JP2001183151A - Automobile navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automobile navigation system superior in operability and visibility capable of scrolling a map screen. SOLUTION: The automobile navigation system to scroll a map screen displayed on a display means in a predetermined direction according to the movement of a cursor and to display it is provided with a display control means which performs control so as to fix the map screen to be displayed on the display means and to move only the cursor when the cursor is moved within a predetermined range on the display screen of the display means and to fix the cursor in the boundary of the predetermined range on the display screen and to display the map of a region corresponding to the movement of the cursor in the map screen to be displayed on the display means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus for guiding a vehicle traveling route, and more particularly to a navigation apparatus having excellent operability and visibility when scrolling a map screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a navigation device for guiding a traveling route of a vehicle, the position of the vehicle is detected by a GPS system or the like, and the current position of the vehicle is specified by comparing it with map information recorded on a CD-ROM or the like. The route to the designated destination is searched for guidance.

When displaying a map on a display screen, a CD is used.
-A desired area is read from map information recorded as node data and link data in a ROM or the like, image conversion is performed so that it can be drawn on a display screen such as a liquid crystal display, and the result is temporarily stored in a V-RAM (display data memory). ) Etc. Then, when the display is instructed, the display data at a predetermined location on the V-RAM is read out and output to the drive circuit of the liquid crystal display unit to display the map. When the user wants to display the area outside the display screen of the currently displayed map, the user moves the cursor in the direction in which the map is to be displayed by using the scroll key to newly display data outside the area of the display screen on the V-RAM. Is read and displayed. However, V-RA
Since the display data on M is not so large, when the moving amount of the cursor becomes large and the display data stored on the V-RAM runs out, node data and link data are newly read from the CD-ROM and image conversion is performed. Then, the data is stored in the V-RAM as display data, and this data is read out and displayed on the screen. Such processing is repeated until the movement of the cursor stops.

[0004]

In a conventional navigation apparatus, in order to move a cursor to display a new area on a map screen, map information recorded as node data and link data on a CD-ROM or the like is required. , A desired area is read out, image conversion is performed so that it can be drawn on a display screen such as a liquid crystal display, and the result is temporarily stored in a V-RAM.
(Display data memory) or the like, so that there is a problem that a load is imposed on image processing during scrolling.

Also, when the cursor is slightly moved, such as when correcting the current position or setting a destination, the screen is updated and displayed so that the entire map moves (scrolls) in conjunction with the movement of the cursor. There is a problem that the screen becomes difficult to see because the viewpoint is moved.

An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device capable of scrolling a map screen with excellent operability and visibility.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a map information storage means for storing map information, a display means for displaying the map information stored in the map information storage means, In a navigation device for scrolling and displaying a map screen displayed on the display means in a predetermined direction in response to a movement of a cursor instructing movement of a map screen displayed on the display means, the cursor may be one of the display means When moving within a predetermined range of the display screen, only the cursor is moved while fixing the map screen displayed on the display means, and when the cursor is located outside a predetermined range of the display screen of the display means, the display is performed. Display means for controlling the map screen displayed on the display means to be scrolled and displayed in a predetermined direction corresponding to the position of the cursor. It is an.

The display control means controls the cursor to return to the center of the display screen when the scroll of the map screen is completed.

[0009] The display control means may be arranged such that when the cursor is located outside a predetermined range of the display screen, both a point at which scrolling is started and a point corresponding to the cursor position are displayed on the display screen. The display is controlled so as to be displayed at a small scale.

[0010] When the scroll of the map screen is completed, the display control means returns the cursor to the center of the display screen and returns the scale of the map screen to the scale before the start of the scroll. Control is performed as described above.

[0011] Further, the predetermined range of the display screen is set within an arbitrary range of the display screen.

When the map screen displayed on the display means is a map screen requiring fine adjustment, the display control means fixes the map screen displayed on the display means when scrolling the map screen. And controlling to move only the cursor.

Further, the display control means determines whether or not to move only the cursor based on an operation state of the cursor operation means by an operator.

Further, the display control means fixes the map screen displayed on the display means and moves only the cursor, and when setting a point at the position of the cursor, displays the cursor at the time of the setting on the display screen. Is controlled so as to be displayed at the center.

Also, map information storage means for storing map information, display means for displaying the map information stored in the map information storage means, and a cursor for instructing movement of the map information displayed on the display means In a navigation device for scrolling and displaying a map screen displayed on said display means in a predetermined direction in response to movement of the map screen, the map screen displayed on said display means is scrolled in a wide-area display state. Is executed, when the scroll of the map screen is stopped, the scale of the map screen displayed on the display means is switched to a detailed display.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a GPS receiver that receives radio waves from artificial satellites (GPS satellites) and calculates position information from the signals. Reference numeral 12 denotes a direction sensor such as a gyro sensor for detecting the traveling direction of the vehicle. Reference numeral 13 denotes a distance sensor for detecting a traveling distance of the vehicle, which uses a signal from a speedometer of the automobile. Reference numeral 14 denotes a map database including a CD-ROM or DVD (Digital Video Disk) on which map information is recorded, a reading device thereof, and the like. 2
Is a process for specifying the position of the vehicle based on the position information from the GPS receiver 11, the azimuth data of the azimuth sensor 12, the traveling distance data of the distance sensor 13, and the map information of the map database 14, and traveling to the input destination. The process of searching for a route,
The control unit includes a microcomputer that performs a process of guiding the vehicle along the searched route and an associated RAM, ROM, and the like. An input unit 31 includes operation switches and the like for performing a destination setting, a movement operation of a map screen by a cursor. 41 is map information (note data, link data, etc.) in a predetermined range based on a signal from the control unit 2
Is a display control unit that converts the data into display data for drawing on the display unit 42 such as a liquid crystal display element, writes the display data in the V-RAM 41a or the like, and outputs the data to the display unit 42 in response to a request. Reference numeral 42 denotes a display unit including a liquid crystal display panel for displaying map information, a driving circuit, and the like. Reference numeral 43 denotes a voice output unit for synthesizing voice for guidance based on an instruction from the control unit 2 and performing voice guidance using a speaker or the like.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a process performed by the control unit 2 of the navigation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a scroll start process and (b) shows a scroll stop process. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams for explaining a display example of the navigation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
(B) is scrolling (within a predetermined range of the cursor), (c)
Is scrolling (outside the predetermined range of the cursor), and (d) is scroll stop (cursor center return). Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings. Note that this processing is started when a scroll key of the navigation device is operated. In the present embodiment, when the cursor moves to a predetermined range on the display screen, moving display of the entire map is started for the first time, and when the scroll operation is stopped, the cursor returns to the center of the screen.

First, the scroll start process will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In step S11, it is determined whether or not scrolling has been started. If scrolling has been started, the process proceeds to step S12. If scrolling has not been started, the process ends. This determination is made based on the operation state of the scroll key (input unit 31) of the user. FIG.
(A) is a diagram showing the display state of the map before the start of scrolling (before moving the cursor), in which the own vehicle position and the scroll cursor are displayed at the center of the screen.

In step S12, the cursor is moved in the scroll direction, and the flow advances to step S13. That is, FIG.
As shown in (b), the map screen is fixed on the display unit 42, and only the cursor is moved in the direction instructed to scroll.
In this state, since the map screen is fixed, the VR
There is no need to write new data to the AM 41a.

In step S13, it is determined whether or not the cursor is outside the predetermined range of the display screen. If the cursor is outside the predetermined area, the process proceeds to step S14, and if the cursor is within the predetermined range, the process is terminated. That is, it is determined whether the movement amount of the cursor is large and moves out of a predetermined range of the display screen of the display unit 42, or whether the movement amount of the cursor is small and the movement is slight within the predetermined range of the display screen of the display unit 42.

In step S14, the entire map is moved and the process is terminated. That is, the cursor has moved out of the predetermined range of the display screen (at this time, the cursor is displayed not to be out of the predetermined range of the display screen but to be stopped on the boundary of the display range). The entire map is moved in the same direction as the movement of the cursor in conjunction with the movement of the cursor. That is, as shown in FIG. 3C, if the cursor is attached to the upper side (North side) of the display range, the upper side (North side) of the currently displayed map is scrolled in response to this. Whether the cursor is outside the predetermined range is determined by comparing the X and Y coordinates of the cursor on the display unit 42 with the X and Y coordinates of the display range. In this state, the V-RAM 41a
When the moving amount of the cursor becomes large because the display data on the above is small, a map area corresponding to the moving direction of the cursor is newly read from the map information recorded as node data and link data on a CD-ROM or the like, and V-RAM4 performs image conversion so that it can be drawn on a display screen such as
1a (display data memory) or the like. Then, the display data corresponding to the moving direction of the cursor on the V-RAM 41a is read and output to the drive circuit of the display unit 42 to display a map of a new area. In this way,
The entire map is displayed so as to move in conjunction with the movement of the cursor.

Next, scroll stop processing will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In step S21, it is determined whether or not scrolling has been stopped. If scrolling has been stopped, the process proceeds to step S22. If scrolling has not been stopped, the process ends (scrolling is continued). This determination is made based on the operation state of the scroll key of the user.
The stop of scrolling differs depending on the device. For example, the stop of scrolling is performed when the operation of the scroll key is stopped or the cursor is returned to the inside of the display screen.

In step S22, it is determined whether or not the cursor is at the center of the display screen. If the cursor is at the center of the display screen, the process is terminated. If the cursor is not at the center of the display screen, the process proceeds to step S23. That is, the position of the cursor when the cursor operation is stopped is determined.

In step S23, the cursor position is moved to the center of the display screen, and the process ends. That is, the cursor is moved to the center of the display screen. In conjunction with the movement of the cursor, the entire map also moves to the center as shown in FIG. With the movement of the cursor to the center, a new area is read from map information such as a CD-ROM, image-converted so that it can be drawn on a display screen such as a liquid crystal, and stored in a V-RAM 41a (display data memory) or the like.
The display data is read out and output to the drive circuit of the display unit 42 to display a map of a new area. In this way,
The entire map is displayed to move to the center in conjunction with the movement of the cursor.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the cursor is within a predetermined range of the display screen, only the cursor is moved in accordance with the operation of the scroll key by the user, and the map screen is not moved. Is not required, and image processing is performed when the cursor goes out of a predetermined range of the display screen and when the cursor stops, so that the processing load during the movement of the cursor is reduced.

In the present embodiment, the boundary (predetermined range) for setting whether to move only the cursor in response to the operation of the scroll key or to start scrolling the entire map has been described as the peripheral portion of the display screen. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a predetermined range of the display screen can be freely set. For example, if the predetermined range is limited to the center of the display screen, the entire map can be moved immediately in conjunction with the movement of the cursor as in the past, and the cursor can be moved to a position at half the display screen (50% of the screen size). The movement of the entire map can be started when the cursor is moved to, and the movement of the entire map can be started when the cursor moves to the position of the end of the display screen (100% of the screen size).

Further, the scrolling of the map screen accompanying the movement of the cursor as in the present embodiment may be applied only when fine adjustment is necessary, such as correction of the current position or setting of the destination. This is performed by a user's instruction on a menu display. For example, when correcting that the current position is off the road, the entire map is not moved so as to coincide with the vehicle position (the center of the display screen). Move to the correction point and set (point information acquisition, point setting), and when the setting is completed, move (return) the cursor so that the cursor position at that time (that is, the set point) becomes the center of the display screen. Along with the entire map (ie, FIG. 3
(Similar to the movement from (c) to FIG. (D)). If the entire map is immediately moved (updated display) in conjunction with the movement of the cursor, the viewpoint of the user moves and becomes difficult to see each time the map is updated and displayed, but if the entire map is fixed and only the cursor is moved, the map is not updated. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is easy to see and fine adjustment of the position setting becomes easy.

Further, according to the map scrolling method of the present embodiment, only the cursor is moved within a predetermined range by detecting the operation state of the scroll key of the user, or the entire map is scrolled in conjunction with the movement of the cursor as in the conventional method. It may be determined automatically whether to do so. For example, when a strong press or a long (time) press of the scroll key is detected, the scroll method of the present embodiment is performed, and when a weak press or a short (time) press of the scroll key is detected, the conventional scroll method is performed. For example, the map scrolling method may be changed according to the user's intention (key operation state).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process performed by the control unit 2 of the navigation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a scroll start process and (b) shows a scroll stop process. FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams for explaining a display example of the navigation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5A shows a state before scrolling is started, FIG. 5B shows a state during scrolling (within a predetermined range of a cursor), and FIG. c) scrolling (outside the cursor predetermined range / scale automatic switching), and (d) scrolling stop (cursor center return / scale automatic return). Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings. Note that the configuration of the device is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description is omitted. This processing is started from a point in time when a scroll key of the navigation device is operated. Further, the present embodiment uses a map scale such that when the cursor moves out of a predetermined range on the display screen, movement of the entire map is started for the first time, and both the point at which scrolling is started and the cursor position can be displayed on the same screen. Is adjusted, and when the scrolling is stopped, the cursor is returned to the original position and is returned to the original map scale.

First, the scroll start process will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In step S31, it is determined whether or not scrolling has been started. If scrolling has been started, the process proceeds to step S32, and if scrolling has not been started, the process ends. This determination is made based on the operation state of the scroll key (input unit 31) of the user. FIG.
(A) is a diagram showing the display state of the map before the start of scrolling (before moving the cursor), in which the own vehicle position and the scroll cursor are displayed at the center of the screen.

In step S32, the cursor is moved in the scroll direction, and the flow advances to step S33. That is, FIG.
As shown in (b), the map screen is fixed on the display unit 42, and only the cursor is moved in the direction instructed to scroll.
In this state, since the map screen is fixed, the VR
There is no need to write new data to the AM 41a.

In step S33, it is determined whether or not the cursor is outside the predetermined range of the display screen. If the cursor is outside the predetermined area of the display screen, the process proceeds to step S34, and if the cursor is within the predetermined range of the display screen. If the processing is finished. That is, it is determined whether the movement amount of the cursor is large and moves out of a predetermined range of the display screen of the display unit 42, or whether the movement amount of the cursor is small and the movement is slight within the predetermined range of the display screen of the display unit 42.

In step S34, the scale is automatically calculated, and the flow advances to step S35. That is, the scale of the map is calculated so that both the point where the scroll is started and the current position of the cursor can be displayed. This is performed based on the actual distance between the scroll start point and the current scroll position and the scale at various scales. In this example, the scale is set to be as detailed as possible even if the scale is changed so that both the point at which scrolling is started and the current position of the cursor are displayed. The scale may be set to a wide range. Since the current position of the cursor is outside the predetermined range of the display screen, the scale is calculated so that a wide area of the map can be displayed.

In step S35, the scale is automatically switched, and the process ends. That is, as shown in FIG. 5C, both the point at which scrolling is started and the current position of the cursor are displayed on a reduced scale within the same screen (wide area display).

Next, scroll stop processing will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In step S41, it is determined whether or not scrolling has been stopped. If scrolling has been stopped, the process proceeds to step S42. If scrolling has not been stopped, the process ends (scrolling is continued). This determination is made based on the operation state of the scroll key of the user.

In step S42, it is determined whether or not the cursor is at the center of the display screen. If the cursor is at the center of the display screen, the process ends. If the cursor is not at the center of the display screen, the process proceeds to step S43. That is, the position of the cursor when the cursor operation is stopped is determined.

In step S43, the cursor position is moved to the center of the display screen, and the process ends. When the cursor is moved to the center of the display screen, the entire map also moves to the center (in a wide-area display state) in conjunction with the movement of the cursor. CD-ROM as the cursor moves to the center
A new area is read from the map information such as, and the image is converted so that it can be drawn on a display screen such as a liquid crystal display.
(Display data memory) 41a. The display data is read out and output to the drive circuit of the display unit 42 to display a map of a new area.

In step S44, the scale is automatically restored, and the process is terminated. That is, the scale of the map reduced (wide-area display) when the cursor is moved is returned to the scale before scrolling (detailed display) as shown in FIG.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the cursor is within a predetermined range of the display screen, only the cursor is moved in accordance with the operation of the scroll key by the user, and the map screen is not moved. Is not required, and image processing is performed when the cursor goes out of a predetermined range of the display screen and when the cursor stops, so that the processing load during the movement of the cursor is reduced. In addition, when scrolling a map over a wide area, the scale of the map is generally changed to a wide-area map, and when the target position is reached, the scale is often changed to the original detailed map. There is an advantage that the adjustment is automatically performed in conjunction with the movement of the cursor.

As a modification of the present embodiment, in a position setting operation such as a destination setting (this can be detected by a menu operation by a user), a wide area map is displayed from a detailed map, and then the map is scrolled. For example, a few seconds after the stop, the display is automatically switched to the original detailed map, and the destination is set on the detailed map. That is, only the scroll stop processing of the present embodiment may be performed. This eliminates the need to perform cumbersome scale adjustment operations.

[0042]

As described above, the present invention can provide a navigation device capable of scrolling a map screen with excellent operability and visibility.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a process performed by a control unit 2 of the navigation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of the navigation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process performed by a control unit 2 of the navigation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a navigation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ··· GPS receiver, 31 ··· Input unit, 12 ··· Direction sensor, 41 ···
..Display control unit, 13, a distance sensor,
41a: V-RAM, 14: map database, 42: display unit, 2: control unit, 43: voice output unit.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A map information storage means for storing map information, a display means for displaying the map information stored in the map information storage means, and a cursor for instructing movement of a map screen displayed on the display means. In a navigation device that scrolls and displays a map screen displayed on the display means in a predetermined direction in response to the movement of the display means, when the cursor moves within a predetermined range of the display screen of the display means, When the map screen to be displayed is fixed and only the cursor is moved, and the cursor is located outside a predetermined range of the display screen of the display means,
A navigation device, comprising: display control means for controlling a map screen displayed on the display means to be scrolled and displayed in a predetermined direction corresponding to the position of the cursor. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means controls the cursor to return to the center of the display screen when the scrolling of the map screen is completed. 3. The display control means according to claim 1, wherein when the cursor is located outside a predetermined range of the display screen, both a point at which scrolling is started and a point corresponding to the cursor position are displayed on the display screen. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is controlled so as to be displayed at a reduced scale. 4. When the scroll of the map screen is completed, the display control means returns the cursor to the center of the display screen and returns the scale of the map screen to the scale before the start of scrolling. 4. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the control is performed in such a manner. 5. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined range of the display screen is set within an arbitrary range of the display screen. 6. When the map screen displayed on the display means is a map screen requiring fine adjustment, the display control means fixes the map screen displayed on the display means when scrolling the map screen. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein control is performed such that only the cursor is moved. 7. The navigation according to claim 1, wherein the display control means determines whether or not to move only the cursor based on an operation state of the cursor operation means by an operator. apparatus. 8. The display control means, wherein, when the map screen displayed on the display means is fixed and only the cursor is moved, and a point is set at the position of the cursor, the cursor at the time of setting is displayed on the display screen. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is controlled so as to be displayed at a center of the navigation device. 9. A map information storage means for storing map information, a display means for displaying the map information stored in the map information storage means, and a cursor for instructing movement of the map information displayed on the display means. A navigation device for scrolling and displaying a map screen displayed on the display means in a predetermined direction in response to movement of the map screen, wherein the scale of the map screen displayed on the display means is scrolled in a wide-area display state Is executed,
When the scroll of the map screen is stopped, the scale of the map screen displayed on the display means is switched to a detailed display.