Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.

Kabushiki Kaisha Shinsangyokaihatsu

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Toyota Jidosha K.k.

Mitsuhiro Nimura

Yasunobu Ito

Shoji Yokoyama

Akimasa Nanba

Hiroyoshi Masuda

Kunihiro Yamada

Seiji Hayashi

Koji Sumiya

Kazuteru Maekawa

Kyomi Morimoto

Shigekazu Ohara

Shuzo Moroto

Hiroshi Kishi

Toru Ito

Toyoji Hiyokawa

Hidenori Nagasaka

Takashi Yamada

Shinichi Kato

Kihachi Hayashida

Nobuhide Kuroda

Takeshi Yano

Keizo Inoue

Kiyohide Kato

Syuzo Moroto

Kyoumi Morimoto

Shinichi Katoh

Masaharu Hanasaki

Atsushi Watanabe

Katsuhiko Mutsuga

Kiyohide Katoh

Yukiyoshi Suzuki

Hitoshi Asano

Takanori Kaji

Shouji Yokoyama

Chihiro Hayashi

Yasuhiro Toyama

Koji Hashimoto

Hirofumi Morimoto

Tomofumi Shibata

Wataru Ishikawa

Yasunobu Itoh

Kazuyuki Hirakawa

Atsushi Yamazaki

Masahiro Hyakusawa

Masahiro Takahashi

Tatsumi Sakamoto

A map updating system includes: an update processing unit for performing update processing by reading data required in the update processing from a cache area of a memory when the data are stored in the cache area and from a map database when the data are not stored in the cache area; a cache storage unit for storing the data read by the update processing unit in the cache area; a processing memory capacity determination unit for determining a processing memory capacity, which is a capacity of the memory required as an update processing area, on the basis of the content of map data to be subjected to the update processing; and a cache capacity determination unit for determining a cache capacity, which is a capacity of the memory allocated to the cache area, on the basis of the processing memory capacity.

Map updating system and map updating program using dynamic cache memory

A road map display device including a road map information memory for memorizing road map data on a two-dimensional coordinate and a detection device for detecting a present position and a travel direction of an automotive vehicle, wherein the two-dimensional coordinate of the road map data is read out from the information memory in accordance with the present position and travel direction of the vehicle detected by the detection device and displayed in the form of a plane view on a screen of a display unit. In the road map display device, trapezoid conversion parameters are determined on a basis of a conversion formula for converting the two-dimensional coordinate of the road map to a trapezoid coordinate for display of a perspective view in such a manner that an upper side of a square two-dimensional coordinate is contracted relatively to a lower side of the two-dimensional coordinate, and the road map data included in a reverse trapezoid coordinate defined by a reverse conversion formula of the conversion formula are read out from the road map information memory and introduced into a trapezoid coordinate defined by the trapezoid conversion parameters such that the road map data are displayed in the form of a perspective view on the screen of the display unit.

Road map display device and redoce media for use in the same

A vehicle navigation apparatus for searching for a route from an inputted place of departure to an inputted destination and performing guide, the apparatus comprising: a registration unit for associating a traveled route with a place of departure and a destination and thus registering the traveled route; a judgment unit for judging whether the same place of departure and destination as a place of departure and a destination of a registered route are inputted or not; a route search unit for reading out information of the registered route when it is judged by the judgment unit that the same place of departure and destination are inputted, and lowering weighting in searching for the route so as to search for the route; and a control unit for performing guide of the route found by the search by the route search unit. Thus, route guide preferred by a user can be performed.

Vehicle navigation apparatus and program

The map data may be updated on a specified area basis. This may shorten the time for updating the map data as well as lowers the cost of map data update. A navigation system comprising a data centerfor distributing map data about a designated area upon receipt of a data-distribution request; an on-board devicehaving a data storage that stores map data, for updating the map data about the designated area with new map data distributed from the data center; and wherein the map data distributed from the data center has a layered structure in which the map data in a lowest-layer represents the designated area while the map data in a higher-layer represents a wider area that includes a smaller area represented by a lower-layer map data.

Navigation system

A road map display device including a road map information memory for memorizing road map data on a two-dimensional coordinate and a detection device for detecting a present position and a travel direction of an automotive vehicle, wherein the two-dimensional coordinate of the road map data is read out from the information memory in accordance with the present position and travel direction of the vehicle detected by the detection device and displayed in the form of a plane view on a screen of a display unit. In the road map display device, trapezoid conversion parameters are determined on a basis of a conversion formula for converting the two-dimensional coordinate of the road map to a trapezoid, coordinate for display of a perspective view in such a manner that an upper side of a square two-dimensional coordinate is contracted relatively to a lower side of the two-dimensional coordinate, and the road map data included in a reverse trapezoid coordinate defined by a reverse conversion formula of the conversion formula are read out from the road map information memory and introduced into a trapezoid coordinate defined by the trapezoid conversion parameters such that the road map data are displayed in the form of a perspective view on the screen of the display unit.

Even when the present position does not exist on a guide road after deviation from an established guide route, a guide road is identified and a more advantageous route is identified. Furthermore, only a minimum amount of required data are displayed on the map picture. The searching again is executed by taking the direction of progress of the car into consideration. Street names of the roads are displayed on the guide map, enabling a guide route to be easily recognized. A particular area is specified by a postal code number or by a telephone number, and the streets or the facilities in the specified area are displayed. This makes it easier to search the destination.

Navigation device

A map display device is presented including an information memory device for storing map data, a display device for displaying a map based on map data stored in the information memory device, and a display control device, which has a coordinate transformation device for transforming coordinates on a curved plane into coordinates on a projected plane, for controlling the readout of map data from the information memory device and the map display on the display device. The display control device relates coordinates on the map to coordinates on the curved plane with respect to a coordinate transformation reference point, transforms coordinates on the curved plane into coordinates on the projected plane using the coordinate transformation device, and displays a map on the display device by using the coordinates transformed on the projected plane. Therefore, the device enables a driver to obtain the same sense of distance unaffected by the direction by using the present position. A map of the vicinity of the present position is displayed over a wide area.

Map display device and a recording medium

In a navigation apparatus for a vehicle, an entire route from a start point to a destination is determined and the vehicle is guided to the destination in accordance with the determined route. In the navigation apparatus, an entire route from a start point to a destination is first determined. Route determination is performed for a part of the entire route in accordance with a request of a user, and the entire route to the destination is determined again based on the result of the determination performed for the part of the entire route. The navigation apparatus has a first remaining-distance displaying unit and a second remaining-distance displaying unit. The first remaining distance display unit displays an arrow indicating the route and the remaining distance to an intersection. The second remaining-distance display unit deletes the display of the distance provided by the first remaining-distance display unit and changes the length of the arrow, which indicates the route, as the vehicle advances.

Navigation apparatus for a vehicle

A map display device for a vehicle navigation system providing route guidance including an information memory device for storing map data relating to route search and route guidance, as well as other guidance data, an input device for inputting instructions and information for route search and route guidances, a display device for displaying a map and other guidance data by switching between a single screen display mode and a two-part split screen display modes, and a display control device for reading guidance data from the information memory device in response to the instructions input to the input device and a control guidance screen displayed on the display device. The map display device displays a frame, to the position corresponding to the detailed map, on the wide area map, regarding the wide area map and its detailed map in the two-part split screen display mode. Therefore, this system can distinctly display the relationship between the detailed map and the wide area map displayed in two-part split screen display mode.

A navigation system provides road guidance by displaying information relating to roads on a structure shape map, together with landmark information, in such a manner that only information around the present position is highlighted. The system retrieves road information in the direction of travel from the present position according to the vehicle speed, or road information within a predetermined angular or distance range in the direction of travel. Information relating to roads includes information indicating a one-way road, information indicating a road into which entry is prohibited, and information indicating a pedestrian crossing and a railroad crossing. These items of information are displayed by using marks, and the landmark information is displayed by using landmarks, thereby displaying information necessary for travel in a readily perceivable manner according to the travel conditions. When the vehicle enters a parking lot in the middle of the guidance for a route to a destination, the system searches for a route from the parking lot to the destination and outputs the found route by using a structure-shape map. The parking lot in this case is one within a predetermined walking distance from the destination. If the parking lot is in close proximity of the destination, further guidance is not necessary and the guidance is terminated.

A navigator apparatus includes a map memory for storage of road map information, and a target data memory storing therein guidance information as to a destination or target object under search. A present position detector is provided for detecting a present position of a mobile vehicle. A route finder responsive to receipt of part of the map information for attempting to find out a route leading to a nearby position of the target from one of a start point of the vehicle and the present position thereof. A target searcher functions to search for a position of the target being presently stored in the target data memory in correspondence with the map information as stored in the map memory. The map information and resultant information as to the target found are both visually indicated on the screen of an associated display device while permitting voice guidance.

Vehicle navigation system

In traveling toward a destination, locus data for routes traveled by a vehicle is repeatedly learned and stored, and a route is identified in route searching using the stored locus data. The stored locus data may be rearranged or deleted, and undesired locus data is not used in route searching. Storage of locus data may be limited to certain areas so as not to store undesired locus data. The geographical coordinates of the stored locus data are corrected, as required, and locus data such as links are correctly shown on a map.

Device for processing road data or intersection data

In a navigation system, user preferred road data is determined and stored during travel to supplement fixed road data such as map data, intersection data, node data, and destination data stored in CD-ROM for subsequent use in providing route guidance in accordance with user road preferences. The user preferred road data is the data of actual trips, and the preference of the user is reflected in the user preferred road data. To determine user preferences, either the user preferred road data is compared to the fixed road data or a searched route calculated from the user preferred road data and CD-ROM data is compared with the searched route calculated from CD-ROM data. By using the determined user preferences in route searching, it is possible to provide more elaborate route searching and route guidance in accordance with the preference of the user.

Navigation system for vehicles and storage medium

A goal direction mark and a distance to a goal are indicated when the car has approached the end point of route. When the car has deviated from the guide route to the goal or is running backwards on the guide route, there is indicated a mark to inform the direction of progress to the goal on the guide route. When the car has deviated from the guide route and the guide route is not indicated on the map picture, there is indicated the direction to the goal or the direction to the guide route itself. When the start point of route is remote from the present position at the start of the guidance, a mark is indicated to inform the direction to the start point of route. The driver is enabled to easily determine relying upon the indicated mark in which direction he should proceed. When the map picture is scrolled, there is informed the goal direction, route direction or the direction of progress to the goal on the route. The user therefore is enabled to easily know the direction to the goal.

Navigation display device which indicates goal and route direction

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Okazaki, Japan

Mitsuhiro Nimura