JPH1047979A - Vehicle navigation device and display control method for vehicle navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] The present invention relates to a vehicular navigation device having a route guidance function and a traffic information display function, and an object thereof is to prevent a display screen from being complicatedly changed. SOLUTION: When traffic information emitted by a beacon 72 is received after a display period (section) of the enlarged intersection map is completed, an interval (section) with a display time of a next enlarged intersection map is a predetermined time or more. Only allow the traffic information to be displayed. If the traffic information issued by the beacon 72 is received during the display period (section) of the intersection enlarged view,
Only when the interval between the display end time of the currently displayed intersection enlarged view and the display start time of the next intersection enlarged view is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, after the display of the currently displayed intersection enlarged view ends , To display its traffic information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle navigation apparatus and a display method of the vehicle navigation apparatus, and more particularly, to a vehicle navigation apparatus having a route guidance function and a traffic information display function, and a route guidance function. The present invention relates to a display method of a vehicle navigation device having a traffic information display function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-18605
As disclosed in No. 1, a vehicle navigation device having a route guidance function is known. The conventional navigation device includes a display for displaying the current position of the vehicle together with a map around the vehicle. The route guidance is performed by displaying a recommended route on a display so as to overlap a surrounding map.

[0003] The above-mentioned conventional apparatus has a function of displaying an enlarged view of an intersection during route guidance. The enlarged view of the intersection is displayed before the vehicle reaches a point, for example, about 100 m before a right / left turn intersection or the like (hereinafter referred to as a guidance tolerance point) in the recommended route. In the enlarged view of the tolerance point, the shape of the guidance intersection and the arrow for following the recommended route are displayed. When the enlarged view of the intersection is displayed in front of the guidance intersection in this way, the driver can easily recognize the escape direction of the guidance intersection and easily follow the recommended route.

In the field of automobile traffic guidance systems, systems for providing traffic information from outside to running vehicles, such as VICS, have been put to practical use. For practical use of such a traffic information providing system, an in-vehicle navigation device that receives traffic information provided from the outside and displays the information on a display (hereinafter, referred to as an information providing system-compatible navigation device) has been developed. .

[0005] As a navigation device compatible with the information providing system, there is known a device which forcibly interrupts and displays the information on a display when the traffic information is provided from the traffic information providing system. According to such a navigation device, the traffic information provided by the traffic information providing system can be effectively transmitted to the driver of the vehicle.

[0006]

However, when the navigation device compatible with the information providing system has an intersection enlarged view display function as described above, there is a disadvantage that the display contents of the display are frequently changed before and after the guidance intersection. Can occur.

[0007] That is, in the above-described navigation device compatible with the information providing system, every time traffic information is provided from the information providing system, the information is interrupted and displayed on the display. Further, in a navigation device having an intersection enlarged view display function, the intersection enlarged view is interrupted and displayed on the display every time the vehicle reaches a point at a predetermined distance before the guidance intersection.

For this reason, for example, when a beacon or the like for providing traffic information to a vehicle is installed near a guidance intersection, an interruption request for traffic information and an interruption request for an enlarged view of the intersection are time-dependent. May occur when approaching. In such a situation, after the traffic information is displayed and before a sufficient time has elapsed, the display is changed to the enlarged intersection map, or after the enlarged intersection map is displayed,
A situation may occur in which the display is changed to traffic information before a sufficient time has elapsed. When the display content of the display is changed frequently as described above, a situation arises in which the driver of the vehicle cannot read useful information displayed on the display.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when the interrupt request of the enlarged view of the intersection and the interrupt information of the traffic information occur in close proximity in time, the display contents of the display frequently change. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle navigation device capable of preventing the vehicle from changing, and a display method of the vehicle navigation device.

[0010]

The above object is achieved by the present invention.
As described in the above, in a vehicle navigation device that displays the current position of the vehicle and a map around it on a display mounted on the vehicle, when the vehicle reaches a point at a predetermined distance from the guidance intersection, the display on the display Intersection enlarged view display means for interrupting and displaying the intersection enlarged view, traffic information display means for interrupting and displaying the traffic information on the display when traffic information is provided from the traffic information providing system, and display of the intersection enlarged view This is achieved by a vehicle navigation device including: an interrupt display prohibiting unit that prohibits an interrupt display of the traffic information when it is determined that the request time and the display request time of the traffic information are approaching.

[0011] The above object is as described in claim 3.
On the display mounted on the vehicle, the current position of the vehicle,
A display control method for a vehicular navigation device that displays the surrounding map and an intersection enlarged map display step of interrupting and displaying an intersection enlarged map on the display when the vehicle reaches a point at a predetermined distance from the guidance intersection; When traffic information is provided from the information providing system, a traffic information display step of interrupting and displaying the traffic information on the display, a display request time of the intersection enlarged view, and a display request time of the traffic information approach. And an interrupt display prohibition step of prohibiting an interrupt display of the traffic information when it is determined that the traffic information is interrupted.

According to the first and third aspects of the present invention, an enlarged view of the intersection is displayed on the display when the vehicle reaches the guide intersection, and the traffic information is displayed when the traffic information is provided from the traffic information providing system. Are displayed as interrupts. If the request for the enlarged view of the intersection and the traffic information interrupt display is approaching, the interrupt display of the traffic information is prohibited. For this reason, the display content of the display is not unduly frequently switched before and after the intersection.

[0013] The object of the present invention is as described in claim 2.
2. The vehicle navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said traffic information storage means stores traffic information for which interrupt display is prohibited by said display prohibition means, and said traffic information storage means after a lapse of a display period of an intersection enlarged view. Display necessity determining means for determining necessity of display of the stored traffic information; and traffic stored in the traffic information storage means when the necessity of display is determined by the display necessity determining means. The present invention is also achieved by a vehicular navigation device including: a delay display unit that displays information on the display.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display control method for a vehicular navigation apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein traffic information in which interrupt display is inhibited by the display inhibition means is stored. A traffic information storing step, a display necessity determining step of determining a necessity of displaying traffic information stored in the traffic information storing means after a lapse of a display period of the intersection enlarged view, and a display necessity determining means. A delay display step of displaying traffic information stored in the traffic information storage means on the display when the necessity of display is determined is also achieved by a display control method of a vehicle navigation device.

According to the second and fourth aspects of the present invention, the traffic information for which the interrupt display is prohibited is stored until the display period of the intersection enlarged view ends. Further, this traffic information is displayed on the display if the necessity of display is still recognized after the display period of the enlarged intersection map ends.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a vehicle navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle navigation device of the present embodiment includes an electronic control unit 20 (hereinafter, referred to as ECU 20). A CD-ROM 22 is connected to the electronic control unit 20.

The CD-ROM 22 stores map information and a program corresponding to a control routine described later. The program stored in the CD-ROM 22 is loaded into a RAM built in the ECU 20 and executed by the ECU 20.

The vehicle navigation device includes a GPS antenna 24. The GPS antenna 24 is connected to a GPS receiver 26. The GPS receiver 26
Via the GPS antenna 24, signals from GPS satellites are received. The GPS receiver 26 converts the received signal into a signal of a predetermined format and supplies the signal to the ECU 20.
The ECU 20 calculates the latitude and longitude corresponding to the current position of the vehicle based on the signal supplied from the GPS receiver 26.

The vehicle navigation device includes a vehicle speed sensor 28, a wheel speed sensor 30, and a geomagnetic sensor 32. The vehicle speed sensor 28 supplies a signal corresponding to the vehicle speed SPD to the ECU 20. The ECU 20 calculates the vehicle speed SPD of the vehicle based on the output signal of the vehicle speed sensor 28 and calculates the moving distance of the vehicle per unit time.

The wheel speed sensor 30 outputs a signal corresponding to the rotation speed of each wheel provided in the vehicle. The geomagnetic sensor 32 outputs a signal corresponding to the angle between the direction of the geomagnetism and the axial direction of the vehicle. The output signal of the wheel speed sensor 30 and the output signal of the geomagnetic sensor 32 are
0 is supplied. The ECU 20 calculates the turning angle of the vehicle based on output signals supplied from the wheel speed sensor 30 and the geomagnetic sensor 32. Note that the turning angle of the vehicle can also be obtained by using a gyro sensor.

The ECU 20 monitors the moving direction and the moving distance of the vehicle based on the output signals of the vehicle speed sensor 28, the wheel speed sensor 30, and the geomagnetic sensor 32. ECU
Reference numeral 20 denotes a monitoring result of the moving direction and the moving distance,
The current position of the vehicle is detected by comparing the map data loaded from the OM 22 with a known map matching method. The ECU 20 accurately specifies the current position of the vehicle based on both the calculation result of the current position based on the output signal of the GPS satellite and the calculation result of the current position based on the map matching.

The vehicle navigation apparatus includes a drawing data processing unit 34, a video RAM 36, and a display 38. The ECU 20 supplies the drawing data processing unit 34 with image data including the current position of the vehicle, data of a map around the current position, and the like. Drawing data processing unit 34
Converts the supplied image data into data corresponding to the dots on the display 38 on a one-to-one basis,
6 The data read into the video RAM 36 is read out as the display 38 is scanned, and is displayed on the display 38.

The vehicle navigation device includes an input unit 40
And a speaker 42. The input unit 40 is used when, for example, selecting a function to be made movable from various functions provided in the vehicle navigation device, and when inputting a target value when activating the route guidance function. When the target value is input via the input unit 40, the ECU 20 searches for a recommended route connecting the current position and the target value,
The recommended route is superimposed on the map information and the drawing data processing unit 3
4 can be supplied.

When the vehicle is traveling on the recommended route, the ECU 20 determines whether the vehicle has reached an intersection requiring a right turn or a left turn, that is, a point about 100 m before the guidance intersection. Then, an enlarged view of the intersection of the guidance intersection can be supplied. The enlarged view of the intersection shows the shape of the guidance intersection and the direction in which the vehicle should travel in order to travel along the recommended route. E
The CU 20 also has a vehicle about 100m before the guidance intersection.
When the vehicle arrives at the point of, the signal regarding the traveling direction in the guidance intersection can be supplied to the speaker. Therefore, according to the vehicular navigation device, it is possible to visually and audibly guide the traveling direction of the guidance intersection to the driver of the vehicle using both the display 38 and the speaker 42.

The vehicle navigation device includes an FM multiplex receiver 44. The FM multiplex receiver 44 includes:
The FM antenna 46 is connected. Further, the FM multiplex receiver 44 has a built-in storage unit 48. The FM multiplex receiver 44 receives, via the FM antenna 46, wide area information related to traffic congestion conditions, regulation information, and the like. The wide area information received by the FM multiplex receiver 44 is temporarily stored in the storage unit 4.
8 is stored. The wide area information stored in the storage unit 48 is
For example, it is displayed on the display 38 immediately after the reception of the wide area information by the FM wave is completed.

The vehicle navigation device includes a beacon receiver 50. Beacon receiver 50 includes
The beacon antenna 52 is connected. The beacon receiver 50 receives, for example, V
It receives local information emitted from a beacon constituting a traffic information providing system such as an ICS.

The local information emitted from the beacon is received only by vehicles existing within a radius of about 10 m from the beacon. The beacon transmits various types of traffic information in the form of characters, figures, and the like. The beacon receiver 50 has a built-in storage unit 54. The information received by the beacon receiver 50 is temporarily stored in the storage unit 54. The information stored in the storage unit 54 is displayed on the display 38 immediately after, for example, the vehicle passes near the beacon.

FIGS. 2 to 6 show examples of screens displayed on the display 38 in the vehicle navigation system of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a screen displaying the current location 60 of the vehicle on a map of a standard scale. Hereinafter, the screen as shown in FIG. 2 is referred to as a standard screen. FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of an intersection at a guidance intersection which requires a left turn from the vertical road 62 to the branch road 64.

FIG. 4 shows a screen displayed on the display 38 when passing near a beacon for transmitting traffic information in the form of characters. Note that “O” and “X” shown in FIG. 4 each mean a character. FIG. 5 shows a screen displayed on the display 38 when passing near a beacon that transmits traffic information in the form of a graphic. FIG. 5 shows a graphic representing a road network, traffic congestion information or regulation information of each road, and the like. FIG. 6 shows a screen displayed on the display 38 when passing near a beacon that transmits traffic information in a form that can be displayed on map data.
In FIG. 6, traffic congestion information or regulation information transmitted from the beacon is displayed in a state of being superimposed on map data read from the CD-ROM 22. Hereinafter, FIG.
Screens as shown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 6 are collectively referred to as traffic information screens.

In the vehicle navigation system of this embodiment, when the route guidance function is not activated, a standard screen shown in FIG. At this time, if the mode for displaying the traffic information screen is selected, the screen of the display 38 is switched from the standard screen to the traffic information screen for a predetermined time of, for example, about 15 seconds each time the vehicle passes near the beacon. . still,
The method of interrupting and displaying traffic information is not limited to screen switching, and a traffic information screen may be displayed in a multi-window manner on a part of the screen already displayed.

In the vehicle navigation system of the present embodiment, when the route guidance function is operating, the standard screen shown in FIG. 2 is mainly displayed on the display 38, and the vehicle is located about 100 m before the guidance intersection. From arrival, until the car has finished the turn at the guidance intersection,
The screen of the display 38 is switched from the standard screen to the intersection enlarged view. Further, at this time, if the mode for displaying the traffic information screen is selected, the screen of the display 38 is changed by, for example, 15 seconds each time the vehicle passes near the beacon.
The screen is switched from the standard screen to the traffic information screen only for about c time.

By the way, in the vehicle navigation system of this embodiment, when the vehicle reaches a point at a predetermined distance before the guidance intersection and when the vehicle passes near the beacon, the intersection enlarged view or the traffic information is always displayed. If the interrupt display on the screen is permitted (hereinafter, this state is referred to as a state of always-permitted interrupt), there is a disadvantage that the display screen of the display 38 is switched unnecessarily frequently before and after the guidance intersection.

Hereinafter, a case where the display screen of the display 38 is frequently switched will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 illustrates a road where a first guidance intersection that needs to make a left turn from the vertical road 66 to the crossroad 68 and a second guidance intersection that needs to make a right turn from the crossroad 68 to the vertical road 70 are adjacent to each other. Show. The road shown in FIG. 7 includes a beacon 72 between the first guidance intersection and the second guidance intersection.
Is installed. The hatched area in FIG. 7 is an area where an enlarged intersection is to be displayed.

When the vehicle travels on the road shown in FIG. 7 and the vehicle navigation device is always in the interrupt permitting state, a standard screen is displayed on the display 38 in a section indicated by a symbol in FIG. The section marked with a section is the section where the enlarged view of the intersection is displayed on the display 38, and the section marked with the
Is the section where the traffic information screen is displayed.

When the vehicle travels on the road shown in FIG. 7, after the vehicle has passed the first guidance intersection, the display screen of the display 38 is temporarily switched to the standard screen (section).
After a short time, the display screen of the display 38 is switched to the traffic information screen (section). Further, the traffic information screen displayed on the display 38 is switched to the intersection enlarged view again after a short time (section). When the screen is switched frequently as described above, the driver cannot read the contents of the traffic information screen, and feels the change of the screen in a complicated manner.

FIG. 8 shows that a first guidance intersection which needs to make a left turn from a vertical road 74 to a crossroads 76 and a second guidance intersection which needs to make a right turn from a crossroad 76 to a vertical road 78 are adjacent to each other. Indicates the road that is. A beacon 80 is installed on the road shown in FIG. 8 at a position slightly separated from the first guidance intersection to the second guidance intersection side. Note that the hatched area in FIG. 8 is the area where the enlarged view of the intersection should be displayed on the display 38.

When the vehicle travels on the road shown in FIG. 8 and the vehicle navigation device is always in a state of permitting interruption, a section indicated by a symbol in FIG. The section marked with a section is the section where the enlarged view of the intersection is displayed on the display 38, and the section marked with the
Is the section where the traffic information screen is displayed.

When the vehicle travels on the road shown in FIG. 8, after the vehicle reaches the first guidance intersection, before the vehicle passes through the area where the enlarged view of the intersection is to be maintained, the display screen of the display 38 is changed to the traffic information screen. (Section). Then, after the display period of the traffic information screen ends, the standard screen is slightly displayed (section), and the screen is switched again to the intersection enlarged view (section). During execution of route guidance, it is desirable that an enlarged view of an intersection is displayed prior to traffic information. In this regard, the above-described screen switching pattern may be complicated for the driver.

The vehicle navigation device of the present embodiment is
As shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8, when the vehicle travels on a road where two guidance intersections are adjacent and a beacon exists between the guidance intersections, the display screen of the display 38 is displayed. It is characterized in that it can be prevented from being complicatedly switched.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the ECU 2 for realizing the above functions.
0 shows a flowchart of an example of a control routine executed by the control routine 0. A program for implementing this routine is stored in the CD-ROM 22 as described above, and is loaded into the ECU 20 as needed. This routine is a periodic interruption routine that is started every predetermined time. When this routine is started, first, the process of step 100 is executed.

In step 100, it is determined whether or not route guidance is being executed in the vehicle navigation system. If route guidance has not been performed, there is no request to display an enlarged intersection map,
There is no need to prohibit interrupt display of traffic information. If such a determination is made in step 100, the process of step 120 described later is executed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 100 that the route guidance has been executed, the process of step 102 is executed next.

In step 102, it is determined whether or not the enlarged view of the intersection is being displayed. As a result, if it is determined that the intersection enlarged view is being displayed, the process of step 104 is performed next. On the other hand, if it is determined that the enlarged view of the intersection is not displayed, the process of step 112 is executed next.

In step 104, the time at which the display of the currently displayed enlarged view of the intersection is expected to be terminated,
It is determined whether or not the interval between the next guidance intersection and the time at which the enlarged view of the intersection should be displayed (hereinafter referred to as “intersection enlarged display interval”) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. As a result, if it is determined that the cross-enlargement display interval is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, then the process proceeds to step
Is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the cross-enlargement display interval is less than the predetermined value, the current routine is terminated without any further processing.

The display of the enlarged view of the intersection indicates that the vehicle is a guidance intersection.
Is completed by passing through. The ECU 20
Vehicle is almost constant distance L from the guidance intersection₁When I just ran
Point P ₁It is determined that the vehicle has passed the intersection. On the other hand,
The enlarged view of the intersection shows that the vehicle is a predetermined distance L from the next guidance intersection.
_TwoPoint P just before_TwoWill be displayed when it reaches. Obedience
Therefore, the display interval of the cross-enlarged view₁From point P_Two
Up to the time it takes to travel.

The distance L ₀ between the point P ₁ and the point P ₂ is represented by L ₀ = x, where x is the distance between two adjacent guidance intersections.
− (L ₁ + L ₂ ). Therefore, the cross-enlargement display interval can be obtained by dividing “x− (constant)” by the vehicle speed SPD. As described above, the intersection enlarged display interval is determined by the distance x between two adjacent guidance intersections and the vehicle speed S.
It can be determined based on the PD. Step 1 above
At 04, it is determined that the condition is satisfied when the cross-enlargement map display interval thus obtained is equal to or longer than 15 seconds, which is the display period of the traffic information screen.

In step 104, the intersection enlarged display interval is set to the distance x between two adjacent guide intersections and the vehicle speed S.
Although it is determined relatively accurately based on the PD, the intersection enlarged display interval is determined based on only the distance x between two adjacent guidance intersections by substituting the vehicle speed SPD with an average value. Is also possible.

According to the processing of step 104, after the display of the currently displayed enlarged intersection is terminated, the next enlarged display of the intersection is expected to continue for 15 seconds or more. The processing will be executed. In step 106, it is determined whether or not traffic information emitted from a beacon installed on the road has been received. If it is determined that the traffic information has been received, the process of step 108 is performed next. On the other hand, if it is determined that the traffic information has not been received, this routine is immediately terminated.

In step 108, a process for storing the traffic information transmitted from the beacon in the storage unit 54 is executed. When the processing of step 108 is completed,
Next, the process of step 110 is performed. Step 11
At 0, a process of setting the flag FVICS1 to "1" is executed. The flag FVICS1 is a flag indicating that the traffic information has been stored in the storage unit 54 while the intersection enlarged view is being displayed. When the processing of step 110 is completed,
This routine ends.

If this routine is started during the period when the route guidance is being executed and the intersection enlarged view is not displayed, it is determined in step 102 that the intersection enlarged view is not being displayed. Next, the process of step 112 is executed. In step 112, the flag FVI
It is determined whether "1" is set in CS1. As a result, when FVICS1 = 1 is established, it is predicted that the traffic information transmitted from the beacon during the display of the enlarged intersection map is stored in the storage unit 54, and that the display interval of the enlarged intersection map is continued for 15 seconds or more. It can be recognized that it is. If such a determination is made, the storage unit 54
Is displayed on the display unit 38, and thereafter, the processing of step 114 is executed.

At step 114, a process for interrupting the display of the traffic information screen is executed prior to the standard screen. After the above processing is executed, the traffic information screen is displayed on the display 38 for about 15 seconds. When the process of step 114 is completed, the process of step 116 is executed.

At step 116, the flag FVICS1
Is reset to “0”. When the process of step 116 ends, the current routine ends. According to the processing of steps 112 to 116, the display 38 is displayed when the traffic information is transmitted from the beacon.
Is displayed on the display 38 for an appropriate period of time, a traffic information screen is displayed on the display 38 at the same time when the time period for displaying the intersection enlarged view ends, and the traffic information screen is displayed. Can be maintained on the display 38 for an appropriate period of time. Thereafter, when the period during which the traffic information screen is to be displayed ends, the standard screen is displayed on the display 38.

This routine is started during the period when the route guidance is being executed and the intersection enlarged view is not displayed, and the flag FVICS1 is determined in step 112.
Is not set to "1", the process of step 118 is executed next.

In step 118, it is determined whether or not the time until the next intersection enlarged view is to be displayed (hereinafter referred to as the next remaining display time) is equal to or longer than a predetermined value. As a result, if it is determined that the next remaining display time is equal to or longer than the predetermined value, the process of step 120 is executed next. On the other hand, if it is determined that the next remaining display time is less than the predetermined value, the current routine is terminated without any further processing.

As described above, the next enlarged view of the intersection is displayed when the vehicle reaches the point P ₂ located a predetermined distance L ₂ before the next guidance intersection. Therefore, the next display remaining time is
Vehicle coincides with the time it takes to travel from the current point P ₀ to the point P _2. The distance between the point P ₀ and the point P ₂ is y,
If the vehicle speed is SPD, the remaining display time is “y / SPD”
It can be expressed as. In step 118 described above, it is determined that the condition is satisfied when the next display remaining time thus obtained is equal to or longer than 15 seconds, which is the display period of the traffic information screen.

[0055] Incidentally, the distance y in the step 118, the交拡view display interval, from the current point P ₀ to the next guidance intersection
If, although the obtaining relatively accurately on the basis of the vehicle speed SPD, the next display the remaining time, by substituting the vehicle speed SPD in average values, the distance y from the current point P ₀ to the next guidance intersection It is also possible to determine based on only

According to the processing of step 118, the next step is performed only when it is predicted that a time of 15 seconds or more is secured between the current time and the time at which the next enlarged intersection map is to be displayed. 120 will be executed. In step 120, it is determined whether or not the traffic information emitted from the beacon installed on the road has been received. If it is determined that the traffic information has been received, the processing of steps 114 and 116 is performed thereafter, and then the current routine ends. on the other hand,
If it is determined that no traffic information has been received, this routine is immediately terminated.

The above steps 118, 120 and 114
According to the above process, if the next display remaining time is less than 15 seconds when the traffic information is transmitted from the beacon, it is possible to prevent the traffic information from being displayed on the display 38. On the other hand, if the next display remaining time is 15 seconds or more when the traffic information is transmitted from the beacon, the traffic information can be appropriately displayed on the display 38. When the traffic information is displayed on the display 38, the display content is switched to the standard screen when a period of about 15 seconds elapses thereafter.

When this routine is started while the route guidance is not being executed, the processing of step 120 is executed after step 100 as described above. In this case, if traffic information is transmitted from the beacon, the traffic information is always displayed on the display 38.

As described above, according to the vehicular navigation apparatus of this embodiment, if the request for interrupt display of the traffic information screen and the request for interrupt display of the enlarged intersection map overlap, the enlarged intersection map is displayed. Can be prioritized. At this time, the traffic information screen for which the interrupt display is prohibited is displayed for 15 seconds after the display period of the intersection enlarged view ends.
The display can be displayed on the display 38 only when there is a remaining display time equal to or longer than c. Further, when an interrupt display request of the traffic information screen is generated alone during route guidance, the traffic information screen can be displayed on the display 38 only when there is a cross-enlargement display interval of 15 seconds or more. .

Therefore, according to the vehicle navigation system of the present embodiment, the traffic information screen, the enlarged view of the intersection, and the standard screen are not unduly frequently switched between before and after the intersection during execution of the route guidance. In addition, it is possible to prevent the screen switching of the display 38 from giving the driver of the vehicle a feeling of complexity.

In the above embodiment, the ECU 20
The display of the intersection enlarged view on the display 38 at about 100 m before the guidance intersection causes the "intersection enlarged view display means" of claim 1 and the "intersection enlarged view display step" of claim 3 to be executed by the ECU 20. By displaying the traffic information screen on the display 38 when the traffic information is received from the beacon, the "traffic information display means" according to claim 1 and the "traffic information display step" according to claim 3 are respectively realized. ing.

In the above embodiment, the ECU 2
0 indicates that a request for an interrupt display of the traffic information screen has been issued while the intersection enlarged view is being displayed, and that the next display remaining time is 15
3. The "interruption display inhibiting means" according to claim 1, wherein the interruption display of the traffic information screen is inhibited when the time is less than sec, that is, the ECU 20 executes the processing of steps 102 and 118. The described “interrupt display prohibition step” is realized respectively.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The vehicle navigation apparatus according to the present embodiment differs from the system shown in FIG. 1 in that the ECU 20 replaces the routine shown in FIG.
This is realized by executing the routine shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of an intersection which may be displayed in the vehicular navigation system of the first embodiment and this embodiment. The enlarged view of the intersection shown in FIG. 10 is displayed when intersections approaching each other are continuous guidance intersections as shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the vertical road 130 and the cross road 132.
1st guidance intersection that needs to turn left at
2 shows a road having a distance of about 100 m from a second guidance intersection where a right turn is required from the second to the vertical road 134. FIG.
A beacon 136 is installed between the first guidance intersection and the second guidance intersection on the road shown in FIG. FIG.
Areas indicated by hatching in FIG. 1 indicate areas where an enlarged view of an intersection is displayed on the display 38 of the vehicle navigation device of the first embodiment.

According to the vehicular navigation system of the first embodiment, the traffic information received while the intersection enlarged view is displayed on the display 38 is displayed simultaneously with the end of the display period of the intersection enlarged view.
Will be displayed. For this reason, when the vehicle equipped with the vehicle navigation device of the first embodiment travels on the road shown in FIG. 11, the screen of the display 38 is a standard screen in a section indicated by adding “FIG. An enlarged view of an intersection is shown by a section marked with, and a traffic information screen is displayed by a section shown with a mark in FIG.

The traffic information transmitted from the beacon 136 is useful information for a vehicle traveling on the crossing 132 from the right side to the left side in FIG. Therefore,
The traffic information is not necessarily useful for a vehicle that has entered the vertical road 134 from the crossing 132. When traffic information unnecessary for the vehicle is displayed on the display 38, the driver of the vehicle may feel complicated. According to the above viewpoint, when it is determined that the traffic information stored during the display of the enlarged view of the intersection is not useful information for the vehicle, it is desirable that the traffic information is not displayed on the display 38. The vehicle display device according to the present embodiment is characterized in that such a function is realized. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example of a control routine executed by the ECU 20 to realize the above functions. The program for implementing this routine is a CD-ROM
22 and loaded into the ECU 20 as needed. This routine is a periodic interruption routine that is started every predetermined time. When this routine is started,
First, the process of step 140 is performed.

In step 140, it is determined whether or not route guidance is being executed in the vehicle navigation system. When the route guidance is not executed, it is not necessary to prohibit the interrupt display on the traffic information screen. In this case, the process of step 160 described later is executed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 140 that the route guidance has been executed, the process of step 142 is executed next.

In step 142, it is determined whether or not the enlarged view of the intersection is being displayed. As a result, if it is determined that the intersection enlarged view is being displayed, the process of step 144 is executed next. On the other hand, when it is determined that the enlarged view of the intersection is not displayed, the process of step 152 is executed next.

In step 144, it is determined whether or not the traffic information issued from the beacon has been received. If it is determined that the traffic information has been received, the process of step 146 is performed next. On the other hand, if it is determined that the traffic information has not been received, this routine is immediately terminated.

At step 146, a process for storing the traffic information transmitted from the beacon in the storage unit 54 is executed. When the process of step 146 is completed,
Next, the process of step 148 is executed. Step 14
In 8, the traveling direction D ₁ of the vehicle at that time, i.e., the traveling direction D ₁ of the vehicle at the time of receiving the traffic information emanating from the beacon is stored. This step 148
Is completed, the process of step 150 is executed.

At step 150, the flag FVICS2
Is set to "1". Flag FVI
CS2 is a flag indicating that the traffic information has been stored in the storage unit 54 while the intersection enlarged view is being displayed. This step 1
When the process of 50 is finished, the current routine is finished.

If this routine is started during the period when the route guidance is being executed and the intersection enlarged view is not displayed, it is determined in step 142 that the intersection enlarged view is not being displayed. Next, the process of step 152 is performed. In step 152, the flag FVI
It is determined whether "1" is set in CS2. As a result, when FVICS2 = 1 is satisfied, it can be recognized that the traffic information transmitted from the beacon while the intersection enlarged view is being displayed is stored in the storage unit 54. If such a determination is made, the process of step 154 is performed next.

[0074] At step 154, the traveling direction D ₂ of the vehicle at that point in time, i.e., the traveling direction D ₂ of the vehicle at the time the display period of intersection enlarged view is completed, step 1
Whether or not significantly different from the traveling direction D ₁ stored is determined at 48. In this step 154, the traveling direction D
_2, and D ₁ and D ₂ are determined to be significantly different if they deviate from the angle range of ± 30 ° around the traveling direction D _1. If such a determination is made, the process of step 156 is performed next. On the other hand, if the traveling direction D ₂ is within an angular range of ± 30 ° around the traveling direction D _1, the step 156 is jumping, the process of step 158 is performed.

At step 156, a process for interrupting the display of the traffic information screen is executed prior to the standard screen. After the above processing is executed, the traffic information screen is displayed on the display 38 for about 15 seconds. When the process of step 156 is completed, the process of step 158 is executed.

At step 158, the flag FVICS2
Is reset to “0”. When the process of step 158 is completed, the current routine ends. According to the processing of steps 152 to 158, the traffic information stored during the display of the enlarged view of the intersection indicates the traveling direction D
₂ and the traveling direction D ₁ is displayed only on the display 38 when not differ significantly.

This routine is started during the period when the route guidance is being executed and the enlarged view of the intersection is not displayed, and the flag FVICS2 is set at the above-mentioned step 152.
If it is determined that is not set to “1”, the processing of step 160 is executed following step 152. If this routine is started during the non-execution of the route guidance, step 16 follows step 140 above.
0 is executed.

At step 160, it is determined whether or not the traffic information issued from the beacon has been received. If it is determined that the traffic information has been received, after the processing of step 156 and step 158 is executed,
This routine ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that the traffic information has not been received, this routine is immediately terminated. In this case, if traffic information is transmitted from the beacon, the traffic information is always displayed on the display 38.
Will be displayed.

As described above, according to the vehicular navigation apparatus of the present embodiment, the traffic information stored during the display of the enlarged view of the intersection includes the traveling direction D ₁ of the vehicle at the time when the information is received, display period of intersection enlarged view is displayed only on the display 38 when the traveling direction D ₂ of the vehicle at the time of completion is not significantly different. Traffic information received during the display of the intersection enlarged view, a valuable information for a vehicle traveling in the direction of D _1. Therefore, at the time when the situation where the traffic information screen can be displayed is formed, the traveling direction D ₂ of the vehicle is changed.
If it is being greatly different from D _1, lacks longer need to display the information on the display 38. According to the vehicle navigation device of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent a traffic information screen that does not need to be displayed from being displayed on the display 38. Therefore, the driver of the vehicle does not feel complicated.

In the above embodiment, the ECU 20
The display of the intersection enlarged view on the display 38 at about 100 m before the guidance intersection causes the "intersection enlarged view display means" of claim 1 and the "intersection enlarged view display step" of claim 3 to be executed by the ECU 20. By displaying the traffic information screen on the display 38 when the traffic information is received from the beacon, the "traffic information display means" according to claim 1 and the "traffic information display step" according to claim 3 are respectively realized. ing.

In the above embodiment, the ECU 2
0 indicates that the interrupt display of the traffic information screen is prohibited when an interrupt display request of the traffic information screen occurs while the intersection enlarged view is being displayed, that is, the ECU 20 executes the processing of step 142 described above. The "interrupt display prohibiting means" described in claim 1 and the "interrupt display prohibiting step" described in claim 3 are realized respectively.

Further, in the above embodiment, the ECU 2
The ECU 20 executes the processing of steps 148 and 154 by executing the processing of step 146 described above, whereby the "traffic information storage means" of claim 2 and the "traffic information storage step" of claim 4 execute the processing of steps 148 and 154. By doing so, the “display necessity determining means” of claim 2 and the “display necessity determining step” of claim 4 are
In addition, the ECU 20 executes the step 156 after the step 154, thereby realizing the “delay display means” of the second aspect and the “delay display step” of the fourth aspect.

[0083]

As described above, according to the first and third aspects of the present invention, when the request time of the interrupt display of the intersection enlarged view and the request time of the interrupt display of the traffic information are approaching, the intersection is required. The display of the enlarged view can be prioritized. For this reason, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the driver cannot read information on the display due to the display content being switched unduly frequently before and after the intersection.

According to the second and fourth aspects of the present invention, of traffic information for which interruption display is prohibited in order to give priority to display of an enlarged view of an intersection, information which needs to be displayed is enlarged at an intersection. It can be displayed on the display after the display period of the figure ends. Therefore, according to the present invention, useful traffic information can be effectively used while giving priority to the display of the intersection enlarged view.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of a standard screen displayed on a display of the vehicle navigation device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an example of an enlarged view of an intersection displayed on a display of the navigation device for a vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an example of a traffic information screen displayed on a display of the vehicle navigation device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a second example of the traffic information screen displayed on the display of the vehicle navigation device shown in FIG. 1;

6 is a third example of a traffic information screen displayed on the display of the vehicle navigation device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 7 is an example of a road on which a vehicle travels.

FIG. 8 is a second example of a road on which a vehicle travels.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example of a control routine executed in the vehicle navigation device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a second example of an enlarged view of an intersection displayed on a display in the vehicle navigation device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a third example of a road on which the vehicle travels.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a second example of a control routine executed in the vehicle navigation device shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 20 electronic control unit (ECU) 22 CD-ROM 26 GPS receiver 38 display 50 beacon receiver 52 beacon antenna 54 storage unit 62, 66, 70, 74, 78, 130, 134 longitudinal section 64 branch path 68, 76, 132 crossing 72,80,136 beacon

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A vehicular navigation device that displays a current position of a vehicle and a map of its surroundings on a display mounted on the vehicle, wherein when the vehicle reaches a point at a predetermined distance from a guidance intersection,
Intersection enlarged view display means for interrupting and displaying the intersection enlarged view on the display, When traffic information is provided from the traffic information providing system,
Traffic information display means for interrupting and displaying the traffic information on the display; and when it is determined that the display request time of the intersection enlarged view and the display request time of the traffic information are approaching, the traffic information A vehicle navigation device comprising: interrupt display prohibiting means for prohibiting interrupt display. 2. The vehicle navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said traffic information storage means stores traffic information for which interrupt display is prohibited by said display prohibition means, and said traffic information is displayed after a lapse of a display period of an intersection enlarged view. Display necessity determining means for determining necessity of display of traffic information stored in the information storage means, and storing the traffic information in the traffic information storage means when the necessity of display is determined by the display necessity determining means. And a delay display means for displaying the traffic information displayed on the display. 3. A display control method of a vehicular navigation device for displaying a current position of a vehicle and a map around the display on a display mounted on the vehicle, the method comprising: when a vehicle reaches a point at a predetermined distance from a guidance intersection; ,
An intersection enlarged view display step of interrupting and displaying an intersection enlarged view on the display, and when traffic information is provided from the traffic information providing system,
A traffic information display step of interruptingly displaying the traffic information on the display; and a display request time of the intersection enlarged view, and when it is determined that the display request time of the traffic information is approaching, A display control method for a vehicular navigation device, comprising: an interrupt display prohibiting step of prohibiting an interrupt display. 4. A display control method for a vehicular navigation device according to claim 3, wherein a traffic information storing step of storing traffic information for which interrupt display is prohibited by said display prohibiting means; A display necessity judging step of judging necessity of display of the traffic information stored in the traffic information storage means, and, when the necessity of display is judged by the display necessity judgment means, A delay display step of displaying the traffic information stored in the storage means on the display, and a display control method of the vehicle navigation device.