JPH10185607A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: To provide a navigation device that can visually inform a driver of a current position and a traveling direction when a vehicle is running. SOLUTION: A feature input by voice and a relative positional relationship (right or left) between the feature and a road are recognized (S1).
07), the coordinates when the feature is input, and the relative positional relationship between the feature and the road are held (S116). Then, the front of the vehicle is searched (S204), and when it is determined that the coordinate position of the feature has approached to a predetermined distance (Y in S208).
es) Notifying the feature by voice and notifying the relative positional relationship (right or left) between the feature and the traveling direction of the vehicle. Therefore, the driver can check the current position and the traveling direction of the vehicle without referring to the monitor screen.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device for providing route guidance by voice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a user travels from a departure point to a destination by using a navigation device having a voice guidance function and a voice recognition function, the navigation device side informs the driver so as not to deprive a map on a display screen or the like. The route is guided by voice, and on the other hand, the driver inputs to the navigation device by voice to instruct the destination, guidance of peripheral guidance, and the like.

[0003]

Here, when the driver actually drives, the driver checks the current position and the traveling direction using a building such as a department store or a bank as a feature, and turns right or left. . For example, look at a particular department store on the right, turn left at the second intersection, look at a particular bank on the right, and
The vehicle travels Km and arrives at the destination. On the other hand, a navigation device performs route guidance along road data, and therefore features road distances and intersections as features.
When performing the above guidance by voice, turn left at the second intersection,
Instructions such as going straight for 1 km are given. That is, since the route guidance is performed by a method different from the route identification pattern by the driver, the driver may feel uncomfortable and may be concerned about whether the destination is set correctly. .

Here, in a navigation device,
Although the specific department store and bank are displayed on the monitor, when checking the map on the monitor, the driver needs to shift his / her forward vision to the instrument panel side. Furthermore,
When a department store or a bank is not put on the road data in the CDROM, it is not displayed on the monitor, so that the driver cannot confirm his or her own characteristics on the monitor, and the current position and the traveling direction are determined by the navigation device. It was not possible to confirm that the guidance was as expected.

[0005] Further, since the characteristic object differs for each driver, it cannot be set and instructed uniformly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device that can visually inform a driver of a current position and a traveling direction when a vehicle is running. It is in.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device which can visually inform a driver of a current position and a traveling direction when a vehicle is running. To provide.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, in the navigation apparatus according to the first aspect, coordinate holding means for holding coordinates of a predetermined feature for each user, and determining the user. User determination means, coordinate search means for searching the coordinates of the feature corresponding to the determined user from the coordinate holding means, position detection means for detecting the current position, and search by the coordinate search means. Approach determining means for determining whether the coordinate position of the feature is approached to a predetermined distance; and when the approach determining means determines that the feature is approached, the feature is notified by voice and the feature is And a sound output means for notifying a relative positional relationship between the vehicle and the traveling direction of the own vehicle.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation apparatus comprising: a road data holding unit for holding road data; a voice recognition unit for recognizing a feature input by voice; A coordinate holding unit for identifying the featured object on the road data and holding the coordinates of the featured object for each user; a user determining unit for determining the user;
A coordinate search means for searching the coordinates of the feature corresponding to the determined user from the coordinate holding means, a position detection means for detecting a current position, and a coordinate position of the feature searched for by the coordinate search means. A technical feature comprising: an approach determining means for determining whether the vehicle has approached a distance; and a sound output means for notifying the feature by voice when the approach determining means determines that the object has approached. And

Further, in the navigation apparatus according to the third aspect, a road data holding unit for holding road data, a voice recognition unit for recognizing a feature input by voice, and a method for storing the input feature on the road data. And coordinate holding means for holding the coordinates of the feature for each user, user determination means for determining the user, and coordinates of the feature corresponding to the determined user. A coordinate search unit for further searching, an instruction input unit for setting an instruction of notifying a feature located on the right side or a feature located on the left side, and a coordinate position of the feature searched by the coordinate search unit Approach determination means for determining whether the vehicle has approached a predetermined distance from the vehicle, and searching whether the coordinate position of the feature is right or left with respect to the traveling direction of the own vehicle, and determining whether the coordinate position is the side set in the instruction input means. Relative When the position judging means and the approach judging means determine that the object has approached the characteristic object, and when the relative position judging means judges that the characteristic object is located on the side set in the instruction recognition hand, the characteristic object is determined. And a sound output means for notifying by sound.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation apparatus, comprising: road data holding means for holding road data; voice recognition means for recognizing a feature inputted by voice; A coordinate holding unit for identifying the featured object on the road data and holding the coordinates of the featured object for each user; a user determining unit for determining the user;
A coordinate search means for searching the coordinates of the feature corresponding to the determined user from the coordinate holding means, a position detection means for detecting a current position, and a relative relationship between the traveling direction of the own vehicle input by voice and A voice guidance start determining means for retrieving a feature from the road data and determining whether or not to start voice guidance based on whether the feature exists within a predetermined distance; and Approach determining means for determining whether the coordinate position of the feature searched by the coordinate searching means is approached to a predetermined distance when the start of voice guidance is determined, and approaching the feature by the approach determining means. When it is judged that it has been done, while notifying the feature by voice,
And a sound output means for notifying a relative relationship between the feature and the traveling direction of the vehicle.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the user determining means determines who the user is, and the coordinates of the feature corresponding to the determined user are searched by the coordinate holding means using the coordinate searching means. Then, the position detecting means detects the current position. When the approach determining means determines that the coordinate position of the feature provided for each of the searched users has been approached to a predetermined distance, the voice output means notifies the feature by voice, and the feature And the relative positional relationship between the vehicle and the traveling direction of the vehicle. For this reason, each driver can confirm the current position and the traveling direction of the vehicle by using the features set by the driver without referring to the monitor screen.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the voice recognition means recognizes a feature input by voice, the coordinate holding means identifies the input feature on the road data, and calculates the coordinates of the feature. Hold for each user. Therefore, during driving, the setting of the feature can be easily performed by voice.

After the next run, the position detecting means detects the current position, and the approach determining means approaches the coordinate position of the feature held by the coordinate holding means provided for each user to a predetermined distance. When it is determined, the sound output means notifies the feature by voice. For this reason, each driver
The current position and the traveling direction of the vehicle can be confirmed by the features set by the user without referring to the monitor screen.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the instruction input means sets an instruction to notify the feature located on the right side or the feature located on the left side, and the approach determination means is held by the coordinate holding means. It is determined whether the coordinate position of the featured object has approached to a predetermined distance. Then, the relative position determining means searches whether the coordinate position of the feature is right or left with respect to the traveling direction of the own vehicle, and determines whether the coordinate position is set on the instruction input means.
Finally, when the approach judging means judges that the feature is approached and the relative position judging means judges that it is located on the side set in the instruction recognition hand, the sound output means outputs the feature by voice. Inform. As described above, only the features located on the right side or the left side set in the instruction input means are notified by voice, so that the driver can appropriately know the right / left turn timing.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the voice guidance start determining means searches the road data for a relative relationship with the traveling direction of the own vehicle input by voice from the road data. When it is determined that the voice guidance is present, voice guidance is started. Therefore, the route guidance by voice can be started at a desired timing.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a navigation device 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 40 includes a voice recognition device 10 for recognizing voice and a receiver 44 for inputting information such as the availability of a parking lot. The navigation device 40 stores road data in the CDROM 42,
The current position is obtained from the GPS signal input from the antenna 40a, a map is displayed on the monitor 60 side, and route guidance is performed by voice from a voice synthesis circuit (not shown) via the speaker 46. The monitor 60 has a display panel 62 for displaying an image and detecting a position touched by a finger.
Are arranged.

In the speech recognition apparatus 10, a CDROM 28 for an unspecified speaker dictionary holding a large number of speech patterns.
And a RAM 26 for holding a voice pattern registered in advance by the driver are managed by the dictionary management unit 24, and are recorded in association with the user at the time of registration.
For example, a registered word is automatically distinguished and registered for each individual voice pattern, or a personal ID code is input by a remote controller or the like at the time of registration. In the dictionary buffer 20, the pattern of the input word is
a, it is configured to be held in the specific dictionary 20b. The A / D converter 12 converts analog audio input from the microphone 30 into digital data and outputs the digital data to the acoustic feature extraction unit 14. The acoustic feature extraction unit 14 extracts features of the digital data of the voice, and performs pattern matching 16.
Output to The pattern matching 16 determines whether the feature of the extracted voice matches the pattern of the input word held in the dictionary buffer 20, and outputs the matched input word to the result processing unit 18. The result processing unit 18
Outputs the matched input word to the control device 50 side.

Next, an outline of registration of features and voice guidance by the navigation device 40 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When a driver calls “right-hand beer factory” when the vehicle at the position C1 in FIG.
Registers the beer factory as a feature. Then, the next time the vehicle advances to a position where the beer factory can be seen, the navigation device 40 guides the feature by “right-hand beer factory” and synthesized voice.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the voice guidance processing by the navigation device 40.
This will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3
Shows a setting routine for switching the setting of voice registration. The navigation device 40 determines whether the driver has called “feature on” (S12),
The user is automatically recognized from the generated sound pattern via the voice recognition device 10, and the dictionary management unit 24 searches the dictionary corresponding to the user. If the user inputs an ID code by remote control or by voice before calling, a dictionary corresponding to the user is similarly searched.
For example, enter “ID01” using a remote control,
Speak “ID zero”. By inputting the feature object ON (Yes in S12), a notice menu for recognizing the feature building shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display panel 62 (S1).
4). Then, it is determined whether an operation by a finger touch on the display panel 62 has been performed (S16). If an operation by a touch has been performed (S16: Yes), various settings are made according to the touch (S18).

On the other hand, if there is no operation by touch (No in S16), a setting input by voice is started (S16).
22-S88). In this case, first, “voice of the characteristic building voice guidance” is output by voice (S20), and the driver waits for an instruction by voice of “Yes” or “No” (S2).
2, S24). Here, when "Yes" is input by the driver (S22: Yes), the feature building voice guidance is set (S26), and when "No" is input (S24: Yes). Then, the feature building voice guidance is released (S28).

Similarly, "distance to destination" is set or released (S30 to S38), "current address" is set or released (S40 to S48), or "peripheral guidance" is set or released. To perform (S50 to S58), to set / cancel “parking lot guidance” (S60 to S68), to set / cancel “new registration” (S70 to S78), or to set / cancel “characteristic deletion” (S80-S88), it is set by voice.

Next, a registration routine for registering a feature when the above-described new registration is selected will be described with reference to FIG. 4 showing a flowchart of the processing. First, the navigation device 40 determines whether new registration has been set (S102). If new registration has been set (Yes in S102), the navigation device 40 waits for the driver to input "registration" (S102). S104). Here, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the driver of the vehicle approaching the position C1 calls "registration" to register a brewery (S1).
If the call is subsequently made to the "right-hand beer factory" (Yes in S104) (S106: Yes), the direction and features of the input voice are recognized via the voice recognition device 10 (S1).
07). When the driver inputs “position confirmation” (Yes in S108), the coordinates of the current position are detected (S110), and then “the right-hand beer factory has been confirmed”.
Is output (S112).

Here, when the driver can correctly recognize the "right-hand beer factory" input by his voice,
Call "Registration". By inputting “registration” (S114
Is Yes), the navigation device 40 starts the feature registration process (S116 to S124). On the other hand, if the feature input by voice in the navigation device 40 has not been correctly identified, the driver does not call “registration” (No in S114), and the process ends.

Subsequently, when (Registration) is inputted, the (S
114 is Yes), the registration process of the feature will be described. First, the navigation device 40 determines the coordinates (absolute coordinates) of the point where "Right hand brewery" is input and the relative position to the road traveling direction (the right side when traveling upward in FIG. 8). It is registered (S116). Thereafter, a sound is output to the effect that "registered" (S118), and the driver is notified that registration has been completed. Then, CDROM
A beer factory is identified on the road data held in 42, and coordinates (relative coordinates) are searched (S120). Here, when the beer factory cannot be identified on the road data, for example, when no beer factory is put on the road data (S122: No), the process is terminated. On the other hand, when the coordinates (relative coordinates) of the beer factory have been retrieved (Yes in S122), the relative coordinates are registered (S124), and the process ends.

Next, a voice guidance routine for the feature by the navigation device 40 after the feature is registered will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, which are flowcharts of the processing. First, the navigation device 40 recognizes the current position and determines the current traveling position along with the road travel direction after judging whether the guidance of the feature by voice is set (step 126 shown in FIG. 2) (step S202 shown in FIG. 5 is Yes). The front is searched (S204). Thereafter, it is determined whether parking lot guidance is set (S206). If parking lot guidance is not set (S206 is N)
o), It is determined whether the absolute coordinates (the coordinates of the position where the sound of the feature is input) are approaching 400 m before (S2).
08). When the coordinates are not approaching the absolute coordinates (S
208 is No), it is determined whether the relative coordinates (coordinates of the searched feature) have approached 300 m before (S21).
0), when the relative coordinates are not approaching (S210)
No), the process returns to step 204, and the search ahead is continued.

Here, when approaching to 400 m before the absolute coordinates (Yes at S208) or when approaching 300m before the relative coordinates (Yes at S210), a flag indicating the completion of the audio output of the feature. Is determined (No in S212), the relative position relationship between the traveling direction on the road and the feature, that is, whether the feature is on the right or left side of the road Is determined (S21
4). When approaching the absolute coordinates, it is determined from the relative position with respect to the traveling direction of the road (the right side when traveling upward in FIG. 8) the right side or the left side registered in step 116 shown in FIG. I do. Here, when the vehicle is traveling on the same side as the traveling direction during registration, it is determined to be the same side (right side). On the other hand, when traveling in the opposite direction to the traveling direction during registration, the opposite side is used. (Left side). On the other hand, when approaching the relative coordinates (Yes in S210), it is determined whether the coordinates of the feature, the coordinates of the traveling road, and the current traveling direction are right or left.

Further, in step 214, when the vehicle is traveling on a road different from the road on which the feature is set, for example, the vehicle is located at a position C2 shown in FIG. When the absolute coordinates or relative coordinates of the feature are approached, it is determined whether the coordinates of the feature, the coordinates of the traveling road, and the current traveling direction are right or left. afterwards,
After outputting, for example, "right beer factory" by voice according to the left / right determination (S215), a flag indicating completion of voice output of the feature is set (S216). The driver can visually check the beer factory by the instruction of “right brewery” by this voice, and can confirm the current position and the traveling direction without looking at the map screen of the display panel 62.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned “characteristic deletion” is set with reference to step 80 in FIG. 3 (S 80).
218) When “delete feature” is set (S
218 is Yes), and waits for the driver's voice to input "delete" (S220). Here, when there is an input of “delete” (Yes at S220). In order to ask the driver for confirmation, "Delete?" Is output as voice (S222), and when the driver inputs "Yes" (S2).
24 is Yes), after deleting the absolute coordinates and / or the relative coordinates of the brewery (S226), "Deleted"
Is output (S228).

Subsequently, it is determined with reference to step 40 in FIG. 2 whether the above-mentioned "current address" has been set (S230 shown in FIG. 6), and when the "current address" has been set (S230). Is Yes), the current address is output as voice (S232). For example, it outputs "It is currently 2-chome Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku".

Next, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned "surrounding guidance" is set with reference to step 50 in FIG. 3 (S23).
4) When "surrounding guidance" is set (S234)
Yes), search for a famous place, a restaurant, a gas station, etc. within 1 km from the current position (S236), and output by voice (S238). For example, "XX department store on the right hand side, stand 300m ahead, restaurant 500m ahead ..." is output.

Thereafter, it is determined whether the vehicle has arrived at the destination (S
240) until the destination is reached (S240 is N
o), returning to step 204 shown in FIG. 5, and repeating the above processing.

Here, in the determination of whether or not the parking lot guidance has been set in step 206 shown in FIG. 5, the above-mentioned "parking lot guidance" has been set with reference to step 60 in FIG. (Yes in S206), the process proceeds to step 240 shown in FIG. 7 to perform the parking lot guidance process.
First, it is determined whether the absolute coordinates (coordinates of the position where the sound of the feature is input) are approaching 1000 m before the absolute coordinates (S).
240). When the coordinates are not approaching the absolute coordinates (No in S240), it is determined whether the relative coordinates (coordinates of the searched feature) are approaching 1000 m before the coordinates (S240).
242), when the relative coordinates are not approaching (S2
42 is No), the process returns to step 204, and the search ahead is continued.

Here, before the absolute coordinates or relative coordinates 10
00m (S240 or S242 is Y
es) After determining whether or not the flag indicating the completion of the sound output of the feature is set (No in S244), the feature and the distance to the feature are output as sound (S246). For example, the voice output “1000 meters to the department store” is output. Then, a flag indicating the completion of the audio output of the feature is set (S248).

Thereafter, the process waits for the presence of an instruction to drop in the characteristic object by the driver (S250). Here, when the driver voice-inputs "XX department store" to stop by the XX department store (S250: Yes), the synthesized voice "XX department store is heard" for confirmation. Is output (S252). Thereafter, the process waits for a confirmation input from the driver (S254). When the driver does not input "Yes" (S254: No), the process ends. On the other hand, when the driver inputs "Yes" (Yes in S254), the driver outputs "Look for parking information" as a synthesized voice (S25).
6) If the driver does not input "Yes" (S25)
8 is No), route guidance to the XX department store is started (S268). On the other hand, when the driver inputs "Yes" (S258: Yes), the vacancy status of the XX department store parking lot is determined based on the parking lot status received by the receiver shown in FIG. 1 ( S260), as a result, "I am vacant."
Alternatively, “full” is output by voice (S262). Here, when "is available" is output and the driver inputs "yes" (Yes in S264), route guidance to the parking lot of the XX department store is started (S266). .

Next, a modification of the first embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 4, both the absolute coordinates (the coordinates of the position where the sound of the feature is input) and the relative coordinates (the coordinates of the feature) are registered. In the modified example, the absolute coordinates are held only when the relative coordinates cannot be obtained. A registration routine of this modified example will be described with reference to FIG. The other processing of this modified example is the same as the processing of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIGS.

In the same manner as the processing shown in FIG. 4, the voice input of the feature from the driver, "Right hand beer factory" (S104-110), for example, confirmation of "Right hand beer factory confirmed" A voice is output (S112), and when an instruction to register this feature is input (Yes in S114), first, the relative coordinates, that is, the coordinates of the beer factory are converted into road data. Search from (S13
0). Here, when the relative coordinates can be retrieved (S13
2 is Yes), the relative coordinates are registered (S136).
On the other hand, when the relative coordinates cannot be retrieved (No in S132), the absolute coordinates (the coordinates of the position where the voice of the feature is input) are registered (S134). After that, "registered" is output as a synthesized voice (S136), and the process ends.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The first mentioned above
In the embodiment, the feature is set without identifying the driver. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, a dictionary is provided for each driver to set features. The configuration of the navigation device is the same as that of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG.

Here, the features set by the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. here,
It is assumed that the vehicle at the position C3 travels toward the upper side in the figure while watching the police station, the city hall, and the post office on the right and the fire department, department store, and bowling alley on the left.

First, in the second embodiment, a registration routine for registering a feature when new registration is selected will be described with reference to FIG. 11 showing a flowchart of the processing. First, the navigation device 40 determines whether new registration has been set (S302). If new registration has been set (S302: Yes), the navigation device 40 waits for the driver to input "registration" (S302). S30
4). Here, as shown in FIG. 15, when the driver of the vehicle approaching the position C3 calls “registration” to register the police station (Yes in S304), first, the input is performed based on this voice. Then, a user-specific dictionary is specified and a dictionary unique to the user is opened (S305). When the driver calls "right hand, police station" (Yes in S306), the driver recognizes the direction and features of the input voice via the voice recognition device 10 (S307). Then, when "position confirmation" is input by the driver (S308: Yes), the coordinates of the current position are detected (S310), and then a voice is output as "right hand police station" (S312).

Here, the driver calls "registration" when the "right hand police station" input by his / her voice has been correctly recognized. By inputting “register” (S314 is Y
es), the navigation device 40 starts the feature registration process (S316 to S324). On the other hand, when the feature input by voice in the navigation device 40 has not been correctly identified, the driver does not call “registration” (No in S314), and the process ends.

Subsequently, when (Registration) is inputted, the (S
314 is Yes), the registration process of the feature will be described. First, the navigation device 40 determines the coordinates (absolute coordinates) of the point where “Right hand police station” is input and the relative position to the road traveling direction (the right side when traveling upward in FIG. 15). It is registered (S316). After that, the voice is output as "registered" (S318), and the driver is notified that the registration is completed. Then, CDROM
A police station is identified on the road data held in 42 and coordinates (relative coordinates) are searched (S320). Here, when the police station cannot be identified on the road data (S322: No), the process ends. On the other hand, when the coordinates (relative coordinates) of the police station have been retrieved (Yes in S322), the relative coordinates are registered (S324), and the process ends.

Next, a voice guidance routine of the feature by the navigation device 40 after the feature is registered will be described with reference to FIG. 12 which is a flowchart of the process. First, the navigation device 40 determines whether the guidance of the feature by voice is set or not (S
402 (Yes), the driver (user) who has set the guidance of the feature by voice is identified, and a dictionary for the user is searched (S404). Thereafter, the process waits until the driver instructs to guide the right feature or the left feature (S406). Here, when the driver who wants to turn left at the bowling alley shown in FIG. 15 calls "left" (Yes in S406), guidance for the left-side feature is set.

Subsequently, the current position is recognized and a search is made for the front in the direction of travel of the road (S410). Then, it is determined whether the absolute coordinates (coordinates of the position where the sound of the feature is input) are approached to 400 m before (S412). When the coordinates are not approaching the absolute coordinates (S412 is N
o), it is determined whether the relative coordinates (coordinates of the searched feature) are approached to 300 m before (S414). If the relative coordinates are not approached (No in S414), the process returns to step 410 to search forward. Continue.

Here, when approaching to 400 m before the absolute coordinates (Yes in S 412) or when approaching 300 m before the relative coordinates (Yes in S 414), a flag indicating the completion of the sound output of the feature. Is determined (S422: No), the relative positional relationship between the traveling direction on the road and the feature, that is, whether the feature is on the right or left side of the road Is determined (S42).
3). Here, similarly to the first embodiment, whether the position is right or left is determined based on absolute coordinates or relative coordinates.

Next, the "left" set by the driver in step 406 and the relative position (right,
(Left) is determined (S425). here,
If they do not match (No in S425), step 41
Return to 0. On the other hand, if they match, for example, when the vehicle approaches the fire station shown in FIG.
es) After outputting, for example, "fire department" by voice (S4
25) Then, a flag indicating the completion of the voice output of the feature is set (S428), and the above processing is continued unless the voice guidance is canceled (Yes in S430).

In this embodiment, for example, when a driver who wants to make a left turn at a bowling alley runs while searching for a point to make a left turn, voice guidance such as "fire department", "XX department store", or "holing alley" is provided. , You can make sure to turn left. Also, for example, if a driver who wants to go to the XX department store knows that the XX department store is on the left side of the road, it will guide only the features on the left side of the course, so that the XX department store can be surely opened. I can find it. Further, in the second embodiment, since a dictionary is set for each user, for example, when a user who has a certain knowledge of the surrounding geography registers only the bowling alley as a feature, the user is instructed to specify a left turn point. Also, fire department, ○
○ Since no guidance is provided for department stores, guidance can be received only at left turn positions. Note that, in the second embodiment, there exists on the designated side (right or left),
Features guided by voice (fire department, XX department store,
The display panel 62 shown in FIG.
Is marked with a fluorescent color so that the feature can be more easily recognized. Further, even if there is no guidance of the feature by voice, only the marking on the display panel can help the recognition of the feature.

Next, route guidance by the navigation device according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The third embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment except that the start of route guidance can be instructed by a feature. That is, in the third embodiment, step 5
02, after the processing of step 504, in step 506, it is determined whether or not the user has designated a feature to start route guidance and a relative position of the feature. here,
When the user is in front of the police station shown in FIG.
(S506: Yes), the feature is searched from the map data (S508). The distance to the feature (police station) is within a predetermined range (for example, 500
m) is determined (S509). When the feature enters a predetermined distance (Yes in S509), route guidance is performed in steps 508 to 530 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. For example, in the example shown in FIG.
The current position and direction of travel are indicated by voices such as “left fire department”, “right city hall”, “left XX department store”, “left bowling alley”, and “right post office”. However, this third
In the embodiment, since a dictionary is set for each driver, only the features actually set by the driver who receives the route guidance are notified by voice.

Next, voice guidance according to a modification of the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In the above-described third embodiment, the feature is notified by voice in the order of the distance, but in the third embodiment, the height of the feature (building) is high and the feature is guided in a conspicuous order. . In this modification, the coordinates of each building are stored along with the height on the map data. here,
After the processing of step 502 and step 504, if the user instructs by voice "right police station" in front of the police station shown in FIG. 15 (Yes in S506), the navigation device 40 deletes the feature. A search is made from the map data (S508). Then, when the feature (police station) falls within a predetermined range (Yes in S510), step 511 is executed.
In step 530, route guidance is performed. Here, first, the front is searched (S511), and a predetermined range (for example,
800 m) is searched for a feature set in an individual dictionary (S513). Then, the features within the predetermined distance are rearranged in the order of height (S514), and the features are voice-guided according to the order (S524, S52).
6). For example, if there is a XX department store, a city hall, and a fire station within 800 m of the traveling direction of the vehicle at the position C3 shown in FIG. 15, and the height of the building is high in the order of the city hall, XX department store, and fire station, , "City hall", "XX department store", "fire department" in the order of voice. In this modified example, the guide can be provided in the order in which the buildings are conspicuous. In addition,
Here, guidance is provided in the order of building height, but guidance may be provided in the order of building width.

In the second and third embodiments, an example has been given in which the setting and guidance of the characteristic object are individually performed, and the identification of the user is automatically determined by voice. It is also possible to switch the user according to the above.

In the first and third embodiments, the registered feature is notified by voice, and the relative positional relationship (right, left) between the feature and the traveling direction of the vehicle is notified by voice. Therefore, the driver can check the current position and the traveling direction of the vehicle without referring to the monitor screen. In addition, similar to the recognition work performed when the driver normally travels, the feature is guided by voice, so that the route can be easily confirmed.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, even when the coordinates of the feature cannot be identified on the road data, the coordinates of the point where the voice is input are registered as the absolute coordinates. (For example, a tobacco store at an intersection) can also be set as a feature.

Accurate recognition of a proper noun of a feature, for example, XX department store, cannot be performed with a high probability by the current speech recognition apparatus. Therefore, × on the map data
Even if there is a department store, voice identification cannot be performed accurately. For example, when a department store is recognized as XX, coordinates cannot be detected. However, in the above embodiment, the XX department store of the feature can be set as the XX department store. Note that for the "right side" and "left side" that are input at the same time as the proper nouns of the feature,
Since it has been registered in advance in the dictionary for voice identification, it can be reliably identified.
Even if it is recognized as a department store, the relative position with respect to the road can be instructed accurately. For this reason, in the configuration of the above embodiment, the setting of the feature can be easily performed by voice during driving.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a first half of a setting routine performed by the navigation device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a latter half of a setting routine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a registration routine by the navigation device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a first half of a voice guidance routine by the navigation device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the latter half of the voice guidance routine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a parking lot guidance process during a voice guidance routine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a road on which voice guidance is performed according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a screen of the display panel according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a registration routine according to a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a registration routine by the navigation device of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a voice guidance routine by the navigation device of the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a voice guidance routine by the navigation device of the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a voice guidance routine by a navigation device according to a modification of the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a road on which voice guidance according to the second and third embodiments is performed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 voice recognition device 30 microphone 40 navigation device 42 CRROM (road data) 46 speaker 60 monitor 62 display panel

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Coordinate holding means for holding preset coordinates of a feature for each user; user determining means for determining a user; and coordinates of a feature corresponding to the determined user. Coordinate search means for searching from the coordinate holding means, position detection means for detecting a current position, approach determination means for determining whether the coordinate position of the feature searched by the coordinate search means has approached a predetermined distance, When the approach determination means determines that the vehicle has approached the feature, the sound output means notifies the feature by voice and notifies a relative positional relationship between the feature and the traveling direction of the vehicle. A navigation device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. Road data holding means for holding road data; voice recognition means for recognizing a feature input by voice; identifying the input feature on the road data; Coordinate holding means for holding coordinates for each user, user determining means for determining the user, coordinate searching means for searching the coordinates of the feature corresponding to the determined user from the coordinate holding means, Position detecting means for detecting a current position; approach determining means for determining whether the coordinate position of the feature searched by the coordinate searching means has approached a predetermined distance; and approaching the feature by the approach determining means. And a voice output means for notifying a feature by voice when it is determined that the navigation device is a navigation device. 3. Road data holding means for holding road data; voice recognition means for recognizing a feature input by voice; identifying the input feature on the road data; Coordinate holding means for holding coordinates for each user, user determining means for determining the user, coordinate searching means for searching the coordinates of the feature corresponding to the determined user from the coordinate holding means, Instruction input means for setting an instruction of notifying the feature located on the right side or notifying the feature located on the left side; and determining whether or not the coordinate position of the feature searched by the coordinate search means has reached a predetermined distance. An approach determining means for determining; a relative position determining means for searching whether the coordinate position of the feature is right or left with respect to the traveling direction of the own vehicle, and determining whether the coordinate position is a side set in the instruction input means; For approach judgment means Voice output means for notifying the feature by voice when it is determined that the feature is approached, and when it is determined by the relative position determination means to be located on the side set in the instruction recognition hand. A navigation device characterized by the above-mentioned. 4. Road data holding means for holding road data; voice recognition means for recognizing a feature inputted by voice; identifying the input feature on the road data; Coordinate holding means for holding coordinates for each user, user determining means for determining the user, coordinate searching means for searching the coordinates of the feature corresponding to the determined user from the coordinate holding means, A position detecting means for detecting the current position, a relative relationship with the traveling direction of the vehicle input by voice,
A voice guidance start determining unit that searches for a feature from the road data and determines whether or not to start voice guidance based on whether the feature exists within a predetermined distance; and When the start of the voice guidance is determined, approach determining means for determining whether the coordinate position of the feature searched by the coordinate searching means has approached a predetermined distance, and approaching the feature by the approach determining means When it is determined that, the voice output means for notifying the feature by voice and notifying the relative relationship between the feature and the traveling direction of the vehicle,
A navigation device comprising: