JP3894471B2 - Traffic information display device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present inventionTraffic information display device, Especially traffic information in relation to the mapTraffic information display deviceAbout.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Traditionally, Vehicle Information and Communication Systems (Vehicle Information and
Communication System (abbreviation VICS) is used. Road traffic information, such as road traffic congestion, accidents, time required for passing the road, parking lot data, etc., is transmitted in real time by FM (frequency modulation) multiplex broadcasting, and mounted on vehicles such as automobiles Received by the FM multiplex broadcast receiver, decodes and outputs the traffic information, and displays the traffic information in relation to the map of the navigation device. Such FM multiplex broadcasting cannot be received with sufficient reception electric field strength between high-rise buildings and in basins, and when it passes a large track, large noise is mixed.
[0003]
The traffic information to be broadcast is updated every certain time, for example, every 5 minutes. In the receiver, the received traffic information is temporarily stored in a memory, and the traffic information stored in the memory remains displayed on the display screen until updated with new traffic information. Therefore, while the vehicle is running, the driver may erroneously determine that the latest traffic information is received even though no broadcast is received.
[0004]
That is, in the prior art, in a navigation device mounted on a vehicle, the reception status of FM multiplex broadcasting on which traffic information is superimposed constantly changes with the movement, for example, between high-rise buildings and in basins as described above. In some places, reception of traffic information is interrupted. Therefore, the traffic information is not updated when the reception situation deteriorates and the reception state is not received. The driver of the vehicle is unaware that the traffic information remains old, which may cause the user to recognize and grasp erroneous traffic information. As a result, there is a problem that the driver cannot obtain traffic information at an important timing while traveling on the road.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  An object of the present invention is to be able to accurately recognize and judge the obtained traffic information without error.Traffic information display deviceIs to provide.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  BookThe invention comprises a traffic information receiving means for receiving traffic information;
  Reception status detecting means for repeatedly detecting the traffic information reception status by the traffic information receiving means;
  Display means capable of displaying traffic information and traffic information reception status;
  When the reception status detection means detects reception or non-reception of traffic information for a predetermined time or more, the display status change is made to change the display status of the reception status displayed on the display means to the content indicating reception or non-reception. And a traffic information display device.
[0008]
  According to the present invention,When the reception or non-reception of traffic information is detected more than a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined time or more, the display mode of the reception status displayed on the display means is changed to the content indicating reception or non-reception, so "And" non-reception "are frequently repeated, and there is no fear that the display flickers, and a stable display state can be achieved.
[0012]
  The present invention also providesUntil the display mode of the reception status displayed on the display unit is changed by the display mode changing unit, the display mode of the previous reception status is continuously displayed.It is characterized by that.
  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the display from flickering due to frequent repetition of “receiving” and “not receiving”.
[0013]
  The present invention also providesTraffic information receiving means for receiving traffic information;
  Reception status detecting means for repeatedly detecting the traffic information reception status by the traffic information receiving means;
  Display means capable of displaying traffic information and traffic information reception status;
  When the traffic information is not received from the reception and the non-reception is continuously detected for a predetermined time or longer by the reception status detection unit, the content indicating reception displayed on the display unit is changed to the content indicating non-reception. A traffic information display device comprising display mode changing means.
[0014]
  According to the present invention,When traffic information is not received from reception and non-reception is continuously detected for a predetermined time or longer, the content indicating reception displayed on the display means is changed to the content indicating non-reception, so that the display is displayed on the display means. It is possible to prevent repeated contents from being repeated frequently, and to achieve a stable display state.
[0015]
  The present invention also providesThe change from the content representing reception to the content representing non-reception is to change the time information display regarding traffic information representing reception to a character display representing non-reception.It is characterized by that.
[0018]
  According to the present invention,In the display mode changing means, information is acquired by changing the change from the content indicating reception to the content indicating non-reception to character display.be able to.
[0028]
Furthermore, this reception status is repeated every predetermined time, and when the number of detections at the time of reception exceeds a predetermined number, a display at the time of reception is displayed, or the number of detections at the time of non-reception is a predetermined number of times or more When it becomes, display when not receiving. Thus, flickering of the display can be prevented and a filter function can be achieved. The predetermined time for repeating the reception status may be the above-mentioned number of times for repeating the predetermined operation achieved by, for example, a microcomputer, or may be set by a timer or the like. In one embodiment of the present invention, the reception status detection means does not have a filter function, and the display means for displaying the detection output of the reception status detection means may have a filter function. In another embodiment of the present invention, the reception status detection means may have a filter function and the display means may not have a filter function. Furthermore, both the reception status detection means and the display means may be filters. It may have a function.
[0031]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a two-dimensional display screen 3 of display means 2 provided in a navigation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This screen 3 is provided with a map display area 4 for displaying a road map and a reception status display area 5.
[0032]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 1 is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile. The navigation means 6 for displaying a navigation map in the map display area 4 of the screen 3 includes a map memory 7 for storing a road map, a current position detecting means 8 for detecting the current position of the vehicle, a microcomputer, and the like. Navigation processing means 9 realized by The navigation processing means 9 displays the data representing the current position of the vehicle on the map data read from the map memory 7 by the output from the current position detecting means 8 and controls the display control means 11 to display the map of the display means 2. A map is displayed in the display area 4.
[0033]
The current position detection means 8 can be realized by, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) device. This GPS device can obtain radio signals from a plurality of geostationary satellites stationary over the earth and calculate the current position of the vehicle. The current position of the vehicle detected in this way is displayed by a character 13 such as an arrow indicating the front in the traveling direction on the road 12 in the map display area 4 of FIG. The road 12 also displays a route for reaching the target location.
[0034]
Further, in order to display road information in the map display area 4 of the screen 3, traffic information receiving means 14 for receiving FM multiplex broadcast by the road traffic information communication system VICS and obtaining traffic information is provided.
[0035]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a frequency spectrum of a high-frequency signal of FM multiplex broadcasting. In FM multiplex broadcasting, program information 16 to be originally broadcasted and VICS traffic information 17 are multiplexed, and a common carrier frequency signal is frequency-modulated and transmitted. The high frequency signal of FM multiplex broadcasting having the frequency spectrum shown in FIG. 3 is received by the tuner 18 of the traffic information receiving means 14. The tuner 18 can selectively receive broadcasts of a plurality of types of carrier frequencies of FM multiplex broadcast having traffic information. The FM multiplex broadcast program information 16 is demodulated by the reception processing circuit 19 and sonicated by the speaker 20. The program information 16 may be music and news.
[0036]
The traffic information 17 received by the tuner 18 is decoded by the FM multiplex decoder 21, and the traffic information data is led to the line 22. Furthermore, the reception status of traffic information is detected, and reception status data representing the reception status is derived to the line 23. The traffic information processing means 24 realized by a microcomputer or the like calculates data for displaying traffic information in the map display area 4 and creates data for displaying the reception status.
[0037]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the traffic information 17 signal. The traffic information 17 includes content data 26, data 27 indicating the type of content data, and the like, and further includes identification data 28 for identifying the traffic information. The content data 26 of the traffic information 17 is data relating to, for example, road congestion, accidents, construction, time required for passing through the road, parking lots, and the like. The type data 27 represents one of level 1 for displaying characters, level 2 for displaying simple graphics, and level 3 for displaying a map for displaying the content data 26, for example.
[0038]
In the map display area 4 of FIG. 1, the traffic information 31, 32, which is the content data 26, is output and transmitted at level 3 and displayed. The traffic jam information 31 and 32 is an arrow character, and the traffic jam status is indicated by red, orange and light blue, and the length of the traffic jam information 31 and 32 indicates the range of the road where the traffic jam occurs. The traffic information processing means 24 gives the type data 27 to the memory 33 and gives a signal corresponding to each level to the navigation processing means 9.
[0039]
In FM multiplex broadcasting, the traffic information 17 is updated every predetermined time, for example, every 5 minutes, and the latest traffic information 17 is stored in the memory 34. The navigation processing means 9 displays the latest updated traffic information 17 stored in the memory 34 in association with the display road map in the map display area 4.
[0040]
The traffic information 17 also includes time information 29 representing the time provided from the broadcasting station. The traffic information processing unit 24 gives this time information 29 to the navigation processing unit 9 and displays it on the time display unit 37 called VICS time stamp in the display area 36 of the screen 3 by the display control unit 11. Further, the navigation processing means 9 displays in the display area 38 of the screen 3 that the current position detecting means 8 is a GPS device and is operating. Below the map display area 4 of the screen 3, an operation unit 39 that functions as a key switch is displayed.
[0041]
FIG. 5 is a simplified diagram showing the road 12 displayed in the map display area 4 by the navigation processing means 9. In the road 12, a number is set in advance for each road portion as indicated by reference numerals 1 to 6 in FIG. As for the traffic information 17, the traffic information 31 and 32 is received by FM multiplex broadcasting as described above corresponding to the number of each road on this map.
[0042]
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the principle that the traffic jam information 31 is displayed on a part of the road 12 displayed in the map display area 4. The traffic congestion information 31 indicated by the arrow is displayed over the traffic congestion distance W2 from a position separated by a predetermined distance W1 from the end portion 42 of a part of the road 12. Such distances W1 and W2 are also included in the content data 26 of the traffic information.
[0043]
FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of the operation unit 39. A transparent flat sheet-like operation switch 41 is provided in front of the screen 3 of the display means 2, that is, on the operator side. As shown in FIG. 7, one operation unit 39 of the operation switch 41 is operated to select and input whether to display reception status data in the reception status display area 5.
[0044]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the navigation processing means 9. The process proceeds from step s1 to step s2, and it is determined whether or not the operation unit 39 is operated so as to be turned on (that is, displayed) to be displayed in the reception status display area 5. When the operation unit 39 is turned off so as not to be displayed in the reception status display area 5, the process proceeds from step s2 to step s3, "Non-reception" is displayed in that area 5, and the series of operations is terminated in step s4. . If it is ON, the process proceeds from step s2 to step s5, the display flag DISP is set to NO, and the count values Nα and Nβ are initialized to zero. The counts Nα and Nβ are values used to achieve a filter function that prevents display flickering by frequently repeating display of reception / non-reception in the reception status display area 5.
[0045]
Moving from step s5 to s6, the navigation processing means 9 acquires the traffic information identification data 28 included in the traffic information 17 from the traffic information processing means 24. When the traffic information identification data 28 is obtained by decoding, it is determined in step s7 that the traffic information 17 is being received, and when the traffic information identification data 28 is not decoded and the reception state is not acquired, step s7. In step S8, it is determined that no data is being received, and the process proceeds to step s8. In step s8, the count value Nβ is incremented by 1 and counted. In step s9, it is determined whether the count value Nβ is equal to or greater than a predetermined value β (Nβ ≧ β). Otherwise, the process proceeds to step s11. In this step s11, it is determined whether or not the flag DISP is YES. In this case, since the flag DISP is set to NO in the above-described step s5, the process proceeds from step s11 to step s12. Represents non-reception.
[0046]
FIG. 9 is a front view showing a display state of the reception status display area 5 on the screen 3 of the display means 2. In this reception status display area 5, if traffic information identification data 28 is received, “receiving” is displayed as shown in FIG. 9 (1), and if the traffic information identification data 28 is not obtained, In step s12, “not received” is displayed as shown in FIG. The display state of “receiving” in FIG. 9A is obtained in step s13 in FIG.
[0047]
Returning to step s6 from step s12, the operation of acquiring the traffic information identification data 28 of the traffic information 17 is performed. In the next step s7, when it is determined that the traffic information identification data 28 has been obtained, the process returns to step s14. Move.
[0048]
In step s14, the count value Nα is incremented by one. In step s15, it is determined whether the count value Nα is greater than or equal to a predetermined value α (Nα ≧ α). If not, the process proceeds to steps s11 and s12 and returns to step s6 again. If it is determined that the count value Nα is equal to or greater than the predetermined value α in step s15, the flag DISP is set to YES and the count value Nβ is set to zero in step s16. In step s11, it is determined whether or not the flag DISP is YES. In this case, since the flag DISP is set to YES in step s16, the process proceeds to step s13. In step s13, as shown in FIG. 9 (1), “receiving” is displayed in the reception status display area 5 as described above.
[0049]
Thus, when steps s6, s7, s14, s15, s11, and s12 are executed less than α times, the reception status display area 5 displays “non-reception”. When the count value Nα is equal to or greater than the predetermined value α, steps s6, s7, s14, s15, s16, s11, s13 are repeated, and “receiving” is displayed in the reception status display area 5. Accordingly, there is no possibility that “receiving” and “not receiving” are frequently repeated in the reception status display area 5.
[0050]
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a display operation in the reception status display area 5. FIG. 10A is a diagram showing the count value Nα, and FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a display state in the reception status display area 5. When the count value Nα in step s8 is less than the predetermined value α, as shown in FIG. 10 (2), in step s12, the reception status display area 5 is as shown in FIG. 9 (2). , “Non-reception” is displayed.
[0051]
When the traffic information identification data 28 of the traffic information 17 is not acquired on the way, the process proceeds from step s7 to step s8, the count value Nβ is incremented by 1, and the count value Nβ is less than the predetermined value β in step s9. If so, go to Step s11. In this case, since the flag DISP is already set to YES, the process proceeds from step s11 to step s13, and the reception status display area 5 is kept in a state where “receiving” is displayed. Thus, in a state where “receiving” is still displayed in the reception status display area 5 and the traffic information identification data 28 cannot be obtained, the operations of steps s6, s7, s8, s11, s13 are repeated, and the count value When Nβ is equal to or greater than a predetermined value β, the process proceeds from step s9 to step s10. In step s10, the flag DISP is set to NO. As a result, the process proceeds from step s11 to step s12, and the reception status display area 5 displays “non-reception” as shown in FIG. 9B. Thus, the FM multiplex broadcast including the traffic information 17 is not received, and the display of “non-reception” is performed only when the count value Nβ is equal to or greater than the predetermined value β. As a result, there is no fear that “receiving” and “not receiving” in the reception status display area 5 are frequently repeated and the display flickers, and a stable display state can be achieved.
[0052]
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the display state of the reception status display area 5. When the count value Nβ is less than the predetermined value β as shown in FIG. 11 (1) in step s9 in FIG. 8, the reception status display area 5 is shown in FIG. 9 (1) in step s13. “Receiving” is displayed.
[0053]
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a display state of the reception status display area 5. When the count value Nβ is equal to or greater than a predetermined value β as shown in FIG. 12 (1), the process proceeds from step s9 to steps s10, s11, and s12 in FIG. 8 as shown in FIG. 9 (2). In the reception status display area 5, “non-reception” is displayed. Further, when the reception status display area 5 displays “non-reception”, the traffic information identification data 28 is received, so that the steps s6, s7, s14, s15, s16, s11, s12 are performed and the count value Nα is determined. By repeating the predetermined value α times or more, the operations of steps s6, s7, s14, s15, s16, s11, and s13 are performed again, and “receiving” is displayed in the reception status display area 5 again. .
[0054]
α and β may be the same value or different values, and are natural numbers of 2 or more. Instead of counting the count values Nα and Nβ and measuring the time corresponding to the predetermined numbers α and β, in another embodiment of the present invention, the timers measure the time corresponding to the values α and β. May be.
[0055]
FIG. 13 is a front view showing a display state of the reception status display area 5a according to another embodiment of the present invention. When the traffic information is received and the traffic information identification data 28 is acquired, “reception” is displayed in step s13 of FIG. 8 as shown in FIG. 13 (1). In s12 of FIG. 8 where traffic information is not received, “Received” is not displayed in the reception status display area 5, as shown in FIG. 13 (2), and the displayed characters are erased. In FIG. 13 (2), It is indicated by a broken line. The reception status display area 5a is similar to the reception status display area 5 in the above-described embodiment, and other configurations are the same as those in the above-described embodiment. In still another embodiment of the present invention, the screen 3 of the display means 2 can display a plurality of colors, and the character color of “receiving” in FIGS. 13 (1) and 13 (2) is displayed. It may be displayed differently. In still another embodiment of the present invention, the screen 3 of the display means 2 can display gradations with a plurality of gradations. In FIG. 13A, the characters “receiving” are in high density, for example, black. In FIG. 13 (2), the characters “receiving” may be displayed at a low density, for example, in gray.
[0056]
That is, in FIG. 13, when the screen 3 of the display means 2 is configured to be capable of grayscale display with a plurality of gradations, the character “reception” is displayed at a high density in FIG. 13 (1). As shown in 2), “reception” may be displayed at a low density.
[0057]
FIG. 14 is a front view showing a display state of the display area 36a according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In the display area 36a, the time information 29 transmitted together with the traffic information 17 is always displayed when the traffic information, for example, the traffic information 31 and 32 shown in FIG. At the time of reception in step s13 of FIG. 8, “9:00” representing 9 o'clock as time information is displayed in red. Although not shown, a method of changing the size of characters according to reception / non-reception is also effective. In step s12 of FIG. 8, when traffic information is not acquired, the time “9:00” of the time display unit 37 is displayed in a second color, for example, black. By identifying the color of the time display unit 37 as described above, it is possible to know whether traffic information is received. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the display screen 3 has a color display function capable of displaying a plurality of colors. Other configurations of the present invention are the same as those of the above-described embodiment of the display area 36a.
[0058]
FIG. 15 is a front view showing a display state of the display area 36b according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The display area 36b has a configuration similar to that of the display area 36 shown in FIG. The character “VICS” which is the character in the display area 36b is clearly displayed when the traffic information is received in step s13 of FIG. When the traffic information is not received in step s12 of FIG. 8, the display of the character character “VICS” is deleted as shown in FIG. 15 (2), or the density of the character “VICS” of FIG. In comparison, it is displayed at a lower density. Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 15, the screen 3 of the display means 2 is configured to be capable of grayscale display with a plurality of gradations.
[0059]
FIG. 16 is a front view showing a display state of the display area 36c according to another embodiment of the present invention. The display area 36c is similar to the display area 36 described above. Particularly in this embodiment, the time display unit 37, which can be referred to as a VICS time stamp, includes the time “9:00” during reception of traffic information in step s13 of FIG. 8 as shown in FIG. Is displayed. When the traffic information cannot be obtained in step s12 of FIG. 8, the time display unit 37 displays the character “-:-”. It is also possible to display whether the traffic information is being received or not by such a change in the display mode.
[0060]
Each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 includes a time display unit 37 for displaying time information 29 which should be originally displayed for VICS, and uses such display areas 36a to 36c as it is to provide traffic information. Whether or not 17 is being received can be displayed. In each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the reception status display area 5 is omitted. Therefore, the map display area 4 can be made as wide as possible and the map can be clearly displayed.
[0061]
FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the navigation processing means 10 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in FIG. 17 is similar to each embodiment described above. It should be noted that in this embodiment, when operation is performed for selection so that traffic information is not displayed by operation of the operation unit 39, the process proceeds from step r1, r2 to step r3, and the screen 3 of the display means 2 is displayed. As shown in FIG. 18 (2), nothing is displayed in the reception status display area 5b provided in advance. As a result, the area in which the map display area 4 is displayed can be increased, and the display of the map becomes clear. When it is selected by the operation of the operation unit 39 that the reception status display area 5b is to display that reception is in progress, the operation proceeds from step r2 to step r5, and the operations of steps s5 to s16 in FIG. The same is done. The reception status display area 5b in FIG. 18 is similar to the reception status display area 5 in FIG.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
  According to the present invention,When the reception or non-reception of traffic information is detected more than a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined time or more, the display mode of the reception status displayed on the display means is changed to the content indicating reception or non-reception, so "And" non-reception "are frequently repeated, and there is no fear that the display flickers, and a stable display state can be achieved.
[0064]
  Also according to the invention,Until the display mode of the reception status displayed on the display unit is changed by the display mode changing unit, it is continuously displayed in the display mode of the previous reception status, so that “receiving” and “not receiving” are displayed. Prevents repeated display and flickeringit can.
[0065]
  Furthermore, according to the present invention,When the traffic information is not received from reception and non-reception is continuously detected for a predetermined time or longer, the content indicating reception displayed on the display means is changed to the content indicating non-reception, so that the display is displayed on the display means. To prevent the repeated contents from being repeated frequently and achieve a stable display statebe able to.
[0066]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, a filter function equivalent to the time constant of the low-pass filter is provided so as not to change the reception status display frequently. This makes it possible to display the traffic information reception / non-reception display stably without flickering.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a two-dimensional display screen 3 of display means 2 provided in a navigation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of the navigation apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a frequency spectrum of a high-frequency signal of FM multiplex broadcasting.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a signal configuration of traffic information 17;
FIG. 5 is a simplified diagram showing a road 12 displayed in the map display area 4 by the navigation processing means 9;
6 is a diagram for explaining the principle that traffic jam information 31 is displayed on a part of a road 12 displayed in a map display area 4. FIG.
7 is an enlarged front view of an operation unit 39. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the navigation processing means 9;
9 is a front view showing a display state of a reception status display area 5 on the screen 3 of the display means 2. FIG.
10 is a diagram for explaining a display operation in a reception status display area 5. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a display operation of a reception status display area 5;
12 is a diagram showing a display operation of a reception status display area 5. FIG.
FIG. 13 is a front view showing a display state of a reception status display area 5a according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a front view showing a display state of a reception status display area 5b according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a front view showing a display state of a display area b according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a front view showing a display state of a display area 36c according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of navigation processing means 10 according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
18 is a diagram for explaining a display state in a reception status display area 5b in the embodiment of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Navigation device
2 Display means
3 2D display screen
4 Map display area
5, 5a, 5b Reception status display area
6 Navigation means
9 Navigation processing means
11 Display control means
14 Traffic information receiving means
24 Traffic information processing means
37 Time display
39 Operation unit
41 Operation switch

Claims (4)

Traffic information receiving means for receiving traffic information;
Reception status detecting means for repeatedly detecting the traffic information reception status by the traffic information receiving means;
Display means capable of displaying traffic information and traffic information reception status;
When the reception status detection means detects reception or non-reception of traffic information for a predetermined time or more, the display status change is made to change the display status of the reception status displayed on the display means to the content indicating reception or non-reception. And a traffic information display device. 2. The traffic according to claim 1, wherein the display state of the previous reception status is continuously displayed until the display mode of the reception status displayed on the display unit is changed by the display mode changing unit. Information display device. Traffic information receiving means for receiving traffic information;
Reception status detecting means for repeatedly detecting the traffic information reception status by the traffic information receiving means;
Display means capable of displaying traffic information and traffic information reception status;
When the traffic information is not received from the reception and the non-reception is continuously detected for a predetermined time or longer by the reception status detection unit, the content indicating reception displayed on the display unit is changed to the content indicating non-reception. Traffic information display device characterized in that a display form change means. 4. The traffic information according to claim 3, wherein the change from the content representing reception to the content representing non-reception is to change a time information display regarding traffic information representing reception to a character display representing non-reception. Display device.

Images