Lane guidance display method, and navigation device and recording medium for realizing the method

• US 6,700,505 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamashita, Atsushi, Hamada, Hiroyuki, Sakamoto, Kiyomi, Ata, Teruaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US10/035,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20020053984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/995, 340/990, 340/933, 340/901, 701/202, 701/209, 701/211, 701/208, 701/210, 464/443, 464/444, 464/449
• US Class Current: 340/988
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3658 Lane guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

Based on searched route information and map data, a target intersection for guidance is specified. For the specified target intersection, lane data regarding the number of lanes and lane control of roads being connected thereto is read, and then recommended lane information which indicates which lane to take when entering the target intersection and to exit therefrom is generated. Based on information about the target intersection and the lane data, a simplified intersection image of the target intersection for lane guidance is generated. Based on the recommended lane information, a running path which passes through the recommended lanes for entering into and exiting from the target intersection is generated, and is combined with the intersection image. Then, lane guidance information for displaying the resultant intersection image is outputted with a predetermined timing. As such, guidance can be visually made on a screen indicating which lanes to take to enter into and exit from the intersection.

Claims

1. A lane guidance display method for guiding, on a screen, a vehicle on which lane to take to go through an intersection, said lane guidance display method comprising:

generating an intersection image of a target intersection for lane guidance;

generating a plurality of running paths for the target intersection each of which passes through both an at least one recommended enter lane and an at least one recommended exit lane, wherein at least one of the at least one recommended enter lane and the at least one recommended exit lane is a plurality of lanes corresponding to the plurality of running paths; and

simultaneously displaying a lane guidance intersection image, which is a combination of the intersection image and the plurality of running paths, and all of the recommended enter and exit lanes for entering and exiting the target intersection on the screen,

wherein said displaying operation displays the plurality of running paths in various manners depending on a lane level of recommendation by one or more successive arrows directed from the at least one recommended enter lane to the at least one recommended exit lane.

2. A navigation device for guiding a vehicle from a departure point to a destination or a stopover on a screen, said navigation device comprising:

a guidance part operable to generate an intersection image of a target intersection for lane guidance and generate a plurality of running path for the target intersection each of which passes through an at least one recommended enter lane and an at least one recommended exit lane, wherein at least one of the at least one recommended enter lane and the at least one recommended exit lane, wherein is a plurality of lanes corresponding to the plurality of running paths; and

an output part operable to simultaneously display a lane guidance intersection image, which is a combination of the intersection image and the plurality of running paths, and all of the recommended enter and exit lanes for entering and exiting the target intersection on the screen,

wherein said guidance part is operable to generate the plurality of running paths in various manners depending on a lane level of recommendation by one or more successive arrows directed from the at least one recommended enter lane to the at least one recommended exit lane.

3. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for use with a computer for guiding, on a screen, a vehicle on which lane to take to go through an intersection, said computer program comprising:

computer readable program code operable to generate an intersection image of a target intersection for lane guidance;

computer readable program code operable to generate a plurality of running paths for the target intersection each of which passes through both an at least one recommended enter lane and an at least one recommended exit lane, wherein at least one of the at least one recommended enter lane and the at least one recommended exit lane is a plurality of lanes corresponding to the plurality of running paths; and

computer readable program code operable to simultaneously display a lane guidance intersection image, which is a combination of the intersection image and the plurality of running paths, and all of the recommended enter and exit lanes for entering and exiting the target intersection on the screen,

wherein said computer readable program code operable to simultaneously display displays the plurality of running paths generated in said computer readable program code operable to generate the plurality of running paths in various manners depending on a lane level of recommendation by one or more successive arrows directed from the at least one recommended enter lane to the at least one recommended exit lane.