JP4357040B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device, and more specifically, a map data storage medium having data for making it easy for a user to provide guidance at a point where guidance should be provided in detail, such as an intersection where the traveling direction needs to be changed. It is related with the navigation apparatus with which is loaded.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of a conventional navigation device. A vehicle speed sensor 2 for acquiring a traveling distance and a gyro sensor 3 for acquiring a traveling direction are connected to the microcomputer 1, and the microcomputer 1 determines the vehicle position based on the acquired traveling distance and the traveling direction. It is designed to determine (autonomous navigation).
[0003]
The GPS receiver 4 receives a GPS signal from a satellite via an antenna 5 and is connected to the microcomputer 1, and the microcomputer 1 determines a vehicle position based on the GPS signal ( GPS navigation).
[0004]
Further, a CD drive 6 capable of fetching road data from a CD-ROM 7 (DVD is also possible) in which road data and the like are stored is connected to the microcomputer 1, and the microcomputer 1 determines the determined vehicle position, road data, and the like. By aligning (so-called map matching processing), a map showing the vehicle position accurately is displayed on the display screen 9b.
[0005]
Further, a switch signal output from the button switch 8a provided on the remote controller 8 and a switch signal output from the button switch 9a provided on the display device 9 are input to the microcomputer 1, and processing corresponding to these switch signals is performed. This is performed by the microcomputer 1.
[0006]
For example, when the microcomputer 1 takes in the information of the moving destination from these switches, the microcomputer 1 searches for the optimum route from the vehicle position to the destination, and displays this as a guidance route on the display screen 9b together with the map. .
[0007]
In this way, in the navigation device, the map is displayed on the display screen 9b, the destination input by the user on the map, the route to the destination, the vehicle position mark corresponding to the current vehicle position, and the previous The travel locus of the vehicle is displayed in an overlapping manner, and the user can obtain the route information by sequentially referring to the display screen 9b, and can reach the destination by following the route information. Can be done.
[0008]
As shown in FIG. 9, the road data is composed of intersections (nodes) and lines (links) connecting them in the form of a network. Nodes n _{1 to} n ₁₆ are added with connection information indicating which other nodes are connected, type information, traffic regulation information such as right / left turn prohibition, and the like. A coefficient is attached.
[0009]
The link cost is determined by the distance between nodes, the width of the road, etc. The guidance route is obtained by calculating the link cost for all the routes for such road data and finding the route that minimizes it. It is done.
However, when a guidance route is obtained for roads all over Japan, it takes too much calculation time and a large amount of memory is required.
[0010]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the road data is divided into two layers, and when calculating a long distance, the road data of only a large intersection (intersections A to D) is used to calculate with a small amount of data. Is shortened. This is equivalent to passing only a large road, such as a highway, a national road, or a main local road, without passing through a fine road. Here, the upper / lower two layers are only divided, but there are also levels 1, 2, 3, etc. divided into three or more layers.
[0011]
FIG. 11 shows an example of a storage format of node information stored in the CD-ROM 7 based on the network diagram of FIG. 10. For example, as node A information, the node type is “intersection”. Yes, information such as connection to nodes E, F, and J is added.
[0012]
Conventionally, in a navigation device, various measures have been taken so that a driver can easily understand a point that should be guided in detail, such as an intersection where the traveling direction needs to be changed. .
In general, a method of displaying a two-dimensional map or a three-dimensional overhead view enlarged around a point (for example, an intersection) where guidance is to be provided in detail is employed.
[0013]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, there is a problem that a guide image obtained by simply enlarging a two-dimensional map has a large difference from the actual landscape, and it may be difficult to determine which intersection is to change the traveling direction.
[0014]
In addition, the angle of a conventional three-dimensional map is fixed, and in the map based on the fixed angle, as in the case of the above-described two-dimensional enlarged map, which intersection is to change the traveling direction. There is a problem that it may be difficult to judge.
[0015]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is map data having data for making it easy for a user to provide guidance at a point where guidance should be provided in detail, such as an intersection where the traveling direction needs to be changed. An object is to provide a navigation device loaded with a storage medium.
[0016]
[Means for solving the problems and effects thereof]
In order to achieve the above object, the navigation device (1) according to the present invention adds depression angle information to data on a guidance point where guidance is to be performed in detail, such as an intersection, and the depression angle information is sent to the guidance point. A navigation device loaded with a map data storage medium including depression information used when entering and depression information used when exiting from the guide point, wherein the map data storage medium is loaded with the map data storage medium. A guide image drawing means for drawing a detailed guide image for the guide point using the stored depression angle information is provided .
[0020]
According to the navigation device (1), the map data storage medium to which the depression angle information is added to data for a guidance point where guidance is to be performed in detail, such as an intersection, is loaded, and the depression angle information is used. It is possible to provide the user with a three-dimensional overhead view corresponding to the time of entry to each guide point and the time of exit from the guide point.
[0021]
Thus, for each time entry time / exit for each guide point (intersection, etc.), since the depression angle information would be user recognizes easily is stored in the map data storage medium, for example, to change the direction of travel It is possible to quickly and accurately determine which intersection is a power intersection, and it is also possible to quickly and accurately determine the situation after the change of the traveling direction.
[0022]
In the navigation device (1) , the depression angle information stored in the map data storage medium is determined according to an approach direction to the guide point and / or an exit direction from the guide point. may it der.
[0023]
Further, the depression angle information, and the approach direction to the guide point may be configured to have stored in association with the combination of the respective outgoing direction from the guide point.
[0024]
According to such a configuration, the depression angle information is determined according to the approach direction to the guide point and / or the exit direction from the guide point, so that the depression angle more suitable for the user to recognize is determined. Information can be stored in the map data storage medium .
[0025]
Therefore, the map data storage medium loaded in the navigation system, by using the depression angle information in the navigation device, corresponding to each of the guide point, to provide users with more suitable form a three-dimensional bird's-eye view be able to.
[0026]
Furthermore, the map data storage medium, entering direction to the guide point, and / or depression angle information determined in accordance with the removing direction from the guide point is, each approach direction to the guide point, said guide point Since it is stored in correspondence with each escape direction from the desired direction, the desired depression angle information can be easily read out.
[0027]
In the navigation device (1) , when the depression angle information is determined only by the approach direction regardless of the escape direction, the depression angle information is stored in association with only the entry direction. It is good also as a structure .
[0028]
According to such a configuration, when the depression angle information is determined only in the approach direction regardless of the escape direction, the depression angle information is stored in association with only the entry direction. Reduction can be achieved.
[0029]
In the navigation device (1) , when the depression angle information is determined only by the exit direction regardless of the approach direction, the depression angle information is stored in association with only the exit direction. It is good also as a structure .
[0030]
According to such a configuration, when the depression angle information is determined only in the escape direction regardless of the approach direction, the depression angle information is stored in association with only the escape direction, so the data size Reduction can be achieved.
[0031]
Further, in the above navigation apparatus (1), wherein the guide point is hierarchically divided according to the level used for the route search, the data for the guidance point above the predetermined hierarchy but also a structure in which the depression angle information is added Good .
[0032]
The three-dimensional overhead view corresponding to each guidance point where guidance is to be provided in detail, such as an intersection, is usually provided to the user when route guidance is being performed by the navigation function.
[0033]
That is, since the depression angle information is mainly used when route guidance is being performed, it is usually sufficient to add the depression angle information only for the data for the guide point used for the route search. It is.
[0034]
According to such a configuration , since the depression angle information is added only to the data for the guide points above the predetermined level (that is, the guide points used for route search), the data size can be reduced.
[0037]
In the navigation device (2) according to the present invention, in the navigation device (1), the guide image drawing means draws the guide image together with landmark information such as a building attached to the guide point. It is characterized by being configured.
[0038]
According to the navigation device (2), by drawing the landmark image together with landmark information (for example, a convenience store landmark) attached to the guidance point in the guidance image, it is even easier for the user to understand. A three-dimensional overhead view of the guide point can be provided.
[0039]
Further, the navigation device (3) according to the present invention is configured such that, in the navigation device (1) or (2), the guide image drawing means is operated even during normal travel that is not during route guidance. It is characterized by being.
[0040]
Providing the user with a three-dimensional overhead view corresponding to each guidance point where guidance is to be provided in detail, such as an intersection, is usually during route guidance by the navigation function, but not at the time of route guidance The guide image may be provided to the user even during normal driving.
[0041]
Therefore, according to the navigation device (3), since the guidance image drawing means operates even during normal travel that is not during route guidance, for example, route guidance by a navigation function is not performed. A three-dimensional overhead view using the depression angle information even when the vehicle approaches a guidance point having the depression angle information when the vehicle is traveling on a road map displayed on a display or the like. Can be provided to the user.
[0042]
Further, the navigation device (4) according to the present invention includes a selection means for the user to select whether or not to use the depression angle information in any of the navigation devices (1) to (3), and the selection And a control means for controlling the operation of the guide image drawing means in accordance with selection from the means.
[0043]
According to the navigation device (4), the user can freely select whether or not to display the three-dimensional bird's-eye view using the depression angle information, which can be user-friendly.
[0044]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of a navigation device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0045]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a storage format of node information stored in the map data storage medium according to the embodiment (1). Note that the node information here is based on the network diagram shown in FIG.
Further, examples of the map data storage medium used in the navigation device include a CD-ROM and a DVD as described in the section “Prior Art”.
[0046]
As is apparent from FIG. 1, depression angle information is added to data for intersections (nodes), which are road data in the upper hierarchy, and the depression angle information added to the data for each of nodes A to D is 30 °, 60 °, 45 °, and 90 °.
[0047]
That is, by loading the map data storage medium according to the embodiment (1) in which the depression angle information is added to the data for the nodes A to D in the navigation device and using the depression angle information in the navigation device, A three-dimensional overhead view corresponding to each intersection can be provided to the user. However, like the node D, when the depression angle information is 90 °, it becomes a two-dimensional enlarged view instead of three-dimensional.
[0048]
2A is a three-dimensional overhead view of intersection A when using depression angle information (30 °), and FIG. 2B is a three-dimensional overhead view of intersection D when depression angle information (90 °) is used. It is a figure (it becomes a top view substantially).
[0049]
Therefore, by storing in the map data storage medium information on the depression angle that the user can easily recognize for each intersection, for example, it is possible to quickly and accurately determine which intersection is to change the traveling direction. It will be possible to judge.
[0050]
Further, according to the map data storage medium according to the embodiment (1), the depression angle information is added only to the data for the nodes A to D in the upper hierarchy excluding the nodes E to L in the lower hierarchy. The data size can be reduced.
[0051]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a storage format of node information stored in the map data storage medium according to the embodiment (2). Note that the node information here is based on the network diagram shown in FIG.
[0052]
As is clear from FIG. 3, the depression angle information determined according to the approach direction to each intersection (node) and / or the exit direction from each intersection is included in the data for the intersection (node) which is road data of the upper hierarchy. Is added.
[0053]
For example, the depression angle information 1 added to the data for the node A is 30 ° when the approach direction is (1) and the exit direction is (2), and the approach direction is (1). If the direction is (4), it will be 45 °, the approach direction will be (5), and if the exit direction is (2), it will be 30 ° and the entrance direction will be (5). When the direction is (6), it is 45 °.
[0054]
According to the map data storage medium according to the above embodiment (2), the depression angle information determined according to the approach direction to the node and / or the exit direction from the node, that is, the user can recognize more More suitable depression angle information can be stored.
[0055]
Therefore, by using the map data storage medium according to the above embodiment (2) in a navigation device and using the depression angle information in the navigation device, a three-dimensional overhead view corresponding to each node can be more appropriate. It can be provided to users in the form.
[0056]
As another embodiment related to the map data storage medium according to the above embodiment (2), the depression angle information is determined only by the entry direction to the node regardless of the exit direction from the node. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, a specific code (for example, escape direction f) may be used as a code indicating the escape direction. In addition, when the depression angle information is determined only by the exit direction from the node regardless of the approach direction to the node, as shown in FIG. 5, a specific code (eg, The approach direction f) may be used.
[0057]
In addition, as another embodiment related to the map data storage medium according to the embodiment (1) or (2), the depression angle information used when entering the node and the exit information from the node are used. By storing the depression angle information, it is possible to provide the user with a three-dimensional overhead view corresponding to the time of entering each intersection and the time of exiting from each intersection.
[0058]
Accordingly, the depression information that the user can easily recognize is stored in the map data storage medium according to the embodiment (1) or (2) at each intersection and at the time of entry / exit. Thus, for example, it is possible to quickly and accurately determine which intersection is to change the traveling direction, and it is also possible to quickly and accurately determine the situation after the traveling direction is changed.
[0059]
Next, a navigation device according to embodiment (1) will be described. However, the configuration diagram of the navigation device according to the embodiment (1) has the same configuration as the navigation device shown in FIG.
[0060]
Further, the map data storage medium according to the above embodiment (1) or (2) is adopted as the CD-ROM 7 in the navigation device according to the embodiment (1).
[0061]
The microcomputer 1 in the navigation device according to the embodiment (1) uses the depression angle information stored in the CD-ROM 7 to form a three-dimensional overhead view (see FIG. 2) of each intersection, and displays the display screen. 9b (corresponding to the operation of the guide image drawing means).
[0062]
The navigation device according to the embodiment (1) includes the map data storage medium according to the embodiment (1) or (2) in which the depression information is added to data for an intersection or the like, and the depression angle By using the information, a three-dimensional overhead view corresponding to each intersection can be provided to the user.
[0063]
Further, the CD-ROM 7 may store three-dimensional information such as a building as a landmark, and the information may be displayed along with the road based on the depression angle information. FIG. 6 shows an example in which buildings and landmarks serving as landmarks are displayed.
[0064]
Also, it is usually when route guidance is performed by the navigation function that the user is provided with a three-dimensional bird's-eye view corresponding to each guidance point that should be guided in detail, such as an intersection. The user may be provided with the three-dimensional bird's-eye view even during normal driving that is not time.
[0065]
Therefore, when the vehicle is traveling on the road map displayed on the display screen 9b instead of being routed by the navigation function, the vehicle approaches the intersection or the like having the depression angle information. In addition, it is possible to provide a user with a three-dimensional overhead view using the depression angle information. FIG. 7 shows a display example when approaching the intersection C (an depression angle of 45 °).
[0066]
In addition, the button switch 8a or the like provided in the remote controller 8 is provided with a function that allows the user to select whether or not to use the depression angle information, and the microcomputer is selected according to the signal output from the button switch 8a. 1 may determine whether or not to draw a three-dimensional overhead view using the depression angle information.
[0067]
In the navigation device according to the embodiment (1), for example, only when the depression angle information added to the data for the intersection A is used when drawing the three-dimensional overhead view of the intersection A with the intersection A as the line-of-sight target. Although described, the use of the depression angle information is not limited to such a case.
For example, instead of using the intersection A as the line-of-sight target, it may be set at the viewpoint position.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a storage format of node information stored in a map data storage medium according to an embodiment (1) of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional overhead view of an intersection when depression angle information is used.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a storage format of node information stored in the map data storage medium according to the embodiment (2).
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a storage format of node information stored in the map data storage medium according to the embodiment (2).
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a storage format of node information stored in the map data storage medium according to the embodiment (2).
FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional overhead view that also displays buildings and landmarks that serve as landmarks.
FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional overhead view when a vehicle approaches an intersection.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of a conventional navigation device.
FIG. 9 is an example showing a network diagram of road data.
FIG. 10 is an example showing a network diagram of road data divided into two layers.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a storage format of node information stored in a conventional map data storage medium.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Microcomputer 6 CD drive 7 CD-ROM
8 Remote control 9 Display device

Claims (4)

The depression angle information is added to the data for the guidance point to be guided in detail, such as an intersection, and the depression angle information used when entering the guidance point and the escape from the guidance point A navigation device loaded with a map data storage medium containing depression information used for
A navigation apparatus comprising a guide image drawing means for drawing a detailed guide image for the guide point by using depression angle information stored in the map data storage medium. The guiding image drawing means, the guide image, the navigation apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it is configured to draw together landmark information of a building or the like associated with the guide point. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the guide image drawing means is configured to operate even during normal travel that is not during route guidance. A selection means for the user to select whether to use the depression angle information;
The navigation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a control unit that performs operation control of the guide image drawing unit in accordance with a selection from the selection unit.

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