JP2009019969A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a visual effect having much entertainment by switching a map effectively. <P>SOLUTION: One's own car position is detected (step S10), and a map corresponding to the detected own car position is displayed based on map data (step S40). It is determined whether the own car position is in a prescribed pictorial map display range or not (step S20), and when determined to be in the pictorial map display range, a pictorial map based on pictorial map data is displayed by switching to the map displayed in step S20 (step S70). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device for a vehicle.

  Conventionally, a navigation device that switches between a map guidance mode for displaying a detailed map and an arrow guidance mode for displaying a simplified map based on a user operation, a distance to a guidance intersection, and the like is known (patent). Reference 1).

JP 2002-5681 A

  The navigation device disclosed in Patent Document 1 switches the map as described above in order to reliably guide the vehicle to the destination. Therefore, it does not effectively switch maps to provide a highly entertaining visual effect.

The navigation device according to the first aspect of the present invention is a recording device in which map data representing a road by a plurality of links, picture map data representing a specific place by a single picture map, and a vehicle position are recorded. Vehicle position detection means for detecting, map display means for displaying a map corresponding to the vehicle position detected by the vehicle position detection means based on map data, and the vehicle position corresponding to a specific location in advance A determination means for determining whether or not the vehicle is within a predetermined picture map display range, and a map displayed by the map display means when the determination means determines that the vehicle position is within the picture map display range. And a display switching means for displaying a picture map based on the picture map data.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first aspect, the conversion means for converting the vehicle position according to the picture map, and the vehicle for displaying the vehicle position converted by the conversion means on the picture map. And a position display means.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the second aspect, the conversion means converts the vehicle position according to the picture map based on a conversion table in which a position correspondence relationship between the map and the picture map is recorded. To do.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the specific location is a location, a tourist attraction, a scenic spot, a cherry blossom viewing spot, a swimming spot, a autumnal spot, or skiing Including any of the famous sights.
The invention according to claim 5 is the navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a type icon display means for displaying a type icon corresponding to the type of place represented by the picture map together with the picture map. It is.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the navigation device according to the fifth aspect further comprises detailed information display means for displaying detailed information about a place represented by the picture map when the type icon is selected.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a map can be switched effectively and the visual effect with high entertainment property can be brought about.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 1 includes a control unit 10, a vibration gyro 11, a vehicle speed sensor 12, a hard disk (HDD) 13, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving unit 14, a display monitor 15, and an input device 16. The navigation device 1 is used by being mounted on a vehicle.

  The control unit 10 includes a microprocessor, various peripheral circuits, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and executes various processes based on a control program and map data recorded in the HDD 13. Various processes for guiding the host vehicle to the destination are executed by the process performed by the control unit 10. For example, destination search processing when setting a destination, search processing of a recommended route to the set destination, detection processing of the current position of the host vehicle, various image display processing, voice output processing during route guidance Etc. are executed.

  The vibration gyro 11 is a sensor for detecting the angular velocity of the host vehicle. The vehicle speed sensor 12 is a sensor for detecting the vehicle speed of the host vehicle. By detecting the movement state of the host vehicle at predetermined time intervals using these sensors, the position movement amount of the host vehicle is obtained, and thereby the current position of the host vehicle is detected.

  The HDD 13 is a non-volatile recording medium that can store and hold recorded data. Various data including the control program and map data are recorded in the HDD 13. These data recorded in the HDD 13 are read out under the control of the control unit 10 as necessary, and are used for various processes and controls executed by the control unit 10.

  The map data recorded on the HDD 13 includes route calculation data, road data, and background data. The route calculation data is data used when searching for a recommended route to the destination. The road data is data representing the shape and type of the road. In the map data, the minimum unit of each road is called a link. That is, each road in the map data is composed of a plurality of links. Adjacent links are connected through points called nodes. That is, each node represents an end point of a link. A point called a shape interpolation point for representing the shape of the link may be set in the middle of the link. The background data is data representing the background of the map. Note that the background of the map is various components other than roads existing on the map. For example, rivers, railways, green zones, various structures, etc. are represented by background data.

  The HDD 13 further stores picture map data for displaying a picture map. A picture map is a map in which a road or background on a map is drawn with a design that makes it easy to understand the characteristics of the place for a specific place. That is, the picture map data represents the place by a single picture map in which a specific place is drawn in an easy-to-understand manner. The specific place referred to here is a place where many people visit, and includes, for example, a location such as a movie or a drama, a tourist attraction, or a scenic spot. Furthermore, places that are crowded in a specific season, such as cherry blossom viewing, sea bathing, autumn leaves, skiing, etc. may be included. In the pictorial map, some roads and backgrounds may be omitted in order to represent the characteristics of the place.

  When the vehicle travels in a specific place as described above, the normal map displayed up to that point is switched to a pictorial map. At this time, the picture map based on the picture map data is displayed in a form different from the normal map displayed based on the road data and the background data. Specific processing contents at this time will be described in detail later.

  The GPS receiver 14 receives a GPS signal transmitted from a GPS satellite and outputs it to the controller 10. The GPS signal includes information on the position and transmission time of the GPS satellite that transmitted the GPS signal as information for obtaining the position of the host vehicle and the current time. Therefore, by receiving GPS signals from a predetermined number or more of GPS satellites, the current position and current time of the host vehicle can be calculated based on these pieces of information. The GPS receiver 14, the vibration gyro 11 and the vehicle speed sensor 12 described above detect the current location of the host vehicle.

  The display monitor 15 is a device for performing various screen displays in the navigation device 1 and is configured using a liquid crystal display or the like. The display monitor 15 displays a normal map or the picture map described above. The contents of the screen displayed on the display monitor 15 are determined by screen display control performed by the control unit 10. The display monitor 15 is installed at a position where the user can easily see, for example, on the dashboard of the host vehicle or in the instrument panel.

  The input device 16 is a device for a user to perform various input operations for operating the navigation device 1, and has various input switches. The user operates the input device 16 to input, for example, the name of a facility or point desired to be set as a destination, select a destination from registered locations registered in advance, or display a map in an arbitrary direction. Or scroll. The input device 16 can be realized by an operation panel, a remote controller, or the like. Alternatively, the input device 16 may be a touch panel integrated with the display monitor 15.

  When the user operates the input device 16 to set the destination, the navigation device 1 performs a predetermined algorithm calculation based on the above-described route calculation data, using the current position of the host vehicle as the departure location. Route search from to the destination. The route obtained by this route search is set as a recommended route to the destination. When the recommended route is set in this way, the recommended route is displayed on the map separately from other roads by a method such as using a color different from that of the other roads. As a result, the user can easily recognize the recommended route on the map displayed on the display monitor 15. In addition, the navigation device 1 guides the host vehicle by instructing the traveling direction by an image or voice to the user so that the host vehicle can travel according to the recommended route. In this way, route guidance to the destination is performed.

  An example of a normal map displayed on the display monitor 15 during route guidance as described above is shown in FIG. In the map of FIG. 2, a vehicle position mark 20 indicating the position of the vehicle and a pond 21 are displayed. In this map, reference numeral 22 denotes a picture map display range set on the map in order to display the picture map. The picture map display range 22 is set in advance corresponding to the specific place as described above. In addition, although the picture map display range 22 is shown in FIG. 2, the picture map display range 22 is not actually displayed on the map. Therefore, even if the user looks at the map, the user cannot know at which place the map can be switched to the picture map.

  When the host vehicle enters the picture map display range 22, the picture map shown in FIG. 3 is displayed by switching to the map shown in FIG. In this pictorial map, the positional relationship between the pond 21 and the road is drawn in an easy-to-understand manner. In addition, unlike the normal map as shown in FIG. 2, the pictorial map in FIG. 3 does not scroll even if the vehicle position changes. That is, when the own vehicle position changes, the position of the own vehicle position mark 20 changes in the picture map accordingly.

  Reference numeral 23 denotes a type icon indicating what type of place the picture map of FIG. 3 represents. From this type icon 23, it can be seen that, for example, the picture map of FIG. 3 represents a film location. The form of the type icon 23 shown in FIG. 3 is an example, and various other forms can be used. For example, a symbol mark or a photograph indicating the feature of the place can be attached to the type icon. Or if it is the location of a movie or a drama, one scene shot at that location may be attached to the type icon.

  When the type icon 23 is selected by a user operation, detailed information about the place represented by the pictorial map in FIG. 3 is displayed. For example, in the case of a movie location, the title, release date, performer, synopsis, etc. of the movie are displayed as detailed information. In addition to this, various contents can be displayed as detailed information.

  As described above, when the vehicle travels in the vicinity of a specific place, the display screen is suddenly switched from the normal map to the picture map. Thereby, the visual effect with high entertainment property can be brought about. When the vehicle leaves the pictorial map display range 22 shown in FIG. 2, the pictorial map display is terminated and the normal map is switched again.

  In order to display the own vehicle position mark 20 at the correct position on the pictorial map of FIG. 3, it is necessary to convert the own vehicle position detected by the navigation device 1 into a position corresponding to the pictorial map of FIG. . This position conversion is performed based on a point conversion table recorded in the HDD 13.

An example of the point conversion table is shown in FIG. In this point conversion table, the position correspondence relationship between the normal map and the picture map at each point on the road is recorded. According to the point conversion table of FIG. 4, for example, a point A located at coordinates (A ₁ , A ₂ ) in a normal map corresponds to a point A ′ located at coordinates (A ₁ ′, A ₂ ′) in the picture map. You can see that Based on such a point conversion table, the navigation device 1 converts the detected vehicle position into coordinates on a picture map.

  For example, if the detected vehicle position is between point A and point B, it can be seen that the vehicle position is between point A 'and point B' on the pictorial map. Therefore, by referring to the point conversion table of FIG. 4, the coordinates of the intermediate point between the points A ′ and B ′ are obtained, and the vehicle position mark 20 is displayed with respect to the coordinates of the intermediate point. Note that each point represented in the point conversion table in FIG. 4 can be, for example, each of a node and a shape interpolation point located in the pictorial map display range 22 in FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of processing executed in the navigation device 1 when displaying a normal map or picture map as described above. This flowchart is executed by the control unit 10 in the navigation device 1 when a picture map display mode for displaying a picture map is set.

  In step S10, the navigation apparatus 1 detects the own vehicle position, that is, the current position of the own vehicle. In step S20, the navigation apparatus 1 determines whether or not the vehicle position detected in step S10 is within the picture map display range. This picture map display range is set in advance corresponding to a specific place as described above. If the vehicle position is outside the picture map display range, the process proceeds to step S30, and if it is within the picture map display range, the process proceeds to step S60.

  When the process proceeds from step S20 to step S30, in step S30, the navigation apparatus 1 reads map data from the HDD 13 around the vehicle position detected in step S10. In step S40, the navigation apparatus 1 displays a normal map corresponding to the vehicle position on the display monitor 15 based on the map data read in step S30. In step S50, the navigation apparatus 1 displays the vehicle position detected in step S10 on the map displayed in step S40. Thereby, a map as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed. If step S50 is performed, the navigation apparatus 1 will return to step S10 and will repeat the above processes.

  On the other hand, when the process proceeds from step S20 to step S60, in step S60, the navigation apparatus 1 reads out from the HDD 13 the picture map data corresponding to the picture map display range determined in step S20 that the vehicle position is in the navigation map. In step S70, the navigation device 1 displays a picture map corresponding to the vehicle position on the display monitor 15 based on the picture map data read in step S60.

  In step S80, the navigation apparatus 1 converts the vehicle position detected in step S10 according to the picture map displayed in step S70. At this time, the vehicle position is converted by referring to the point conversion table as shown in FIG. 4 and converting the coordinates as described above based on the contents. In step S90, the navigation apparatus 1 displays the vehicle position converted in step S80 on the picture map displayed in step S70. Thereby, a picture map as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed.

  In step S100, the navigation apparatus 1 displays a type icon corresponding to the type of place represented by the picture map displayed in step S70. Thereby, the type icon 23 is displayed on the picture map as shown in FIG. In step S110, the navigation apparatus 1 determines whether or not the type icon displayed in step S100 has been selected by a user operation.

  If it is determined in step S110 that the type icon has been selected, the navigation apparatus 1 proceeds to step S120, and in step S120, detailed information about the place represented by the picture map is displayed. If step S120 is performed, the navigation apparatus 1 will return to step S10 and will repeat the above processes. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S110 that the type icon has not been selected, the navigation apparatus 1 returns to step S10 without executing step S120, and repeats the processing as described above.

  By repeatedly executing the processing as described above at predetermined processing cycle intervals, when the host vehicle is traveling outside the picture map display range, a normal map as shown in FIG. 2 based on the map data is displayed on the display monitor. 15 is displayed. After that, if it is determined in step S20 that the host vehicle is within the picture map display range, the picture map as shown in FIG. Is displayed. By doing in this way, a map can be switched effectively and a highly entertaining visual effect can be brought about.

According to the embodiment described above, the following operational effects are obtained.
(1) The navigation device 1 detects the vehicle position (step S10), and displays a map corresponding to the detected vehicle position on the display monitor 15 based on the map data recorded in the HDD 13 (step S40). . Further, it is determined whether or not the vehicle position is within a predetermined pictorial map display range (step S20). If it is determined that the own vehicle position is within the pictorial map display range, the map is switched to the map displayed at step S20. A picture map based on the picture map data recorded in the HDD 13 is displayed on the display monitor 15 (step S70). Since it did in this way, a map can be switched effectively and a visual effect with high entertainment property can be brought about.

(2) The navigation device 1 converts the vehicle position according to the displayed picture map (step S80), and displays the converted vehicle position on the picture map (step S90). Since it did in this way, the own vehicle position can be correctly displayed on a picture map.

(3) In step S80, the navigation device 1 converts the vehicle position according to the picture map based on the conversion table as shown in FIG. 4 in which the position correspondence relationship between the normal map and the picture map is recorded. I made it. Thereby, the own vehicle position can be easily and reliably converted according to the picture map.

(4) The specific place where the pictorial map display range is set can include any of a location, a tourist attraction, a scenic spot, a cherry blossom viewing spot, a bathing spot, a fall foliage spot, or a ski spot. Accordingly, the picture map display range can be set for various places.

(5) The navigation device 1 displays a type icon corresponding to the type of place represented by the picture map together with the picture map displayed in step S70 (step S100). Since it did in this way, the user can know easily what kind of place the picture map represents.

(6) When the type icon is selected by the user, the navigation device 1 displays detailed information about the place represented by the picture map (step S120). Since it did in this way, a user can acquire detailed information easily when he wants to know.

  In the embodiment described above, map data or picture map data may be distributed from a distribution server via a wireless communication line such as a mobile phone. Moreover, it is good also as not displaying switching a normal map and a picture map simultaneously, but displaying simultaneously.

  The embodiment and various modifications described above are merely examples. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to these contents as long as the features of the invention are not impaired.

  In the above embodiment, the recording means is realized by the HDD 13, and other means described in the claims are realized by processing executed by the control unit 10 of the navigation device 1. That is, the control unit 10 of the navigation device 1 operates as own vehicle position detection means, map display means, determination means, display switching means, conversion means, own vehicle position display means, type icon display means, and detailed information display means. Can do. In interpreting the invention, the correspondence between the items described in the above embodiment and the items described in the claims is not limited or restricted.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a normal map. It is a figure which shows the example of a picture map. It is a figure which shows the example of a point conversion table. It is a figure which shows the flowchart performed when displaying a normal map or a picture map.

Explanation of symbols

1: navigation device, 10: control unit, 11: vibration gyro, 12: vehicle speed sensor,
13: HDD, 14: GPS receiver, 15: display monitor, 16: input device

Claims (6)

A recording means in which map data representing roads by a plurality of links and picture map data representing a specific place by a single picture map are recorded;
Own vehicle position detecting means for detecting the own vehicle position;
Map display means for displaying a map corresponding to the vehicle position detected by the vehicle position detection means based on the map data;
Determining means for determining whether or not the vehicle position is within a predetermined pictorial map display range set in advance corresponding to the specific location;
Display switching means for switching to the map displayed by the map display means and displaying a picture map based on the picture map data when the determination means determines that the vehicle position is within the picture map display range. A navigation device comprising: The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein
Conversion means for converting the vehicle position according to the picture map;
A navigation apparatus, further comprising own vehicle position display means for displaying the own vehicle position converted by the conversion means on the picture map. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the conversion means converts the vehicle position according to the picture map based on a conversion table in which a position correspondence relationship between the map and the picture map is recorded. In the navigation apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
The navigation device characterized in that the specific place includes any of a location, a tourist attraction, a scenic spot, a cherry blossom viewing spot, a bathing spot, a fall foliage spot, or a ski spot. In the navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The navigation apparatus further comprising a type icon display means for displaying a type icon corresponding to the type of place represented by the picture map together with the picture map. The navigation device according to claim 5, wherein
The navigation apparatus further comprising detailed information display means for displaying detailed information about a place represented by the picture map when the type icon is selected.

Images