Vehicle travel guide device and vehicle travel guide method

• US 6,721,655 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Utsumi, Koichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/258,846
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 701/23, 701/25, 701/26, 701/200, 701/201, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/212, 701/214, 701/300, 340/995.1, 340/995.11, 340/995.15, 340/995.17, 340/995.19, 340/995.21
• US Class Current: 701/210
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

In accordance with operation, data on a starting point, a destination, and a display scale are inputted to set a first route from the starting point to the destination based on the inputted data on the starting point and the destination. In case an obstacle which blocks a smooth traveling of the vehicle is detected in the first route, a second route to bypass the obstacle is searched for. In accordance with the inputted display scale, the range of display of the map information to be displayed is set. With the traveling of the vehicle, the map information to be displayed in the range of display is successively updated. In case the searched for second route is to be displayed, the new range of display is set irrespective of the inputted display scale so that the overall second route is displayed simultaneously with the first route.

Claims

1. A navigation device for a vehicle comprising:

operating means for inputting therefrom data on a destination and a display scale in accordance with operation;

position detecting means for detecting a current position of the vehicle;

route setting means for setting a first route from the current position to the destination based on data on the destination inputted by said operating means and the current position of the vehicle detected by said position detecting means;

bypass route searching means for searching for a second route to bypass an obstacle when the obstacle which blocks a smooth traveling of the vehicle is detected in the first route; and

display control means which sets the range of display of map information to be displayed on a predetermined display device in accordance with a display scale inputted by said operating means so as to successively update the map information to be displayed within the range of display with the traveling of the vehicle, said display control means also displaying the overall second route simultaneously with the first route by setting the new range of display irrespective of the inputted display scale when the second route searched by said bypass route searching means is displayed.

2. The navigation device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said display control means comprises calculating means for calculating a new display scale on which the overall second route is displayed simultaneously with the first route on the basis of a branch point and a confluence point of the first route and the second route.

3. The navigation device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said display control means comprises calculating means for calculating a new display scale on which the overall second route is displayed simultaneously with the first route and the current position of the vehicle on the basis of a branch point and a confluence point of the first route and the second route, and the current position of the vehicle.

4. The navigation device for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein, after the overall second route is displayed simultaneously with the first route, when one of the routes is selected, the selected route is displayed on the inputted display scale, and wherein, after the overall second route is displayed simultaneously with the first route, when neither of the routes is selected, the first route is displayed on the inputted display scale.

5. The navigation device for a vehicle according to claim 4 wherein, after the overall second route is displayed simultaneously with the first route, when neither of the routes is selected until the current position of the vehicle reaches a branch point of the first route and the second route, the first route is displayed on the inputted display scale.

6. The navigation device for a vehicle according to claim 4 wherein, after the overall second route is displayed simultaneously with the first route, when neither of the routes is selected until a predetermined time elapses, the first route is displayed on the inputted display scale.

7. A method of navigating a vehicle comprising the steps of:

inputting data on a destination and a display scale in accordance with an operation;

detecting a current position of the vehicle;

setting a first route from the current position to the destination based on data on the inputted destination and the detected current position of the vehicle;

searching for a second route to bypass an obstacle when the obstacle which blocks a smooth traveling of the vehicle is detected in the first route; and

successively updating the map information to be displayed within the range of display with the traveling of the vehicle by setting the range of display of map information to be displayed on a predetermined display device in accordance with the inputted display scale, and displaying the overall first route simultaneously with the second route by setting the overall second route irrespective of the inputted display scale when the searched for second route is displayed.

8. The method of navigating a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said step of displaying further comprises a step of calculating a new display scale on which the overall second route is displayed simultaneously with the first route on the basis of a branch point and a confluence point of the first route and the second route.

9. The method of navigating a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said step of displaying further comprises a step of calculating a new display scale on which the overall second route is displayed simultaneously with the first route and the current position of the vehicle on the basis of a branch point and a confluence point of the first route and the second route, and the current position of the vehicle.

10. The method of navigating a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein in said step of displaying, after the overall second route is displayed simultaneously with the first route, when one of the routes is selected, the selected route is displayed on an inputted display scale, and wherein, after the overall second route is displayed simultaneously with the first route, when neither of the routes is selected, the first route is displayed on the inputted display scale.

11. The method of navigating a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein in said step of displaying, after the overall second route is displayed simultaneously with the first route, when neither of the routes is selected until the current position of the vehicle reaches a branch point of the first route and the second route, the first route is displayed on the inputted display scale.

12. The method of navigating a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein in said step of displaying, after the overall second route is displayed simultaneously with the first route, when neither of the routes is selected until a predetermined time elapses, the first route is displayed on the inputted display scale.