JPH0935186A - On-vehicle navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To evade a danger by warning the deceleration of a vehicle by voice in accordance with approach to a position such as a crossing and a sharpe curve requiring deceleration in an on-vehicle navigation device provided with a voide guide function. SOLUTION: A map display control part 5 reads out required data from a CD-ROM 1 or the like storing map data, selects a guide route to be guided and displays the selected route on a CRT display device 2. When a position detected by a current position detecting part 3 approaches a deceleration point such as a crossing, a railroad crossing and a sharp curve, a voice synthesizing part 5J reads out information from a crossing information storing memory 5L or a deceleration point information storing memory 5F and a message such as 'The road ahead is sharply curved. Reduce speed.' is warned by voice. As to the voice output, the necessity/unnecessity of warning execution is automatically selected in accordance with speed, weather and daytime/night.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted navigation device, and more particularly to a device for displaying information such as intersections by voice along with display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle-mounted navigation device reads out map data corresponding to the current position of an automobile from a map data storage unit such as a CD-ROM, draws a map on the display screen based on the map data, and displays the position of the automobile. The mark (location cursor) is fixedly displayed at a fixed position on the display screen (for example, the center position of the display screen), and the map is scrolled according to the movement of the automobile.

The map stored in the CD-ROM is divided into areas of appropriate longitude and latitude widths according to the scale level, and the map data includes (1) a node table and an adjacent node list, It is composed of a road layer including a road list and an intersection configuration node list, (2) a background layer for displaying objects on a map, (3) a character layer for displaying names of cities, towns and villages, and the like. The map image displayed on the display is generated based on the background layer and the character layer, and the matching process and the guidance route search process are performed based on the road layer.

Conventionally, this type of vehicle-mounted navigation device has been
As shown in FIG. 3, when the location cursor a approaches the intersection b, an enlarged image B of the intersection is displayed at a predetermined position A on the display screen to inform the user that the vehicle is approaching the intersection. ,Turn right,
Voice guidance such as turning left or going straight. In addition, the voice guidance is also output by voice about the operation method of the device, etc., for the convenience of the user.

[0005]

However, in the navigation device with such voice guidance, it is still insufficient to avoid the danger when traveling in an unknown area. Even if there were points requiring attention such as railroad crossings and intersections, there were no measures taken when the vehicle speed was too high. The present invention provides a navigation device that solves the problem by utilizing the function of the navigation device with voice guidance in such a case.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the above-mentioned problems include a map data storing means for storing map data, a current position detecting means for detecting a current vehicle position, including a vehicle speed detecting means, Guidance route storage means for storing a guidance route to a desired destination, intersection information storage means for storing intersection guidance information, deceleration point information storage means for storing information on a point where the vehicle speed should be decelerated, deceleration warning, etc. Of the vehicle position determined by the current position detecting means and the voice synthesizing means for outputting the voice guidance of the vehicle, determining that the vehicle approaches the intersection or the deceleration point stored in the intersection information storage means or the deceleration point information storage means. The problem can be solved by providing the intersection information storage means or the deceleration point information storage means and the intersection guidance control means for performing predetermined voice guidance.

Further, according to the present invention, the above-mentioned problem is that in the preceding paragraph, the intersection guidance control means provides a predetermined voice guidance when the vehicle speed detected by the speed detection means of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value. It can be solved by assuming that it is one.

Further, according to the present invention, the above-mentioned subject is, in the preceding two paragraphs, that the guidance control means for intersections, etc.
This can be solved by providing a predetermined voice guidance when the vehicle speed detected by the speed detecting means of the vehicle exceeds the speeds determined by the weather.

Further, according to the present invention, the above-mentioned problem is, in the preceding paragraph, detecting whether the light is turned on or off in the case of day and night, and detecting the operation / non-operation of the wiper in case of the fine rain. Therefore, it can be solved by the guidance control means such as the intersection.

[0010]

The guidance control means for intersections and the like indicates that the current position of the vehicle traveling on the guide route is the intersection stored in the intersection information storage means by the current position detection means or the crossing or the sudden crossing stored in the deceleration point information storage means. When it detects that the vehicle is approaching a deceleration point such as a curve, the driver is warned by voice guidance, so that the driver can decelerate in advance and enter the point.

Further, since the intersection guidance control means provides a predetermined voice guidance when the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detection means exceeds a predetermined value, driving of a vehicle running at a low speed or a decelerated vehicle is driven. The person does not hear annoying voice.

The intersection guidance control means, which detects whether it is day or night or whether it is clear rain and inputs the information, is detected by the vehicle speed detecting means rather than the speeds set for day or night and clear rain. When the vehicle speed exceeds the prescribed speed, voice guidance will be given, so it is possible to enter the point at a safe speed in each case of the above-mentioned conditions, and an accident where the speed is too high to turn the curve. Can be prevented.

As means for detecting whether it is day or night or whether it is clear rain, whether it is day or night is detected by detecting whether the light is turned on or off, and whether it is fine or rain is detected by detecting the operation / non-operation of the wiper. As described above, the structure is simple, inexpensive, and surely effective.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle-mounted navigation device according to the present invention, in which 1 is a CD constituting a road map.
ROM (map data storage unit). Map data is
It is composed of (1) road layer, (2) background layer for displaying objects on the map, (3) character layer for displaying municipalities, etc.

The map stored in the CD-ROM 1 is divided into regions of appropriate longitude and latitude widths according to the scale level, and roads are represented by vertices (nodes) represented by coordinates of longitude and latitude. ) Is shown as a set. A part that connects two or more nodes is called a link. The road data included in each map is road link data RLD as shown in FIG.
T, node data NDDT, and intersection data CRDT. Among them, the road link data RLDT gives the attribute information of the road link, and the total number of nodes on the link and the node data of each node forming the link. N
It is composed of data such as numbers on the DDT, road names, and road types. Further, the intersection data CRDT is a set of numbers on the node data NDDT of a node (referred to as each intersection node) closest to the intersection on the link connecting the intersections on the map, and the node data NDDT is the map. A list of all the above nodes, coordinate information (longitude, latitude) for each node, an intersection identification flag indicating whether the node is an intersection, an intersection if it is an intersection, and the node belongs if it is not an intersection It is composed of a pointer pointing to a road link.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a CRT display, which inputs a video signal and displays a map on a screen together with a vehicle position mark, an intersection guidance image and the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes a current location detection unit that calculates the current location based on the travel distance and the orientation of the running vehicle, and detects the travel distance and the orientation sensor 3A (geomagnetic sensor, optical gyro, vibration gyro, etc.) that detects the traveling direction of the vehicle. It has a vehicle speed sensor 3B that operates.

4 is a map search key, a map scroll key,
An operation unit 5 including a route search mode key, a set key, a search start key, and the like is a map display control unit, which generates a map image (background, characters) around the current location, and also generates a vehicle position mark and the like.

In the map display controller 5, 5A is a CD-
A buffer memory 5B for temporarily storing the map data read from the ROM 1 is a map drawing control unit, which is based on the current position of the vehicle and is near the current position and wider than the screen display range (for example, a map for 9 screens). Data) to C
The map image is read from the D-ROM 1 to the buffer memory 5A, and a map image is drawn on the first V-RAM 5C described later.
The first V-RAM 5C stores the map image drawn by the map drawing controller 5B.

Reference numeral 5D is a vehicle position calculation CPU for calculating the current position (longitude, latitude) of the automobile based on the direction sensor 3A and the vehicle speed sensor 3B, and 5E is a guidance control unit for intersections, etc.
When the approach of the vehicle to the intersection (for example, within 100 meters) is detected, an enlarged shape image of the intersection is obtained from the intersection information storage means described later based on the intersection node of the buffer memory 5A in the second V-RAM described later. Read and draw. The intersection is identified by extracting the intersection node closest to the vehicle when viewed in the vehicle traveling direction. Specifically, the intersection identification flag of the node string is checked, and if the flag is set, this node is obtained as the intersection node closest to the vehicle position.

The intersection guidance control unit 5E reads the enlarged shape image of the intersection from the intersection information storage means and displays it, and also obtains the node number of the other end node of the link forming the intersection of the obtained node. A specific example is shown in FIG.
Q1 indicates the intersection closest to the vehicle position, 1,
2 and 3 are the node numbers of the other end nodes of the links forming the intersection Q1, and C is the vehicle position. When the node number of the other end node is obtained, the node number forming the road link together with the node of the obtained number is obtained based on the road link data RLDT. FIG. 6 shows a specific example.

A deceleration point storage memory 5F stores names such as "intersection", "railroad crossing", and "abrupt curve" displayed on the display device 2, and is composed of coordinate data of longitude and latitude. 5L is an intersection information storage memory that stores intersection information such as the enlarged shape of the intersection, and stores intersection data corresponding to the intersection node.

Reference numeral 5G is a second V-RAM which stores an enlarged shape image of the intersection drawn by the intersection guidance control unit 5E. Reference numeral 5I is a video conversion unit that converts the image data output from the synthesis unit 5H into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the CRT display device 2.

Reference numeral 5J is a voice synthesizing unit. For example, when a deceleration point designation is output from the deceleration point storage memory 5F to the voice synthesizing unit 5H, a warning corresponding to the designation is displayed, for example, "A sharp curve ahead. Please reduce the speed. " 5K is an amplifier that amplifies the audio signal input from the audio synthesis unit 5J, and 6 is an amplifier 5K
It is a speaker that acoustically converts the audio signal after being amplified by.

Reference numeral 5N designates a destination setting portion for setting the cursor position at the time when the destination input key of the operation portion 4 is pressed as the destination, and 5M designates the necessary map data from the CD-ROM 1 when the destination is set. To the buffer memory 5A,
A route search unit that searches for the shortest route connecting the current position to the destination from the current position to the destination by the horizontal search method using the map data read to the buffer memory 5A.
Reference numeral 5P is a guide route storage unit that stores, as route guide data, a node data string in which node data forming the route searched by the route search unit 5M is arranged in the route order.

In the apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration, when the power is turned on, the current position detection section 3 inputs the vehicle position data and the vehicle direction data, and the map drawing control section 5B stores the map data including the vehicle position in the CD-ROM 1. To buffer memory 5
The map image is read out to A, and the map image with the vehicle position as the center and the north facing upward is first VR using the read map data.
It is drawn on AM5C, and a vehicle position mark with the vehicle azimuth direction facing the center of the map image is drawn. 1st V-RA
The image drawn on the M5C is read by the video conversion unit 5I, converted into a predetermined video signal, output to the display device 2, and displayed on the screen.

Then, the user sets the current position as the starting point,
When you want to travel along the optimal route to your desired destination,
A map scroll operation is performed with the cursor keys of the operation unit 4 to search for a destination. At this time, when the cursor key operation is started, the vehicle position calculation CPU 5D initializes the current vehicle position as the initial cursor position, and then
The cursor position is changed continuously according to the operation of the cursor keys. The map drawing control unit 5B is a CD-ROM.
The map data including the cursor position is read from 1 to the buffer memory 5A, and the read map data is used to display the map image in which the north with the cursor position as the center is directed upward.
It is drawn in the V-RAM 5C, and a cursor mark is drawn in the center of the map image. The image drawn on the first V-RAM 5C is read by the video conversion unit 5I, converted into a predetermined video signal, output to the display device 2, and displayed on the screen. As a result, the map image on the screen scrolls according to the operation of the cursor key, and the cursor mark is displayed at the center.

When the destination input key of the operation unit 4 is pressed when the cursor is aligned with the destination, the destination setting unit 5N sets the cursor position at that time as the destination, and the route search unit 5M stores the destination data as destination data. Output. The route search unit 5M, to which the destination data is input, sets the detected current position as the starting point, and outputs the map data in the range from the starting point to the destination from the CD-ROM 1 to the buffer memory 5
The shortest route connecting the starting point to the destination in the read map data is read out using the road layer, and the result is searched for in the guide route storage unit 5.
Let P remember it. After that, the guide route in the area where the map image is drawn centered on the cursor position is read out, and the guide route that is thickly emphasized with a predetermined color is drawn on the map image.

The operation of the present invention when traveling along the guide route thus searched will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), taking the case of an intersection as an example. A map image corresponding to the current position of the automobile is drawn on the initial display screen, and a vehicle position mark is displayed at the center of the display screen.

The intersection guidance control unit 5E determines the map area currently displayed based on the current position data output from the current position detection unit 3 via the vehicle position calculation CPU and the map data output from the buffer memory 5A. The road layer of the map area (stored in the buffer memory 5A) is searched to determine whether there is an intersection in the traveling direction (steps 100 and 101). That is, it is determined whether an intersection exists by referring to the intersection flag included in the node list NDDT of the corresponding map area.

If an intersection exists, a set of node numbers of the other end nodes of the links forming the intersection is obtained from the relationship between the node list NDDT and the intersection constituent node list DRDT (step 102), and the obtained node is obtained. Based on the set of numbers, the intersection drawing data is read from the intersection information storage memory 5L, the intersection shape is drawn in the second V-RAM 5G, and the intersection shape is further output to the synthesizing unit 5H and displayed as shown in FIG. (Step 103). The intersection shape image drawn in the second V-RAM 5G has a size of, for example, 1/12 of the screen, and is synthesized in the upper left corner of the map screen by the synthesis unit 5H.

When the display as shown in FIG. 3 is completed, the intersection guidance control unit 5E causes the current position detection unit 3 to display the vehicle position calculation C.
Based on the current position data output via the PU, the distance to the next intersection is calculated, and it is checked whether or not the vehicle has approached a predetermined distance (step 104). 5J warns with a message such as "This is an intersection. Please slow down." (Step 105). Therefore, the driver can enter the intersection at an appropriate vehicle speed.

FIG. 2 (c) shows another embodiment in which the conditions for warning the vehicle speed are added in the case of the above flow chart, and the intersection is approaching within a predetermined distance by the step 104. If it is found, the current vehicle speed is checked by the vehicle speed sensor 3B included in the current location detection unit 3 (step 106). If the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined value, no warning is given. "Beyond,
It is an intersection. A warning such as "Please slow down" is issued (step 107). Therefore, the driver can decelerate and enter the intersection at a safe vehicle speed.

FIG. 2D shows another embodiment in which day and night conditions and weather conditions are added to the warning condition based on the vehicle speed, and at step 104, the intersection is within a predetermined distance. If it is determined that the headlamp is on or off, the sensor linked to the on / off switch of the headlamp checks whether the headlamp is on or off (step 10).
8) When it is lit, it is judged that it is nighttime, but it is further checked by a sensor linked to the wiper switch whether the wiper is operating (step 109),
If it is operating, it is judged that it is raining, and it is necessary to be considerably low speed for safety. Therefore, the current vehicle speed is checked by the vehicle speed sensor 3B included in the current location detection unit 3 (step 110), and the vehicle speed is checked. If, for example, is 40 km or less, no warning is given, but if 40 km or more, the same as above
A warning is issued with a message such as "It is an intersection. Please slow down." (Step 112). Therefore, the driver can decelerate and enter the intersection at a safe vehicle speed.

In step 109, when the wiper is not operating, it is determined that the weather is fine, and the vehicle speed may be slightly higher than in rainy weather. Therefore, the current vehicle speed is checked (step 1
11) If the vehicle speed is, for example, 50 km or less, no warning is given, but if the vehicle speed is 50 km or more, as in the above, a warning is issued with a message such as "Before the intersection. Please decelerate." (Step 112). Therefore, also in this case, the driver can decelerate and enter the intersection at a safe vehicle speed.

In step 108, it is determined that the headlamp is not lit during the daytime, and it is further checked whether or not the wiper is operating (step 11).
3) If it is working, it is judged that it is raining and it is necessary to be fairly low speed for safety, so the current vehicle speed is checked (step 114) and the vehicle speed is, for example, 50 km.
In the following cases, no warning will be given, but if it is 50 km or more, the same as above, "Beyond the intersection. Please slow down."
Warning with a message like this (Step 11
2). Therefore, the driver can decelerate and enter the intersection at a safe vehicle speed.

In step 113, when the wiper is not operating, it is determined that the weather is fine, and the current vehicle speed is checked because it may be slightly faster than in rainy weather (step 1
15) If the vehicle speed is, for example, 60 km or less, no warning is given, but if the vehicle speed is 60 km or more, as in the above, a warning is issued with a message such as "Before the intersection. Please decelerate." (Step 112). Therefore, also in this case, the driver can decelerate and enter the intersection at a safe vehicle speed.

Table 1 shows an example of setting the threshold value of the vehicle speed depending on whether it is day or night or whether it is fine rain.

[Table 1]

As described above, in the above description of the operation, the intersection is taken as an example, but the information stored in the deceleration point storage memory 5F such as a railroad crossing or a sharp curve is also warned when approaching. It can be performed.

In the above-described embodiment, whether day or night is determined by whether or not the headlamp is turned on and whether it is fine weather or rain is determined by the operation of the wiper, but whether day or night is determined by the illuminance. Needless to say, the weather can be performed using a rainfall sensor, and various applications are possible.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, the approach of a point, such as an intersection, a railroad crossing, or a sharp curve in the guide route, where the vehicle speed should be decelerated is detected and a voice warning is given. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the driver from entering a sharp curve without noticing that the speed is too high, and it is possible to prevent an accident. In addition, since the warning is given by voice, it is also useful for preventing drowsy driving.

Furthermore, if a voice warning is given only when the vehicle speed at that time exceeds a predetermined value, a safe driver who has already decelerated can be warned loudly. It is possible to drive comfortably.

If the predetermined value of the vehicle speed for warning is changed according to the weather or day and night, it is possible to enter an intersection or the like at a safe speed according to the situation and prevent an accident. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining an intersection information display operation of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conventional intersection information display.

FIG. 4 is a data configuration diagram of a road layer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating intersection configuration node data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating node data that forms a road link.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CD-ROM (map data storage unit) 2 CRT display device 3 current position detection unit 3B vehicle speed sensor 4 operation unit 5 map display control unit 5B map drawing control unit 5E intersection guidance control unit 5F deceleration point information storage memory 5J voice synthesis unit 5H Compositing unit 5L Intersection information storage memory 5M Route search unit 5N Destination setting unit 5P Guide route storage unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A map data storage means for storing map data, a vehicle speed detection means, a current position detection means for detecting a current vehicle position, and a guide route storage for storing a guide route to a desired destination. Means, intersection information storage means for storing intersection guidance information, deceleration point information storage means for storing point information for decelerating the vehicle speed, voice synthesizing means for outputting voice guidance such as deceleration warning, and current position detection It is determined that the vehicle position obtained by the means has approached the intersection or the deceleration point stored in the intersection information storage means or the deceleration point information storage means, and the predetermined position read from the intersection information storage means or the deceleration point information storage means. An in-vehicle navigation device, comprising: guidance control means for intersections and the like that provides voice guidance. 2. The intersection guidance control means provides predetermined voice guidance when the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detection means exceeds a predetermined value. In-vehicle navigation device. 3. The intersection guidance control means, rather than the speed determined respectively by day and night and by clear rain,
The vehicle-mounted navigation device according to claim 1, wherein predetermined vehicle guidance is provided when the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detection means exceeds. 4. The detection of whether the light is turned on or off is discriminated between the day and night, and the operation of the wiper is discriminated between the weather and the rain.
4. The vehicle-mounted navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the guidance control means for the intersection or the like makes a determination by detecting a non-motion.