DE19600700A1 - Computerised vehicle navigation system for relating map, position and destination information - Google Patents

Abstract

The vehicle navigation system stores map information in its memory (1). It also includes a position detector (2), based on a satellite GPS system, which relates the vehicle's current position to the map and a destination indicator (3) relating to both. From this combined information a route analyser (4) prepares a navigational guide. The position or the route is shown by an indicator (7) on a map of the surrounding area. Using an input system (5) to feed in information section by section, an algorithmic program (8) determines the best route for the complete journey. The direction to take at each junction is given. All directions are given on a display screen (6) and/or through a speech output (9). With a further adaptation the system can also give progressively the distance and route from current position to destination.

Description

This invention relates to a navigation device for generation and providing guidance information about a Target destination for a driver of a car or one Vehicle either with an announcement via a loudspeaker or a display on a screen, or both while the car is moving with the navigation device, and in particular relates to a navigation device which in is able to provide guidance information to a driver about a Generate and deliver ad based the driver's request.

This is done with a common navigation device Registration of the entry of a car or a vehicle with the navigation device within a defined limit range Crossing and then the information about the Direction of travel for the transportation of the car at the Intersection or the like for the driver of the car with the help an announcement, or an announcement and a visual display, as it is published in the unexamined Japanese Patent application (or in the disclosed unexamined Japanese Patent Application) No. 202307/85 (Tokkai-Sho 60- 202307).  

Since the usual navigation device guidance information for the driver regardless of the driver's requirement or the driver's wish through the usual Navigation system generated while the car is moving, the driver does not always receive guidance information when the driver Driver wants to get them. For example, it is due to the The fact that the guidance information regarding a Junction is not provided until the car is connected to the Navigation device moves near the intersection for the driver difficult to leave the car with enough Time to control by providing information about a Destination is received in time. In the case in which the management information according to a specified Distance or provided after a set time to solve the aforementioned problem, the Drivers sometimes use the information as a buzz because he has the Leadership information is heard even if he does not hear it want. This means that due to the fact that the common navigation device the guidance information for created the driver regardless of his will, a problem insists that the driver insist on receiving the Guide information has to wait for that in the car known navigation device contained the guidance information for the driver, although the driver provides the Wants to hear leadership information.

For solving the known and above-described problem, there is another known navigation device which is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Unexamined Publication No. 99678/93 (Tokkai-Hei 5-99678) and is constructed to travel along the guidance information announces a specified route by means of an announcement depending on the operation of a driver when requested. However, since the amount of information that can be conveyed by an announcement is relatively small, the conventional navigation device has a disadvantage in that it cannot always convey the guidance information to the driver when the driver desires accurate and detailed guidance information. For example, the known navigation device has the following disadvantage:
Although the known navigation device can provide guidance information for a driver via an intersection, the guidance information of the known navigation device contains only simple directional announcements, such as "turn right" or "turn left", with the aid of an announcement in connection with a point at which the intersecting road is connected to multiple roads at oblique angles or on which there are multiple roads with the same azimuth on which the car can travel with the known navigation device, so that it is difficult for the driver to select the road and the driver receives no assistance in determining a street along which the car should travel.

In addition, there is the guidance information that the driver wishes, not just from one direction for turning right or left, but contains numerous Management information points, for example the names of a Point, the existence of a facility, or the like a side of the road that the driver uses to determine the point can, and the name and route number one too chasing street. Accordingly, there is also a problem in that it is not enough to give the driver a  Management information only with the help of an announcement on the To provide based on a request from the driver.

In view of the aforementioned disadvantages in the above known navigation device described, there is a task of the present invention in creating a Navigation device, the guidance information for a driver depending on a driver's requirement and can spend.

Another object of the present invention is the creation of a navigation device that Can generate and provide leadership information for a driver is easy to understand and understand, and that is able to prevent the occurrence of a faulty one Understanding related to the generated To reduce guidance information to the driver.

Another object of the present invention is the creation of a navigation device that is able to the memory area in a memory of the navigation device, in the guidance information point as deselected information are saved, although that Car navigation device many kinds of Can provide leadership information points.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, Solve the above tasks using a car navigation device created containing a map information Storage device for storing map information, a Current position detector device for determining a Current position of a car (or a car position or a vehicle position) based on the map information  Acquisition of a signal, for example a GPS signal (Global Positioning System Signal), a gyroscopic Signal and one provided by the car Speed pulse signal, a map information Recovery device for recovering a Destination from the in the map information Map information stored on the storage device Based on the current position of the car, a Guide information processing device for generating from management information with regard to the target point to Processing the in the map information storage device stored map information, a display device for View guidance information regarding the Target point, and an input device for input numerous entries including an entry for the Management information depending on a requirement of the Vehicle.

As indicated above, the car navigation device wins according to the first aspect of the present invention from that in the map information storage device stored map information based on a Current position of a car that is equipped with the device and generates guidance information regarding the target point by processing the in the map information Storage device stored map information for Displaying the guidance information depending on one Driver request made by the input device is entered. Accordingly, the navigation device can Management information with regard to a required Show point in advance of time in addition to the management information with regard to the current position of the car.  

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a Navigation device created, containing one Route setting device for determining a travel route to a destination using an input device is entered and a card information Recovery device for recovering Leadership information regarding points to which along one using the track adjuster specified route is to be led from the in the Map information storage device stored Card information.

As stated above, the navigation device wins according to the second aspect of the present invention Map information retrieval device Guidance information regarding target points along the route determined by the route setting device from that in the map information storage device stored card information, for generating the Management information with regard to the target points for the Display of the guidance information with regard to the Target points with a display device depending on a driver 's request with a Input device is entered. So it can Navigation device related to the guidance information a required point along the route in view to the time in advance in addition to the guidance information in the Show regarding the current position of the car.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a Navigation device for displaying guidance information in Created in connection with a target point, and the  Guidance information relates to an intersection on which a car with a navigation device occurs when the car is out moved along its current route.

As stated above, the navigation device wins according to the third aspect of the present invention Target point information in connection with a Street intersection on which the car with the navigation device hits when the car is along its current route moved from one in a map information Map information stored on the storage device Based on a current position of the car, and generated Management information related to the target point of the Processing the in the card information Storage device stored map information for the Display of the guidance information with a display device depending on a driver's request made by an input device is transmitted. So it can Navigation device related to the guidance information a crossing as a requested point with regard to display the time in advance, in addition to the Management information with regard to the current position of the Cars.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a Navigation device created, containing one Speech device for the output of Management information with an announcement as Voice guidance information and a guidance information Processing device for performing processing such that the speech output device the Voice guidance information related to the Guide information displayed with the display device  with the displayed guidance information issues.

As stated above, with the navigation device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention due to the Fact that the voice guidance information is related with the guidance information displayed along with the guidance information displayed at the same time by the Speech device and the display device is issued, the guidance information in two forms are displayed, one of which is visual information and the other is audio information depending on that Content of the tour information. Accordingly, the driver can guidance information provided by the navigation device simply grasp.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a Car navigation device created that map information generated and provided with the help of Network information for expressing at least the relationships of roads that are connected with the help of Edges and knots is described, and a graphic Information from a leadership information Processing device based on the Network information to be generated is called Uses guidance information with a display device is to be displayed.

As stated above, the navigation device takes place according to the fifth aspect of the present invention and describe the map information as Network information, at least the relationships between interconnected roads using edges and  Expresses nodes and displays them on the display device. Accordingly, the amount of information contained in the Map information storage device is to be stored, be reduced, and based on the Network information is generated with graphic information displayed on the display device as guidance information. This allows the driver to get complicated guidance information and relationships between them just instantaneously recognize, and the occurrence of a misunderstanding in the Driver when capturing the generated guidance information the driver can be reduced.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the Navigation device created so that it is also a Destination destination guidance information display device for generating guide information points, based on the current position of the car towards or on the Destination to and near or near the Destination and to view the generated Guide information points with the display device.

As indicated above, the fact that the navigation device according to the sixth aspect of present invention additionally the destination Guide information display device includes Generate the guidance information related to Details based on the current position of the car too or towards the destination and with Target destination or its proximity and by displaying this guidance information with the display device Effect in that the driver of the car is the essential and effective leadership information points, such as the Distance to the destination and the azimuth to that  Target destination and the one to be tracked Direction of travel at or near the Targeting point, can capture if for the driver no detailed guidance information is required.

A better understanding of other tasks and benefits of present invention results from the following detailed description related to the enclosed drawing; show it:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the system structure of a navigation device according to a first embodiment (Embodiment 1) of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the principal parts of the overall structure of the map information in the navigation apparatus of the embodiment 1;

Figure 3 is a network card for representing a road network in the navigation apparatus of the embodiment 1; Fig.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams for illustrating the details of the map information of the navigation device of Embodiment 1;

Fig. 5 is a flowchart for illustrating the operation of the navigation device of Embodiment 1;

FIGS. 6A and 6B intersection map for representing road intersections (3 embodiment) of the present invention are to be displayed respectively by a navigation apparatus according to a second embodiment (embodiment 2) and a third embodiment;

Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing intersection data for drawing the intersection maps shown in Figs. 6A and 6B;

Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram of normal display of the navigation apparatus of the embodiment 1 card;

Fig. 9 is a flowchart illustrating part of the operation of the navigation device according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the system structure of a navigation device according to the embodiment 2;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the system structure of a navigation device according to the embodiment 3;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between input code and output intercommuni say in the voice output device of the navigation device according to the embodiment 3;

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing in the case of output of a voice guidance in the navigation device according to the embodiment 3;

Fig. 14 is a flowchart illustrating part of the operation of a navigation device according to a fourth embodiment (embodiment 4) of the present invention;

Figure 15 is an explanatory diagram showing intersection data, which are to be secured in between in the navigation apparatus of the embodiment 4; FIG.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart illustrating part of the operation of the navigation device according to the embodiment 4;

Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a to be displayed by the navigation device according to Embodiment 4 street intersection map;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a system structure of a navigation device according to a fifth embodiment (embodiment 5) of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a foot diagram showing part of the operation of the navigation device shown in FIG. 18 according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a display example of a screen of the navigation device shown in Figure 18 according to the embodiment 5 of the present invention.

Fig. 21 is a flowchart illustrating part of the operation of a navigation device according to a sixth embodiment (embodiment 6) of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a display example on a screen of the navigation device shown in FIG. 21 according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a system structure of a navigation device according to a seventh embodiment (embodiment 7) of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing another system construction of a navigation device according to the embodiment 7 of the present invention;

Fig. 25 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of the navigation device shown in Figures 23 and 24 according to the embodiment 7 of the present invention.

26 shows a display example of a screen of the navigation device shown in Figures 23 and 24 according to the embodiment 7 of the present invention..;

Fig. 27 shows a display example on a screen in a navigation device according to the eighth embodiment (embodiment 8) of the present invention, and

Fig. 28 another display example in a display screen of the navigation device according to the embodiment 8 of the present invention.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be detailed with reference to the accompanying Drawing described.

Embodiment 1

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram for illustrating an example of the system structure of a navigation device according to the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a map information storage device which can be concretely formed from numerous kinds of recording media capable of acquiring a lot of data, for example, a CD-ROM device (with acquired map information) and a CD player. ROM drivers for reading out recorded data from the CD-ROM device, a hard disk device, a photomagnetic disk device, an IC card using a semiconductor memory, and so on. Reference numeral 2 denotes a current position detector device having a function of obtaining the position coordinates at which a car is located by processing based on a traveling location, etc., which is determined based on a distance traveled and an azimuth of the car; the distance traveled is calculated from a geographical longitude and a latitude of the car, which is determined from at least one of the following variables: radio transmission signals from a GPS satellite, car speed, wheel rotations of the wheels of the car and the like. The azimuth of the car is calculated from a signal from an angular velocity sensor or a magnetic sensor, for example a vibration gyroscope or an optical fiber gyroscope, etc. In addition, it is possible that the current position detecting device 2 includes a card imaging device for determining the most credible point of the map data by the data stored in the map information storage apparatus 1 map data are compared with the position coordinates of the automobile to improve the reliability. All of these techniques are generally known to those who are normally familiar with the state of the art associated with the navigation device, and accordingly the subject matter of the present invention does not relate to the question of how the position detector device 2 is designed. Reference numeral 3 denotes a map information retrieval device for retrieving a destination from map information; a reference numeral 4 denotes a guide information processing device for generating guide information based on an output of the map information retrieval device 3 and the information stored in the map information storage device 1 so that the guide information is displayed on the display device 6 in response to a request from the driver which is input using the input device 5 .

A permanently mounted switch included in the display device 6 or a touch panel switch can be used as the input device 5 . In addition, the same effects can be achieved with the aid of a speech recognition device as in the case of the use of the fixed switch, an input operation for the input of a request from a driver being carried out by converting a directional announcement from the driver into electrical signals which functionally correspond to those of the fixed switch and the like match. An image display device such as a cathode ray tube, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, which is commonly used as a display terminal for a navigation device, meets the conditions of the display device 6 of the present invention.

Now, the details of the map information stored in the map information storage device 1 will be described in connection with the detailed description of the operation of the map information retrieval device 3 and the guide information processing device 4 .

Fig. 2 shows a block diagram showing a main part of the map information. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes handling information for indicating the presence of individual information for forming the map information; the handling information is the information essential for access to individual map information by the map information retrieval device 3 and the guide information processing device 4 . However, since the handling information 11 does not directly contribute to the effect of the present invention and is usually present in the construction of such a database, the details of the handling information 11 are not described here, and further processing steps when using the handling information 11 at the time of access to individual information during the operation will be omitted from the description from now on. A reference number 12 denotes a connection data group for the description of the information with regard to the road intersections of a road network. A reference numeral 13 denotes a node data group for the description of the information regarding the nodes of the road network. A reference numeral 14 denotes an intersection map data group, which will be described later.

Fig. 3 shows an example of a road network for the description of the operation of the present invention. Circles marked with reference letters N1, N2, etc. denote intersections (or intersections) and are listed as nodes in the map information mentioned above. Lines marked with reference letters L1, L2, L3, etc. indicate road connections between the intersections and are shown as edges in the map information mentioned above. A reference numeral 20 denotes a current position of a car that is equipped with the navigation device.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show exemplary diagrams for illustrating respectively the details of a connection data set and a node data record. An invention data record shown in FIG. 4A contains the numbers 15 a of the nodes that form the two ends of the connection, coordinates of interpolation points 15 b for representing the course of the road with polygonal lines, the lengths of the connection 15 c, the classification of the road 15 d to display the handling classification of the road, for example, as a federal road, as a prefectural road, etc., the handling number and the correct name of the road 15 e, the names of the destinations 15 f (or names of the destinations), which are the names of the locations to whom the car arrives when the car is moving along the road, etc.. . Other data such as the classification of a connection to indicate whether the road is a main road or a side road, the latitude data to indicate the width of the road or the number of lanes a car can drive, traffic regulation data such as one-way traffic, etc. be saved if necessary. Contains a node date, as shown in Fig. 4B, the position coordinate of the node 15 g, h is the number of links 15 connected to the node, i, the numbers of each link 15, j is the connecting terminal means 15 between terminals of the compounds of the node the classification of a node 15 k for indicating whether the node represents an intersection or a branch point and the like, the name of the intersection 15 m represented by the node, and further a pointer 15 n to the intersection map data, which is for the present Embodiment is suitable. The data of the intersection map data group 14 are image data for representing the detailed shape of an intersection corresponding to a node or a facility in the vicinity of the intersection in the form of image information, and the pointer to the intersection map data 15 n points to the position of an intersection map data record corresponding to a node in the intersection map data group 14 .

How the map information retrieval device 3 selects a destination from such map information will now be explained in connection with the flowchart shown in FIG . The following describes a process for realizing a function for selecting an intersection where a main road (in this case a federal road) crosses in front of a car equipped with the navigation device, or where there is no road along which a car travels straight ahead can.

First, the map information retrieval device 3 obtains the connection number according to the position of a car equipped with the navigation device, which is determined by the current position detector device 2 , to check whether the number obtained has been updated by using the last connection number Autoposition is compared (step ST100). If the number has not been updated, the map information retrieval device 3 waits for the number to change, and if the number has been updated, the map information retrieval device 3 obtains the number of the connection corresponding to the auto position and the direction of travel from the current position. Detection device 2 (step ST101).

Then, the map information retrieval device 3 sets the connection obtained as the input connection and obtains the node record at the end of the input connection along the travel direction side of the car (step ST102). Then, the map information retrieval device 3 obtains the connection record according to the connected connection that is different from the input connection, based on the connection number of the connected connection specified in the node record to obtain the road classifications of each connection, and checks whether a connection exists or not along a federal road toward the intersection of the entered connection (step ST103). If the connection from a main road, so the map information regenerating device 3 outputs the node to the management information processing apparatus 4 as a target point (step ST108). If there is no connection of a federal road, the recovery device 3 checks whether or not there is a connection along which a car can branch off within a specified angle, in front of the car in the direction of travel under the connections connected to the node, with the exception of the entered connection exists (step ST104). If there is no such connection along which the car can branch within the set angle, the map information retrieval device 3 considers the node as a point where there is no road along which the automobile can travel straight ahead, and the driver must drive and the node is output as a guide point (step ST108). If there is a connection along which the car can branch, the map information retrieval device 3 determines the connection as the input connection, which must be examined at the subsequent time (step ST105). If the integrated distance from the current position to the preceding node of the input connection exceeds a predetermined distance range (step ST106), the map information retrieval device ends the retrieval process because the car has reached the upper limit of the retrieval distance and outputs a signal to indicate that there is no target point (step ST107). If the car has not yet reached the upper limit of the retrieval distance, the map information retrieval device 3 returns to step ST102 and repeats the retrieval of connections before the auto position. If the map information retrieval device 3 ends step ST107 or step ST108, it returns to step ST100 and waits for the connection of the auto position to be updated.

In step ST108, the map information is retrieval device 3 an entry angle of the car position to the node from, as well as the number of the connection entered, the distance to the node, or the like, in addition to the node number of the destination point (in the following description, it is assumed that the information explained above is also output to the guidance information processing device 4 ). The entry angle can be obtained from a connection connection angle present in the connection data set, and the distance to the node can be obtained by integrating a connection distance contained in the connection data set.

In the following will be described how the management information processing apparatus displays 4 guidance information on the display device 6, with respect to the target point, which is determined by the map information regenerating device. 3 In this description, the case of displaying an enlarged map of an intersection shown in FIG. 6 on the display device 6 is exemplified. In FIG. 6A and 6B, a reference numeral 30 denotes an edge line of a road. The reference numerals 31 to 34 indicate center lines of roads, marked at the intersecting roads, the compounds are defined in the in Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B road network data. A reference numeral 35 denotes a marking of a street number. A reference numeral 36 denotes a symbol for representing a device on the street. A reference numeral 37 denotes a marking for indicating an entry direction of a car which is equipped with the navigation device. A reference numeral 38 denotes a display mark for indicating an existence of information that can be communicated through the system.

FIG. 7 shows the content of the intersection map data group 14 shown in FIG. 2; the content includes image drawing information for drawing an enlarged map of an intersection as shown in Fig. 6A. The road edge line 14 a data set consists of a Volliniendatengruppe for designating the roadside lines thirtieth The road center line data record 14 b consists of dashed line data groups for drawing the road center lines 31 to 34 ; Coupled connection numbers corresponding to the road intersections are stored as road center line data record 14 b. The symbol data 14 c contain font patterns for drawing the marking of a street number 35 and the facility symbols 36 and display center coordinate data for displaying their drawing positions.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the operation of a system of the navigation device to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied. The display device 6 shows the map in the vicinity of the car, which is equipped with the navigation device, together with the car position marker 39 . The display of the car position mark 39 and the background map thereof is realized by drawing in a frame memory of the drawing device 7 shown in Fig. 1 by the drawing device 7, based on the data stored in the map information storage apparatus 1 map information, a detected by the Momentanpositions- detector device 2 Momentanpositionskoordinate and the like, and by transmitting these values to the display device 6 as image signals. It is possible to display guidance information as a function of an operation of a vehicle in the input device 5 only when the display marker 38 is displayed to indicate the presence of information that can be communicated. The display device 6 may be constructed such that the display mark 38 is merely a mark and the input device 5 is a fixed switch provided elsewhere, and may also be constructed such that a control panel input device included in the display device 6 serves as a display mark 38 is used, which starts the operation for communicating guidance information when touched.

The flow of processing in the guide information processing device 4 is shown in FIG. 9. First, the guide information processing device 4 obtains the information regarding target points from the map information retrieval device 3 (step ST200). Since the information regarding the target points is not always available, as shown in step ST107 in FIG. 5, the guidance information processing device 4 checks whether they are present (step ST201). If the information is not available, the guidance information processing device 4 proceeds to step ST211. If there is a relevant target point, the guidance information processing device 4 receives a pointer (which is shown by reference numeral 15 n in Fig. 4 (2)) to the intersection map record described in the node record by the node number as a key (step ST202 ). Then, the guidance information processing device 4 checks whether or not a significant value for the pointer 15 n is set to the intersection map record (step ST203). If a significant pointer value is set, the map information processing device 4 obtains the intersection map data record corresponding to the destination of the intersection map data group 14 , which is stored in the map information storage device 1 by the significant pointer value, and saves the intersection map data record in a memory of the guidance information processing device 4 for the current one Time (step ST204). If no significant pointer value is set, the guidance information processing device 4 proceeds to step ST211 since there is no corresponding intersection map data record.

After obtaining the intersection map data set, the guide information processing apparatus 4, the drawing device 7 for drawing the display mark 38, as well as to transition to the waiting state for a request of the driver from the input device 5 (step ST206). Upon receipt of a request of the driver from the input device 5 transmits the management information processing device 4 the secured intersection map data set, an input link number and an entry angle which is received from the map information retrieving device 3, the drawing device 7, and then the drawing device 7 starts drawing an intersection map and drawing it on the display device 6 (step ST207). The operation for drawing the intersection map is carried out by performing the rotation coordinate transformation of the road edge line record 14 a, the road center line record 14 b, the symbol data 14 c, and the like shown in FIG. 7, in an order that matches the angle of entry into the intersection , and by distributing the transformed data over the frame memory in the drawing device 7 at the same time. The rotation coordinate transformation is a procedure for substituting the order of the data of the image information, which is arranged in accordance with a specified coordinate system, in the order in which the direction of entry into a road intersection is in the upper part. After completing the drawing of the intersection map, the guidance information processing device 4 obtains road center line data corresponding to the input connection by examining corresponding connection numbers which are registered in a form that there is a coupling with the road center line data record. Then, the guidance information processing device 4 draws the arrow 37 for indicating the direction of entry shown in FIG. 6A along the center line of the road.

After the lapse of a specified time a drawn intersection map to the display device based on the display 6 (step ST208) sends the routing information processing device 4 a command to delete the intersection map to the drawing device 7 (step ST209). Upon receipt of this command, the drawing device 7 clears the intersection map previously displayed and displays a map image again, as shown in FIG .

Then, the guidance information processing device 4 examines the target intersection again (step ST210). If the intersection has not changed, the guidance information processing device 4 indicates that the process returns to the waiting state for a request in step ST206. If there is no request in step ST206, the device 4 indicates that the process proceeds to step ST210 so that it is only examined whether the location of the intersection to be pointed to has changed or not while the car is moving. In step ST310 then sends when the road crossing, to lead to is changed, the management information processing device 4 a command to delete the advertisement mark "guide" 38 is displayed with the display device 6 as shown in Fig. 8 is shown , to the drawing device 7 , and the "lead" mark shown in Fig. 8 is deleted by the display device 6 , and the flow returns to step ST200.

In addition to this function, although the road intersection network shown in Fig. 6A displayed by the display device 6 is automatically cleared after the lapse of a predetermined period of time (steps ST208 and ST209), another function in the guidance information may be possible Processing device 4 and a new touch panel switch "return" 55 , shown by way of example in an explanatory diagram of FIG. 6B, is displayed as a delete command device for deleting the network of intersections displayed with the display device 6 , as in FIG. 6B is shown. In this case then transmits, when the driver touches the new Berührfeldschalter "Return" 55, which is indicated by the display device 6, the guidance information processing device 4 the command to the display device 6, so that the network of the intersections will be deleted from the display, and the display device 6 receives the command and deletes the network of intersections from the display. Then, the display device 6 shows the map shown in FIG. 8, and the flow returns to step ST210.

Embodiment 2

The navigation device of Embodiment 2 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, includes a route adjustment device 8 in addition to the construction elements shown in FIG. 1. The route setting device 8 may be configured to determine a road connection to a destination (or a destination) bit by bit using the input device 5 , or may be configured such that a driver only sets a destination on the input device 5 and that optimal route, based on the current position, is calculated by the system of the navigation device to be presented. There are many known techniques, for example the Dÿkstra method as a well-studied mathematical method for a search algorithm on a graph, which can be used for the calculation of the optimal route, and furthermore the method for calculating a route is not the subject of the present invention. Accordingly, a detailed description thereof is omitted. The description refers to the case where the guidance information is communicated with respect to an intersection that has a road that can be turned right or left and that is in front of a car along its route, on the assumption that that a connection train calculated from the starting point (current point) to a destination of the road network shown in Fig. 3 is transmitted to the map information retrieval station 3 . In the present embodiment, this operation is realized only when there is an auto position along a route that is determined by the route setting device.

The method for detecting a target intersection along the route is almost identical to the procedure explained on the basis of the flow chart shown in FIG. 5, with the exception of the following points. That is, step ST103 of the flowchart is omitted, and the content of the processing in step ST104 is changed to "Is there a route connection on which the car can turn within a predetermined angle, before the direction of entry at those connections with the Nodes are connected, except for the entry connection? ". In step ST104, a point at which the route turns by the specified angle or more is output as the target point. The following processing steps of the guide information processing device 4 after the step ST104 may be the same as that of the embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 9, or the processing step corresponding to the step ST207 may be the processing step that can highlight the route for the car should be selected at an intersection by obtaining the road center line data set, which corresponds to a route connection that opens into the intersection and a route connection that emerges from the intersection, in accordance with the procedure for drawing the arrow 37 in the processing step in step ST207, for example to Draw a thick solid line that is displayed based on the road center line record.

Embodiment 3

In the navigation device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 11 to show the system structure, the voice output device 9 is additionally added to the structure of Embodiment 2. Different modes are conceivable for the speech output device 9 : a mode for transferring input phonemic (phonemic) code trains into speech signals by reference to the speech-word dictionary provided here, such as the systematic synthesis method for speech; a mode in which, after digitizing recorded speech into digital data using the pulse code modulation (PCM) method or the adaptive differential pulse code modulation (ADPCM) method, a division of the digital data into Sentence units and storage in a memory provided therefor are provided, and in which speech signals are obtained by reading out the speech data in accordance with sentence codes which are predetermined from the outside and in which a digital-to-analog conversion is carried out; a mode in which a buffer RAM is provided in the speech output device 9 and in which temporary PCM-ADPCM data stored in the map information storage device 1 is shared in the buffer RAM in accordance with the sentence codes be read out, which are predetermined from the outside, so that the read data are transmitted to a digital-to-analog (D / A) converter for conversion into speech signals; or similar. Assuming that the system reproduces voice signals in accordance with sentence codes that are externally predetermined based on the PCM / ADP voice data from sentence units stored in the speech output device 9 , the operation of the system can be explained as follows.

FIG. 12 shows sentence codes assigned to each sentence in the speech output device 9 and the content of corresponding waveforms which is to be external when the sentence codes are input into the speech expression device 9 . The content is determined on the assumption that guidance is necessary with regard to the distance to a destination located in front of the car equipped with the navigation device and with regard to the direction of travel to be followed by the car.

The method for acquiring target points in the operation of the system is the same as that described in the embodiment 2. The processing steps in the management information processing device 4 hereinafter correspond to that shown in FIG. 9 step ST207 shown with those of the embodiment 1 and the embodiment 2. FIG. The processing steps shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13 are carried out in the present embodiment after the processing step ST207 has been carried out and before the processing step ST208 is carried out.

First, it is judged in which direction on a Turn destination point along a route (step ST271). This assessment can be obtained by using the Entry node connection connected to the destination node and the of this branch connection based on Route data are made, and by calculating the Turn angle of the route based on the Entry direction in the knot based on the Connection connection angle of the node in the Card information is captured. That is, if the Branch angle related to the direction of entry in If you change it clockwise, the branch direction is Right fixed; if the angle is opposite to that Clockwise changes as the direction is left fixed. Because those nodes where the route is around turns a specified angle or more, originally as the target crossings are selected, results can be achieved be almost with the feeling of a driver agree, namely by the previously explained Evaluation.

Then the distance between the auto position and the target point is obtained (step ST270). If the map information retrieval device 3 has received the distance even while the device has detected the target point and the distance has been transmitted to the guidance information processing device 4 , the transmitted value can be easily used; If no distance information has been transmitted from the map information retrieval device 3 , the distance can be obtained by determining the number of a connection on which the car is traveling by the current position detector device 2 and by the lengths of each connection of the connection train for that Connection at which the car is located, to the entry connection of the destination point is determined from the map information, and then the lengths of each connection are integrated.

After obtaining the distance to the target point and the result of judging turning right or left, a sentence code train of a guidance message is generated based on the distance and the result of the judging (step ST273). As shown in the explanatory diagram of Fig. 12 for showing the relationships between the sentence codes and the languages, sentence codes with "01" in the upper two numbers of the four numbers of the sentence codes indicate distance messages; the sentence codes with "02" in the top two numbers indicate messages indicating directions of travel. Accordingly, the first sentence codes are set as codes with "01" in the upper two numbers, which represent distances expressed in the unit of kilometers (km). The second set codes are set as "0201" or "0202" in accordance with the judgment result for the turning directions. For example, if a voice prompt such as "turn left after about 2 km" is required, a sentence code train is formed which consists of the two sentence codes "0102" and "0202".

The sentence code train obtained is transmitted to the speech output device 9 in the order. When the speech output device 9 receives the code train, it performs D / A conversion of the speech waveform data in accordance with the corresponding relationships shown in FIG. 12, and outputs this as speech signals. As a result, the navigation system displays an intersection map shown in FIG. 6A, for example, in accordance with a request from a driver, and also outputs a voice guidance announcement such as "turning left after about 2 km" to a driver.

Embodiment 4

In all of the above-described embodiments, the intersection map data for the guidance is generated in advance as a lot of graphic information to be stored in the map information storage device 1 . However, there is a problem with such a system in that it is imperative to consider a case where a guide map for a selected destination cannot be displayed, as shown by step ST203 shown in Fig. 9, that it is difficult to find intersection maps to generate for all nodes, based on the amount of processing steps for the generation and the amount of data. To solve this problem, a navigation system is created which generates intersection maps directly from road network data, for example embodiment 4. The structure of the navigation system of embodiment 4 is the same as that of embodiment 2 shown in FIG. 10. It goes without saying that the structure of the navigation system can also correspond to that shown in FIG. 11, which has the speech output device 9 .

The operation of the map information retrieval device 3 of the present embodiment will be described in connection with the flowchart shown in FIG. 14. First, the map information regenerating device wins 3, the route data are determined by means of the Streckeneinstellvorrichtung 8, and determines the first connection in the communications circuit for forming the distance than the to be investigated compound (step ST300). Then, the map information retrieval device 3 obtains the node record of the end point on the destination destination side of the connection to be examined from the map information (step ST301). If the obtained node is the destination node at the end of the route, the map information processing device 3 ends these processing steps (step ST302); if this is not the case, the map information recovery device 3 proceeds to step ST303.

In step ST303, the map information regenerating device 3 gets the next link connection (the route branching compound) which is connected to the to the test compound to those obtained from the link data rate nodes. Then, the map information retrieval device 3 calculates the relative angle formed between the link under investigation and the branch line link with reference to the connection link angle obtained in the obtained node record, and examines whether the calculated angle is a set angle or more (step ST304 ). If the angle is larger than the set angle, the map information retrieval device 3 judges the node as a target point and reads the node record and the data related to all the connections connected to the node with reference to those in the map information Storage device 1 stores map information to be stored therein (step ST305). In step ST304, if the angle between the connection to be examined and the branch line connection is the specified angle or less, the map information retrieval device 3 skips step ST305 to execute the processing step in step ST306. In step ST306, the device redefines the branching link as the link under investigation to return to step ST301 and repeats the same processing steps as previously explained.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a data group for target crossings which are generated by the device using the method described above. Since the map information retrieving device 3 to the target destination in one piece performs the recovery when the device 3 receives route connection data from the Streckeneinstellvorrichtung 8, lie in a stage in which the processing steps shown in Fig. 14 are all finished, the node data and the Terminal connection data regarding all of the intersections from the starting point to the destination in the form shown in Fig. 15 as data of the intersections.

If an auto position along a route after the completion of the processing steps shown in Fig. 14 is described, a display mark 38 serves to indicate the presence of the guidance information generated in the navigation device and is capable of indicating it to the driver by displaying the same to display an ordinary map display screen, as shown in Fig. 3, and the navigation device informs the driver that the guidance information can be communicated to the driver. A request input by the driver to the navigation system by the input device 5 in the state in which a guidance is possible, the management information processing apparatus 4 performs the processing steps as the flow chart shown 16 are shown in the in FIGS..

According to the flowchart shown in FIG. 16, the guidance information processing device 4 first obtains the connection number according to the current position where the car is located from the current position detector device 2 (step ST400). Subsequently, the management information processing apparatus wins 4, the nodes along the route connections from the map information regenerating device in the 3 secured route connection information based on the current position of connection to the side of the target destination again, so that the nodes obtained along the track links with the data of the target intersections for detecting the next target intersection before the auto position are compared (step ST401).

The guidance information processing device 4 obtains the detected intersection data of the destination intersection along the road from the map information retrieval device 3 for generating intersection map drawing data for the destination intersection based on the intersection data (step ST402). Numerous intersection maps can be generated, but the intersection map shown in Fig. 17 is explained here as an example. In the figure, reference numerals 40 to 43 denote solid lines of rectangles with widths for representing road connections connected with an intersection. A reference numeral 44 denotes a circle to represent the intersections. A reference numeral 45 denotes a train of letters to represent the name of the intersection. Reference numerals 46 and 47 are letters for representing the names of the destinations, which are the names of the points that a car reaches when a car progresses along these directions. A reference numeral 48 denotes a route marker for indicating the direction of travel at the intersection.

First, the guidance information processing device 4 obtains connection connection angles of the connected connections from the node data under the intersection data for drawing straight lines with widths 40 to 43 with the connection angle directions, using the center point of the display area as the origin. As the connection angle of each street, the direction of the route connection through which the car enters the intersection is defined as the right-angled direction; the other links are designated in accordance with the angles relative to the entry link direction. Of course, they can be drawn in accordance with the absolute angles so that, for example, north is set as the upper direction in some applications. The connection connection angles of the node data can be used as the drawing angle of the straight lines as they are, or connection connection angles quantized into 8 azimuth values, 16 azimuth values or the like can be used for the formation. Then a solid circle is drawn to represent the intersection in the middle of the screen, where the streets meet. The intersection name 45 is drawn in the lower part of the display screen using the node name specified in the node data record. If there is an indication related to destination name (or destination name) data in the connection record, the guidance information processing device 4 obtains the destination drawing name letter 46 and 47 data at the end of the straight line with a width to represent one corresponding connection. Finally, the device 4 draws a solid line with a slightly slimmer width across the drawn wide line starting from the center of the screen according to the connection angle direction, again using the connection connection angles of the entry connection into the intersection and the exit connection. A triangle is also shown at the end of the exit connection. They form the route marker 48 at the intersection.

Referring again in Fig. Flußdigramm shown 16 it can be seen that the management information processing device 4, the generated reference to the method described above drawing data to the drawing device 7 to display the same transmits to the display device 6 (step ST403). After a lapse of a specified period of time after displaying the drawing data (step ST404), the guide information processing device 4 sends a command to the drawing device 7 to delete the intersection map (step ST405).

Since the navigation device of the embodiment 4 operates as described above, after the map information recovery device 3 initially processes the map information, the operation for reading map information from the map information storage device 1 is not carried out at the time of moving the car from the current position or when requested by the input device 5 and accordingly, there is no waiting time for reading out from the CD-ROM device. Accordingly, a quick response to a request can be implemented by the input device 5 . For the present embodiment, only the guidance to the target intersection at the point closest to the current position of the car was described, but it is of course possible to carry out the display of target intersections beyond this intersection, depending on ongoing requirements, using the input device 5 .

Embodiment 5

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a system structure of a navigation device according to a fifth embodiment (embodiment 5) of the present invention. In Fig. 18, reference numeral 10 denotes a destination guide information display device (hereinafter referred to as "destination information display device" in the following description and as "destination guide information display device" in the claims) for generating guide information based on the current one Location of a car to the destination to which the car or the car moves based on the guidance information generated by the guidance information processing device 4 in the navigation device of the embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1, and for transmitting the generated guidance information to the display device 6 the drawing device 7 , and then the display device 6 displays the guidance information on a map. This destination information display device 1 is included in the guidance information processing device 4 . Since other constituent elements such as the map information storage device 1 , the current position detector device 2 , the map information retrieval device 3 , the guide information processing device 4 and the input device 5 and the display device 6 have the same constituent elements with the same reference numerals as in the navigation device of FIG Fig. 1 shown embodiment 1 are used, their explanations are not discussed here.

The operation of the navigation device according to Embodiment 5 will be described below. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing part of the operation of the navigation device shown in FIG. 18 according to embodiment 4 of the present invention.

The method for displaying the guidance information for a destination determination point is basically the same as the method of the embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 9 except for the following points. In particular, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 19 according to Embodiment 5, a step ST221 (for the processing step "show distance to the target point") is inserted between the step ST205 and the step ST206. The step ST222 (for the processing step "delete""guidance""display mark and distance") performs the processing step for displaying a distance between the current position of a car or a vehicle and the target point with the display device 6 . In addition, step ST222 is also inserted instead of step ST211 shown in FIG. 9. The step ST222 performs the processing for deleting the "guide" display mark and the displayed distance from the display device 6 . The operation in steps ST221 and ST222 is performed by the destination information display device 10 included in the guidance information display device 4 , and the operation result is transmitted to the display device 6 through the display device 7 . As a result, during the operation of step ST221, the processing step for displaying the distance of the destination to be reached is performed, as shown in Fig. 20, for example, in which the "2 km" as a distance (guidance information) indicated by reference numeral 51 between the current point 39 of the car and the destination destination is displayed with the display device 6 as the distance to the destination destination. This guidance information changes according to the movement of the car by the destination information display device 10 . In step ST222, the display mark “guidance” and the distance “2 km” (guidance information), which are identified by reference number 51 and are displayed in steps ST205 and ST221 with the display device 6 , are deleted.

As described in detail above, in the navigation device according to the embodiment 5, due to the fact that the distance between the current point 39 of the car and the destination is displayed with the display device 6 , there is an effect that a driver has an approximate guidance information related to receives the destination without touching the touch panel switch or a key corresponding to the "lead" distance indicated by reference numeral 38 and displayed by the display 6 when the driver does not request detailed guidance information.

Embodiment 6

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing part of the operation of a navigation device according to a sixth embodiment (embodiment 6) of the present invention. FIG. 22 shows a display example on a screen of the navigation device according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention shown in FIG. 21. As shown in Fig. 21, in step ST223 (for the "Show direction to destination" processing step), an azimuth (or a location indicated in Fig. 22 by the reference symbol "arrow" 52 ) becomes the destination destination , which is to be guided, is displayed with the display device 6 . As shown in Fig. 21, in step ST324 (for the step of "delete""guide""display mark and direction"), a delete processing step for the display mark "guide" and the azimuth ("arrow" 52 ) displayed on the display device 6 ) carried out. The other operational steps of the navigation device according to the embodiment 6 correspond to those of the embodiment 5 shown in FIG. 19. Accordingly, the explanation of the other steps is omitted here. The information used in step ST223 is generated by the destination information display device 10 and displayed on the display device 6 . In addition, since the system structure of the navigation device of the embodiment 6 is the same as that of the navigation device of the embodiment 5, the explanation thereof is omitted here.

The following is the operation of the navigation device Embodiment 6 explained.

The guidance information used in step ST223 is generated by the destination information display device 10 included in the guidance information processing device 4 . The generated guidance information is transmitted to the display device 6 through the drawing device 7 . As a result, during the operation of step ST223, arrow 52 (guidance information) for representing the azimuth (or location) of the current position of the car to the destination determination point indicated by reference numeral 39 becomes above the display mark "guidance" 38 with the display device 6 is displayed as shown in FIG. 22. The driver of the car can recognize the azimuth to the target determination point by monitoring the arrow 52 displayed on the display device 6 . In step ST224, the display mark "guidance" and the displayed symbol "arrow", which are each identified by reference numerals 38 and 52 , are deleted from the display device 6 . Since the operation of the other steps of the flowchart of embodiment 6 shown in FIG. 21 is the same as that of the steps indicated by the same reference numerals of the flowchart of embodiment 5 shown in FIG. 19, the explanation thereof is omitted here.

As described in detail above, in the navigation system of the embodiment 6, due to the fact that the azimuth of the instantaneous point 39 of the car to the destination destination for the driver as approximate and effective guidance information to the destination destination with the display device 6 is easy to grasp and simple ( Arrow shape) for recognition, an effect in that the driver can obtain the approximate and effective guidance information to the destination destination without any pressing or touching the "guidance" display mark indicated by reference numeral 38 and displayed by the display device 6 if the driver does not request detailed guidance information.

Embodiment 7

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a system structure of a navigation device according to an embodiment 7 of the present invention. FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing another system construction of a navigation device according to the embodiment 7 of the present invention. The structures of the navigation device of embodiment 7 shown in FIGS. 23 and 24 each consist of a combination of the system structures of embodiment 5 of the navigation device shown in FIG. 18 and embodiments 2 and 3 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 . The structure of the navigation device of Embodiment 7 shown in Figs. 23 and 24 is the same as that of the navigation device shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 19 except for the fact that the destination information display device 10 is included in the guidance information processing device 4 . Therefore, the explanations hereof are omitted here.

FIG. 25 is a flow chart showing part of the operation of the in Fig. 23 and Fig. 24 shown navigation device according to the embodiment 7 of the present invention. FIG. 26 shows a display example of the display device 6 in which in Fig. 23 and Fig. Navigation device according to the embodiment 7 of the present invention shown 24th In step ST225 (for the step "Displaying the direction of travel to the destination") of the flowchart shown in Fig. 25, a direction of travel mark (guidance information) for indicating the direction of travel of the car along which movement must be made at or near the destination point is performed with the display device 6 for the driver. In step ST226 (for the step "delete""guidance""display mark and travel direction"), as shown in Fig. 25, the display mark "guide" displayed in step ST205 and the travel direction mark displayed in step ST225 are deleted from the display device 6 . The operation in the other steps is functionally the same as that of the embodiment 5 shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 19. The travel direction mark 53 used as guide information in step ST225 is generated by the destination information display device 10 in the guide information processing device 4 and displayed with the display device 6 .

The following is the operation of the navigation device Embodiment 7 described.

The guide information used in step ST225 is generated by the destination information display device 10 included in the guide information processing device 4 , and the generated guide information is transmitted to the display device 6 through the drawing device 7 . As a result, in step ST225, the travel direction mark (arrow) 3 is displayed as guidance information above the display mark "guidance" with the display device 6 . The driver can acquire the guidance information in an easy or simple form (arrow) by monitoring the travel direction mark (arrow) 53 and detecting the travel direction to be followed in the vicinity of the destination point. In step ST226, the display mark "guidance" 38 and the displayed travel direction mark "arrow" 53 (guidance information) are deleted from the display device 6 . Since the operations in the other steps of the flowchart of Embodiment 7 shown in FIG. 25 are the same as those of the steps labeled with the same reference letters in the flowchart of Embodiment 5 shown in FIG. 19, the explanation thereof is omitted here.

As described in detail above, due to the fact that the travel direction mark 53 (guide information) to be tracked at or near the destination point results for the driver as approximate and effective guide information with the display device 6 in a simple and simple form (arrow shape) Detection is provided, an effect that the driver knows the approximate and effective guidance information for the destination point without pressing or touching the "guidance" display mark indicated by reference numeral 38 and displayed with the display device 6 when the Driver does not request detailed guidance information.

Embodiment 8

Fig. 27 shows an example of a screen in a navigation device according to the embodiment 8 of the present invention. Fig. 28 shows another display example of a screen in the navigation device according to the embodiment 8 of the present invention. Since the display mark 38 as a guide switch, and the arrow 52 for representing the azimuth from the current position of the car to the destination point and the arrow 53 as a travel direction mark to be tracked at or near the destination point of the embodiment 8 shown in Figs. 27 and 28 with agree with those used in the navigation device according to Embodiments 5, 6 and 7, the explanation thereof is omitted here. In addition, since the system structure of the navigation device of the embodiment 8 is the same as that of the navigation device of the embodiments 5 and 7, the explanation thereof is omitted here.

The following is the operation of the navigation device Embodiment 8 explained.  

In the navigation device according to the embodiment 8, all or part of the guidance information such as the current position 39 of the car, the distance 51 to the target determination point, the arrow 52 for displaying the azimuth from the current position 39 of the car to the target determination point is displayed the arrow 53 to be tracked at or near the destination destination, which is generated by the destination information display device 10 and displayed by the display device 9 , simultaneously with the display device 6 . These guidance information items are generated by the destination information display device 10 and transmitted to the display device through the drawing device 7 . As a result, in steps ST205 and ST221, steps ST205 and ST223, and steps ST205 and ST225, these guidance information items generated by the destination information display device 10 are displayed on the display device 6 . Subsequently, these guidance information items are deleted from the display device 6 by the steps ST222, ST224 and ST226 shown in FIGS . 19, 21 and 25.

As described in detail above, due to the fact that in the navigation system of the embodiment 8, the guidance information such as the distance 51 to the destination point and the azimuth 52 to the destination point and the travel direction mark 53 to be tracked at or near the destination point are given as guidance information for the driver is provided as approximate and effective guidance information with the display device 6 in easy and simple form (arrow shape) for detection, an effect in that the driver knows the approximate and effective guidance information for the destination determination point without pressing the display mark "guidance" or touched, which is identified by reference numeral 38 and is displayed by the display device 6 when the driver does not request detailed guidance information.

It can be seen from the preceding description that according to the first aspect of the present invention Navigation device is constructed so that it is a Map information storage device for storage of map information, as well as a current position Detector device for specifying an auto position (or a vehicle position) based on the map information by detecting a signal, for example a GPS Signal, a gyroscopic signal and one Speed pulse signal, a map information Recovery device for recovering a Destination from the map information based on the Current position, a leadership information Processing device for generating guidance information with regard to the target point by processing the in the Map information storage device stored Map information, a display device for displaying the Guidance information with regard to the target point, and a Input device for the input of numerous input variables, including an entry for the guidance information in Dependency on a request from the driver, and accordingly points the navigation device has an advantage in that it the guidance information with regard to a requested Point depending on a driver's request can display.  

Furthermore, according to the second aspect of the present Invention built the navigation device so that it is a Route setting device for determining a travel route to one entered with an input device Destination contains, and a map information Recovery device for recovering Guidance information regarding target points along a Route through the route setting device based on the stored in a map information storage device Map information is set, and therefore that Navigation device has an advantage in that the Management information with regard to the required points can be output along the route.

Furthermore, according to the third aspect of the present Invention built the navigation device so that it is a Map information storage device for storing Contains map information, as well as a current position Detector device for specifying an auto position (or a vehicle position) based on the map information by detecting a signal, for example a GPS Signal, a gyroscopic signal and one Speed pulse signal, a map information Recovery device for recovering a Destination based on the map information based on a Current position, a leadership information Processing device for generating guidance information with regard to an intersection at a destination, the one Car happens while following its current route by processing the in the map information Storage device stored map information, a Display device for displaying the guidance information in the Terms of the intersection at the destination point, and a  Input device for the input of numerous input variables, including an entry for the guidance information in Compliance with a driver's request so that the Navigation device has an advantage in that it the guidance information regarding the intersection a required point depending on one A driver's request can issue.

Furthermore, according to the fourth aspect of the present Invention built the navigation device so that it is a Speech device for the output of Management information based on a language or a Contains voice guidance information, as well as a Guide information processing device for performing processing such that the speech output device voice guidance information in connection with the displayed leadership information simultaneously with their Outputs display, and accordingly the navigation device has one Advantage in that it is a grasp of the Guidance information for a driver also with his hearing enables, and therefore it is possible, the difficulties of a driver when recognizing guidance information belittling because it is primarily its visual perception used while driving.

Furthermore, according to the fifth aspect of the present Invention built the navigation device so that the Card information in a card information Storage device stores by network information is described, in which at least relationships between Road connections based on connections and nodes are expressed, and accordingly the navigation device points an advantage in that the amount of the in the  Map information storage device to be stored Information is minimized.

Furthermore, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the navigation device includes and provides for providing a destination information display device for generating guidance information from the current position of a car to the destination point or at or near the destination point the display device 6 , an effect that a driver of the car can recognize the approximate and effective guidance information points such as a distance to the destination point, an azimuth to the destination point, and a travel direction to be tracked at or near the destination point when the driver does not requests detailed management information.

Although preferred embodiments of the present Invention explained using special terms Such a description is only used explanatory purposes, and it can be seen that Modifications and variations without departing from that Meaning or the scope of protection of the following Claims can be carried out.

Claims (8)

1. A car navigation device for a vehicle, comprising:

• a) a map information storage device ( 1 ) for storing map information,
• b) a current position detector device ( 2 ) for determining a current position of a vehicle on the map predetermined on the basis of the map information,
• c) a map information retrieval device ( 3 ) for determining a target point by retrieving the map information based on a current position,
• d) guidance information processing means ( 4 ) for generating guidance information regarding a map around the destination, by processing the map information stored in the map information storage device ( 1 ), and for outputting the guidance information in response to a request from a vehicle passenger, and
• e) a drawing device ( 7 ) for drawing a map in the vicinity of the current position of the vehicle or the guidance information output by the guidance information processing device ( 4 ).

2. Navigation device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further includes a route setting device ( 8 ) for determining a travel route to a destination destination for the vehicle, the map information retrieval device ( 3 ) determining the destination along the route by the route setting device ( 8 ) is determined. 3. Navigation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the map information retrieval device ( 3 ) determines an intersection as the destination, which the vehicle encounters when the vehicle is traveling along a momentary route. 4. Navigation device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further contains a voice output device ( 9 ) for outputting information as voice information, wherein the guidance information processing device ( 4 ) outputs not only the guidance information to be displayed, but also voice guidance information for the voice output device ( 9 ) in connection with the management information. 5. Navigation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the map information storage device ( 1 ) stores network information in which connections and nodes express connections of interconnected roads, and that the guidance information processing device ( 4 ) graphical information as guidance information based on the Network information generated. 6. The navigation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the map information regenerating device receives (3) Relationship of roads with respect to the target point, which are expressed by links and nodes from the data stored in the map information storage device (1) map information and intersection map data in connection with the destination point, and that the guidance information processing device ( 4 ) generates an intersection map in connection with the destination point as guidance information based on the intersection map data in association with the destination point. 7. A navigation device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further includes a destination destination guide information display device ( 10 ) for generating approximate guide information related to the current position of the vehicle and the environment of the destination based on the one provided by the guide information processing device ( 4 ) Contains leadership information. 8. Navigation device according to claim 7, characterized in that the destination destination guide information display device ( 10 ) information with respect to at least one distance ( 51 ) starting from the current position of the vehicle to the destination, a direction ( 52 ) to the destination starting from the current position of the vehicle and a direction of travel ( 53 ) of the vehicle as approximate guidance information.