JP2008082780A - Navigation device, its control method, and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To confirm simultaneously both a navigation screen and a camera screen, while supporting effectively safety confirmation at a crossing, in a navigation technique. <P>SOLUTION: A condition determination means 12 determines fulfillment of a switching condition that it is within a prescribed distance to the crossing and below prescribed speed, based on road map data stored in a storage means 2 and navigation information acquired from a navigation means 10, and then determines display switching. When the display switching is determined by the condition determination means 12, a synthetic display means 14 switches display on a display part 3 to a synthetic display screen formed by synthesizing the navigation screen from the navigation means 10 with a camera image from a camera 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in navigation technology.

  In recent years, with the development of electronic technology, the spread of navigation devices for in-vehicle use is remarkable. The navigation device displays the position and direction of the vehicle specified by GPS etc. on the surrounding map based on the road map data, and the route to the destination specified by the user by facility search or map scrolling. It is set by searching and calculating, and guidance guidance such as the direction of travel at the intersection is performed by screen display and voice output.

  Even with assistance from such a navigation device, driving a vehicle that enters an intersection with poor visibility is one of the difficult driving operations, such as requiring confirmation of left and right safety while temporarily stopping or slowing down. On the other hand, a technology of a safety confirmation device that provides a camera at the front end of the vehicle and supports safety confirmation at an intersection with poor visibility by combining with a display function of a navigation device has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In this type of safety confirmation device, in a vehicle equipped with a navigation device, an in-vehicle camera (front nose camera) for side confirmation is provided at the front end of the vehicle with a blind spot as shown by a hatched line in FIG. When it is detected that the vehicle is approaching the intersection, the display monitor that has previously displayed a navigation screen such as a map or guidance information is automatically switched to the camera screen from the camera.

Thus, before the vehicle greatly enters the intersection, the driver can smoothly check the situation in the intersection with the camera at the front end of the vehicle, and can effectively prevent an unexpected accident.
JP-A-2004-334808

  However, when switching from the navigation screen to the camera screen automatically, the timing does not match the driver's intention, and the information on the navigation screen that is necessary at the intersection cannot be confirmed. When the route guidance information and the like are not displayed, there is a problem that the road tends to be erroneous. In this regard, it is conceivable to switch the display to a manual operation, but this is not easy to handle.

The present invention solves the problems of the prior art as described above, and its purpose is to confirm both the navigation screen and the camera screen at the same time while effectively supporting the safety confirmation at the intersection in the navigation technology. It is possible.
Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to freely set display switching conditions. Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to select a combination of a plurality of screen areas.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, in a navigation device that supports driving by a computer, a storage unit for road map data including the position of an intersection, a display unit for screen display, and an information input unit An operation unit, navigation means for obtaining navigation information including the position and speed of the host vehicle and displaying a navigation screen for guidance on the display unit, a side-viewing camera provided at the front end of the vehicle, and the memory Based on the road map data stored in the means and the navigation information obtained by the navigation means, the display switching is determined by determining whether the switching condition is within a predetermined distance to the intersection and below the predetermined speed. When the display switching is determined by the condition determining unit and the condition determining unit, the display on the display unit is displayed on the navigation screen from the navigation unit and the display unit. A synthesis display unit for switching the camera image from La, the synthetic synthetic display screen, characterized by having a.

  In this way, when the speed is below the predetermined speed near the intersection, both the navigation screen and the camera image are combined and displayed on the display screen at the same time, effectively supporting the safety check at the intersection and unfamiliar road Inconvenience that the navigation screen cannot be seen at unexpected timing can be solved.

  Another aspect of the present invention is characterized by further comprising a switching condition receiving means for receiving at least one designation of a predetermined distance or a predetermined speed to the intersection in the switching condition from the operation unit.

  As described above, by enabling the user to specify the distance and speed to the intersection as the screen switching conditions, it is possible to easily realize comfortable usability suitable for individual specific circumstances such as preference and purpose.

  Another aspect of the present invention is characterized by further comprising a screen configuration receiving unit that receives designation from the operation unit for the configuration of the composite display screen in the switching.

  As described above, by allowing the user to specify the composition of the composite display screen that is switched at the intersection, it is possible to easily realize comfortable usability suitable for individual specific circumstances such as preference and situation.

  Note that the method and program also conform to the above-described embodiments.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the navigation technology, it is possible to simultaneously confirm both the navigation screen and the camera screen while effectively supporting the safety confirmation at the intersection.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that assumptions common to the explanation in the background art and problems are omitted as appropriate.

[1. Constitution〕
A navigation device (hereinafter referred to as “this device”) in the present embodiment performs driving assistance by a computer such as route guidance to a designated destination, and the configuration of this device is shown in FIG. The configuration and processing related to general navigation, for example, facility search, destination designation reception, navigation calculation such as vehicle position estimation, route search, guidance guidance output, etc. are the same as in the past, so details are omitted. To do.

  In the configuration of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, 1 is a control unit such as a CPU of a computer, and 2 is a storage means for road map data including the position of an intersection, for example, a disk device such as a DVD-ROM or HDD. Is used. Reference numeral 3 denotes a display unit for screen display such as a liquid crystal panel, and reference numeral 4 denotes an operation unit for information input such as a switch or a remote control unit. Reference numeral 5 denotes a side-viewing camera provided at the front end of the vehicle, which is actually a right and left CCD video camera.

  The GPS receiver 6, the gyro sensor 7, and the vehicle speed detector 8 are a navigation sensor group. In addition, the apparatus includes an operation memory 9, a VICS receiver 10, and an input / output user interface 11.

  Further, the control unit 1 realizes the respective means 10 to 15 shown in FIG. 1 by a control program such as built-in, and these respective means realize and execute each functional action of the present invention and this embodiment as follows. Processing means. Of these, the navigation means 10 is navigation means for obtaining navigation information including the position and speed of the host vehicle by the sensor groups 6, 7, and 8 and displaying a guidance navigation screen on the display unit 3.

[2. Action)
An operation procedure in the display screen switching process in the apparatus configured as described above is illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. This operation procedure actually exists in the control program of the control unit 1 and is periodically executed (for example, every 1 meter) as the vehicle travels.

  In this procedure, the condition determining means 12 includes the current position coordinates of the vehicle, the traveling direction, and the vehicle speed (herein referred to as “vehicle information”) among the navigation information grasped by the navigation means 10 (step S01). ) Based on the information of the intersection in the traveling direction read from the road map data in the storage means 2 (step S02), the distance to the intersection is approaching within a predetermined distance setting value (for example, 3 meters) (step S02) S03), and the display switching is determined by determining whether or not the vehicle speed at that time is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed setting value (for example, 10 km / h) (step S04) (step S03). S04 Condition determination processing).

  In such a switching condition, the switching condition receiving means 13 designates from the operation unit 4 for at least one of a predetermined distance (for example, how many meters) or a predetermined speed (for example, how many kilometers per hour) to the intersection. Are set in advance and set as the above set values (switching condition receiving process).

  When display switching is determined, the composite display unit 14 switches the display on the display unit 3 to a composite display screen in which the navigation screen from the navigation unit 10 and the camera image from the camera 5 are combined. (Composite display process).

  Here, the camera image photographed by the front nose camera is stored in the camera image layer of the video memory 52 after undergoing processing such as A / D conversion and image size conversion by the camera image processing unit 51. Since the camera image is a moving image, if it is a general video signal (for example, 30 frames / second), continuous processing is performed in accordance with the amount of information. In addition, a process of cutting out only a part necessary as a camera image and storing only the part in the camera image layer may be added.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the video memory 52 is composed of a plurality of layers. For example, the camera layer 1 and the camera layer 2 constitute a camera image, while an intersection information layer, a surrounding detailed map, The map layer constitutes a navigation screen. These are the output results (images) of the respective functions and processes. By combining necessary portions (part or all of the images) from these layers, the finally displayed image is displayed on the display unit 3. Output (display) on the monitor.

  Further, when the above switching conditions (distance to the front intersection and vehicle speed at that time) are satisfied, the composite display unit 14 selects a screen selected by a user such as a driver from a plurality of screen configurations in advance. According to the set value, the screen configuration is switched to configuration 1 (step S06), configuration 2 (step S07), or configuration 3 (step S08).

  In other words, with regard to the composition of the composite display screen in such switching, the screen composition accepting unit 15 accepts designation of which of a plurality of candidates is selected from the operation unit 4 (screen composition accepting process). An example of this combination is shown in FIG.

  In this figure, configuration 1 is an example in which camera layer 1 (video on the left side of the vehicle), camera layer 2 (video on the right side of the vehicle), and an intersection information layer are combined. Configuration 2 is an example in which a peripheral detail map layer is combined at the top of the screen, camera layer 1 (video on the left side of the vehicle) is displayed at the bottom left of the screen, and camera layer 2 (video on the right side of the vehicle) is combined at the bottom right of the screen. is there. Configuration 3 is an example in which a map layer and an intersection information layer are combined, and the composite display screens are configurations 1 and 2.

  According to the procedure as described above, configuration 3 based on map information is displayed during normal driving, and configuration 1 (or configuration 2) is displayed when approaching an intersection with poor visibility at low speed, and the intersection is temporarily stopped. The operation of continuously displaying the configuration 3 can be realized when passing through without being performed. Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously display the map information and the camera image even while stopping at an intersection with poor visibility while traveling on an unfamiliar road, and the burden on the driver can be reduced.

[3. effect〕
As described above, this embodiment effectively supports safety confirmation at an intersection by simultaneously displaying both the navigation screen and the camera image on the display screen when the speed is below a predetermined speed near the intersection. However, the inconvenience that the navigation screen cannot be seen at an unfamiliar road or unexpected timing can be solved.

  Also, in the present embodiment, as described above, the user can specify the distance and speed to the intersection as the screen switching condition, thereby making it easy to use comfortably according to individual specific circumstances such as preference and purpose. It becomes feasible.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, as described above, the user can specify the composition of the composite display screen that is switched at the intersection, thereby easily realizing comfortable usability suitable for individual specific circumstances such as preference and situation. It becomes possible.

[4. Other embodiments]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, The thing illustrated below and other embodiment other than that are included. For example, although the above embodiment has been described mainly with a navigation device in mind, it can be grasped as a method or a computer program corresponding to such a navigation device, for example, for a fee for an existing navigation device. An update program provided by downloading in the above is also an embodiment of the present invention.

The functional block diagram which shows the structure of embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which illustrates the procedure of the screen structure switching process in embodiment of this invention. The conceptual diagram which shows each layer in embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structural example of the display screen which synthesize | combined the navigation screen and camera image in embodiment of this invention. The conceptual diagram which illustrates the imaging | photography range of the front nose camera in the prior art and embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control part 2 ... Memory | storage means 3 ... Display part 4 ... Operation part 5 ... Camera 6 ... GPS receiver 7 ... Gyro sensor 8 ... Vehicle speed detector 9 ... Memory 10 ... Navigation means 11 ... User interface 12 ... Condition judgment means 13 ... Switching condition reception means 14 ... Composition display means 15 ... Screen configuration reception means 51 ... Camera image processing section 52 ... Video memory

Claims (9)

In a navigation device that supports driving by a computer,
Storage means for road map data including the position of the intersection;
A display unit for displaying a screen, an operation unit for inputting information,
Navigation means for obtaining navigation information including the position and speed of the host vehicle and displaying a navigation screen for guidance on the display unit;
A side-facing camera provided at the front end of the vehicle;
Based on the road map data stored in the storage means and the navigation information obtained by the navigation means, it is determined whether a switching condition within a predetermined distance to the intersection and below a predetermined speed is satisfied, and display switching is performed. A condition judging means for determining;
When the display switching is determined by the condition determining means, the display is switched to a composite display screen in which the display on the display unit is combined with the navigation screen from the navigation means and the camera image from the camera. Display means;
A navigation device comprising: The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a switching condition receiving unit that receives from the operation unit designation of at least one of a predetermined distance to an intersection or a predetermined speed in the switching condition. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising: a screen configuration receiving unit that receives designation from the operation unit for the configuration of the composite display screen in the switching. It has a storage means for road map data including the position of the intersection, a display unit for screen display, an operation unit for information input, and a side-shooting camera provided at the front end of the vehicle, and is operated by a computer. In a method of controlling a navigation device that supports
Navigation processing for obtaining navigation information including the position and speed of the host vehicle and displaying a navigation screen for guidance on the display unit;
Based on the road map data stored in the storage means and the navigation information obtained in the navigation process, it is determined whether a switching condition within a predetermined distance to the intersection and below a predetermined speed is satisfied, and display switching is performed. A condition judgment process to be determined;
When the display switching is determined in the condition determination process, the display is switched to a composite display screen in which the display on the display unit is combined with the navigation screen from the navigation means and the camera image from the camera. Display processing,
A method for controlling a navigation device, comprising: The navigation device control method according to claim 4, further comprising: a switching condition reception process for receiving, from the operation unit, at least one designation of a predetermined distance or a predetermined speed to the intersection in the switching condition. The navigation device control method according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising: a screen configuration reception process for receiving a designation from the operation unit for the configuration of the composite display screen in the switching. It has a storage means for road map data including the position of the intersection, a display unit for screen display, an operation unit for information input, and a side-shooting camera provided at the front end of the vehicle, and is operated by a computer. In a control program for a navigation device that supports
The program realizes navigation means, condition judgment means, and composite display means by controlling the control unit of the computer,
The navigation means obtains navigation information including the position and speed of the host vehicle, and displays a navigation screen for guidance on the display unit.
Based on the road map data stored in the storage means and the navigation information obtained by the navigation processing, the condition determination means establishes a switching condition within a predetermined distance to the intersection and below a predetermined speed. Make a condition judgment process that decides display switching by judging,
When the display switching is determined in the condition determination process, the display on the display unit is combined with the navigation screen from the navigation unit and the camera image from the camera. A control program for a navigation device, characterized by causing a composite display process to switch to a composite display screen. The navigation device control according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is caused to perform a switching condition reception process for receiving from the operation unit designation of at least one of a predetermined distance to the intersection or a predetermined speed in the switching condition. program. The control program for a navigation device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the control unit is caused to perform a screen configuration receiving process for receiving a designation from the operation unit with respect to the composition of the composite display screen in the switching.

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