Display control device, control method, program, and storage medium

Abstract

To display a route different from a route being guided without complicating display.SOLUTION: A display device displays a guide route to a destination, and has display means and display control means. The display control means causes the display means to display a plurality of guide routes to the destination. At this time, the display control means causes the display means to display one of the plurality of guide routes as a recommended route, and simultaneously causes the display means to display another guide route in an inconspicuous manner compared to the recommended route.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for displaying route guidance. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there have been technologies for simultaneously displaying multiple routes on a map screen. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a navigation device that displays multiple routes to a destination in their entirety on a map screen. When displaying multiple routes in their entirety, the navigation device displays a schematic diagram with a reduced amount of information, such as marks and icons for narrow streets and facilities. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-281591 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When it is expected that it will take a long time to pass through a certain intersection or road on the route being guided due to waiting at traffic lights or congestion, etc., the driver may want to detour around the intersection or road by taking a road that branches off from the route being guided. In this case, the navigation device needs to display a route different from the route being guided without cluttering the display. However, the navigation device described in Patent Document 1 displays the entire route, which causes problems such as limited map scale and cluttered display.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a main object of the present invention is to display a route different from the route currently being guided without making the display complicated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention described in claim 1 is a display means for displaying a guide route image showing a guide route to a destination in correspondence with roads; a route searching means for searching for a route branching off from the guided route and heading towards the destination after the guided route is determined; a display control means for causing the display means to display an image of another route extending a predetermined length from the branch point as an image showing another route among the routes searched by the route search means, the route having a cost to the destination within a predetermined difference from the guide route; The display control device is characterized by comprising:

[0007] The invention described in claim 11 is A computer-implemented control method comprising: a route searching step of searching for a route branching off from the guided route to the destination after determining the guided route to the destination; a display control step of displaying on a display means an image of another route extending a predetermined length from the branch point as an image showing another route among the routes searched in the route search step, the route having a cost to the destination within a predetermined difference from the guide route; The present invention is characterized by having the following.

[0008] The invention described in claim 12 is a route searching means for searching for a route branching off from the guided route to the destination after determining the guided route to the destination; a display control means for displaying on a display means an image of another route extending a predetermined length from the branch point as an image showing another route among the routes searched by the route search means, the route having a cost to the destination within a predetermined difference from the guide route; It is characterized by being a program that causes a computer to function as a [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic configuration of a navigation device. [Figure 2] 1 shows the display screen during route guidance. [Figure 3] 10 shows the display screen when the vehicle turns right according to the detour route. [Figure 4] 10 shows a first example of a display screen according to Modification 1. [Figure 5] 10 shows a second example of a display screen according to the first modification. [Figure 6] 13 shows an example of a display screen according to Modification 3. [Figure 7] 1 shows a schematic configuration of a head-up display. [Figure 8] An example of the display on the head-up display as viewed from the driver's seat is shown. [Figure 9] 1 shows a display screen showing a forward scenery image. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a display device for displaying a guided route to a destination comprises a display means for displaying a map, and a display control means for causing the display means to display a plurality of guided routes to the destination, wherein the display control means causes the display means to display one of the plurality of guided routes as a recommended route, and simultaneously causes the display means to display other guided routes in a form that is less noticeable than the recommended routes.

[0011] The display device displays a guided route to a destination and includes a display means and a display control means. The display control means displays a plurality of guided routes to the destination on the display means. At this time, the display control means displays one of the plurality of guided routes as a recommended route on the display means, and simultaneously displays the other guided routes on the display means in a form that is less noticeable than the recommended route. In this manner, the display device allows the user to clearly see the recommended route and also allows the user to see routes other than the recommended route. Therefore, when an intersection or road on the recommended route is expected to take a long time to pass due to a wait at a traffic light or a traffic jam, the user can preferably select a detour route around the intersection or road to avoid the wait at a traffic light or a traffic jam.

[0012] In one aspect of the display device, the display control means causes the display means to display alternative recommended routes branching off from the recommended route for a predetermined length from the branching point. In this way, the display device can prevent the display from becoming too cluttered and can preferably make the user aware of the existence of alternative recommended routes branching off from the recommended route.

[0013] In another aspect of the display device, when the moving object to be guided enters the other guide route, the display control means causes the display means to display the other guide route as a new recommended route and stops displaying the previous recommended route. With this aspect, when the moving object enters the other guide route from the recommended route in accordance with the display, the display device allows the driver to clearly recognize the other guide route as the route to follow.

[0014] In another aspect of the display device, the display control means causes the display means to display only the alternative recommended routes that branch off from the recommended route at an intersection where a traffic light is present. With this aspect, the display device can avoid a wait at a traffic light by guiding the user to the alternative recommended route in an appropriate manner when the traffic light at an intersection is not passable along the recommended route but passable along the other recommended route, while preventing the display from becoming too cluttered.

[0015] In another aspect of the display device, the display control means controls the display means to display a recommended route whose total cost, which is the sum of the link costs for each recommended route, is within a predetermined range, based on link costs related to at least one of toll, distance, road width, fuel efficiency, and required time. This aspect enables the display device to preferably notify the driver of only other recommended routes that are equivalent to the recommended route, thereby preventing delays in arrival time due to switching to another recommended route.

[0016] In another aspect of the display device, the display device further includes a signal status detection means for detecting the status of a traffic light ahead, and the display control means highlights other guide routes that are possible to proceed according to the status of the traffic light, among the other guide routes. With this aspect, the display device can actively make the driver aware of possible guide routes, thereby improving convenience.

[0017] In another aspect of the display device, the display control means causes the display means to display only the alternative recommended routes that branch off from the recommended route at an intersection closest to the vehicle position. With this aspect, the display device can prevent the display of other recommended routes that are not necessary for the upcoming drive, thereby more reliably preventing the display from becoming cluttered.

[0018] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a head-up display includes an optical element that causes a user to recognize a virtual image by reflected light, a light source that emits light to the optical element to form the virtual image, and a display control means that emits light to the light source to form a virtual image that displays a plurality of guide routes to a destination superimposed on a view ahead, wherein the display control means causes the display means to display one of the plurality of guide routes as a recommended route, and simultaneously causes the display means to display other guide routes in a form that is less noticeable than the recommended route. With this aspect, the head-up display allows the user to clearly see the recommended route and also allows the user to easily see routes other than the recommended route, thereby avoiding waiting at traffic lights, etc.

[0019] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a display device for displaying a guided route to a destination includes: a display means for displaying an image generated by a camera capturing an image of a scene ahead of a moving body; and a display control means for displaying a plurality of guided routes to the destination superimposed on the image on the display means, wherein the display control means displays one of the plurality of guided routes as a recommended route on the display means, and simultaneously displays other guided routes on the display means in a form that is less noticeable than the recommended route. In this way, even when providing route guidance based on so-called real-life images, the display device allows a user to clearly see the recommended route and also allows the user to easily see routes other than the recommended route, thereby enabling the user to avoid waiting at traffic lights, etc.

[0020] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a control method executed by a display device having display means for displaying a map and displaying a guided route to a destination, the control method including a display control step of causing the display means to display a plurality of guided routes to the destination, the display control step causing the display means to display one of the plurality of guided routes as a recommended route, and simultaneously causing the display means to display other guided routes in a form that is less noticeable than the recommended route. By executing this control method, the display device allows a user to clearly see the recommended route and also allows the user to preferably see routes other than the recommended route, thereby enabling the user to avoid waiting at traffic lights, etc. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a program executed by a display device having a display means for displaying a map and displaying a guided route to a destination, the program causing the display device to function as a display control means for displaying a plurality of guided routes to the destination on the display means, the display control means causing the display means to display one of the plurality of guided routes as a recommended route, and simultaneously causing the display means to display other guided routes in a form that is less noticeable than the recommended route. By executing this program, the display device allows the user to clearly see the recommended route and also allows the user to conveniently see routes other than the recommended route, thereby enabling the user to avoid waiting at traffic lights, etc. Preferably, the above-mentioned program is stored in a storage medium. [Example]

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0022] [Schematic configuration] Fig. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a navigation device 1. The navigation device 1 may be, for example, a stationary navigation device or a portable terminal that provides route guidance, and as shown in Fig. 1, includes a stand-alone positioning device 10, a GPS receiver 18, a system controller 20, a disk drive 31, a data storage unit 36, a communication interface 37, a communication device 38, a display unit 40, an audio output unit 50, and an input device 60.

[0023] The stand-alone positioning device 10 includes an acceleration sensor 11, an angular velocity sensor 12, and a distance sensor 13. The acceleration sensor 11 is made of, for example, a piezoelectric element, and detects the acceleration of the vehicle and outputs acceleration data. The angular velocity sensor 12 is made of, for example, a vibration gyroscope, and detects the angular velocity of the vehicle when the vehicle changes direction, and outputs angular velocity data and relative direction data. The distance sensor 13 measures vehicle speed pulses, which are pulse signals generated in conjunction with the rotation of the vehicle's wheels.

[0024] The GPS receiver 18 receives radio waves 19 carrying downlink data including positioning data from multiple GPS satellites. The positioning data is used to detect the absolute position of the vehicle from latitude and longitude information, etc.

[0025] The system controller 20 includes an interface 21, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 22, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 23, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 24, and controls the entire navigation device 1 by executing control programs stored in the ROM 23 or the like.

[0026] For example, when a destination is set via the input device 60, the system controller 20 searches for a route to the destination, starting from the current location detected by the GPS receiver 18. In this process, the system controller 20 uses link costs, which are an index of the ease of travel of each road along the route. Specifically, the system controller 20 searches for a route from the starting point to the destination that satisfies the user-specified conditions, with the route having the smallest sum of the link costs (also referred to as the "total cost"). For each target road, the system controller 20 calculates the link cost by multiplying each of the costs, such as the time required to travel the road, the distance of the link, the toll costs (e.g., toll fees), the fuel economy costs, and the road type costs (e.g., trunk roads and vehicle width), by a predetermined percentage. If route search conditions such as prioritizing time or distance are specified, the system controller 20 calculates the link cost by setting a larger percentage to multiply the cost of the prioritized item.

[0027] The interface 21 acts as an interface with the acceleration sensor 11, angular velocity sensor 12, distance sensor 13, and GPS receiver 18. From these sensors, the interface 21 inputs vehicle speed pulses, acceleration data, relative direction data, angular velocity data, GPS positioning data, absolute direction data, etc. to the system controller 20. The CPU 22 controls the entire system controller 20. The ROM 23 includes a non-volatile memory (not shown) that stores a control program for controlling the system controller 20, etc. The RAM 24 readably stores various data, such as route data preset by the user via the input device 60, and provides a working area for the CPU 22.

[0028] The system controller 20, a disk drive 31 such as a CD-ROM drive or a DVD-ROM drive, a data storage unit 36, a communication interface 37, a display unit 40, an audio output unit 50 and an input device 60 are interconnected via a bus line 30.

[0029] The disc drive 31 reads and outputs content data such as music data and video data from a disc 33 such as a CD or DVD under the control of the system controller 20. The disc drive 31 may be either a CD-ROM drive or a DVD-ROM drive, or may be a CD and DVD compatible drive.

[0030] The data storage unit 36 ​​is configured, for example, with a hard disk drive (HDD) and stores various data used in navigation processing, such as map data. The map data includes road data represented by links corresponding to roads and nodes corresponding to road junctions (intersections), facility information on each facility, and the like. The map data also stores information specifying the position of each traffic light.

[0031] The communication device 38 is composed of, for example, an FM tuner, a beacon receiver, a mobile phone, or a dedicated communication card, and receives road traffic information such as congestion and traffic information and other information distributed from a VICS (Vehicle Information Communication System, registered trademark) center via the communication interface 37.

[0032] The display unit 40 displays various display data on a display device such as a monitor under the control of the system controller 20. Specifically, the system controller 20 reads map data from the data storage unit 36. The display unit 40 displays the map data and other data read from the data storage unit 36 ​​by the system controller 20 on a display screen. The display unit 40 includes a graphic controller 41 that controls the entire display unit 40 based on control data sent from the CPU 22 via the bus line 30, a buffer memory 42 such as a VRAM (Video RAM) that temporarily stores image information that can be displayed immediately, a display control unit 43 that controls the display 44, such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), based on image data output from the graphic controller 41, and a display 44. The display 44 functions as an image display unit and is, for example, a liquid crystal display device with a diagonal of approximately 5 to 10 inches, and is mounted near the front panel inside the vehicle.

[0033] The audio output unit 50 is configured to include a D / A converter 51 that performs D / A (Digital to Analog) conversion of audio digital data sent via the bus line 30 from the CD-ROM drive 31, DVD-ROM 32, RAM 24, etc. under the control of the system controller 20, an amplifier (AMP) 52 that amplifies the audio analog signal output from the D / A converter 51, and a speaker 53 that converts the amplified audio analog signal into audio and outputs it inside the vehicle.

[0034] The input device 60 is composed of keys, switches, buttons, a remote control, a voice input device, etc. for inputting various commands and data. The input device 60 is arranged on the front panel of the main body of the in-vehicle electronic system installed in the vehicle or around the display 44. In addition, if the display 44 is a touch panel type, the touch panel provided on the display screen of the display 44 also functions as the input device 60.

[0035] [Control method] Next, a display control method of the display 44 executed by the system controller 20 will be described. In summary, during route guidance, the system controller 20 displays the route to be guided (also referred to as the "recommended route RR"), and also displays another route to the destination with a total cost equivalent to that of the recommended route RR (also referred to as the "detour route RA") in a less conspicuous manner than the recommended route RR. In this way, the system controller 20 allows the driver to easily understand the detour route RA while preventing the display from becoming too cluttered.

[0036] In the following, first, the display mode of the display 44 based on the above-mentioned display control will be described, and then a specific method for determining the detour route RA will be described.

[0037] (1) Display format First, the display mode of the display 44 according to this embodiment will be specifically described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. For the sake of convenience, it is assumed in Figures 2 and 3 that the display range of the map displayed on the display 44 is fixed.

[0038] Fig. 2 shows the display screen of display 44 during route guidance. In Fig. 2, a vehicle position mark 70 indicates the current location of the vehicle being guided by navigation device 1, a traffic light mark 71 indicates a traffic light with an arrow signal for turning right that is provided at the intersection of roads 81 and 84, and a destination mark 72 indicates a destination of the route guidance that is located along road 82.

[0039] 2, the system controller 20 displays a recommended route RR to the destination by a thick line 73 on roads 81 and 82. Here, the recommended route RR indicated by the thick line 73 is a route that goes straight through an intersection with a traffic light indicated by a traffic light mark 71, and then turns right at the intersection of roads 81 and 82. The recommended route RR indicated by the thick line 73 is the route with the smallest total cost calculated by the system controller 20 among all possible routes from the current location to the destination.

[0040] In addition to the thick line 73 indicating the recommended route RR, the system controller 20 also displays two detour routes RA using thin lines 74A and 74B, each having a predetermined length from the point where the detour route RA branches off from the recommended route RR. The system controller 20 sets the predetermined length to the length from the point where the detour route RA branches off from the recommended route RR to the next right or left turn along the detour route RA. The detour route RA corresponding to the thin line 74A is a route to the destination that minimizes the total cost if a right turn is made at the intersection of roads 81 and 83, and passes through roads 81, 83, 85, and 82 in that order. The detour route RA corresponding to the thin line 74B is a route to the destination that minimizes the total cost if a right turn is made at the intersection of roads 81 and 84, and passes through roads 81, 84, 85, and 82 in that order. The detour route RA corresponding to the thin lines 74A and 74B is a route with a total cost equivalent to that of the recommended route RR corresponding to the thick line 73.

[0041] The system controller 20 then displays the recommended route RR using a thick line 73 that is easiest to see, and displays only the entrance portion of the detour route RA using thin lines 74A and 74B that are less noticeable than the recommended route RR. Here, the system controller 20 displays the detour route RA from the point where the detour route RA branches off from the recommended route RR to the next point where the detour route RA should turn right or left using thin lines 74A and 74B.

[0042] In this way, the system controller 20 displays only the entrance portion of the detour route RA and displays the detour route RA thinner than the recommended route RR, thereby preventing the display from becoming too cluttered and allowing the driver to easily recognize the existence of the detour route RA. Therefore, the system controller 20 can improve user convenience.

[0043] Here, the effect of the display mode shown in Fig. 2 will be specifically described. For example, if the red light portion of the traffic light of traffic light mark 71 is on and the arrow signal is off while the vehicle is traveling at the position of vehicle position mark 70, the driver will refer to the screen shown in Fig. 2 and understand that there is a detour route RA indicated by thin line 74A that does not pass through the traffic light. Therefore, in this case, by driving the vehicle so as to turn right from road 81 to road 83, the driver can avoid waiting at the traffic light of traffic light mark 71 and arrive at the destination earlier.

[0044] In another example, if the red light portion of the traffic light of traffic light mark 71 is on and the right arrow signal is on while the vehicle is traveling at the position of vehicle position mark 70, the driver will refer to the screen shown in Fig. 2 and understand that there is a detour route RA, indicated by thin line 74B, that turns right at the traffic light. Therefore, even in this case, the driver can avoid waiting at the traffic light of traffic light mark 71 and arrive at the destination earlier by driving the vehicle so as to turn right from road 81 to road 84.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows the screen of the display 44 after the vehicle has turned right from the road 81 onto the road 84 in accordance with the detour route RA indicated by the thin line 74A in FIG.

[0046] 3, in this case, the system controller 20 sets the detour route RA indicated by the thin line 74B in FIG. 2 as the recommended route RR and displays it as a thick line 73A. The system controller 20 also erases the display of the thick line 73 indicating the recommended route RR in FIG. 2, which goes straight through the traffic light indicated by the traffic light mark 71. The system controller 20 then displays the detour route RA for the newly set recommended route RR as a thin line 76. Here, the detour route RA corresponding to the thin line 76 is the route to the destination that minimizes the total cost if the vehicle goes straight through the intersection of roads 84 and 85, and is a route that makes a left turn from road 84 to road 86.

[0047] In this way, when a vehicle enters a detour route RA from a recommended route RR, the system controller 20 sets the detour route RA as the recommended route RR and displays it in a conspicuous manner, thereby enabling the driver to arrive at the destination without getting lost even if the vehicle is driven in a way that leads to the detour route RA.

[0048] In the examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a case is described in which the destination and the current location are close to each other, and a destination mark 72 indicating the destination is displayed on the displayed map. However, the display mode to which the present invention is applicable is not limited to this, and the destination does not have to be displayed on the map. Furthermore, the map scale may be any scale specified by the user. Even in this case, the system controller 20 displays the entrance portion of the detour route RA by a predetermined length and displays the detour route RA thinner than the recommended route RR, thereby preventing the display from becoming too cluttered and allowing the driver to easily recognize the existence of the detour route RA. This allows the system controller 20 to improve user convenience, similar to the display examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0049] (2) Determination method of detour route RA Next, a method for determining the detour route RA will be specifically described.

[0050] The system controller 20 determines a route to the destination with a total cost equivalent to that of the recommended route RR as the detour route RA. Specifically, the system controller 20 determines, among routes to the destination, a route whose total cost is within a predetermined difference from that of the recommended route RR as the detour route RA. Here, the predetermined difference is set to a difference that is determined to be substantially equivalent to the total cost of the recommended route RR. For example, the predetermined difference is set to a value equivalent to a predetermined percentage (e.g., 1% to 15%) of the total cost of the recommended route RR.

[0051] Here, the timing for identifying the detour route RA will be specifically described.

[0052] In the first example, the system controller 20 calculates the total cost of a route including each branch road of the recommended route RR that exists within the display area of ​​the map. The system controller 20 then determines whether each route with the smallest total cost corresponds to a detour route RA. Therefore, in this case, each time a branch road of the recommended route RR is displayed within the display area of ​​the map, the system controller 20 calculates the total cost of the route including the branch road, and determines the route with a total cost within a predetermined difference from the total cost of the recommended route RR as the detour route RA. This prevents the system controller 20 from unnecessary calculations of the total costs of routes that branch off from the recommended route RR outside the display area of ​​the map. The system controller 20 then displays the identified detour route RA in a manner that is less noticeable than the recommended route RR, similar to the display examples of FIGS. 2 and 3 .

[0053] In a second example, when the system controller 20 determines a recommended route RR, it determines whether each of the branch roads of the recommended route RR can be a road that constitutes a detour route RA. In this case, the system controller 20 calculates the route that minimizes the total cost if the branch roads are passed through, and determines the route with a total cost that is within a predetermined difference from the total cost of the recommended route RR as the detour route RA. Then, when the branch roads of the recommended route RR that constitute the detour route RA are displayed on the map, the system controller 20 displays the detour route RA in a manner that makes it less noticeable than the recommended route RR, similar to the display examples of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0054] [Variations] The following describes various modifications of the embodiment, which may be combined and applied to the above-described embodiment.

[0055] (Variation 1) In the explanation of Fig. 2, the system controller 20 displayed all of the detour routes RA that exist on the map. However, the method of displaying the detour routes RA to which the present invention is applicable is not limited to this. A specific example will be explained with reference to Figs. 4 and 5.

[0056] Fig. 4 shows a first example of a display screen according to this modification. In Fig. 4, the system controller 20 displays only the detour route RA that branches off from the recommended route RR at intersections with traffic lights, using thin lines 74B. That is, the display screen shown in Fig. 4 does not display the detour route RA that branches off from the recommended route RR at intersections without traffic lights, as compared to the display screen shown in Fig. 2.

[0057] In this way, the system controller 20 displays the detour route RA only when there is a traffic light at the point where the detour route RA branches off from the recommended route RR. By doing so, the system controller 20 can appropriately allow the driver to recognize whether or not it is okay to proceed in the direction indicated by an arrow signal when the arrow signal is on at an intersection ahead of the vehicle. Furthermore, the system controller 20 can avoid cluttering the display by unnecessarily displaying many detour routes RA on the map screen.

[0058] Fig. 5 shows a second example of a display screen according to this modification. On the display screen shown in Fig. 5, the system controller 20 displays only the detour route RA, which includes the road branching off from the recommended route RR at the intersection closest to the vehicle's position, using a thin line 74A. In this way, the system controller 20 can display the detour route RA by focusing only on the nearest intersection, thereby avoiding cluttering the display.

[0059] In yet another example, the system controller 20 may display not only the detour route RA that branches off at the nearest intersection, but also the detour route RA that branches off from the recommended route RR at the point closest to the vehicle's position. In yet another example, the system controller 20 may display on the map screen only the detour routes RA that include roads that branch off from the recommended route RR at intersections that are closest to the vehicle's position, from the first to a predetermined number of intersections.

[0060] (Variation 2) In addition to the processing of the embodiment, the system controller 20 may detect the status of a traffic light ahead and change the display mode of the detour route RA based on the detected status of the traffic light.

[0061] For example, in this case, the navigation device 1 is electrically connected to a camera that captures images ahead of the vehicle, and detects whether traffic lights and their respective signal lamps are on or off based on images generated by the camera. If the system controller 20 determines, based on the detected traffic light status, that a direction different from the direction of the recommended route RR is passable and that the passable direction is the direction of the detour route RA, it highlights the detour route RA. In this case, the system controller 20 may display only the relevant detour route RA and hide the other detour routes RA, or may display the relevant detour route RA more prominently than the other detour routes RA.

[0062] In this way, the system controller 20 can proactively make the driver aware of passable detour routes RA depending on the traffic light status, thereby reducing unnecessary waits at traffic lights.

[0063] (Variation 3) 2 and 3, the system controller 20 displays the detour route RA from the branch point with the recommended route RR to the next right or left turn point of the detour route RA. However, the display manner of the detour route RA is not limited to this.

[0064] Fig. 6 shows an example of a screen display on the display 44 according to this modification. As shown in Fig. 6, in this case, the thin lines 74Ax, 74Bx indicating the detour route RA have a predetermined length that is shorter than the distance from the branch point of the recommended route RR and the detour route RA to the next intersection. The predetermined length is determined in advance based on experiments or the like to be a length that allows the user to visually recognize the existence of the detour route RA when looking at the map screen, for example.

[0065] Even with the display mode shown in FIG. 6, the system controller 20 can preferably prevent the display from becoming too complicated while preferably making the user aware of the existence of the detour route RA.

[0066] (Variation 4) 2 and 3, the system controller 20 displays the detour route RA in a thinner line than the recommended route RR. Alternatively, or in addition, the system controller 20 may display the recommended route RR in a solid line and the detour route RA in a dashed line. In another example, the system controller 20 may display the recommended route RR in a more conspicuous color and the detour route RA in a less conspicuous color. Even in these cases, the system controller 20 preferably displays the detour route RA in a less conspicuous manner than the recommended route RR, thereby preventing the display from becoming too cluttered.

[0067] (Variation 5) In the embodiment, the navigation device 1 displays the route display shown in Fig. 2 etc. on the display 44. Alternatively, the navigation device 1 may allow the user to visually recognize the route display according to the embodiment on a head-up display.

[0068] 7 shows a schematic configuration of the head-up display 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the head-up display 100 includes a light source unit 2 and a combiner 3. The head-up display 100 is mounted on a vehicle that includes a windshield 80, a ceiling 82, a hood 83, and a dashboard 84.

[0069] The light source unit 2 is installed on the ceiling 82 inside the vehicle cabin via support members 4a and 4b, and emits light that constitutes an image of the route display according to the embodiment toward the combiner 3. Specifically, the light source unit 2 generates an original image (real image) of the display image within the light source unit 2, and emits light that constitutes the image to the combiner 3, thereby allowing the driver to view a virtual image "Iv" via the combiner 3. In this case, the light source unit 2 generates the above-mentioned real image by receiving an image corresponding to the route display according to the embodiment from, for example, a navigation device 1 (not shown).

[0070] The combiner 3 projects the display image emitted from the light source unit 2 and reflects the display image toward the driver's eye point "Pe" to display the display image as a virtual image Iv. The combiner 3 has a support shaft 7 installed on the ceiling 82 and rotates around the support shaft 7 as a support shaft. The combiner 3 is an example of an "optical member" in the present invention. The support shaft 7 is installed, for example, on the ceiling 82 near the upper end of the windshield 80, in other words, near the position where a sun visor (not shown) for the driver is installed. The support shaft 7 may be installed in place of the sun visor described above.

[0071] With this configuration, the head-up display 100 can allow the user to visually recognize the route display according to the embodiment as a virtual image Iv in an appropriate manner.

[0072] The head-up display 100 may have the light source unit 2 generate an image corresponding to the route display according to the embodiment, instead of receiving an image corresponding to the route display according to the embodiment from the navigation device 1. In this case, the light source unit 2 has map data, a GPS receiver, an autonomous positioning device, etc., and performs calculations of the recommended route RR and the detour route RA described in the embodiment, etc.

[0073] Furthermore, the configuration of a head-up display to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the head-up display 100 shown in Fig. 7. Instead of the configuration shown in Fig. 7, the light source unit 2 may emit light to the windshield 80, and the driver may view a virtual image Iv based on the light reflected by the windshield 80. In this case, the head-up display does not include the combiner 3.

[0074] A specific display example according to Modification 5 will now be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 shows a display example of the head-up display 100 when the windshield 80 is observed from the driver's seat. In Fig. 8, it is assumed that the vehicle is traveling on a road 87, and the emitted light from the light source unit 2 is projected onto a projection area "AP" on the windshield 80.

[0075] 8, the head-up display 100 highlights with a line 73y the recommended route RR, which is a route for turning right from road 87 to road 89 at an intersection with traffic light 90, and also lightly displays the detour route RA, which is a route for turning right from road 87 to road 88. Note that here, the head-up display 100 displays the recommended route RR and detour route RA for each road upside down within the projection area AP, that is, projected obliquely downward onto the ground surface.

[0076] In this way, the head-up display 100 can prevent the display from becoming complicated, as in the embodiment, and can allow the driver to easily understand the detour route RA.

[0077] (Variation 6) The navigation device 1 may be connected to a camera that captures the scenery ahead of the vehicle, and may superimpose the recommended route RR and the detour route RA on an image generated by the camera (also referred to as a "forward scenery image If").

[0078] Fig. 9 shows the screen of the display 44 displaying a forward scenery image If captured at the same position as in Fig. 8. In Fig. 9, the system controller 20 displays a recommended route RR and a detour route RA superimposed on the forward scenery image If within a display area "AD." Here, the recommended route RR is displayed by a line 73y drawn upside down within the display area AD relative to the road display area 87f and the road display area 89f. Similarly, the detour route RA is displayed by a line 74y drawn upside down within the display area AD relative to the road display area 88f.

[0079] In this way, even when the navigation device 1 performs display using the forward scenery image If, ​​similar to the embodiment, it is possible to prevent the display from becoming complicated and to allow the driver to easily understand the detour route RA. [Industrial Applicability]

[0080] The present invention is suitably applied to devices having a navigation function, such as in-vehicle navigation devices, PNDs (Portable / Personal Navigation Devices), and portable terminals. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1. Navigation devices 10. Standalone positioning device 12 GPS receivers 20 System Controller 22 CPU 36 Data Storage Unit 38 Communication Equipment 40 Display Unit 44 Display 60 Input Device 100 Head-Up Display

Claims

1. a route searching means for searching for a route branching off from the guided route to the destination after determining the guided route to the destination; a display control means for displaying on a display means an image of another route extending a predetermined length from the branch point as an image showing another route among the routes searched by the route search means, the route having a cost to the destination within a predetermined difference from the guide route; A display control device comprising:

2. The display control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when a moving object to be guided enters the other route, the display control means causes the display means to display a guide route image showing the other route as a new guide route, and causes the display means to stop displaying the guide route image showing the previous guide route.

3. 3. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means causes the display means to display an alternative route image showing only the alternative route that branches off from the guide route at an intersection where a traffic light is present.

4. The display control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the display control means displays on the display means an image of another route showing the other route whose total cost, which is the sum of the link costs for each route, is within a predetermined difference based on link costs related to at least one of toll, distance, road width, fuel efficiency, or travel time.

5. Further, a signal state detection means for detecting the state of a traffic light ahead is provided, 5. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means highlights an image of an alternative route that indicates a route that can be traveled among the alternative routes depending on the state of the traffic lights.

6. The display control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the display control means causes the display means to display an alternative route image showing only the alternative route that branches off at an intersection on the guidance route that is closest to the position of the mobile body to be guided.

7. The display control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the display control means displays the guide route image and the alternative route image in a manner that can be seen by an occupant of a mobile vehicle to be guided, in accordance with actual roads.

8. 7. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means displays the guide route image and the alternative route image in association with roads in a map image.

9. The display control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the display control means displays the guidance route image and the alternative route image in correspondence with roads included in an image generated by a camera capturing the scenery ahead of the moving body to be guided.

10. a route searching means for searching for a route branching off from the guided route to the destination after determining the guided route to the destination; a display control means for causing a display means to display a route image extending a predetermined length from the branch point as an image showing the route searched by the route search means; A display control device comprising:

11. A computer-implemented control method comprising: a route searching step of searching for a route branching off from the guided route to the destination after determining the guided route to the destination; a display control step of displaying on a display means an image of another route extending a predetermined length from the branch point as an image showing another route among the routes searched in the route search step, the route having a cost to the destination within a predetermined difference from the guide route; A control method comprising:

12. a route searching means for searching for a route branching off from the guided route to the destination after determining the guided route to the destination; a display control means for displaying on a display means an image of another route extending a predetermined length from the branch point as an image showing another route among the routes searched by the route search means, the route having a cost to the destination within a predetermined difference from the guide route; A program that makes a computer function as a

13. A storage medium storing the program according to claim 12.

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