JP2002311825A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation device which can enhance amusing property by diversification of utilization forms. SOLUTION: The vehicle position calculating section 20 stops map-matching operation when the prescribed off-road mode is directed. The travel track recording section 22 records the travel track of the vehicle. The map plotting section 14 plots a map picture corresponding to the prescribed area near the travel track of the vehicle and also plots the travel track of the vehicle on the map picture and writes-in the pictures plotted into VRAM 16. The mark picture plotting section 28 draws a vehicle position mark indicating the position of the vehicle and outputs into the picture synthesizing section 18. The picture synthesizing section 18 synthesizes picture data stored in VRAM 16 and the picture data outputted from the mark picture plotting section 28, and outputs into the display 6. The map picture of the prescribed area with the travel track of the vehicle as the center is displayed on the screen of the display 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a navigation device for displaying a map image around a vehicle position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an on-vehicle navigation device has a map display function of displaying a map around a vehicle position on a screen, and a route search for searching for a route specified by a user to a destination or a waypoint. It has a function, a route guidance function for guiding the traveling of the vehicle along the route set by the route search, and the like.

[0003]

By the way, the above-mentioned conventional navigation apparatus can display the map information around the position of the vehicle accurately, but is required to travel in a mood for exploring a place that has not been visited. Even so, the roads, terrain, etc. around the own vehicle are displayed, so that the driver's sense of exploration cannot be satisfied. That is, the conventional navigation device can provide various types of information that is convenient for the vehicle to travel from the viewpoint of emphasizing practicality, but the usage mode is uniform and satisfying the playfulness. There was a problem that it could not be used and lacked in entertainment.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device that can improve entertainment by diversifying usage forms.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a navigation device according to the present invention stores map information necessary for map drawing processing in a map information storage means.
Based on the result of detection of the vehicle position by the position detecting means, the traveling locus of the vehicle is determined by the traveling locus determining means, and a map drawing process is performed by the map drawing means for a predetermined range centered on the traveling locus. The map subjected to the drawing processing is displayed by the display means. Since the map is displayed only in a predetermined range centered on the traveling locus of the vehicle, the explorer's heart can be satisfied, and entertainment can be improved by diversifying usage forms.

The above-described map drawing means performs a map drawing process for a predetermined range centered on the traveling locus,
It is desirable to perform a drawing process of adding a background different from the actual map to other ranges. For example, if a single color background is added as a background different from the actual map, this background portion looks like a blank map to a driver with an exploration mind, so that the background is automatically displayed on the blank paper. By displaying a map corresponding to the trajectory of the car, that is, a map of a place that the driver has “pioneered”, the driver's exploration mind can be more satisfied. When an ancient map-like pattern (for example, a pattern based on brown or ocher) is added as a background, it is possible to perform an effect that further enhances the user's pioneering exploration mind.

It is desirable that the predetermined range to be subjected to the map drawing processing by the map drawing means is a range that can be seen by the user from the vehicle position. By targeting only the area that the user (driver) can see from the vehicle position to the map drawing process, a map in a range that is not yet visible to the driver is displayed, and the driver's exploration mind is damaged. Can be prevented.

A travel locus storage means for storing the travel locus determined by the travel locus determination means, and a travel locus readout for reading the travel locus from the travel locus storage means when a map display along the travel locus is instructed. It is desirable to further comprise a means, and to perform processing by the map drawing means and the display means on the traveling locus read by the traveling locus reading means. The past traveling locus of the driver is stored, and the past traveling locus is read out by performing a predetermined operation instruction, and a map of a predetermined range centered on the traveling locus can be displayed, so that the driver has already traveled. It is possible to easily distinguish between a place where a situation has occurred and a place where the user has not traveled yet. Therefore, it is possible to easily restart the traveling from the place where the vehicle has arrived before, or to confirm a new traveling place.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the navigation device of the present embodiment. The navigation device shown in FIG. 1 includes a navigation controller 1, a DVD 2, a disk reader 3, a remote control (remote control) unit 4, a vehicle position detector 5, and a display device 6.

The navigation controller 1 controls the entire operation of the navigation device. The navigation controller 1 includes a CPU, ROM, RA
The function is realized by executing a predetermined operation program using M or the like. The detailed configuration of the navigation controller 1 will be described later.

The DVD 2 is a storage medium that stores map data (map information) required for map display and the like. The disk reading device 3 can load one or a plurality of DVDs 2 and reads map data from any one of the DVDs 2 under the control of the navigation controller 1. The loaded disk is not necessarily a DVD, but may be a CD. Alternatively, both a DVD and a CD may be selectively loaded.

The remote control unit 4 is provided with various operation keys such as a joystick and numeric keys for instructing up, down, left and right directions, and outputs a signal corresponding to the operation content to the navigation controller 1. The vehicle position detection unit 5 includes, for example, a GPS receiver, a direction sensor, a distance sensor, and the like, and performs vehicle position (longitude, latitude) at a predetermined timing.
And outputs the detection result.

The display device 6 displays a map image around the position of the vehicle based on the image data output from the navigation controller 1. Next, a detailed configuration of the navigation controller 1 will be described. The navigation controller 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a map buffer 10, a map reading control unit 12, a map drawing unit 14, a VRA
M16, image synthesizing unit 18, vehicle position calculating unit 20, running locus recording unit 22, running locus memory 24, input processing unit 26,
It is configured to include a mark image drawing unit 28.

The map buffer 10 includes the disk reading device 3
, The map data read from the DVD 2 is temporarily stored. The map readout control unit 12 includes a vehicle position calculation unit 2
In response to the vehicle position calculated by 0, a request from the input processing unit 26, or the like, a read request for map data in a predetermined range is output to the disk reading device 3.

The map drawing section 14 generates map image data necessary for displaying a map image based on the map data stored in the map buffer 10, and includes a map layer drawing section 50 and an off-road layer drawing section. 52, a traveling locus layer drawing section 54. Here, an image drawing layer in the navigation device of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image drawing layer. As shown in FIG. 2, the navigation device of the present embodiment has three layers L1 to L3 for generating a display image.
L3 is prepared.

The layer L1 is a layer for drawing a map image. In the example shown in FIG. 2, a state in which a map image including a lake image 100 and a road image 102 is drawn on this layer L1 is shown. Hereinafter, this layer L1 is referred to as a “map layer”. The above-described map layer drawing unit 50 performs a process of drawing the map image of the map layer.

The layer L2 is a layer provided for realizing an "off-road mode" in which only a map image corresponding to a predetermined range near the traveling locus of the vehicle is displayed. The off-road mode is provided to enhance amusement when traveling in a wilderness or the like where there is no road. Hereinafter, this layer L2 is referred to as an “off-road layer”. Specifically, in the off-road layer L2, a predetermined single color having no transparency in an initial state is set, and when the off-road mode is set, the traveling locus R is set as the vehicle travels. Is set in a transparent state.

The off-road layer drawing section 52 described above
Based on the traveling trajectory of the vehicle recorded by the traveling trajectory recording unit 22, the area C on the off-road layer corresponding to the vicinity of the traveling trajectory R is made transparent, and the other areas are drawn in a non-transparent single color. Is being processed. By drawing this off-road layer L2 on the map layer L1, the map image of the area corresponding to the transparent area C is displayed, and the map images corresponding to the other areas are not displayed. Further, in the present embodiment, the transmission area C set in the vicinity of the traveling locus R of the vehicle is a range that the user can see from the vehicle position (for example, 200 m in front of the vehicle position, 1 left and right
(A range of about 00 m).

The layer L3 is a layer for drawing the traveling locus R of the vehicle. Hereinafter, this layer is referred to as a “traveling locus layer”. The above-described traveling locus layer drawing unit 54 performs a process of drawing the traveling locus R on the traveling locus layer L3 based on the traveling locus of the vehicle recorded by the traveling locus recording unit 22.

When the off-road mode is set, the above-described map layer L1, off-road layer L2,
A display image is generated by combining the images drawn on each of the traveling locus layers L3, and the generated display image is written to the VRAM 16.

When the off-road mode is not set and a normal map is displayed, the entire surface of the off-road layer L2 is made transparent so that the traveling locus R is not drawn on the traveling locus layer L3. What should I do? As a result, only the map image substantially drawn on the map layer L1 is written into the VRAM 16, and a normal map display can be performed.

The image synthesizing section 18 superimposes the image data read from the VRAM 16 and the image data corresponding to the vehicle position mark G (see FIG. 2) output from the mark image drawing section 28 to perform image synthesis. The image data is output to the display device 6. The vehicle position calculation unit 20 calculates the vehicle position and azimuth of the own vehicle based on the detection data output from the vehicle position detection unit 5 and, if the calculated vehicle position is not on the road in the map data, the vehicle position Is performed to correct the map. When the input processing unit 26 notifies that the off-road mode is set, the vehicle position calculation unit 20 stops the above-described map matching process, and stores the calculation result of the vehicle position in the traveling locus recording unit. 22.

The traveling locus recording unit 22 includes a vehicle position calculating unit 2
By acquiring the calculation result of the vehicle position output from 0 at predetermined intervals, the traveling locus of the vehicle is recorded. When an instruction to save the recorded traveling locus of the vehicle is given, the traveling history recording unit 22 stores data indicating the traveling locus (hereinafter, referred to as “traveling locus data”) in the traveling locus memory. 24.

The traveling locus recording unit 22 is instructed to display a map based on the past traveling locus stored in the traveling locus memory 24, and the input processing unit 26 is instructed to display the map.
When it is notified from the trajectory, the trajectory data is read from the trajectory memory 24 and output to the map drawing unit 14. In this case, the map drawing unit 14 performs a process of drawing a map in a predetermined range near the traveling locus based on the traveling locus data output from the traveling locus recording unit 22.

The input processing unit 26 outputs a command for performing an operation corresponding to various operation instructions input from the remote control unit 4 to each unit in the navigation controller 1. The mark image drawing unit 28 generates image data for displaying a predetermined vehicle position mark at the vehicle position.

The above-mentioned map buffer 10 is used as map information storage means, the vehicle position detecting section 5, the vehicle position calculating section 20 is used as position detecting means, the running locus recording section 22 is used as running locus determining means and running locus reading means, The drawing unit 14 corresponds to the map drawing unit, the display device 6, the VRAM 16, and the image synthesizing unit 18 correspond to the display unit, and the traveling locus memory 24 corresponds to the traveling locus storage unit.

The navigation device of the present embodiment has such a configuration. Next, a map display operation when the off-road mode is set will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the navigation device when the off-road mode is set.

When an operation instruction for setting the off-road mode is made using the remote control unit 4 and the input processing unit 26 notifies the operation instruction, the vehicle position calculation unit 20 stops the map matching process (step S1). 100). The traveling locus recording unit 22 acquires the vehicle position at that time from the vehicle position calculating unit 20, and stores the vehicle position in an internal memory (not shown) as the starting point of the traveling locus (Step 1).
01). The traveling locus recording unit 22 includes a vehicle position calculating unit 2
The vehicle position output from 0 is acquired at predetermined intervals, and stored in the internal memory as a running locus (step 102).

The map layer drawing section 50 in the map drawing section 14
Draws a map image corresponding to the vicinity of the vehicle position on a map layer (step 103). Offroad layer drawing unit 5
2 acquires a traveling locus of the vehicle from the traveling locus recording unit 22 and performs a drawing process of setting a region on the off-road layer L2 corresponding to a predetermined range near the traveling locus in a transparent state (step 104). In addition, the traveling locus layer drawing unit 54
Acquires the traveling locus of the vehicle from the traveling locus recording unit 22,
This traveling locus is drawn on the traveling locus layer L3 (step 105).

Next, the map drawing section 14 generates a map layer L1,
The images drawn on the off-road layer L2 and the traveling trajectory layer L3 are combined, and the combined image is written into the VRAM 16 (step 106). Further, the mark image drawing unit 28 draws a vehicle position mark indicating the vehicle position and outputs it to the image synthesizing unit 18 (Step 107).

The image synthesizing section 18 reads out the image data stored in the VRAM 16 and reads it out with the mark image drawing section 2.
8 and outputs the synthesized image data to the display device 6. A predetermined map image is displayed on the screen of the display device 6 based on the image data output from the image synthesizing unit 18 (step 1).
08).

Next, the traveling locus recording unit 22 determines whether or not an operation instruction for terminating the off-road mode has been issued (step 109). If the end instruction of the offload mode has not been issued, a negative determination is made in step 109, and in this case, the process returns to step 102, and the subsequent processing is repeated.

When an instruction to end the off-road mode is given, an affirmative determination is made in step 109, and the traveling locus recording unit 22 stores the vehicle position at that time as an end point of the traveling locus in the internal memory ( Step 110). Thereafter, the traveling locus recording unit 22 determines whether or not an operation instruction to save the traveling locus has been issued (Step 111).
When a save instruction is given, an affirmative determination is made, and travel locus data indicating the content of the travel locus stored in the internal memory up to that time is stored in the travel locus memory 24 (step 1).
12).

If no instruction to save the running locus is given, a negative determination is made in step 111, and the running locus recording unit 22 discards the data on the running locus stored in the internal memory up to that point. , A series of processing ends. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a map image. FIG.
(A) is a display example immediately after the start of the offload mode. A vehicle position mark G indicating the current vehicle position and a traveling locus R of the vehicle are shown. In addition, a transmission process is performed on a region C on the off-road layer L2 corresponding to a predetermined region near the traveling locus R. As a result, the map image drawn on the map layer L1 within the range included in the transparent area C is displayed.

FIG. 4B is a display example after the vehicle has traveled to some extent. Specifically, as shown by the traveling locus R, a display example in the case where the vehicle travels substantially counterclockwise as viewed in the drawing is shown. As shown in FIG. 4 (B), as the vehicle travels, the area on the off-road layer L2 corresponding to the predetermined area near the traveling locus R is subjected to the transmission processing, and as a result, the off-road layer L2 has a circular shape. The transmission area C is formed. In this state, the map image drawn on the map layer L1 can be seen in a range corresponding to the annular transparent region C. Specifically, in FIG. 4B, a lake image 1 included on the right side of the map image
00 and a part of the road image 102 included in the upper left corner.

Next, the operation of the navigation device when displaying a map based on the past running locus stored in the running locus memory 24 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the navigation device when displaying a map based on a past traveling locus.

The traveling locus recording unit 22 stores the traveling locus memory 2
It is determined whether or not a map display based on the past travel locus stored in step 4 has been instructed (step 200). If the map display based on the past travel locus has been instructed, an affirmative determination is made, and the user makes an affirmative decision. The designated predetermined traveling locus data is read from the traveling locus memory 24 (step 20).
1).

When predetermined traveling locus data is read by the traveling locus recording unit 22, the map layer drawing unit 50 in the map drawing unit 14 renders a map image of a predetermined range corresponding to the traveling locus data on the map layer. (Step 20
2). For example, a map image corresponding to a range including the entire read traveling locus is drawn.

The off-road layer drawing section 52 performs a drawing process for making an area on the off-road layer L2 corresponding to a predetermined range near the running locus of the vehicle transparent, based on the running locus data (step 203). Further, the traveling locus layer drawing unit 54 draws the traveling locus of the vehicle on the traveling locus layer L3 based on the traveling locus data (Step 2).
04).

Next, the map drawing unit 14 combines the images drawn on the map layer, the off-road layer, and the traveling locus layer, and writes the combined image into the VRAM 16 (step 205). Further, the mark image drawing unit 28 draws a vehicle position mark at the position of the end point of the traveling locus based on the traveling locus data, and outputs the vehicle position mark to the image synthesizing unit 18 (Step 206).

The image synthesizing unit 18 reads out the image data stored in the VRAM 16, synthesizes the read out image data and the image data output from the mark image drawing unit 28, and outputs the synthesized image data to the display device 6. Output to A predetermined map image is displayed on the screen of the display device 6 based on the image data output from the image synthesizing unit 18 (Step 207). For example, FIG.
A map image as shown in (B) is reproduced and displayed based on the traveling locus data.

As described above, the navigation apparatus of the present embodiment displays a map image only in a predetermined range centered on the traveling locus of a vehicle, and performs a single-color drawing process with no transparency for other background portions. By doing so, the map image is kept in the non-display state, so that the explorer's mind of the user (driver) can be satisfied, and entertainment can be improved by diversifying the usage form.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, when a map image is displayed based on a past traveling locus, a new traveling locus may be recorded from the traveling locus, and the content of the traveling locus data may be updated. Specifically, if it is desired to start recording a new traveling locus from the end point of the previous traveling locus, first move the vehicle to the end point of the previous traveling locus, and then move the vehicle according to the procedure described above. The running locus is read, the new running locus data is added to the previous running locus data to update the content thereof, and the running locus memory 24 is read.
May be stored.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, a background different from the actual map is added to the area in which the map image is not displayed by performing a single color drawing process. Other drawing processing may be performed. For example, by drawing an ancient map-like pattern (for example, a pattern based on brown or ocher) in an area where the map image is in a non-display state, an effect that further enhances the user's pioneering exploration mind is performed. be able to.

The present invention is also applied to a pedestrian navigation system that displays a map image using a portable information terminal and provides guidance to a walking user on a walking route. Can be applied. In this case, the walking position of the user is acquired, the walking locus is recorded, and a map image in a predetermined range along the walking locus may be displayed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, for example, a case where the vehicle travels in a wilderness or the like where there is no road has been described as an example. Can also be used.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, a map is displayed only in a predetermined range centered on the trajectory of the vehicle, so that the driver's exploration mind can be satisfied, and various modes of use can be achieved. It is possible to improve the recreational nature by the conversion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image drawing layer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the navigation device when an off-road mode is set.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of a map image.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the navigation device when displaying a map based on a past traveling locus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 navigation controller 4 remote control (remote control) unit 5 vehicle position detecting unit 6 display device 10 map buffer 14 map drawing unit 16 VRAM 18 image synthesizing unit 20 vehicle position calculating unit 22 running locus recording unit 24 running locus memory 26 input processing unit 28 Mark image drawing section 50 Map layer drawing section 52 Off-road layer drawing section 54 Travel locus layer drawing section

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C032 HB02 HB22 HC21 2F029 AA02 AB07 AB13 AC01 AC02 AC09 AC14 AC16 5H180 AA01 BB13 CC12 FF04 FF05 FF22 FF27 FF38 FF39

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A map information storage means for storing map information necessary for map drawing processing; a position detection means for detecting a vehicle position; and a travel locus of the vehicle is determined based on a detection result by the position detection means. Running map determination means, map drawing means for performing map drawing processing for a predetermined range around the running track, and display means for displaying a map drawn by the map drawing means. Navigation device. 2. The map drawing device according to claim 1, wherein the map drawing means performs a map drawing process on the predetermined range, and performs a drawing process for adding a background different from an actual map to other ranges. Navigation device. 3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined range to be subjected to map drawing processing by the map drawing means is a range that a user can see from the vehicle position. 4. The travel locus storage means for storing the travel locus determined by the travel locus determination means according to claim 1, wherein a map display along the travel locus is instructed. A traveling locus reading unit that reads the traveling locus from the traveling locus storage unit; and performing processing by the map drawing unit and the display unit on the traveling locus read by the traveling locus reading unit. A featured navigation device.