JPH0145845B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an in-vehicle navigator that displays the current position of a vehicle on a road map.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as a device of this kind, there is a "vehicle travel position display device" disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-159299, which includes a distance sensor for detecting the travel distance of the vehicle and a direction sensor for detecting the traveling direction of the vehicle. The driving position of the vehicle is displayed on the road map display surface of the display.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, this method simply displays the current location on the display screen of the road map;
It does not have the function of providing guidance (for example, tourist information) about a particular area when the current location is in a particular area (for example, a tourist spot). For this reason, the crew
Guide information other than road maps must be obtained from other information media.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and can provide guidance information for a specific area according to the specific area, and in the display,
To provide an in-vehicle navigator that can be easily recognized by a passenger and difficult to confuse with a road map display.

[Means to solve the problem]

To this end, the present invention, as shown in FIG. 13, includes a current position calculation means that detects the current position of the vehicle and obtains coordinate data of the current position, image data of a road map, and identification information set on the road map. a storage means for storing coordinate data indicating a district and image data indicating guide information indicating the specific district itself; an image display means; and displaying the image based on the image data of the road map stored in the storage means. current position display means for causing the means to display an image of the road map and displaying the current position of the vehicle on the image of the road map based on the coordinate data of the current position calculation means; determining means for determining that the vehicle is in the specific area based on coordinate data indicating the specific area and coordinate data of the current position calculation means; and determining that the vehicle is in the specific area by the determining means; When the determination is made, the current position display means is allowed to switch from the display of the image display means to the display of the guidance information corresponding to the specific area, based on the image data of the guidance information stored in the storage means. a guide information display means for switching the display of the image display means to the display of the guide information; and a timer means for determining whether a predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the guide information display means switches to display the guide information. and a return means for causing the current position display means to return to the display on the image display means when the timer means determines that a predetermined time has elapsed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, it is possible to provide guidance information for a specific area, and the display of the guidance information is switched from the road map and the current position display, so that the driver's attention is called to the passenger's attention. It has the excellent effect that it can be easily recognized and is not confused with a road map.

Moreover, since the display is switched to the guidance information display for a predetermined period of time and then returned to the display of the road map and current location, it is possible to immediately return to the normal map display after the guidance information is recognized in the switching display. Therefore, there is an excellent effect in that guidance information can be displayed without significantly interfering with normal map display.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing one embodiment. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a direction detection device as a direction detection means, which includes a direction sensor that detects the X and Y components of the earth's magnetism according to the direction in which the vehicle is traveling, and converts the signal from this direction sensor into a digital signal. It is equipped with an A/D converter and generates digital signals of X and Y components depending on the traveling direction of the vehicle. Reference numeral 2 denotes a distance sensor as a distance detecting means, which generates a distance pulse every unit traveling distance of the vehicle (for example, about 39.2 cm). 3 is a reading device that stores map data of multiple districts (including absolute coordinate data of the upper right point of each map) and service information (coordinate data of service points, guide map data, service voice generation data). By setting a cassette tape 3a as a storage means, map data and service information of a specific area can be searched and read.

4 is a microcomputer that executes software digital arithmetic processing according to a predetermined control program, and includes a CPU 4a, a ROM 4b, and a RAM.
It is equipped with a 4C, 1/0 circuit section 4d, and is activated by receiving a stabilized voltage from a stabilized power supply circuit (not shown) that generates a stabilized voltage of 5V by receiving power from an on-board battery. , X and Y component digital signals from the direction detection device 1, distance sensor 2
The system performs arithmetic processing upon receiving distance pulses from the vehicle, reading signals from the reading device 3, etc., and generates display signals for displaying a map of a specific area, travel route information, and the like. Note that RAM4C is constantly backed up with power from the vehicle's battery.

5 is a cathode ray tube (CRT) controller,
In response to display signals from the microcomputer 4, map data, travel route information (or guide map data), and character data of a specific area are individually stored, and the stored map data, travel route information, and guide map are stored. It generates video signals and synchronization signals for displaying either data or character data on a CRT. 6 is a CRT display device as a display means, and a CRT controller 5
A map, driving route, guide map, or character of a specific area can be displayed using video signals and synchronization signals.
It is a CRT display. 7 is a touch panel section, which is attached to the display surface of the CRT display device 6;
When a specific touch area among the 12 touch areas provided on the touch panel is touched, a corresponding serial signal is generated.

8 is a microcomputer 4 that uses service audio data recorded in the cassette tape 3a.
This is an amplifier for outputting a signal from the speaker 9 to the speaker 9. Next, a detailed electrical wiring diagram of the CRT controller 5 shown in FIG. 2 will be explained. 1
1 is an oscillation circuit that generates a 12.096MHz oscillation signal,
12 divides the frequency of the oscillation signal from the oscillation circuit 11.
6.048MHz dot timing clock and 756KHz
A dot counter 13 generates a character timing clock from the microcomputer 4 and a character timing clock from the dot counter 12 to generate horizontal and vertical synchronization signals, display timing signals, refresh memory address signals, A display controller 14 that generates a raster address signal generates a hold signal to the HOLD terminal of the microcomputer 4 to hold the microcomputer 4 during the display period based on the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from the display controller 13. This is a hold signal generation circuit. 15 is a multiplexer which switches the address signal from the microcomputer 4, the refresh memory address signal from the display controller 13, and the raster address signal in response to a hold acknowledge (HOLDA) signal from the microcomputer 4; 16, 17, and 18 A bus driver 19 having a tri-state that switches the data direction between the microcomputer 4 and the display memory stores display data such as ASCII codes from the microcomputer 4 and receives a refresh memory address signal from the display controller 13. A character memory 20 outputs the contents as an address, and a character generator 20 outputs a display pattern based on a display address from the character memory 19 and a raster address signal from the display controller 13. 21 is a first graphic memory for storing map data (including display data of service points P) from the microcomputer 4; 22 is a memory for storing travel route information (travel trajectory data, current position data) from the microcomputer 4; Second graphic memories 23, 24, and 25 that store guide map data convert parallel signals from the character generator 20 and first and second graphic memories 21 and 22 into dot timing clocks from the dot counter 12. 26 is a parallel to serial (P to S) converter that converts to serial data with a 2-bit switch, and a P to S converter 2 is connected by a screen switching signal from the microcomputer 4.
A video controller receives one or two of the signals from 3, 24, and 25 and generates a video signal according to the display timing signal from the display controller 13; 27 generates a synchronization signal according to the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from the display controller 13; It is an exclusive OR circuit. Note that the character memory 19, the first and second graphic memories 2
1 and 22 are constantly backed up with power from the onboard battery.

That is, this CRT controller 5 stores character data in the character memory 19 based on the data sent from the microcomputer 4.
, the map data (including the display data of the service point P) is stored in the first graphic memory 21,
Display data of the travel trajectory and current position or guide map data are stored in the second graphic memory 22, and a map graphic screen switching signal from the microcomputer 4 (signals from the P→S converters 24 and 25 are simultaneously accepted). The map graphic screen (which displays the travel trajectory and current position on the map) is selected by the guide map graphic screen switching signal from the microcomputer 4 (the signal from the P→S converter 25). The guide map graphic screen (displaying a guide map for a specific point) is selected using the character switching signal from the microcomputer 4 (which only accepts signals from the P→S converter 23). A character screen (one that displays specified characters, etc. to designate a district) is selected by the signal used to specify the district, and a video signal and a synchronization signal are sent to display the screen corresponding to the selection on the CRT.
This has occurred on the CRT display device 6.

The touch panel section 7 has touch areas divided into 12 areas 31 to 42 as shown in FIG. configured,
When a specific touch area is pressed, the touch area is detected by the contact of the transparent conductive film of the matrix due to the bending of the glass, and a serial signal (start signal) corresponding to the touch area detected by a touch signal generation circuit (not shown) is detected. and touch information signals). Note that this touch signal generation circuit generates the touch information at that time in the form of a serial signal every 40 msec.

Furthermore, FIGS. 4a and 4b show a data area corresponding to one district on the cassette tape 3a. The cassette tape is divided into a right channel and a left channel. B is a map data storage unit that stores map data of the area, C is a service point storage unit that stores coordinate data of service points, and D is a guide that stores guide map data for service points. figure memory section,
X is a blank section. In the left channel (FIG. 4b), E is a service audio storage section storing audio data for service points, and X is a blank section. And this A, B, C,
By reading portions D and E with the reading device 3, absolute coordinate data of a specific area, map number, map data, coordinate data of the service point, guide map data, and voice data for the service point are provided to the microcomputer 4. Can be done.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained with reference to the display explanatory diagrams in FIGS. 5 and 12, the calculation flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, and the calculation explanatory diagram in FIG. 11. FIG. 6 is a calculation flowchart showing the overall calculation processing of the main routine of the microcomputer 4, FIG. 7 is a calculation flowchart showing the calculation processing of the interrupt calculation routine based on the distance pulse from the distance sensor 2, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a calculation flowchart showing detailed calculation processing of the mode calculation routine in FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a calculation flowchart showing detailed calculation processing of the current position calculation routine in FIG. 3 is a calculation flowchart showing detailed calculation processing of a service calculation routine.

Now, in a vehicle equipped with components 1 to 9 shown in FIG. 1, when a key switch is turned on at the start of operation, each part of the electrical system is activated by receiving power from the vehicle battery. The microcomputer 4 then enters the operating state upon receiving the stabilized voltage of 5V from the stabilized power supply circuit, starts its arithmetic processing at the start step 100 in FIG. 6, and proceeds to the initial setting routine 200. Then, the registers, counters, latches, etc. in the microcomputer 4 are set to the initial state necessary for starting the arithmetic processing (including resetting of the service arithmetic flag and the proximity flag, which will be described later). After this initial setting, the arithmetic processing from the mode arithmetic routine 300 to the service arithmetic flag determination step 700 is repeatedly executed at a cycle of approximately several tens of milliseconds.

That is, in this mode calculation routine 300, one of the map mode and character mode is selected, and the content corresponding to that mode is selected.
A CRT is displayed, and when in the map mode, a cursor indicating the current position can be moved, and when in the character mode, calculation processing is executed to enable designation of a specific area on the map, and the process proceeds to the current position calculation routine 400. In this current position calculation routine 400, the CRT
A calculation process is executed to change the contents of the current position data and travel trajectory data in the second graphic memory 22 of the controller to a travel change of ±50 m for each X and Y component, and the process proceeds to a service calculation routine 600. This service calculation routine 60
0, when the current location is in map mode and the distance between the current location and a service point approaches within 1 km, the guide map data corresponding to that service point is read from the cassette tape 3a and the guide map is displayed on the CRT. , cassette tape 3
The voice data is read from the service voice storage section E of a, a service voice is generated, and the process advances to step 700 for determining a service calculation flag. In this service calculation flag determination step 700, it is determined whether or not a service calculation flag indicating that service information is being provided is set, and when it is set, the determination is made.
If the result is YES, the process proceeds to the current position calculation routine 400, but if the service calculation flag is not set and the determination is NO, the process proceeds to the mode calculation routine 30.
Go to 0. From now on, this mode calculation routine 300
The arithmetic processing of the main routine from step 700 to service arithmetic flag determination step 700 is repeatedly executed at a cycle of approximately several tens of milliseconds. (However, if the service calculation flag is set, the calculation process of the mode calculation routine 300 is not performed.) Then, for the repeated calculation of this main routine, the distance pulse from the distance sensor 2 interrupts the microcomputer 4. When the signal is applied to the (INT) terminal, the microcomputer 4 temporarily interrupts the main routine arithmetic processing and executes the interrupt arithmetic processing shown in FIG. That is, the arithmetic processing is started from the interrupt start step 501, and the process proceeds to the integration step 502, where the unit distance data (equivalent to about 39.2 cm) is integrated and updated to the distance data D stored in the RAM 4C, and the distance is determined. Proceeding to step 503, it is determined whether the distance data D has reached 6.25 m. At this time, if the distance data D has not reached 6.25 m, the determination will be NO and the process will proceed to return step 510, but if the distance data D has reached 6.25 m, the determination will be YES and the process will proceed to the direction signal input step 504. move on. Then, in this azimuth signal input step 504, digital X and Y component signals Xa and Ya from the azimuth detection device 1 (east, north in the positive direction, west,
Enter south (negative direction) and calculate the average direction Step 5
Proceed to step 05 and save the previous direction data X ₀ , Y ⁰ (direction data before traveling 6.25m) and current direction data Xa,
Average azimuth data X, Y is obtained using Ya, and the process proceeds to distance component calculation step 506 to calculate the distance component in the X direction.
Dx is 6.25X/√ ² + ² , distance component Dy in Y direction is
6.25Y/√ ² + ² (X/√ ² + ² is the counterclockwise angle θ with the east direction as the reference)
cos θ, Y/√ ² + ² corresponds to sin θ), the process proceeds to storage step 507, where the current azimuth data Xa, Ya is memorized as X ₀ , Y ₀ for the next time, and the process proceeds to distance data reset step 508, where the distance is data D to 0
and set distance flag step 509.
The program proceeds to step 510 to set the distance flag, and then proceeds to return step 510 to return to the main routine that was previously interrupted. That is, in this interrupt calculation routine, the distance data D is cumulatively updated every time a unit distance is traveled, and when the distance data D reaches 6.25 m, this
Calculate the distance components Dx and Dy in the X and Y directions for 6.25m, and execute arithmetic processing to set the distance flag.

Next, detailed calculation processing of the mode calculation routine 300 in the main routine will be explained. In this mode calculation routine 300, the calculation process is started from touch data input step 301 in FIG. 8, and touch data from the touch panel unit 7 is input and stored in the RAM 4C. Then, the process proceeds to map mode determination step 302, where it is determined whether or not the contents of the mode area in RAM4C are map mode.
When the result is YES, the process proceeds to mode change determination step 303, where it is determined whether the touch data stored in the RAM 4C is data indicating a mode change (data when touch area 34 in FIG. 3 is pressed). . At this time, if the touch data is data indicating a mode change, the determination becomes YES, and the process proceeds to character mode setting step 304, where the contents of the mode area are set to character mode, and character switching signal output step 305.
Then, a character switching signal for displaying a character screen on the CRT display device 6 is generated to the video controller 26 in the CRT controller 5, and one calculation process of this mode calculation routine 300 is completed.

On the other hand, when the touch data is not data indicating a mode change, that is, data when a touch area other than 34 in FIG. 3 is pressed, or data when no touch area is pressed (for example, data FF). Sometimes, the determination in the mode change determination step 303 becomes NO,
The process advances to cursor movement determination step 306. In this cursor movement determination step 306, it is determined whether the touch data is data when any of the touch areas 32, 33, 35, 38, 40, and 41 is pressed (cursor movement data),
If the touch data is not cursor movement data, the judgment will be NO and this mode calculation routine 3
One calculation process of 00 is completed, but if the touch data is cursor movement data, the judgment is
When it becomes YES, cursor movement calculation step 307
Proceed to. In this cursor movement calculation step 307, in accordance with the touch data, the cursor at the current position displayed on the CRT display device 6 is moved a predetermined distance northward, indicating that the touch data corresponds to the press of the touch area 32 or 33. Similarly, if the touch data corresponds to pressing the touch area 35, move the cursor westward, and if the touch data corresponds to the press of the touch area 40 or 41. The contents of the second graphic memory 22 are stored so that if the data corresponds to the press of the touch area, the cursor is moved southward, and if the data corresponds to the press of the touch area 38, the cursor is moved eastward by a predetermined distance. The arithmetic processing to be changed is executed, and one arithmetic processing of this mode arithmetic routine 300 is completed.

On the other hand, when the determination in the map mode determination step 302 is NO, the process proceeds to a mode change determination step 308, where it is determined whether or not the mode is to be changed using the same calculation process as in the mode change determination step 303. At this time, if the determination is YES when changing the mode, the process advances to map mode setting step 309.
Set the contents of the mode area in RAM4C to map mode and proceed to data conversion step 310.
The traveling route data in the second graphic memory 22 in the CRT controller 5 is converted. In this case, first, the reading device 3 is controlled to search for a specified district using its map number, and the absolute coordinate data (stored in the header section A shown in Fig. 4) on this searched map and the absolute coordinate data on the map of the previous district are used. A coordinate transformation value is calculated from the coordinate data, and the travel trajectory and current position data in the second graphic memory 22 are converted so as to slide according to the calculated values (the travel trajectory and current position stored in the RAM 4C are Convert position data in the same way). and,
The process advances to a map data reading/output step 311, where the map data of the cassette tape 3a is inputted via the reading device 3, and the map data is outputted to the first graphic memory 21.

Next, the process proceeds to a service point reading step 312, where the coordinate data of the service point is read from the service point storage section C of the cassette tape 3a and stored in the RAM 4C, and the process proceeds to a map graphic screen switching signal output step 313, where the CRT display device 6 Then, a map graphic screen switching signal for displaying a map graphic screen is generated to the video controller 26, and one calculation process of this mode calculation routine 300 is completed. In other words, when switching from the character screen to a map graphics screen different from the previous one, the above calculation process is executed,
The current map data is stored in the first graphic memory 2.
At the same time, the contents of the second graphic memory 22 are converted so that the travel trajectory and the cursor indicating the current location are corrected to the current location corresponding to this map (the travel trajectory and current location data in RAM 4C are also stored in the same manner). ). As a result, even if the map displayed on the CRT display device 6 is changed, the travel trajectory and current location can be displayed in the area corresponding to the map.

On the other hand, if the determination in the mode change determination step 308 is NO, the process advances to a character calculation step 314. When the character calculation step 314 is reached, the character mode has been set and a character switching signal has been issued to the video controller 26, so the CRT display device 6 is in a character mode as shown in FIG. The screen is being imaged. The numbers 02-4-68 shown in the center of this character screen are numbers that designate regions, regions, and districts, respectively. Each number is updated by adding 1 at the increment switch 51, and subtracted by 1 at the decrement switch 52. It is updated, set by the set switch 53, and processed in the character calculation step 314 so that it is reset by the reset switch 54. Note that the numerical data of this region, region, and district, that is, the map number, is stored in the RAM 4C. Further, the switches 51, 52, 53, and 54 mentioned above correspond to the touch areas 39, 40, 41, and 42 in FIG. 3, respectively.

That is, in the mode calculation routine 300 shown in FIG. 8, the following operations are performed according to the touch data from the touch panel section 7 and the contents of the mode area in the RAM 4C.

If there is an instruction to move the cursor when the map mode is in the map mode and the mode is not changed, arithmetic processing for moving the cursor is executed, and if there is no instruction to move the cursor, the map display is continued as it is.

If there is an instruction to change the mode while in the map mode, the map mode is changed to the character mode and the character screen is displayed on the CRT display device 6.

When the character mode is in effect and the mode is not changed, map changes can be accepted on the character screen as shown in FIG.

When a mode change instruction is given while in the character mode, the character mode is changed to the map mode, a graphic screen of the map is displayed on the CRT display device 6, and at the same time, the travel trajectory and current position are corrected and displayed.

Next, detailed calculation processing of the current position calculation routine 400 in the main routine will be explained.
In this current position calculation routine 400, the calculation process starts at distance flag determination step 401 in FIG. 9, and it is determined in the interrupt calculation process in FIG. 7 whether or not the distance flag is set. At this time,
If the distance flag is not set, the judgment will be
If the result is NO, one calculation process of the current position calculation routine 400 is completed, but if the distance flag is set, the determination becomes YES and the process proceeds to the X distance correction step 402. Then, in this X-distance correction step 402, the X-distance data DX is corrected by the X-distance component Dx obtained by the interrupt calculation process (DX=DX+Dx), and then in the Y-distance correction step 4.
In step 03, the Y distance data DY is similarly corrected (DY=DY+Dy) and the process proceeds to the first X distance determination step 404, where it is determined whether the X distance data DX has reached a value of 50 m or more. At this time, if the X distance data DX is a value of 50m or more, the judgment is YES.
Then, the process proceeds to the X distance subtraction step 405, where the value of 50 m is subtracted from the X distance data DX, and the process proceeds to the first display movement step 406, where the current position data in RAM4C is moved in the positive direction (eastward) by 50 m. At the same time, the traveling locus data in the RAM 4C is also caused to follow the movement, and the process advances to step 407 for determining a service calculation flag. In this service calculation flag determination step 407, it is determined whether or not a service calculation flag indicating that service information is being provided is set, and if it is not set, the determination is NO.
Then, the process advances to the second display movement step 408.
The current position data in the second graphic memory 22 is moved in the positive direction (eastward) by 50 m, and the traveling locus data in this memory 22 is also caused to follow this movement.

Further, when the determination in the first X distance determination step 404 is NO, the second X distance determination step 40 is performed.
Proceeding to step 9, it is determined whether the X distance data DX has reached a value of −50 m or less. At this time, if the X distance data DX is less than -50m, the judgment is YES.
Then, the process proceeds to the X distance addition step 410, where the value of 50m is added to the X distance data DX, and the process proceeds to the first display movement step 411, where the current position data in RAM4C is moved in the negative direction (westward) by 50m. At the same time, the traveling locus data in the RAM 4C is also made to follow the movement, and in the service calculation flag determination step 412, it is determined whether or not the service calculation flag is set in the same way as in the determination step 407, and if it is not set. If the judgment is NO
Then, the process advances to the second display movement step 413.
The current position data in the second graphic memory 22 is moved in the negative direction (westward) by 50 m, and the traveling locus data in the memory 22 is also caused to follow this movement.

Then, the second X distance determination step 409
When the judgment in step 407 and 412 is NO, or when the judgment in service calculation flag judgment steps 407 and 412 is YES,
Or second display movement step 408, 413
After that, the process proceeds to the Y component display movement routine 414, where Y
The same determination and arithmetic processing as in steps 404 to 413 described above is performed on the Y distance data DY calculated in distance correction step 403. (Y distance data
When DY reaches a value of 50 m or more in either the positive or negative direction, the current position data and traveling trajectory data in the RAM 4C and the second graphic memory 22 are moved by 50 m in the corresponding direction. ) The process then proceeds to the next distance flag reset step 415 to reset the distance flag.

In other words, the current position calculation routine 400 shown in FIG. conduct.

Next, the service calculation routine 600 in the main routine will be explained. In this service computation routine 600, the computation process starts at the service computation flag determination step 601 in FIG. In this map mode determination step 602, it is determined whether the contents of the mode area in the RAM 4C are in the map mode or not. If the content is not in the map mode, the determination becomes NO and one calculation process of this service calculation routine 600 is completed. , when the map mode is selected, the determination becomes YES and the process proceeds to step 603 for calculating the distance between two points. In this two-point distance _calculation step 603, as shown in FIG _.
In order to find the distance Q between the service point P (defined as (x _P , y _P )), Q=K√( _N −
x _P ) ² + (y _N -y _P ) ² (Km) is calculated, and the process proceeds to the next 1 Km determination step 604. Note that K is a constant for obtaining Q in units of Km. Then, in the 1Km determination step 604, it is determined whether the calculated Q is a value of 1Km or less, and when it is 1Km or less, the determination becomes YES, and the proximity flag determination step 6
However, if Q is larger than 1 km, the process proceeds to proximity flag reset step 605 to reset the proximity flag, and this service calculation routine 60
One operation process of 0 is completed. (When approaching a service point, go through the route from step 604 to step 605 and reset the proximity flag.) On the other hand, when the process advances to proximity flag determination step 606 where Q is a value of 1 km or less, the proximity flag is set. If so, the determination becomes YES and one calculation process of this service calculation routine 600 is completed, but if the proximity flag has been reset, the process advances to proximity flag setting step 607 and sets the proximity flag. The process advances to a service calculation flag setting step 608, where the service calculation flag is set, and the process proceeds to a guide map graphic screen switching signal output step 609. In this guide map graphic screen switching signal output step 609, a guide map graphic screen switching signal is generated to the video controller 26, and the video controller 26 outputs a P→
Only the signal from the S converter 25 is accepted. As a result, the CRT display device 6 has a second
Initially, only the current position and travel trajectory stored in the graphic memory 22 of the vehicle will be displayed.

Next, the process advances to guide map reading and output step 610.
The guide map data stored in the guide map storage section D of the cassette tape 3a is input via the reading device 3, and the guide map data is output to the second graphic memory 22. By this,
The CRT display device 6 displays a guide map (for example, FIG. 12) instead of displaying the current position and travel trajectory.
Then, the process proceeds to audio output step 610, where the audio data stored (recorded) in the service audio storage section E of the left channel of the cassette tape 3a is read and reproduced via the reading device 3, and audio is output to the amplifier 8. One calculation process of this service calculation routine 600 is completed. Therefore, the CRT display device 6 displays a guide map as shown in FIG. 12, and the speaker 9 generates voice guidance for sightseeing at the specific point.

Since the service calculation flag is set in step 608, the next time the service calculation flag determination step 601 is reached, the determination will be YES, and the process advances to step 612 to determine 10 seconds have elapsed. This 10 seconds elapsed determination step 612
Then, it is determined whether 10 seconds have elapsed since the first arrival at this step, and if 10 seconds have not elapsed, the determination becomes NO and one operation process of this service operation routine 600 is completed. .

Also, since the service calculation flag is set, when the service calculation flag determination step 700 in FIG. 6 is reached, the determination becomes YES.
Since the process directly proceeds to the current position calculation routine 400 without passing through the mode calculation routine 300, the mode change calculation cannot be executed. Furthermore, when the service calculation flag determination step 407 or 412 in FIG. Also, the current position data and travel trajectory data in the second graphic memory 22 are not converted.

Thereafter, when 10 seconds have elapsed and the determination in the 10 seconds elapse determination step 612 becomes YES, the process advances to a traveling route data reproducing step 613, and the data of the current position and traveling trajectory in the RAM 4C are transferred to the second graphic memory 22. Then, the process proceeds to step 614 for outputting a map graphic screen switching signal. In this map graphic screen switching signal output step, a map graphic screen switching signal is generated to the video controller 26, and the signals from the P→S converters 24 and 25 are received and the signals are superimposed and output to the CRT display device 6. Do it like this. This allows CRT
The display device 6 displays a road map of the driving area, the driving trajectory, and the current position based on the data stored in the first and second graphic memories 21 and 22. Next, the process advances to a service calculation flag reset step 615, where the service calculation flag is reset, and one calculation process of this service calculation routine 600 is completed.

That is, in this service calculation routine 600, when the current position approaches the service point within 1 km in the map mode, the CRT display device 6
and the speaker 9 performs the following series of operations.

The map graphic screen on which the map, current location, etc. are displayed is switched to a guide map graphic screen (for example, the one shown in FIG. 12), and service audio is output from the speaker 9.

10 seconds after the guide map is displayed, the guide map will switch to the original map graphic screen.

Therefore, the mode calculation routine 300, the current position calculation routine 400, and the service calculation routine 60
0 in the main routine and the interrupt operation in FIG.
At the same time, the screen of the CRT display device 6 is selected according to the specified mode, and in the map mode, the map graphic screen (current position and travel path data) is changed sequentially. (including displays of
10 seconds guide map graphic screen (e.g. 12th
(Fig.) is displayed, and an audio guide to the specific point is generated.

In the above embodiment, one map has one service point, but one map may have a plurality of service points. (In this case, in addition to matching service points, guide maps, and service voices, the distances between the positions of each service point and the current position are sequentially compared, and when one of the service points is within a predetermined distance, for example, 1 km, (The distance between the current location and the service point will be displayed in RAM 4 regardless of map mode.)
Since it can be calculated from the data on C, even if the map graphic screen is not displayed on the CRT display device 6 (if the current location approaches the service point), the guide map can be displayed on the CRT display device 6 and the service voice can be displayed. Audio may also be output to the amplifier 8.

Furthermore, although the content of the guidance is tourist information, it may be other than this, and the user may be able to freely input the guidance points and the content of the guidance. (For example, on the return trip, the location of an intersection, such as a railroad crossing, etc. may be input with a cursor, and the guidance information thereof may also be input, and on the return trip, it may be determined that the arrival at that point has been reached, and the input guidance information may be played back. ) Furthermore, the display device is not limited to the CRT display device 6, but may be a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an EL display device.

In addition, a cassette tape 3a is used as an external storage device.
However, another magnetic disk or the like may be used.

Furthermore, the header section A, the map data storage section B, the service point storage section C, the guide map storage section D, and the service voice storage section E on the cassette tape 3a need to be associated with each other, but the order of storage, left and right The usage of channels etc. need not be limited to that shown in FIG.

Furthermore, although it is assumed that the guide map is displayed for 10 seconds when the distance between the current location and the service point becomes 1 km or less, the values of 1 km and 10 seconds may be other than this. For example, guidance may be provided after actually arriving at the service point.

Furthermore, although a system has been shown in which guidance is given to service points using a guide map and audio, it is also possible to provide only a guide map and no audio.

Furthermore, although the control is performed using software by the microcomputer 4, the control may be performed using a hard logic configuration using an electronic circuit.

As described above, in this embodiment, using the in-vehicle navigator, guidance information other than the road map prepared at a specific point can be provided without requiring the occupant to perform many troublesome search operations.

Furthermore, since the display of the guidance information is maintained for a predetermined period of time from the start of the display, and then automatically returns to the display of the road map, the passenger is not required to perform any troublesome operations here either.

Furthermore, since the calculation of the current position continues even while the guidance information is being displayed, when the display of the guidance information returns to the display of the road map, the display of the current position can be resumed without any discomfort.

As shown in Figure 12, by displaying the place name, characteristics, etc. of a specific place graphically when arriving at a specific point, passengers can easily read the fine text displayed on the road map image. Alternatively, it has the effect of being able to intuitively know the current location.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a detailed electrical wiring diagram of the CRT controller in Figure 1, Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the touch area of the touch panel section, Figures 4a and b are explanatory diagrams showing the data area of the cassette tape, and Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the touch area of the touch panel section. , Figure 12 is
A display explanatory diagram showing the display state of the CRT display device, Fig. 6 is a calculation flowchart showing the overall calculation processing of the main routine of the microcomputer, and Fig. 7 is a calculation processing of the interrupt calculation routine based on the distance pulse from the distance sensor. FIG. 8 is a calculation flowchart showing detailed calculation processing of the mode calculation routine in FIG. 6; FIG. 9 is a calculation flowchart showing detailed calculation processing of the current position calculation routine in FIG. 6; 1st
Fig. 0 is a calculation flowchart showing detailed calculation processing of the service calculation routine in Fig. 6, Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining distance calculation to a service point, and Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. It is. 1... Orientation detection device as direction detection means, 2
...Distance sensor 3a as distance detection means...
Cassette tape as storage means, 3...reader, 4...microcomputer, 5...CRT
Controller, 6...CRT display device as display means, 8...Amplifier, 9...Speaker.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Current position calculation means for detecting the current position of a vehicle and obtaining coordinate data of the current position; image data of a road map; coordinate data indicating a specific area set on the road map; a storage means for storing image data indicating guide information indicating the specific area itself; an image display means; and an image of the road map on the image display means based on the image data of the road map stored in the storage means. current position display means for displaying the current position of the vehicle on the image of the road map based on the coordinate data of the current position calculation means; and coordinate data indicating the specific district stored in the storage means. and determining means for determining that the vehicle is in the specific area based on the coordinate data of the current position calculating means; and when the determining means determines that the vehicle is in the specific area, the current position is Allowing the position display means to switch the display of the image display means to the display of the guidance information corresponding to the specific area, and displaying the image display means based on the image data of the guidance information stored in the storage means. a guide information display means for switching the display to the display of the guide information; a timer means for determining whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the time when the guide information display means switched to the display of the guide information; A vehicle-mounted navigator comprising: a return means for returning the current position display means to display on the image display means when it is determined that a predetermined time has elapsed.