JP2002039769A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system which can improve the visibility of a map. SOLUTION: A map plotting part 14 creates map plotting data required for displaying a map image on the basis of map data stored in a map buffer 10, and the map plotting data is stored in a VRAM 16. An additional-image plotting part 18 creates plotting data used to display additional images (e.g. the name or the like of a plublic facility) indicating additional information related to a specific position contained in the map image plotted by the part 14. In an image compositing part 22, the map plotting data which is read out from the VRAM 16 by a read control part 12 is compared with the plotting data created by the part 18 in such a way that the additional images are displayed in a prescribed right region and a prescribed left region on a display screen and that the map image is displayed in the prescribed central region, and composited data is output to a display device 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device for displaying a map around the position of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an on-vehicle navigation device detects a current position of a vehicle, reads map data corresponding to the current position from a data storage medium such as a CD or DVD, and displays a map around the position of the vehicle on a screen. Display above. Also, a vehicle position mark indicating the own vehicle position is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen, and the map of the vicinity is scrolled around the vehicle position mark as the own vehicle advances. In addition to the road shape, the map displayed on the screen includes figures indicating various buildings, traffic control information such as one-way traffic, marks indicating facilities serving as landmarks, addresses and various types of facilities. Various information such as a character string indicating a name or the like is included, so that the user can easily obtain information around the position of the vehicle.

[0003]

By the way, in the conventional navigation apparatus, when displaying a map around the position of the own vehicle, a predetermined mark image having a character string such as a facility name or a different shape for each type of facility. Is superimposed on the map, so that the display of the original road shape and the like included in the map may be disturbed, and there is a problem that the map is difficult to see.

[0004] A character string such as a facility name is displayed over the corresponding facility or in the vicinity of the corresponding facility. However, the positional relationship between the display position of the character string and the corresponding facility is not clear. In some cases, the location of the facility corresponding to the displayed character string is difficult to understand.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device that can improve the visibility of a map.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the navigation device of the present invention, first map data corresponding to a map image and additional information related to a specific position included in the map image are stored. The included second map data is stored in a map data storage unit, a map image is created by a map image generation unit based on the first map data, and an additional image generation unit is created based on the second map data. An additional image corresponding to the additional information is generated. Then, the map image generated by the map image generating means is displayed on the display device, and the additional image generated by the additional image generating means is displayed in a predetermined area near the periphery of the same screen as the map image. Further, the display control means performs control to display an auxiliary image indicating the correspondence between the additional image and the specific position on the same screen.

Normally, a map display is performed by superimposing additional images indicating additional information such as various character strings on a simple map image indicating terrain or the like. These additional images are collected in a predetermined area around the display screen. By doing so, the display of the road shape and the like included in the map image is not hindered by the additional image. Also, with regard to the additional information, since the displayed area is limited, the additional information is not hidden and inconspicuous in the map image. Therefore, the visibility of both the map image and the additional image can be improved.

[0008] Further, a vehicle detecting means for detecting the current position and the traveling direction of the vehicle is further provided, and the display control means described above displays the map image corresponding to the vicinity of the current position of the vehicle when the vehicle is displayed. It is desirable to set the direction of the map image so that the traveling direction is directed upward in the display screen arranged horizontally, and to set a predetermined area for displaying the above-described additional image near the left and right ends of the display screen.

Since the display screen is often arranged horizontally long, the additional image is displayed without hindering the effective display of the map image by setting the display area of the additional image near a predetermined area at the left and right ends. be able to. In particular, when a so-called heading-up display method in which the traveling direction of the vehicle is set in the upper direction of the screen is adopted, the importance of the map image included in the area near the left and right ends is further reduced.
By displaying the additional image in this area, each area included in the display screen can be effectively used.

Preferably, the display control means scrolls the display positions of the additional image and the auxiliary image as the current position of the vehicle changes. When the vehicle travels and the current position changes, the map image is scrolled according to the state of the change, and the display position of the additional image associated with the specific position in the map image is also scrolled, so that the map is displayed. The overall legibility can be further improved.

The above-mentioned additional information is a character string indicating a facility name, a destination area, and the like, and the display control means preferably displays an additional image indicating the contents of the character string in the above-described predetermined area. Since a normal map image contains a large number of character strings indicating facility names and destination areas, by removing such additional information from the map image, the road shape and the like originally indicated by the map image are removed. It will be easier to see. In addition, when a character string is displayed on the screen, it may be difficult to identify a specific position such as a facility corresponding to the character string. By using the auxiliary image indicating the correspondence between the character string and the specific position, the specific position corresponding to the character string can be clarified.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (1) Configuration of Navigation Apparatus FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a navigation apparatus according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. The navigation device shown in FIG. 1 includes a navigation controller 1, a DVD 2, a disk reader 3, a remote control (remote control)
It includes a unit 4, a GPS receiver 5, an autonomous navigation sensor 6, and a display device 7.

The navigation controller 1 performs various controls for realizing a predetermined navigation operation. The detailed configuration of the navigation controller 1 will be described later. The DVD 2 records various map data necessary for map display, route search, and the like. The disk reading device 3 can load one or a plurality of DVDs 2 and reads map data from any one of the DVDs 2 under the control of the navigation controller 1.
The loaded disk is not necessarily a DVD, but may be a CD. Alternatively, both a DVD and a CD may be selectively loaded.

The remote control unit 4 includes a search key for giving a route search instruction, a route guidance mode key used for setting a route guidance mode, a destination input key, left / right / up / down cursor keys, a map reduction / enlargement key, and a display screen. Various operation keys such as a setting key for fixing the item at the upper cursor position are provided, and an infrared signal corresponding to the operation state of the key is transmitted to the navigation controller 1.

The GPS receiver 5 receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites and performs three-dimensional positioning processing or two-dimensional positioning processing to calculate the absolute position and direction of the vehicle (vehicle direction is the current Is calculated based on the own vehicle position and the own vehicle position one sampling time ΔT before), and these are output together with the positioning time. The autonomous navigation sensor 6 includes an angle sensor such as a vibrating gyroscope that detects the vehicle rotation angle as a relative direction, and a distance sensor that outputs one pulse every predetermined traveling distance. Detect orientation.

The display device 7 displays various images such as map information around the vehicle based on the drawing data output from the navigation controller 1. (2) Contents of Map Data Next, details of the map data recorded on the DVD 2 will be described. The map data recorded on the DVD 2 is in units of rectangular figures separated by predetermined longitude and latitude, and the map data of each figure is specified by specifying a figure number and can be read out. It becomes possible. The map data for each map includes a "drawing unit" composed of various data required for map display, and a "road unit" composed of various data necessary for processing such as map matching, route search, and route guidance. An “intersection unit” composed of detailed data such as an intersection is included.

The drawing unit described above includes a road,
It consists of a "background layer" composed of data necessary to display buildings, rivers, etc., and data required to display additional information related to a specific position on the map such as municipal names, facility names, and destination direction information. "Character layer" is included. The above-described map data of the background layer corresponds to “first map data”, and the map data of the character layer corresponds to “second map data”.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the contents of the character layer. As shown in the figure, the character layer data includes, for each of the additional information to be displayed: a. "Information type" indicating whether the additional information corresponds to an address (municipal name, street address, etc.), facility name, destination area, etc., b. "Display position" of an additional image (character image) corresponding to the additional information; c. If the additional information is a facility name, destination area, etc.,
"Longitude / latitude" indicating the coordinate position on the map corresponding to the additional information; d. "Character data" indicating the content of the additional information is included.

In the present embodiment, of the above-mentioned additional information, information related to an address is displayed on the map image in a superimposed manner, and facility names and destination areas are separately provided from the display area of the map image. It is displayed in the provided display area. Therefore, the "display position" shown in FIG.
For data related to an address, data representing the display position on the map in longitude and latitude is stored, and for facility names, destination areas, etc., predetermined data indicating that the display position is not on the map is stored. .

(3) Details of Navigation Controller 1
Detailed Configuration Next, a detailed configuration of the navigation controller 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The navigation controller 1 includes a map buffer 10, a map reading control unit 12, a map drawing unit 14, a VRAM 16, an additional image drawing unit 18, an auxiliary image drawing unit 19, a reading control unit 20, an image combining unit 22, a vehicle position calculating unit 30, It includes a route search processing unit 32, a guidance route memory 34, a guidance route drawing unit 36, a mark image drawing unit 38, an input processing unit 42, and an operation screen generation unit 44.

The map buffer 10 includes the disk reader 3
Is to temporarily store the map data read from the DVD2. The map reading control unit 12 outputs a request to read map data in a predetermined range to the disk reading device 3 based on the own vehicle position calculated by the vehicle position calculating unit 30, a request from the input processing unit 42, and the like.

The map drawing section 14 creates map drawing data necessary for map display based on the map data stored in the map buffer 10. The VRAM 16 stores the map drawing unit 1
4 and the guidance route drawing data created by the guidance route drawing unit 36.

The additional image drawing unit 18 creates drawing data (additional image drawing data) for displaying additional information related to a specific position included in the map image drawn by the map drawing unit 14. Specifically, in the present embodiment,
Character images representing additional information related to a specific position on a map, such as names of various facilities (for example, public facilities such as schools and hospitals) and destination area information, are called “additional images”.

The auxiliary image drawing section 19 displays a predetermined auxiliary image that associates the coordinate position of each additional information on the map with the additional image created by the additional image drawing section 18 corresponding to the additional information. Create auxiliary image drawing data for The read control unit 20 sets the screen center position corresponding to the vehicle position or the cursor position, sets a predetermined read range centered on the screen center position, and reads the map drawing data included in this range from the VRAM 16. .

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the map drawing data stored in the VRAM 16 and the read range set by the read control unit 20. In FIG. 3, a region A
To I correspond to the nine figures stored in the map buffer 10, and the map drawing data created by the map drawing unit 14 based on the map data of each figure is VRA.
It is stored in M16. The read area P is a predetermined rectangular area set in correspondence with the center position of the screen. In an actual display, the map drawing data corresponding to the read area P is read by the read control unit 20. The image is displayed on the screen of the display device 7 via the image synthesizing unit 22.

When the readout area P moves in accordance with the movement of the screen center position, the map image is scrolled. When the screen center position deviates from the center area E, the screen center at that time is shifted. With the area including the position (either AD or FI) as the center, nine new map data are read out and stored in the map buffer 10. In the present embodiment, when the map image is scrolled along with the movement of the vehicle position, the above-described readout area P is set such that the traveling direction of the own vehicle always faces the upper side of the screen. . Thus, a map image is displayed by a so-called heading-up display method.

The image synthesizing unit 22 includes the map drawing data read from the VRAM 16 by the read control unit 20, and each of the additional image drawing unit 18, the auxiliary image drawing unit 19, the mark image drawing unit 38, and the operation screen generation unit 44. The image data is superimposed on the drawing data output from, and the synthesized drawing data is output to the display device 7. Specifically, in the present embodiment, when a map image is displayed, the above-described additional images are displayed in predetermined regions provided on the left and right in the screen, and the center between the display regions of these additional images is displayed. A map image is displayed in a predetermined area nearby. A specific display example will be described later.

The vehicle position calculator 30 calculates the position and direction of the vehicle based on the data detected by the GPS receiver 5 and the autonomous navigation sensor 6, and calculates the calculated vehicle position on the road in the map data. If not, a map matching process for correcting the own vehicle position is performed.

The route search processing section 32 searches for a traveling route that connects a preset destination and departure place under predetermined conditions. For example, under various conditions such as the shortest distance and the shortest time, the traveling route with the minimum cost is set as the guidance route. The guidance route data set by the route search processing unit 32 in this manner is stored in the guidance route memory 3.
4 is stored.

The guide route drawing unit 36 includes the route search processing unit 3
2 to select the data included in the map image drawn in the VRAM 16 at that time from the data of the guide route set in the step 2 and stored in the guide route memory 34, and to superimpose and display the guide route on the map image. To create the guide route drawing data.

The mark image drawing section 38 creates drawing data for displaying a predetermined vehicle position mark at the position of the own vehicle after the map matching processing or displaying a predetermined cursor mark at the cursor position. Input processing unit 42
Sends instructions for performing operations corresponding to various operation instructions input from the remote controller 4 to the navigation controller 1
When it is necessary to display the operation screen and output the operation screen, the operation screen generation unit 44 is instructed to that effect. In addition, when an instruction to scroll the map image is given, the input processing unit 42 acquires the current vehicle position from the vehicle position calculation unit 30 and sets the current position as the initial position of the cursor position. A cursor position (latitude, longitude) that changes in response to an operation instruction given from the remote control unit 4 is calculated. The operation screen generation unit 44 creates drawing data for displaying the operation screen according to an instruction from the input processing unit 42.

The above-described map buffer 10 serves as a map data storage unit, the map drawing unit 14 serves as a map image generation unit, the additional image drawing unit 18 serves as an additional image generation unit, an auxiliary image drawing unit 19, a read control unit 20, an image The combining unit 22 corresponds to the display control unit, and the GPS receiver 5, the autonomous navigation sensor 6, and the vehicle position calculation unit 30 correspond to the vehicle detection unit.

(4) Operation of Navigation Apparatus The navigation apparatus of the present embodiment has such a configuration. Next, an operation procedure for displaying a map around the position of the vehicle will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the navigation device when displaying a map around the own vehicle position.

First, the reading control unit 20 sets a reading range of the map drawing data stored in the VRAM 16 based on the current vehicle position and the traveling direction calculated by the vehicle position calculating unit 30 (step 100). ), The map drawing data included in the set reading range is stored in the VRAM
16 (step 101).

The additional image drawing unit 18 converts the read range set by the read control unit 20 into longitude and latitude on a map based on the vehicle position and the traveling direction calculated by the vehicle position calculation unit 30. Then, the range is calculated (step 102), and additional information included in the calculated range on the map is extracted from the map data stored in the map buffer 10 (step 103). next,
The additional image drawing unit 18 creates additional image drawing data for displaying a predetermined additional image based on the extracted additional information (step 104).

The auxiliary image drawing section 19 acquires the coordinate position (longitude / latitude) of the additional information on the map from the additional image drawing section 18 (step 105), and obtains the coordinate position of each additional information on the map. Then, auxiliary image drawing data for displaying a predetermined auxiliary image that associates the image with the additional image drawn corresponding to the additional information is created (step 106).

Next, the image synthesizing unit 22 includes the read control unit 20
The map drawing data read by the above, the additional image drawing data created by the additional image drawing unit 18, the auxiliary image drawing data created by the auxiliary image drawing unit 19, and other drawing data (for example, vehicle position mark) The combined images are displayed on the screen of the display device 7 (step 107).

Thereafter, based on the calculation result by the vehicle position calculator 30, the read controller 20 determines whether or not the vehicle position has changed (step 108). If the vehicle position has changed, an affirmative determination is made. Returning to step 100, the readout range of the map drawing data corresponding to the new vehicle position is set, and the subsequent processing is repeated. Therefore, the content of each of the additional image and the auxiliary image is updated each time the reading range of the map drawing data is newly set in accordance with the change of the vehicle position. The display positions of the additional image and the auxiliary image are also scrolled.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in the navigation device of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, on the display screen in the present embodiment, a map image around the own vehicle position is displayed in a predetermined area near the center of the screen, and additional images are displayed in predetermined areas provided on the left and right of the display range of the map image. Is displayed. Specifically, character images such as “Kanda Daiichi Hospital” and “Yushima Shrine” displayed in predetermined regions on the left and right of the screen correspond to the additional images in the present embodiment. Also, for example, focusing on “Kanda Daiichi Hospital”, the position of this hospital on the map (the position where a cross is drawn in a square) and the character image of “Kanda Daiichi Hospital” It can be seen that a straight line is drawn between and. As in this example, a predetermined straight line is displayed between the additional images displayed in the predetermined regions on the left and right sides of the screen and the positions on the map corresponding to the additional images. It corresponds to the image. In the present embodiment, a character image indicating a destination corresponding to a road included in the map is also displayed as an additional image in a predetermined area on the left and right sides of the screen. Specifically, for example, a character image “Yutenji area” displayed in a predetermined area on the left side of the screen corresponds to this. In addition, a predetermined arrow image is displayed as an auxiliary image near the additional information corresponding to the destination area, so that the correspondence between the destination area indicated by the additional information and the road in the map can be understood. It has become.

As described above, in the navigation apparatus according to the present embodiment, the additional images representing the additional information related to the specific position on the map, such as the names of various facilities and the destination area information, are provided in the predetermined areas provided on the left and right of the screen. The map image is displayed near the center of the screen, and the auxiliary image shows the correspondence between the additional image and the specific position on the map. Is not obstructed by the additional image, and the additional image is not hidden in the map image and becomes inconspicuous. Therefore, the visibility of the map can be improved.

The present embodiment employs a so-called heading-up display method in which the traveling direction of the vehicle is set in the upper direction of the screen. Since the display area of the image is reduced and the display area of the additional image is provided in this area, the additional image can be displayed without hindering the effective display of the map image, and the display area can be effectively displayed on the screen. Can be used.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment described above,
In the screen, the additional image is displayed in a predetermined area provided on the left and right of the display area of the map image, but the position where the display area of the additional image is provided is not limited to this.
Various other positions are also conceivable. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the position where the display area of the additional image is provided. For example, as indicated by hatching in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a display area for an additional image may be provided only on one of the left side and the right side of the display screen. Further, as indicated by hatching in FIGS. 6C and 6D, a display area for the additional image may be provided only on one of the upper side and the lower side of the display screen. 6 (A) to FIG.
The example of the display area shown in (D) may be combined. In particular, when the display area is provided on the lower side of the screen as shown in FIG. 6C, the display area is located below the vehicle position mark, that is, the vehicle has already traveled and is of low importance. It is preferable that the display area is provided at the position where the map image is displayed, without reducing the display area of the map image in front of which the vehicle is going to travel and which has high importance.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the corresponding additional image is displayed in the predetermined display area in consideration of information such as the names of various facilities and destination area information as the additional information related to the specific position included in the map image. Although displayed, the additional information to be displayed as the additional image may have various other modifications. Specifically, for example, a mark image indicating various facilities may be used as the additional image, or information about an intersection (intersection name, lane information, etc.) may be used as the additional image. Also,
When a guidance route is set, various facilities existing along the set guidance route and destination direction information related to the guidance route may be preferentially extracted and displayed. In the embodiment, the display area of the map image is provided near the center of the screen, and the display area of the additional image is provided on the left and right. However, in the display area of the additional image, the map image can be seen thinly under it. , A so-called semi-transmissive process may be performed to display the map image and the additional image. By displaying the map image thinly and transparently below the additional image, it is possible to reduce a user's impression that the display area of the map image has been reduced by displaying the additional image. .

In the above-described embodiment, the case of employing the heading-up display method has been described. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to this, and the north direction is always upward. The present invention is also applicable to a case where a so-called north-up display method in which a map image is displayed is adopted.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the additional images corresponding to various types of additional information are displayed collectively in a predetermined area around the display area of the map image, the road included in the map image is displayed. Since the display of the shape and the like is not hindered by the additional image, and the additional image is not hidden in the map image and becomes inconspicuous, the visibility of both the map image and the additional image included in the map is improved. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the contents of a character layer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between map drawing data stored in a VRAM and a read range set by a read control unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the navigation device when displaying a map around the position of the own vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a modification of a position where an additional image display area is provided.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 navigation controller 2 DVD 5 GPS receiver 6 autonomous navigation sensor 7 display device 10 map buffer 12 map reading control unit 14 map drawing unit 16 VRAM 18 additional image drawing unit 19 auxiliary image drawing unit 20 read control unit 22 image combining unit 30 vehicle Position calculation unit 42 Input processing unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] A first map data corresponding to the map image; and a second map data including additional information related to a specific position included in the map image. Map image generating means for creating the map image based on the first map data stored in the map data storage means; and the additional information based on the second map data stored in the map data storage means Additional image generating means for generating an additional image corresponding to the map image, and displaying the map image generated by the map image generating means on a display device, and in a predetermined area near the periphery of the same screen as the map image, A display system for displaying the additional image generated by the additional image generating means, and displaying an auxiliary image indicating a correspondence between the additional image and the specific position on the same screen. A navigation device comprising: a control unit. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle detection unit that detects a current position and a traveling direction of the vehicle, wherein the display control unit displays the map image corresponding to the vicinity of the current position of the vehicle. When performing, the direction of the map image is set so that the traveling direction of the vehicle is directed upward in the display screen arranged horizontally, and the additional image is displayed near the left and right ends of the display screen. A navigation device for setting a predetermined area. 3. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the display control means scrolls a display position of the additional image and the auxiliary image as a current position of the vehicle changes. 4. The additional information according to claim 1, wherein the additional information is a character string indicating a facility name, a destination area, or the like, and the display control unit is configured to display the additional image indicating the content of the character string in the predetermined area. A navigation device characterized in that it is displayed on a navigation device.