of step S104 is negative, the process proceeds to step S108, and the auxiliary information such as the vehicle position mark is displayed on both the base screen and the window screen. And return.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing details of the bird's-eye view display processing of step S102 of FIG. In step S201 of FIG. 4, the display direction angle when performing the bird's-eye view display is calculated.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method of calculating the display direction angle α. The XY axes shown in the figure indicate the road map plane, the origin O indicates the starting point of the vehicle, the coordinates G (X0, Y0) indicate the current position of the vehicle, and the coordinates P1 (X1, Y1) indicate the destination. As shown in the figure, the display direction angle α is the angle between the X-axis and the line segment (the dotted line in the figure) connecting the current position G and the destination P1 and is represented by the equation (1).

Tan α = {(Y1−Y0) / (X1−X0)} (1) In step S201, the display direction angle α is obtained based on the equation (1).

In step S202, step S in FIG.
Road map data around the current position is read from the map storage memory 2 based on the current position detected in step 4 and the display direction angle α calculated in step S201. For example, the road map data of several 10 km square including the current location is read.

In step S203, step S202
The data used when displaying the bird's-eye view is selected from the road map data read in step 3, and the selected data is stored in the bird's-eye view data memory 6. Here, in order to reduce the data amount of the road map information displayed on the display device 8, only the data whose data type satisfies a predetermined condition is extracted and stored in the bird's-eye view data memory 6. In step S204, the road map data selected in step S203 is converted into bird's-eye view data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the conversion to bird's-eye view data. The road map is the XY plane, the viewpoint M is placed on the Z-axis orthogonal to the XY plane, and the angle of looking down from the viewpoint M is φ.
Here is an example. The rectangle abcd shown in the figure shows the display range of the display device 6 as enlargedly displayed in FIG. 9, and the trapezoid ABCD of FIG. 8 shows the road map range displayed on the display device 6.

In order to convert the road map data into the bird's-eye view data, the viewpoint M is first displayed so that all the road map data in the trapezoidal area ABCD shown in the figure can be displayed on the display device 6.
After defining the height Z, the down-looking angle φ from the viewpoint M, and the spread angle θ from the viewpoint, the bird's-eye view data projected on the rectangular area abcd in FIG. 8 is created using these parameters. At this time, the looking-down angle φ is set such that the vicinity of the center line connecting the midpoints of the upper side and the lower side of the display screen of the display device 6 becomes the destination direction.

Returning to FIG. 4, in step S205, the bird's-eye view data converted in step S204 is displayed on the display device 8.
It is converted to the final map image data to be displayed on and returned.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the planar map display processing of step S103 of FIG. In step S301 of FIG. 5, a road map around the current position of the vehicle is read from the map storage memory 2. In step S302, the data used for displaying the plane map is selected from the road map data read in step S301, the selected data is stored in the plane map data memory 5 as the plane map data, and the process returns. . Here, similarly to step S203 of FIG. 4, data with high priority is selected. In step S303, the plan map data stored in the plan map data memory 5 is converted into map image data, stored in the image memory 7, and the process returns.

2 to 5 described above are summarized, the control circuit 3 sets the screen display mode and the display environment after setting the destination and the recommended route of the vehicle. For example, when the mode of displaying the bird's-eye view on the base screen and the plan map on the window screen is selected,
First, the bird's-eye view is displayed on the base screen, and then the plane map is displayed on the window screen. The operator sets the map scale, display area, and display position in the window screen through the input device 4. When the vehicle travels a predetermined distance or more, the base screen and the window screen are rewritten, and when the vehicle travels less than the predetermined distance, only the vehicle position marks in the base screen and the window screen are moved.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the road map different from the base screen can be displayed on the window screen. Therefore, for example, the bird's-eye view is displayed on the base screen while the plane map is displayed on the window screen. It is also possible to display a map. This eliminates the disadvantage of the bird's eye view display format in which it is difficult to grasp the sense of distance.

Second Embodiment In the second embodiment, the window screen is not normally displayed, but the window screen is displayed only when the vehicle approaches the guidance point. The second embodiment has a configuration common to the first embodiment and is common to the first embodiment except for the process of step S104 of FIG. 3, so that the process of step S104 of FIG. 3 will be described below. Details will be described.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining the details of the processing in step S104 of FIG. In step S401 of FIG. 10, the guide points around the current position of the vehicle are read from the map storage memory 2. Here, the guidance point refers to a point on the recommended route that is necessary for route guidance, and is constituted by, for example, an intersection or a curve point. Information about the guide point on the recommended route is stored in the map storage memory 2 in advance.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the details of the processing in step S401 in FIG. The plurality of square regions shown in FIG. 11 are units for reading road map data (hereinafter, this unit is referred to as a mesh code), and each code is given a unique number. The solid line in the figure indicates the recommended route, and the black circles on the recommended route indicate the guiding points. The triangular mark in the figure indicates the current location of the vehicle.

In FIG. 11, the vehicle is a mesh cord 5
If it is located at 339, the shaded area around it is 4
One mesh code 5339, 5340, 5439, 5
The guidance point inside each area 440 is read.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the data structure of the guide point information stored in the map storage memory 2. As shown in the figure, the guide point information includes a "mesh number" area for storing a mesh code number, a "guide point number" area for storing a guide point number n in the mesh area, and a map of guide point 1 in the mesh area. "X coordinate" area for storing the upper X coordinate, Y on the map of the guide point 1
It is divided into a "Y coordinate" area for storing coordinates, a "guidance point instruction flag" area for instructing whether or not to select the guidance point 1 as a guidance point, and the like.

Returning to FIG. 10, in step S402,
From the guidance points read in step S401, the guidance point closest to the current position of the vehicle is selected. Figure 11
In the case of, the guide point k is selected. Step S40
In 3, the current position of the vehicle is detected again. Step S40
In 4, the distance L between the guidance point k and the current position of the vehicle is calculated. In step S405, it is determined whether the distance L is within a predetermined distance. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S105 of FIG. 3 and the process of displaying a window screen is performed thereafter. On the other hand, if the determination in step S405 is negative, the process proceeds to step S108 in FIG. 3 and only the additional information such as the vehicle position mark in the window screen is rewritten.

As described above, in the second embodiment, route guidance is performed without displaying the window screen until the vehicle approaches the guidance point, and the window screen is automatically displayed when the vehicle approaches the guidance point. Since the information is displayed, the driver can be notified that the guidance point is approaching, and the road condition near the guidance point can be displayed in detail.

In the above embodiment, when the base screen and the window screen are displayed, the map scale in the window screen is set so that the entire road map range displayed in the base screen is displayed in the window screen. It may be set automatically. In the above embodiment, an example in which the display position of the window screen is changed according to the instruction of the operator has been described, but the window screen may be automatically displayed at a position that does not overlap the vehicle position mark and the recommended route. . In the above embodiment, a switch for separately scrolling the base screen and the window screen may be provided. For example, when a switch for scrolling the window screen is operated, the road map may be scrolled according to the operation, and at the same time, the vehicle position mark may be moved. In the above embodiment, the display screen mode and the display environment are set in the main process by the control circuit 3 shown in FIG. 2, but the display screen mode and the display environment may be set by the interrupt process. That is, when the operator gives an instruction to change the display screen mode or the display environment via the input device 4, the process of the control circuit 3 may be interrupted to change the settings such as the display screen mode. As a result, the mode can be changed quickly.

In the embodiment thus constructed, the map storage memory 2 serves as the road map storage means, the control circuit 3 serves as the display control means, the current position detection device 1 serves as the vehicle position detection means, and the bird's-eye view of FIG. Display processing is a bird's eye view data conversion means,
The flat map display processing of FIG.
The input device 4 is the window setting means and the window display instructing means, the process of step S1 of FIG. 2 is the destination setting means and the recommended route setting means, S402 of FIG. 10 is the guiding point extracting means, and step S405 of FIG. Each corresponds to the determination means.

[0041]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, for example, the display on the display screen is displayed when the guide point is approached.
Since the area is changed from one to two , the driver can be notified that the guide point is approaching, and the road condition around the guide point can be displayed in detail.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a vehicle map display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing main processing of a control circuit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a map display process of a control circuit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a bird's-eye view display process of a control circuit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a planar map display process of the control circuit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which a bird's-eye view is displayed on the base screen and a plane map is displayed on the window screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method of calculating a display direction angle α.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating conversion into bird's-eye view data.

9 is an enlarged view of the rectangular area abcd shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating details of processing in step S104 in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the details of the processing in step S401 of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a data structure of guide point information stored in a map storage memory 2.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Current location detector 2 map storage memory 3 control circuit 4 input device 5 Memory for plane map data 6 Bird's eye view data memory 7 Image memory 8 display devices 9 antenna

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI G09B 29/00 G06F 15/40 370C 29/10 15/62 335 (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01C 21 / 00 G06F 17/30 G06T 1/00 G08G 1/0969 G09B 29/00 G09B 29/10

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] [Claim 1] Map display for displaying a road map on a display screen
The method is to set a destination of the vehicle, set a recommended route from the starting point of the vehicle to the destination, and need to guide the route where the current position of the vehicle is on the recommended route.
When approaching another guide point, the display area of the display screen
The road map that is changed from one to two and displayed in one display area before the change is
It is a top-down map looking down diagonally from
The road map displayed in one display area is the top-down map.
And a plan map around the guidance point,
How to display the map. 2. The guidance point is an intersection on a road map.
Or it is a curve, The claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.
Map display method. 3. A road area displayed in the two display areas
The location of the vehicle in the figure or two road maps
The mark according to claim 1, wherein the mark is displayed.
Map display method. 4. The plane map is for displaying a plane map.
The top-down map generated based on the road map data of
Is based on the road map data for displaying the above-mentioned plane map.
The map according to claim 1, which is generated based on
Display method. 5. Road map data for displaying a two-dimensional map
Map display method to display road map on display screen based on
And set the destination of the vehicle, set the recommended route from the departure point of the vehicle to the destination, the current location of the vehicle is required for route guidance on the recommended route
When approaching another guide point, the display area of the display screen
A road map that is changed from one to two and is displayed in one of the two display areas
Is based on the road map data for displaying the above-mentioned plane map.
A downward-looking map generated from above and viewed diagonally from above
And the road map displayed on the other one is
Generated based on road map data to display the map
A map display method characterized by being a flat map. 6. A map display for displaying a road map on a display screen
The method is to set a destination of the vehicle, set a recommended route from the starting point of the vehicle to the destination, and need to guide the route where the current position of the vehicle is on the recommended route.
When approaching another guide point, the display area of the display screen
A road map that is changed from one to two and is displayed in one of the two display areas
Is a vehicle whose traveling direction is upward on the display screen.
Looking down diagonally from above including the vehicle position mark of
The road map displayed on the other one is
The vehicle of the vehicle whose traveling direction is upward on the display screen
A map characterized by being a planar map including position marks
Display method. 7. A map display for displaying a road map on a display screen
A device, which is a destination setting means for setting the destination of the vehicle and a recommended route for setting the recommended route from the starting point of the vehicle to the destination.
The route setting means and the current vehicle location are required for route guidance on the recommended route.
When approaching another guide point, the display area of the display screen
The road map displayed in one display area before the change includes a display control unit for changing the number from one to two.
It is a top-down map looking down diagonally from
The road map displayed in one display area is the top-down map.
And a plan map around the guidance point,
Map display device. 8. Road map data for displaying a two-dimensional map
Display device for displaying road map on display screen based on
A is, based on road map data for displaying the planimetric map
Generate a top-down map that looks down diagonally from above.
Based on the top-down map generation means and the road map data for displaying the planar map.
Then, a plan map generating means for generating the plan map, a destination setting means for setting a destination of the vehicle, and a recommended route for setting a recommended route from the starting point to the destination of the vehicle
The route setting means and the current vehicle location are required for route guidance on the recommended route.
When approaching another guide point, the display area of the display screen
The road map displayed in one of the two display areas is provided with display control means for changing from one to two.
It is the above-mentioned top-down map and is displayed on the other one.
The figure is a map display device characterized by being the above-mentioned plan map.
Place 9. A map display for displaying a road map on a display screen
A device that generates a top-down map that is viewed obliquely from above
Recommended map setting means , plane map generating means for generating a plan map, destination setting means for setting the destination of the vehicle, and recommended route setting from the starting point of the vehicle to the destination
The route setting means and the current vehicle location are required for route guidance on the recommended route.
When approaching another guide point, the display area of the display screen
A road map provided with display control means for changing from one to two and displayed in one of the two display areas.
Is a vehicle whose traveling direction is upward on the display screen.
It is a top-down map including the vehicle position mark of
The road map displayed in
Plane map including the vehicle position mark of the vehicle with the direction facing upward
A map display device characterized by: