JP3471051B2 - Navigation 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 navigation device which can be used for determining a driver's course by displaying a recommended route between a current position and a destination on a road map.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a navigation device, a road map is constructed so that each road is displayed in different colors according to its type. The type is determined by, for example, road width, and includes toll roads, main roads, general roads, and other roads. These displays are configured so that selection display can be performed by key operation, such as main roads including toll roads, general roads including toll roads and main roads, or all roads.

Further, when the current position and the destination or waypoint are input to the navigation device, a route is calculated, for example, so that the distance between the two points becomes the shortest, and the route is displayed as a recommended route. Some have functions.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned prior art,
CD-ROM discs and ICs on which road maps are recorded
On the card and the like, only the type of road as described above is recorded along with the shape of the road, and the information regarding the regulation, particularly the traffic regulation due to rainfall is not recorded.

Therefore, the driver has to listen to the road information of the radio broadcast and collect the information, which is inconvenient. Alternatively, there is a problem that unless the vehicle arrives at the regulation section, it is not known that the vehicle is regulated, a wasteful time is spent, and a range of selecting a detour becomes narrow. Furthermore, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of safety.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device which can improve convenience as well as driver safety.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in a navigation device in which a calculating means calculates a recommended route based on a road map recorded in a recording medium, the recording medium regulates passage of sections of each road. When the rainfall amount is input, the section of the road where the regulated rainfall amount recorded in the recording medium is less than or equal to the input rainfall amount is regarded as the remaining section. Is a navigation device characterized by displaying in different states.

Further, according to the present invention, based on the road map recorded on the recording medium, at least the current position of the vehicle and the destination are input to read out the required road map from the recording medium and the operation means recommends it. In a navigation device that calculates a route, the recording medium includes:
When the rainfall amount is input, the calculation means records the regulated rainfall amount that restricts the passage of each road section, and the regulated rainfall amount recorded in the recording medium is the inputted rainfall amount. The navigation device is characterized in that the recommended route is calculated excluding a section of the road that is less than or equal to the amount.

Further, according to the present invention, the calculating means calculates the recommended route in a state where the rainfall amount is not inputted, and then, when an output representing the inputted rainfall amount is given, the inputted rainfall amount in the recommended route. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not a section having a regulated rainfall amount equal to or less than the amount is included, and when it is included, the operator is notified.

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

According to the present invention, in a navigation device which is useful for determining a route of a driver by calculating a recommended route by calculating a road map previously recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM disc by a calculating means. When displaying the road map, the regulation rainfall that restricts the passage of each road section is also recorded in a recording medium, and the regulation recorded in the recording medium is recorded by inputting the rainfall. The section of the road whose rainfall amount is less than or equal to the input rainfall amount is displayed in a state different from the remaining section.

In the case of traffic regulation due to rainfall, the recording medium records the amount of rainfall for which traffic on the road is regulated, and when a predetermined amount of rainfall is input, the amount of rainfall equal to or less than the input rainfall amount is regulated. The area of rainfall is displayed in a different state from the area that is not subject to the remaining regulations. Therefore,
The inconvenience of frequently listening to road information can be eliminated, and the detour can be selected at a relatively early stage, so that the safety and convenience of the driver can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, by inputting at least the current position and the destination of the vehicle, the calculating means reads out the necessary road map from the road map recorded in the recording medium, and the recommended shortest one is selected. In a vehicle-mounted navigation device configured to calculate a route and display the route on a display unit, a recording medium records a regulated rainfall amount for which the passage of each road is regulated along with a road map, and the rainfall amount is recorded. When the amount is input, the recommended route is calculated excluding the section of the road where the regulated rainfall amount is less than or equal to the input rainfall amount.

When the regulation is rainfall regulation, when the rainfall amount is input, the recommended route is calculated excluding the section having the regulated rainfall amount equal to or less than the rainfall amount. Therefore,
The detour can be efficiently selected, and safety and convenience can be improved.

When the rainfall is input after calculating the recommended route once the rainfall amount has not been input, the calculating means determines whether the recommended route includes a section to be regulated. If it is included, the operator is notified by a notification means such as a buzzer or a display. Therefore, even if the recommended route is determined in advance, it is possible to notify the operator without missing the section to be regulated.

[0019]

1 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of a navigation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 1 is mounted on an automobile, displays the current position, guides the route to a destination, and is useful for determining the route of the driver.

Therefore, in the navigation device 1, the central processing unit 3 realized by a microcomputer or the like responds to an input operation to the operation keys 2 which are input operation means via the communication bus 10 in general. CD-ROM
The device 4 is instructed to read the map information of the desired area. In response to the instruction, the processing circuit 5 reads the map information of the corresponding area from the map information recorded on the CD-ROM disk 7 which is a recording medium via the decoder 6.
In this way, in response to the map information input from the processing circuit 5 via the communication bus 10, the central processing unit 3 drives, via the display driving circuit 8, the display device 9 realized by a liquid crystal display device or the like. By doing so, the map screen display of the desired area is realized.

When the vehicle position is input from the vehicle position setting key 2a of the operation key 2, the central processing unit 3 is operated.
Corresponding to the detection results of the geomagnetic sensor 12 and the wheel speed sensor 13 input from the processing circuit 11 via the communication bus 10, calculates the azimuth and distance traveled by the vehicle, and determines the current vehicle position. The map information on the corresponding map screen is read from the CD-ROM device 4, and the map screen is scrolled and displayed together with the position of the vehicle.

Further, the traveling locus of the own vehicle is compared with the road shape obtained from the map information at every predetermined cycle, and for example, the own vehicle position is adjusted so that the traveling locus coincides with the road shape when turning right or left at an intersection. A matching process is performed to correct the.
Thus, as indicated by reference numeral P1 in FIG.
A marker indicating the position of the host vehicle and the traveling direction of the host vehicle is updated and displayed along with the travel of the host vehicle together with the map screen.

The map information recorded on the CD-ROM disc 7 is called a link that connects each node with the coordinates of points called nodes such as intersections and intersections where curves are approximated by polygonal lines. It includes the distance of the road section, the road width of each link, and the type of each link such as a highway or a national road.

As described above, the vehicle position is input from the vehicle position setting key 2a, and the cursor key 2 is pressed again.
When b is operated and the map screen is scrolled, and the operator searches for a destination and sets the position of the destination with the destination setting key 2c, by operating the route search key 2d, as shown in FIG. As shown, from the current position indicated by reference sign P1 to the destination indicated by reference sign P2,
For example, the recommended route with the shortest distance is calculated and displayed.

Further, at this time, when the selection key 2e is operated and the road type is selected so as to prioritize the main roads such as highways and national roads for route search,
Instead of the shortest route, routes using these roads are selected and displayed. In this way, it is useful for the driver to decide the course.

On the CD-ROM disk 7, when the regulation due to rainfall is performed for each of the links, the regulated rainfall amount is recorded. When the control key 2f of the operation key 2 is operated, the central processing unit 3 sets a road section in which passage may be restricted due to rainfall to a state different from the remaining section, as shown in FIG. 4, for example. Display by changing the color or blinking.

Further, when the rain amount switching key 2g is operated to input the rain amount, different display as described above is displayed only on the road section below the input rain amount and subject to the regulation, and its display screen is displayed. For example, the selected rainfall amount is displayed as indicated by the reference numeral 20 in the corner portion. In this state, when the route search key 2d is operated as described above, the route search as described above is performed except for the section subject to the traffic regulation.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the main processing operation of the navigation device 1. In step m1, initial settings such as resetting a rainfall count value described later are performed. At step m2, it is determined whether or not any input operation is performed from the operation keys 2, and if so, the process proceeds to step m3, where after key input processing as shown in FIG. 6 described later is performed, the process proceeds to step m4. If not, move directly to step m4.

In step m4, the geomagnetic sensor 12
It is determined whether or not there is an input of the own vehicle position calculated and obtained from the detection result of the wheel speed sensor 13, and if so, it is shown in FIG. 2 corresponding to the coordinates of the own vehicle position in step m5. After such a display is performed, the process returns to step m2, otherwise, the screen currently being displayed is continuously displayed in step m6, and then step m2.
Return to.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the key input processing operation generated by the request in step m3. In step n1, it is determined whether or not the regulation key 2f is operated. If yes, the process proceeds to step n2, and if not, the step n5 is directly executed.
Move on to. In step n2, it is checked whether or not the regulation is selected. If it is selected, the flag F1 indicating that is selected is "1". Therefore, the process proceeds to step n3, and the flag F1 is set to the unselected state. Reset to "0". If the flag F1 is not selected, the flag F1 is "0". Therefore, the process proceeds to step n4, and the flag F1 is set to "1" to bring it into the selected state. When both processes are completed, the process moves to step n5.

At step n5, it is judged whether or not the set value of rain amount has been increased by the rain amount changeover key 2g. If so, at step n6 the count value C of rain amount is increased by 10 mm and updated, and then step If not, the process directly moves to step n7. At step n7, it is judged whether or not the rain amount lowering operation has been performed by the rain amount switching key 2g, and if so, at step n8 the count value C is already 0 mm.
If it is not, the count value C is decremented by 10 mm and updated in step n9, and then the process proceeds to step n10. When the rain amount lowering operation is not performed in step n7, and when the count value C is already 0 mm in step n8, the process directly proceeds to step n10.

At step n10, it is judged whether or not the selection operation by the selection key 2e such as giving priority to the shortest distance or giving priority to a wide road such as an expressway is performed in the route search. After the corresponding mode is set in step n11, step n1
2. If not, go directly to step n12.

In step n12, it is determined whether or not the route search key 2d is operated, and if so, it is further determined in step n13 whether or not the flag F1 is set to "1". If so, the process proceeds to step n14. If not, the process proceeds to step n15. In step n14, the route search is performed in the remaining section excluding the restriction section corresponding to the mode set in step n11 and the count value C in step n6 or n9. On the other hand, in step n15, a normal route search is performed corresponding to only the mode set in step n11.

At the time of initial setting in step n1, the count value C is set to the maximum value. Therefore, in step n5 or n7, the rain amount switching key 2g is not operated and only the regulation key 2f is operated. When operated, in step n14, the route search is performed excluding all sections that may be restricted.

When the route search key 2d is not operated at the step n12, and when the step n14,
From n15, the process moves to step n16, and the keys 2d, 2
It is determined whether any of the remaining keys 2a, 2b, 2c other than e, 2f, 2g has been operated, and if so, the input processing corresponding to the operated key is performed in step n17. In step n18, the display associated with the key input processing is performed as shown in FIG. 7, and the process returns to step m4.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the display operation corresponding to the key input processing. Step k1
In, the ground, water area, mountains, green areas, etc. of the area to be displayed are drawn in a color suitable for them. At step k2, it is judged if the flag F1 is set to "1". If so, at step k3 the section to be regulated is drawn, for example, in light blue, and at step k4, it is further regulated. After the remaining section that does not become white is drawn in white, the process proceeds to step k5. When the flag F1 is reset to "0" in step k2, after all the sections are drawn in white in step k6, the process proceeds to step k5.

At step k5, characters such as station names and intersection names are drawn. In step k7, it is determined whether or not a route search is being performed. If so, the recommended route searched in step k8 is drawn, for example, in yellow, and then the process returns to step n18. If not, step n18 is directly executed. Return to.

As described above, in the navigation device 1 according to the present invention, whether or not it is subject to the regulation due to rainfall in advance in the CD-ROM disc 7 corresponding to each road section called a link, and The amount of rainfall is recorded and the sections subject to the regulation are displayed in a state different from the remaining sections in response to the operation of the regulation key 2f. Selection and the like can be performed, and safety and convenience can be improved.

Further, by inputting the rainfall amount from the rainfall amount changeover key 2g, only the road section which is subject to the regulation below the rainfall amount is selected and displayed. It is possible to select a route accurately. Furthermore, when performing a route search,
Since the section that is subject to the regulation is excluded, the optimum recommended route can be automatically obtained corresponding to the rainfall state, and the convenience can be improved.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining the key input processing operation of another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. The same reference numerals are attached. It should be noted that in this embodiment, when the restriction key 2f is operated in step n1 and the flag F1 is not set to "1" in step n2, the flag F1 is set to "1" in step n4, and then the step n21. Move on to. In step n21, it is judged whether or not the route search as shown in the above-mentioned steps n12 to n15 has already been completed, and if so, the process proceeds to step n22, and the searched recommended route is subject to regulation. It is determined whether or not the section is included, and if so, a message output as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed in step n23, and after an alternative route is searched in step n24, the process moves to step n5. When the route search is not completed in step n21,
If there is no section to be regulated in step n22, the process directly goes to step n5.

Therefore, in this embodiment, if the regulation key 2f is operated even if the route search has already been completed,
When the searched route includes a section to be regulated, the driver is notified and the alternative route is searched, so that the convenience can be further improved.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the subject of the regulation is rain. However, as another embodiment of the present invention, there are long-term construction, regulation by time zone, and one-way traffic. Regulation may be used, and the color of the map screen display may be different from the color described in the explanation with reference to FIG. 7, and the regulation section may be markedly displayed by blinking display. You may do it.

Further, although the geomagnetic sensor 12 and the wheel speed sensor 13 are used to obtain the own vehicle position in the above-mentioned embodiment, as another embodiment of the present invention, a signal from a satellite orbiting the earth orbits is used. GPS (Global Positionin)
g System) may be used to measure the position of the own vehicle, and instead of the geomagnetic sensor 12, another direction sensor such as a vibration gyro sensor or an optical fiber gyro sensor may be used.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, the recording medium together with the road map, together with the information on the regulation of each road such as the regulation by rainfall, that is, the regulated rainfall amount for which the passage of each section of the road is regulated. If you record and enter the rainfall amount, the section where the regulated rainfall amount is less than the entered rainfall amount and traffic is restricted is displayed in a state different from the remaining section. The inconvenience of frequently listening to road information can be eliminated, and detours can be selected at an early stage, thus improving safety and convenience.

Further, according to the present invention, in calculating the recommended route to the destination and performing the route guidance, in addition to the recording medium recording the road map, each of the sections regulated by rainfall on each road is It records the amount of rainfall, and when the amount of rainfall is entered, the recommended route is calculated excluding the section where the regulated amount of rainfall is less than the entered amount of rainfall and traffic is restricted. Can be determined at an early stage, and safety and convenience can be improved.

If the rainfall is input after calculating the recommended route once the rainfall amount has not been input, the recommended route that has already been calculated includes the section to be regulated. Since the operator is notified when there is a route, it is possible to further improve safety and convenience without overlooking the section subject to the regulation by selecting the regulation even after searching the route once. it can. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the traffic regulation information by a time zone or a period is recorded with a road map on a recording medium, therefore, a recommended route can be searched quickly, convenience improves, and a driver's safety is improved. Be improved. Once calculated,
When the restriction is selected, the recommended route search is calculated again when the recommended route that has already been calculated includes traffic regulation information according to the time zone or the period, or the operator is notified by the notification means. By selecting the regulation even after the route is once searched, the safety and convenience can be further improved without overlooking the section to be regulated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a navigation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of a vehicle position on a map screen.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a recommended route.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example when traffic is restricted due to rainfall.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining a main processing operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a key input processing operation of an embodiment of the present invention for explaining regulation selection due to rainfall.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a display operation accompanying the key input processing operation.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining a key input processing operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example for explaining the effect of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Navigation device 2 operation keys 2d route search key 2e Selection key 2f regulation key 2g Rainfall change key 3 Central processing unit 4 CD-ROM device 5,11 Processing circuit 7 CD-ROM disc 9 Display device 12 Geomagnetic sensor 13 Wheel speed sensor

Front page continuation (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G08G 1/0969 G01C 21/00 G01S 5/02 G09B 29/10

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A navigation device in which a calculating unit calculates a recommended route based on a road map recorded in a recording medium, and the recording medium also records a regulated rainfall amount for which passage of each road section is regulated. Incidentally, when the rainfall amount is input, it is possible to display the section of the road whose regulated rainfall amount recorded on the recording medium is less than or equal to the input rainfall amount in a state different from the remaining section. Characteristic navigation device. 2. A required road map is read from the recording medium by inputting at least the current position of the vehicle and a destination based on the road map recorded in the recording medium, and the recommended route is calculated by the calculating means. In the navigation device described above, the recording medium also records a regulated rainfall amount that restricts the passage of each road section, and when the rainfall amount is input, the calculation means records the rainfall amount in the recording medium. A navigation device, wherein the recommended route is calculated excluding a section of a road whose regulated rainfall amount is equal to or less than the input rainfall amount. 3. The calculating means, when the recommended route is calculated in a state where the rainfall amount is not input, and then the output representing the input rainfall amount is given, the calculating unit calculates the amount of rainfall equal to or less than the input rainfall amount in the recommended route. 3. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein it is determined whether or not a section of the regulated rainfall amount is included, and when it is included, the operator is notified.