JP3894186B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device including a portable navigation unit that is detachably provided in a mounted state and a detached state with respect to a vehicle and that can be used outside the vehicle in the detached state.

Conventionally, a portable navigation device configured to be detachable from a vehicle has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This includes a display, a storage unit that stores and holds various information, a navigation unit that calculates current position data and displays the current position of the vehicle on the display together with map information from the storage unit, and a vehicle that is an in-vehicle power source A connection cable and a connector with the battery for battery are integrally formed in the case. And it can be used in an on-vehicle state by connecting to the battery with the connection cable and connector, the connector is removed from the battery, the navigation device is transferred to another vehicle, and the connector is used as a battery for the other vehicle. By connecting, it can be used in other vehicles. In other words, it is not fixedly attached to a specific vehicle, and can be easily moved to another vehicle if it is not necessary for the specific vehicle, thereby improving the use efficiency of the navigation device. It is.
JP-A-4-238218

  However, in the conventional portable navigation device described above, since it is necessary to have a storage unit that stores and holds all the various information necessary for the navigation device, the portable navigation device must be quite large even though it is portable. It has become an obstacle to miniaturization. In particular, the storage unit used in the navigation device is usually composed of a CD unit composed of a plurality of CD-ROMs that record various types of information and a reading unit thereof. It becomes a thing.

  Further, the conventional portable navigation device is only provided with a connection cable and a connector for an in-vehicle power supply, and although it can be attached to and detached from the vehicle, it cannot be used unless it is in an in-vehicle state. Therefore, there is an inconvenience that the navigation device cannot be used alone when it is detached from the vehicle. In other words, the portable navigation device described above is originally intended only for use in an on-vehicle state, and therefore, for example, the vehicle travels to a destination, and the navigation device is removed from the vehicle at the destination and removed from the vehicle. It cannot be used for the purpose of obtaining map information, current position information, etc. during walking. Here, it is conceivable to attach a dedicated power source to the above navigation device. In this case, however, not only the size of the navigation device is increased, but also a large capacity power source is required as the dedicated power source. However, there is a disadvantage that it causes a considerable increase in size and weight. For this reason, in order to obtain map information, current position information, and the like during walking outside the vehicle, some dedicated device is required in addition to the in-vehicle navigation device that can be carried while walking.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a navigation device configured to be detachable from a vehicle.

The navigation device of the present invention includes a map information storage unit that is fixedly mounted on a vehicle, including a disk in which map information is stored, a display, an operation switch, and map information stored in the disk. A portable navigation unit that includes a RAM in which a part of information is written, is detachably provided in the mounted state and removed from the vehicle, and can be used outside the vehicle in the detached state, and a control unit that centrally controls the vehicle The portable navigation unit is controlled by the control unit in the mounted state, and is used to display an inter-vehicle distance, an approach warning, or obstacle information on the display, while being removed. In the state, navigation is performed using the map information written in the RAM.

  According to this configuration, the map information storage unit fixedly mounted on the vehicle, and the portable navigation unit that is detachably provided in the mounted state and the detached state with respect to the vehicle and can be used outside the vehicle in the detached state. Thus, a navigation device is configured. Among these, the map information storage unit includes a disk such as a CD-ROM in which map information is stored. On the other hand, the portable navigation unit includes a display, operation switches, and a RAM in which information is written. This RAM is for writing a part of the map information stored in the disk, and a very small one is sufficient. That is, the RAM is greatly reduced in size as compared with, for example, a CD unit or the like, and thereby, the size of the portable navigation unit can be reduced.

  According to the navigation device of the present invention, the map information storage unit fixedly mounted on the vehicle includes the disk, and the portable navigation unit that can be used outside the vehicle when removed from the vehicle includes the RAM. The part side can be greatly reduced in size.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a centralized control system of a vehicle to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. 1 is a control unit for centrally controlling the vehicle, and 2 is a main unit fixedly mounted on the vehicle. A navigation device (hereinafter abbreviated as “main navigation”) 3 is a sub navigation device (hereinafter abbreviated as “sub navigation”) detachably attached to the vehicle.

  The control unit 1 is constituted by a microcomputer, and includes detection signals from various sensors 11, operation commands from various control switches 12, information from an external monitor 13, information from a navigation unit 20 described later, and a voice operation interface 14. In response to a command from the voice dialogue switch 15 via the control, the operation of the travel control device 16, various auxiliary devices 17, the main display 25, the sub display 33, and the like are centrally controlled.

  That is, the control unit 1 receives detection signals from various sensors 11 for detecting the vehicle movement state, running state, etc., such as a vehicle speed sensor and an engine speed sensor, and receives an anti-skid brake device (ABS) and a four-wheel steering device. (4WS), a four-wheel drive device (4WD), a fuel injection device (EGI), and the like, while controlling the travel control device 16 and receiving operation commands from various control switches 12, a power window, a door lock, a wiper, an air conditioner Operation control of various auxiliary machines 17 such as a shoner is performed. The control unit 1 receives information from an automatic tracking device using a laser or an external monitor 13 such as a rear or front monitor camera, and displays an inter-vehicle distance display, an approach warning display or obstacle information on the sub-display 33. On the other hand, road map information, current position information, route guidance information, road traffic information, or the like is displayed on the main display 25 based on information from the navigation unit 20 to be described later, or by road traffic information by FM multiplex broadcasting or beacons to be described later. The character information is displayed on the sub-display 33. During these controls, the control unit 1 responds by converting the approach warning, traffic jam information, etc. into voice via the voice operation interface 14 and notifying the driver etc. through the speaker of the voice dialogue switch 15. It also encourages operation.

  The main navigation 2 includes a navigation unit 20 that performs calculation of current position data and various controls of the main navigation 2, a GPS receiver 21, and an in-vehicle database that includes, for example, a CD-ROM in which road map information and the like are recorded. 22, the main display 25, a VICS (traffic information communication system) unit 23, and a ground communication unit 24 configured by an in-vehicle phone or the like and performing communication via telephone radio.

  The GPS receiving unit 21 receives a predetermined number or more of signals from the GPS satellites by the GPS antenna 21a, and sends data for positioning the latitude and longitude of the current position to the navigation unit 20 based on the signals from the GPS satellites. It comes to input. The in-vehicle database 22 is composed of a CD-ROM or the like and a reading unit thereof. The CD-ROM includes road map information recorded therein, a landmark building along the road, a gas station, a sightseeing spot. We have recorded service information that guides famous places, business hours, telephone directory, etc. Further, the VICS unit 23 includes FM multiplex broadcast and radio beacon receivers, and an optical beacon sensor that performs bidirectional communication of optical signals with the optical beacon, and the FM multiplex broadcast, radio beacon or optical beacon. Is used as an information transmission medium to receive road traffic information (VICS information) from a road traffic information center as an information base and input it to the navigation unit 20. In addition, the terrestrial communication unit 24 uses the dedicated frequency within the frequency band of the terrestrial radio in addition to the telephone radio as described above, emergency driving information of emergency vehicles such as police cars, ambulances or fire engines, traffic accidents, fires, etc. The emergency information such as the occurrence information can be received through the terrestrial radio wave.

  The navigation unit 20 calculates position coordinate data such as the latitude and longitude of the current position based on data from the GPS receiver 21 and data from a GPS receiver 31 having a similar configuration on the sub-navi 3 side described later. Based on the road map data read from the in-vehicle database 22, road map images and service information such as signals and gas stations are displayed on the main display 25, and the vehicle mark is displayed on the road map image based on the position coordinate data. Superimposed display. The navigation unit 20 displays the VICS information as a graphic or a character on the sub-display 33 via the control unit 1 or outputs the VICS information from the speaker of the voice interaction switch 15 by voice according to the type of the information. At the same time, when the emergency information is received, a voice warning from the speaker of the voice dialogue switch 15 and an identification mark or character information on the map image of the main display 25 are displayed.

  Note that the display (navigation display) as described above on the main display 25 is performed via the control unit 1 from various displays such as the inter-vehicle distance until then by the operation of the control switch 12 by the driver or the like. This is for causing the control unit 1 to switch the display content to the navigation display.

  The sub-navi 3 includes a sub-control unit (hereinafter referred to as “ECU”) 30 that performs calculation of current position data and various controls of the sub-navi 3, a GPS receiving unit 31, and a RAM 32 that can write and read information described later. A sub-display 33 having a smaller screen than the main display 25, a speaker 34 including an audio circuit for converting to sound, a dry battery 35a such as a lithium battery as a spare or emergency power source, and a normal use. A solar battery 35b as a dedicated power source, an operation switch 36 constituted by a monitor switch, a voice switch, and the like for giving an operation command to the ECU 30, and a main navigation 2 connected to the ECU 30 via a telephone line And a telephone terminal 37 for exchanging information between them. There are constructed as one body is accommodated in the unillustrated casing. The sub display 33 and the speaker 34 constitute means for providing information to the user.

  The sub-navi 3 is detachably engaged and temporarily held via a holding mechanism (not shown) attached at an appropriate location near the instrument panel of the vehicle. It is detachable between a mounted state and a detached state removed from the vehicle. In this conversion from the mounted state to the detached state, the disengagement by the holding mechanism is performed by the switch operation of the sub-navi removing switch 38. The sub-navi removal switch 38 is connected to the control unit 1 so that a removal signal is output to the control unit 1 by a switch operation. Further, the sub-navi 3 controls the display of the sub-display 33 by the connection unit (not shown) with the control unit 1 for transferring information to the RAM 32 via the ECU 30 in the conversion to the detached state. A connecting portion (not shown) with the control unit 1 is provided.

  The sub-navi 3 is connected to the in-vehicle power source (vehicle battery) via the control unit 1 and each connection part in the attached state, while the ECU 30 and the sub-display 33 are connected in the connection part in the detached state. The ECU 30 is disconnected and is supplied with power from the dedicated power sources 35a and 35b by the switch operation by the operation switch 36.

  In the mounted state, the ECU 30 outputs data based on the GPS signal from the GPS satellite received by the GPS receiver 31 to the navigation unit 20 via the control unit 1 and also converts the navigation unit 20 and the data into the removed state. Predetermined map information output via the control unit 1 is written in the RAM 32. On the other hand, in the detached state, the ECU 30 is controlled by the switch operation of the operation switch 36 as described above, and the position coordinates such as the latitude and longitude of the current position based on the data based on the GPS signal from the GPS receiver 31 and the like. Whether the road map image based on the road map data written in the RAM 32 is displayed on the sub-display 33 and the current position mark is superimposed on the road map image based on the position coordinate data. Information is output from the speaker 34 by voice. That is, the sub-navi 3 has different control contents and the like in the mounted state and the detached state. The display by the sub-display 33 and the output by the speaker 34 are performed by a process described with reference to a control flowchart described later in accordance with the switch operation of the operation switch 36.

  Next, the control of the control unit 1 when removing the attached sub-navi 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the sub-navi removal switch 37 has been turned on. If not, the control of the ECU 30 on the sub-navi 3 side is turned off (step S2). Is maintained in the ON state (step S3), and the sub navigation 3 is maintained under the control of the control unit 1. When the ON operation is performed in step S1, the processes in steps S4 to S8 are performed in order to convert to the removed state. That is, in step S4, the ECU 30 on the sub-navi 3 side is turned on (step S4), and based on the current position data in the navigation unit 20, surrounding map information of a predetermined range (for example, a radius of 5 km) around the current position, etc. Is transferred to the RAM 32 (step S5). After this transfer, the sub-navi 3 is removed from the holding mechanism by turning off (disconnecting) the control unit 1 in step S6 (step S7). Then, the sub-navi 3 is switched so as to display the vehicle state display or the like displayed on the sub-display 33 on the side of the main display 25 (step S8). Thereby, even when the sub-navi 3 is removed from the vehicle and carried around when walking outside the vehicle, information about the walking periphery is written to the RAM 32 each time. The RAM 32 can be made smaller, and the size can be significantly reduced as compared with a large-sized database such as the in-vehicle database 22 constituted by the CD unit on the main navigation 2 side. In addition, it is possible to retain information sufficient to use the sub navigation 3 when walking.

  Next, the control of the ECU 30 for the sub display 33 and the speaker 34 in the removed sub navigation 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. First, in step S11, whether or not the monitor switch that constitutes a part of the operation switch 36 is turned on. If the ON operation is performed, the solar cell circuit is turned on to supply power from the solar cell 35b (step S12), the sub-display 33 is turned on to display predetermined information (step S13), The sound circuit (speaker 34) is turned off (step S14). On the other hand, if the monitor switch is not turned on, the solar cell circuit is turned off to cut off the power supply from the solar cell 35b (step S15), and the sub display 33 is turned off (step S16). Next, in step S17, it is determined whether or not the voice switch that is a part of the operation switch 36 is turned on. If the voice switch is turned on, the solar battery circuit is turned on to supply power from the solar battery 35b. (Step S18), the sound circuit is turned on, predetermined information is output as sound from the speaker 34 (Step S19), and the display 33 is turned off (Step S14). On the other hand, if the voice switch is not turned on, the solar battery circuit is turned off to cut off the power supply from the solar battery 35b (step S21), and the voice circuit is turned off (step S22). That is, it is composed of an automatic return type that is turned on only when operated as a monitor switch or a voice switch, and is turned off when released, and uses only one of the sub-display 33 and the speaker 34, and is operated with an operation switch. The sub display 33 or the speaker 34 is operated only when the ON operation is performed. As a result, the power consumption of the dedicated power source on the side of the sub-navi 3 can be limited and the power consumption can be made extremely small. The dedicated power supply can be greatly reduced in size. Further, when the sub display 33 is turned on, the display information amount per unit area of the screen is made smaller than that of the main display 25. In other words, the sub display 33 does not display, for example, signal information such as signals, gas stations, convenience stores, and the like that are displayed on the main display 25, thereby reducing the amount of processing necessary for the operation of the sub display 33. To reduce power consumption.

  If each of the operation switches is configured as a simple switching type instead of an automatic return type, the sub display 33 is turned on in step S13 and then forcibly turned off at a predetermined setting time (for example, 60 sec). You may control so that. Thereby, the power consumption by maintaining the sub-display 33 etc. in a display state unnecessarily can be suppressed.

  On the other hand, if the information written in the RAM is insufficient while the sub-navi 3 in the removed state is being carried while walking, the peripheral map information transferred to the RAM 32 at the time of removal, for example. For example, when information about the outside of the range is necessary, the mobile phone 40 is connected to the telephone terminal 37 and connected to the ground communication unit 24 on the vehicle side through the telephone line. Accordingly, the peripheral map information centered on the current position outside the above range may be retransferred from the in-vehicle database 22 to the RAM 32 on the sub-navi 3 side.

  The control of the vehicle-side control unit 1 in such a case will be described with reference to FIG. 4. After the sub navigation 3 and the main navigation 2 are connected through the telephone line, the command “#” is operated from the operation switch 36 of the sub navigation 3. Wait until "1" is input (steps S31 and S32). If the command “# 1” is input, the main navigation 2 is set to the output mode (step S33), and the position coordinates of the current position are input from the sub navigation 3 (step S34). Then, peripheral map information centered on the current position coordinates is output and transferred to the RAM 32 of the sub-navi 3 (step S35). Thereby, even when the information transferred to the RAM 32 at the time of removal from the vehicle becomes insufficient, the information can be obtained again from the in-vehicle database 22 as necessary.

  Further, by using communication with the in-vehicle database 22 via such a telephone line, more detailed information can be extracted from the in-vehicle database 22 than the transfer information at the time of removal. That is, for example, when the location of a friend / acquaintance's house is unknown and it is desired to display where the house is located somewhere on the map image of the sub-display 33, for example, a mobile phone 40 is connected to the telephone terminal 37. By connecting to the vehicle side via the telephone line as described above, address information corresponding to the telephone number is written from the in-vehicle database 22 to the RAM 32 on the sub-navi 3 side, and the position of the house is displayed on the map image of the sub-display 33. Such information may be displayed. A display example of the sub-display 33 in this case is shown in FIG. In this display example, on the map image 331 of the sub-display 33, a current position mark 332 indicating the current position of the user who is walking, a destination mark 333 indicating the position of the visited friend's house, and the user An arrow mark 334 indicating the direction of the visited place is displayed. In addition, the distance from the current position of the user to the destination is calculated, the required time is calculated from the normal walking speed, and characters representing these information are displayed. Information 335 is also displayed.

<Other embodiments>
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Various other embodiments are included. That is, in the above embodiment, the information providing means on the side of the sub navigation 3 is configured by the sub display 33 and the speaker 34. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the information providing means is either the sub display 33 or the speaker 34. You may comprise only one side.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the solar cell 35b is used as a dedicated power supply of the subnavigation 3, you may abbreviate | omit a solar cell and use dry batteries 35a, such as a lithium dry battery, as a dedicated power source.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when the sub navigation 3 is mounted, the current position data in the navigation unit 20 of the main navigation 2 is calculated from the GPS signals from the two GPS receivers 21 and 31. Not limited to this, the GPS receiving unit 31 on the sub-navi 3 side may be in a pause state, and the calculation may be performed based only on the GPS signal from the GPS receiving unit on the main navigation 2 side. Further, the calculation of the current position data may be performed in addition to the GPS signal in consideration of the self-contained navigation based on each detected value from the vibration gyroscope or the vehicle speed sensor.

It is a block diagram of the centralized control system of the vehicle to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the control at the time of removing a sub navigation from a vehicle. It is a flowchart which shows the operation control of the sub display and speaker of a sub navigation in a removal state. It is a flowchart which shows the control in the case of transferring information from the vehicle side to the sub-navi in the removal state. It is a front view which shows the example of a display of the sub display of the subnavi of a removal state.

Explanation of symbols

2 Main navigation 3 Sub navigation (mobile navigation part)
22 On-board database (map information storage unit)
30 ECU
33 Sub display (display)
32 RAM
36 Operation switch 38 Subnavi removal switch

Claims (1)

A map information storage unit including a disk on which map information is stored, and fixedly mounted on the vehicle;
It includes a display, operation switches, and a RAM in which some of the map information stored in the disk is written, and is detachably provided in the mounted state and the detached state with respect to the vehicle. A portable navigation unit that can be used with
A control unit for centrally controlling the vehicle,
The portable navigation unit is controlled by the control unit in the mounted state, and is used to display an inter-vehicle distance, approach warning, or obstacle information on the display, while the RAM is in the detached state. A navigation device that performs navigation using the map information written on.

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