WO2014024604A1 - Drivable route calculating device, computer program, and display data generating device - Google Patents

Description

Travelable route calculation device, computer program, and display data generation device

The present invention relates to a cruising route calculation device, a computer program, and a display data generation device.

<Background Technology 1>
In recent years, electric vehicles have been developed, but at present, the cruising range is short (less than 200 km). Therefore, even if the electric vehicle is a day drive, it may be necessary to stop at the charging station on the way to go or return to charge the battery.

Therefore, information on the cruising distance indicating how much the vehicle can travel with the current remaining battery level is important for the driver.
In addition, grasping | ascertaining of the cruising range by a driver is not restricted to the case of an electric vehicle, It is needed also in the case of the motor vehicle which has an internal combustion engine.

Patent Document 1 describes a simple numerical display of the cruising range. By displaying the cruising distance numerically, the driver can grasp the cruising distance.

<Background Technology 2>
In recent years, electric vehicles have been developed, but at present, the cruising range is short (less than 200 km). Therefore, even if the electric vehicle is a day drive, it may be necessary to stop at the charging station on the way to go or return to charge the battery.

For this reason, it is important for the driver how much the vehicle can travel with the current remaining battery level.
For example, Patent Literature 1 describes a cruising range that is simply displayed as a numerical value. By displaying the cruising distance numerically, the driver can grasp the cruising distance.

JP 2005-096647 A

Therefore, since it is desired to obtain information on how far the vehicle can be driven with the current remaining battery capacity, that is, information on a cruising range (a cruising point) by an appropriate method, the present invention The object is to appropriately obtain the information.

The cruising route calculation device according to the present invention is a device for calculating a cruising route of a vehicle, the storage unit storing road map data, and the vehicle based on the road map data stored in the storage unit. A calculation unit that obtains a cruising route on which the vehicle can travel from a reference point until the cruising remaining capacity becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, and the storage unit stores a plurality of road map data having different degrees of detail. And the calculation unit selects and selects one of the plurality of road map data according to a point from the reference point until the cruising remaining capacity of the vehicle becomes a predetermined value or less. The road map data is used to obtain a cruising route.

Further, the present invention is a computer program that causes a computer to function as a calculation unit that calculates a cruising route of a vehicle, wherein the calculation unit is configured so that the vehicle has a cruising surplus before the vehicle reaches a predetermined value or less. A cruising route that can be traveled from a reference point is obtained, and any one of a plurality of road map data is obtained depending on a point from the reference point until the cruising capacity of the vehicle becomes a predetermined value or less. Select and use the selected road map data to obtain a cruising route.

Further, the present invention is a display data generation device that generates data for display on a display unit capable of screen display, and when a cruising route of a vehicle is acquired, a road included in the cruising route is A calculation unit that generates display data to be displayed in a divided manner according to the cruising surplus capacity of the vehicle, and the calculation unit further obtains the cruising surplus power of the vehicle; The display mode corresponding to the acquired cruising surplus capacity is determined with reference to the relationship between the display mode and the display mode of the included road, and the road included in the cruising route according to the determined display mode is displayed on the display unit. The display data for display is generated.

The cruising route calculation device of the present invention is a device for calculating a cruising route of a vehicle, and based on the road map data, the first route for traveling in a direction away from the departure point A forward direction search process for searching from the destination as a base point, a reverse direction search process for searching the second route for traveling in a direction approaching the destination based on the road map data, and a determination target A determination process for determining a cruising possibility to the point, and the determination target point can be reached from the departure point by the first route and reaches the destination by the second route. In the determination process, the estimated value of the first energy consumption when traveling on the first route from the departure point to the determination target point and the first energy consumption from the determination target point to the destination. Based on the estimated value of the second energy consumption when traveling on route, cruising potential for the determination target point is determined.

Further, the present invention is a computer program that causes a computer to function as a cruising route calculation device that calculates a cruising route of a vehicle, the cruising route calculation device leaving a departure place based on road map data. Based on the road map data, a second route for traveling in a direction approaching the destination based on the road map data is searched for the first route for traveling in the direction. A reverse direction search process for searching from the ground as a base point and a determination process for determining the cruising possibility to the determination target point are configured to be executed, and the determination target point is reached from the departure point by the first route. And a point where the destination can be reached on the second route, and in the determination process, the vehicle travels on the first route from the departure point to the determination target point. The possibility of cruising to the determination target point based on the estimated value of the first energy consumption and the estimated value of the second energy consumption when traveling on the second route from the determination target point to the destination Determine.

Information on the extent to which the vehicle can run with the current remaining battery level, that is, information on the cruising range (point where the cruising range can be reached) can be obtained by an appropriate method.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the information system provided with the navigable route calculation apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows several road map data. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the cruising route calculating apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the calculation process of a cruising possible route. It is a flowchart which shows a road map data selection process. It is a figure which shows switching of road map data. It is explanatory drawing regarding selection of a road link. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a battery remaining charge and a display color. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a cruising possible path | route. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a cruising possible path | route. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a cruising possible path | route. It is explanatory drawing of the return | turnback of a cruising possible path | route. It is explanatory drawing of the road link which cannot drive | work. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the cruising range. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the information system provided with the navigable route calculation apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the cruising route calculating apparatus. It is a flowchart of the process which calculates | requires the reachable area which can reciprocate. (A) is a figure which shows the 1st path | route and 2nd path | route searched, (b) is a figure which shows the difference in the power consumption in a 1st path | route and a 2nd path | route. It is explanatory drawing when a departure place and a destination differ.

<< Chapter 1 >>
<Problem 1 (related to the background art 1)>
It is difficult for the driver to intuitively know how far he can travel by simply displaying the cruising distance as a numerical value.
Here, if it is possible to show on a map where the vehicle can travel, intuitive understanding by the driver becomes easy.
For example, as shown in FIG. 14, it is conceivable to display on a map a circle C having a radius that is a cruising distance (for example, 100 km) centered on the current location. By displaying the circle C indicating the cruising range on the map, it becomes easy for the driver to intuitively understand how far the vehicle can travel.

However, if the circle C with the radius of the cruising range is simply displayed on the map, the display may be inaccurate.
In other words, since the vehicle travels on the road, the extent to which the vehicle can travel depends on which road is passed. Therefore, the actual cruising range is not a simple circle C centered on the current location, and may travel only to the inside of the circle C, or may travel to the outside of the circle C.

Therefore, it is conceivable to use the road map data to calculate a route on which the vehicle can travel from the cruising range, and to display the road that can travel in light of the cruising range as a road that can be crushed.

However, if there is no specific destination and the route is calculated from the cruising range, all roads (a huge number of roads including narrow streets) connected to the current location are subject to route calculation. Becomes larger. In addition, since the number of roads that can be traveled in light of the cruising range is enormous, the display data of the roads that can be traveled is also enormous in size.

Therefore, the purpose is to reduce the computation load of route computation that can be navigated.

[Description of Embodiment of the Present Invention]
First, the contents of the embodiment of the present invention will be listed and described.

(1) The present invention is an apparatus that calculates a cruising route of a vehicle, and includes a storage unit that stores road map data, and a cruising capacity of the vehicle based on the road map data stored in the storage unit. And a calculation unit that obtains a cruising route on which the vehicle can travel from a reference point until the vehicle becomes below a predetermined value.
Accordingly, it is possible to obtain a cruising route on which the vehicle can travel from the reference point until the vehicle cruising capacity becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value in accordance with the road map data.

The storage unit stores a plurality of road map data with different degrees of detail, and the calculation unit is configured according to a point from the reference point until a cruising remaining capacity of the vehicle becomes a predetermined value or less. One of a plurality of road map data is selected, and a cruising route is obtained using the selected road map data. Since any one of a plurality of road map data with different degrees of detail is selected according to the point from the reference point until the remaining cruising capacity of the vehicle falls below a predetermined value, for example, all the cruising routes are detailed. It is possible to avoid the calculation of the cruising route using only the high-speed road map data.
Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a calculation load for obtaining a cruising route.

(2) The plurality of road map data stored in the storage unit includes first road map data and second road map data having a road detail level higher than that of the first road map data. When obtaining a cruising route at a point where the cruising surplus is greater than a threshold, the unit obtains a cruising route using the first road map data, and a point where the cruising surplus becomes smaller than the threshold It is preferable to obtain a cruising route using the second road map data when obtaining a cruising route.
In this case, since road map data with a low degree of detail is used for a point with a large cruising capacity, it is possible to reduce a calculation load at a point with a large cruising capacity.

(3) When the calculation unit obtains a cruising route using the second road map data, the route closer to the reference point than the cruising route already obtained using the first road map data. It is preferable to perform processing that suppresses the requirement for a cruising route.
In this case, the return of the cruising route can be suppressed.

(4) The calculation unit may determine the second road map at a point where the distance from the reference point on the route that can be reached does not exceed the reference distance even if the remaining cruising capacity is greater than the threshold. It is preferable to obtain a cruising route using data, and obtain a cruising route using the first road map data at a point exceeding the reference distance. In this case, when the distance from the reference point is relatively short, a detailed cruising route can be obtained using the second road map data having a higher degree of detail.

(5) It is preferable that the said calculating part produces | generates the display data for distinguishing and displaying the calculated | required cruising possible path | route according to the magnitude | size of the said cruising remaining power on the calculated | required cruising possible path | route. In this case, the cruising possible route can be distinguished and displayed according to the magnitude of the cruising remaining power.

(6) The calculation unit may generate display data for distinguishing and displaying the obtained navigable route according to the degree of detail of the road map data used for obtaining the navigable route. . For example, display data for generating a cruising route obtained using road map data with a lower level of detail is displayed thicker than a cruising route obtained using road map data with a higher level of detail. In this case, the cruising route obtained using the road map data having a lower level of detail can be displayed thickly.

(7) It is preferable to further include an acquisition unit that acquires surplus information indicating the remaining cruising power at the reference point, and it is preferable that the surplus information includes information indicating a remaining battery capacity of the vehicle.

(8) The acquisition unit further acquires information indicating power usage of auxiliary equipment of the vehicle, and the calculation unit uses the information indicating power usage of auxiliary equipment of the vehicle on a cruising route. It is preferable to calculate the remaining cruising capacity. In this case, the remaining cruising capacity is calculated more appropriately.

(9) The acquisition unit further acquires information indicating the number of passengers in the vehicle, and the calculation unit calculates a cruising remaining capacity on a cruising route using the information indicating the number of passengers in the vehicle. Is preferred. In this case, the remaining cruising capacity is calculated more appropriately.

(10) It is preferable that the calculation unit calculates a cruising surplus capacity on a cruising route using dynamic traffic information that changes over time. In this case, the remaining cruising capacity is calculated more appropriately.

(11) Moreover, it is preferable that the said calculation part produces | generates the display data for displaying the said navigable route using the road map data different in detail from the road map data used in order to obtain the navigable route. .
(12) For example, the calculation unit obtains a cruising route using road map data with a higher degree of detail, and displays the obtained cruising route using road map data with a lower degree of detail. Preferably, data is generated. In this case, road map data with a high degree of road detail can be used to obtain a cruising route, and map data with a low road detail can be used to display the obtained cruising route, It is possible to reduce a calculation load for displaying a cruising route.

(13) Further, the present invention is a computer program that causes a computer to function as a calculation unit that calculates a cruising route of a vehicle. One of a plurality of road map data is determined according to a point from the reference point until the remaining cruising capacity of the vehicle becomes a predetermined value or less from the reference point. One is selected, and a cruising route is obtained using the selected road map data.

(14) In addition, the present invention is a display data generation device that generates data to be displayed on a display unit that can display a screen, and is included in the navigable route when the navigable route of the vehicle is acquired. A calculation unit that generates display data for displaying roads according to the cruising surplus capacity of the vehicle, and the calculation unit further acquires the cruising surplus capacity of the vehicle and acquires the cruising surplus capacity and cruising of the vehicle; The display mode corresponding to the acquired remaining cruising capacity is determined with reference to the relationship with the display mode in the display unit of the road included in the possible route, and the road included in the cruising route is determined according to the determined display mode. The display data to be displayed on the display unit is generated.

As described above, according to the apparatus described in (1) and the computer program described in (13), the degree of detail is determined according to the point from the reference point until the cruising remaining capacity of the vehicle becomes a predetermined value or less. Since any one of a plurality of different road map data is selected, it is possible to reduce a calculation load for obtaining a cruising route.
Further, according to the display data generating device described in (14) above, the cruising available route is distinguished and displayed according to the magnitude of the cruising remaining power, so that the relationship between the cruising remaining power and the cruising available point is indicated by the driver (user ) Is easy to understand intuitively.

[Details of the embodiment of the present invention]
Hereinafter, specific examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[1. Information system]
FIG. 1 shows an example of an information system provided with a calculation device for a cruising route used for determining a cruising range. The information system includes an in-vehicle device 3 and a server 5.
The server 5 can communicate with the in-vehicle device 3 having a wireless communication function via the roadside communication device 4 that performs wireless communication.
The in-vehicle device 3 is not limited to a device that is fixedly mounted on the vehicle, and may be any device that is used on the vehicle. As the in-vehicle device 3, other than a device that is fixedly installed on the vehicle 2, for example, A mobile terminal such as a smartphone carried by a driver (passenger) may be used.

The vehicle 2 of the present embodiment is an electric vehicle that has a rechargeable battery 7 and travels by a travel motor (main machine) 8 that is driven by using the battery 7 as a power source. The vehicle 2 includes an auxiliary machine 9 in addition to the traveling motor 8 that is the main machine. The auxiliary machine 9 is a device that uses the power of the battery 7 in the vehicle 2, such as a headlight, a wiper, and an air conditioner, although it is not directly related to traveling.

The in-vehicle device 3 has a computer, acquires information on the electric vehicle 2 on which the in-vehicle device 3 is mounted, and transmits the information to the server 5 via the roadside communication device 4. Furthermore, information generated by the server 5 (display data, which will be described later) is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 3 via the roadside communication device 4.

The in-vehicle device 3 includes an input unit 3a for a driver (passenger; user) to input various information, a position acquisition unit 3b that can acquire information on the current position, and a display unit 3c. I have.
The input unit 3a includes, for example, a touch panel operated by a driver, and the driver can input various information such as the number of passengers of the vehicle by inputting characters.
The position acquisition unit 3b is composed of a device having a GPS function, for example, and acquires information on the current position.
The display unit 3c includes a display and can display various display data on the screen.
Further, the in-vehicle device 3 can acquire information on the remaining amount of battery (remaining power amount) in the battery 7 of the vehicle 2 and the amount of power used by the auxiliary machine 9 (use status of the auxiliary machine 9).

Many roadside communication devices 4 are installed on roads in each region. Each roadside communication device 4 includes a communication device and a communication controller, can wirelessly communicate with the in-vehicle device 3, and can communicate with the server 5 by wire (or wirelessly). The roadside communication device 4 may be a wireless base station that performs wireless communication with a mobile terminal as the in-vehicle device 3.

The server 5 includes one or a plurality of computers, a storage unit 15 including a hard disk storing a computer program and various information, a communication device 16 including a communication interface for communicating with the roadside communication device 4, And an arithmetic device 17 having a function of performing arithmetic processing.

The storage unit 15 includes a road network database 15a that stores road map data (road network data) of each region, and a traffic information database 15b that stores traffic information. Note that the storage unit 15 is not required to be built in the computer as long as the arithmetic device 15 can acquire data via an internal bus or an external interface of the computer.
The road network database 15a has information on the road network, and the length, gradient, road type, etc. of each road link constituting the road network, and other requirements for the electric vehicle 2 to travel on each road link. Static traffic information necessary for calculating the power consumption of the battery 7 is included.

The traffic information database 15b stores dynamic traffic information that changes over time. Examples of the dynamic traffic information include information on road congestion, temperature, weather, accident occurrence, and the like. The dynamic traffic information is also used to calculate the power consumption of the battery 7 required for traveling on the road link.
Note that the static traffic information and the dynamic traffic information may be stored outside the server 5. In this case, the server 5 may acquire static traffic information or dynamic traffic information stored outside as needed.

The road network database 15a has road map data W, M, and L of a plurality of layers (three layers) as shown in FIG. Each of the road map data W, M, and L includes road link information including a combination of nodes and road links.
Of the road map data of a plurality of layers, the first road map data W as the first layer is main road map data, the second road map data M as the second layer is general road map data, and the third layer The third road map data L is detailed road map data.

The main road map data W is road map data including only main roads such as highways and national roads. The general road map data M is road map data including general roads (road width of 5.5 m or more) in addition to main roads such as highways and national roads. The detailed road map data L is road map data including a life road (road width of 3.3 m or more) in addition to a main road and a general road.

The level of detail of the road map data is the lowest in the main road map data W, and the level of detail increases in the order of the general road map data M and the detailed road map data L.

[2. Travelable route calculation device]
The server 5 has a plurality of functional units having various functions, and one of these functional units is the cruising route verification device 1. The server 5 includes a computer having a CPU, an internal memory, and the like, and a computer program for causing the server 5 to function as the cruising route calculation device 1 is installed in the storage unit 15. Each function (the functions of the acquisition unit 18 and the calculation unit 19) provided in the cruising route calculation device 1 is exhibited when the computer program is executed by the server 5 (computer). The computer program can be stored in a storage medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory.

As shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle device 3 transmits request information i <b> 1 in order to obtain display data of a cruising route of the vehicle 2 from the server 5. The request information i1 may be transmitted based on an operation performed by the input unit 3a by the driver (user of the in-vehicle device 3), or may be transmitted periodically.
When the request information i1 is transmitted, the in-vehicle device 3 transmits to the server 5 information used for calculating the cruising route of the vehicle 2 together with the request information i1.
Information used for calculating the cruising route of the vehicle 2 includes, for example, the current location (reference point) of the vehicle 2, the time (current time), the remaining battery level of the battery 7, the vehicle ID of the vehicle 2 (the vehicle 2 Model), information on the amount of power used by the auxiliary machine 9 of the vehicle 2, the number of passengers of the vehicle 2, and the like can be included.

The current location transmitted to the server 5 is acquired by the position acquisition unit 3b. The time transmitted to the server 5 is acquired by a time measuring function unit (not shown) of the in-vehicle device 3.
The battery remaining amount transmitted to the server 5 is acquired from a battery remaining amount monitoring function unit (not shown) of the battery 7. The battery remaining amount is an example of surplus information indicating the cruising surplus capacity at the current location (current time) of the vehicle 2.
Note that the remaining power information transmitted to the server 5 is not limited to the remaining battery level, but the cruising range calculated by the remaining fuel level (in the case of the vehicle 2 having an engine), the remaining battery level or the remaining fuel level (cruising possible). (Remaining distance) or information indicating a cruising time may be used.
Further, the surplus information transmitted to the server 5 may be information indicating the power consumption of the vehicle 2. For example, when the server 5 knows the remaining battery level of the vehicle 2 in the past, the in-vehicle device 3 transmits information indicating the power consumption from the past time to the server 5. Also good. In this case, the server can obtain the battery remaining amount of the vehicle 2 at the present time by subtracting the power consumption from the battery remaining amount at the past time. Note that the amount of fuel consumed may be used instead of the amount of power consumed.

The vehicle ID (vehicle type) transmitted to the server 5 may be acquired from a control unit (not shown) of the vehicle 3 or may be registered in the storage device 15 of the in-vehicle device 3.
The auxiliary machine power transmitted to the server 5 may be obtained from a control unit (not shown) that controls the auxiliary machine 9 in the vehicle 3, or a control unit (not shown) that controls the auxiliary machine 9 in the vehicle 3. May be obtained, and the power usage of the auxiliary machine 9 may be calculated by the in-vehicle device 3.
The number of passengers transmitted to the server 5 is input from the input unit 3a. Further, when there is no input from the input unit 3a, the number of persons set as a default value (for example, one or two persons) may be transmitted to the server 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, the acquisition unit 18 of the server 5 together with the request information i <b> 1 transmitted from the in-vehicle device 3, the current location of the vehicle 2, the time (current time), the remaining battery level (remaining power information) of the battery 7, Information such as the vehicle ID of the vehicle 2 (model of the vehicle 2), the amount of electric power used by the auxiliary machine 9 of the vehicle 2, and the number of passengers of the vehicle 2 is acquired (step S1).
When the server 5 acquires the request information i1, it uses the information such as the remaining battery level (remaining power information) acquired together with the request information i1 to perform an operation for obtaining a cruising route of the vehicle 2 (step S2). This calculation is performed by the calculation unit 19.
In the present embodiment, the cruising route refers to a road (route) on which a vehicle 2 with a certain remaining battery level can travel from the current location before the remaining battery level becomes zero.
When the server 5 obtains the cruising route, the server 5 generates display data for displaying the obtained cruising route on the road map on the display unit 3c of the in-vehicle device 3, and transmits the display data to the in-vehicle device 3. (Step S3).

When receiving the display data from the server 5, the in-vehicle device 3 generates a display screen using the display data and displays the display screen on the display unit 3c. The in-vehicle device 3 generates a display screen in which the road that is the cruising route of the vehicle 2 is highlighted on the display road map with a colored line based on the display data.
This makes it easy for the driver of the vehicle 2 to intuitively understand how far the vehicle 2 can travel.

[3. Calculation of cruising routes]
FIG. 4 shows the procedure for calculating a cruising route (step S2).
In the calculation of the cruising route, the battery remaining amount setting process as the cruising reserve value used for the calculation (step S21), the selection process of the road map data W, M, and L to be used (step S22), and the road that becomes the cruising route A link extraction process (step S23), a battery remaining amount calculation process (step S24), and an end confirmation process (step S25) of the cruising route calculation process are performed.

In the setting process (step S <b> 21), information on the remaining battery level (remaining capacity information indicating the remaining cruising capacity at the current location) included in the information acquired from the in-vehicle device 3 is set as a cruising remaining capacity value in the cruising route calculation. Here, the battery remaining amount is set as the cruising surplus value.
The battery remaining amount as the cruising surplus value is used to calculate the battery remaining amount (the cruising surplus value on the cruising route) when it is assumed that the vehicle 2 has traveled on the cruising route that has already been obtained by calculating the cruising route. (Step S24).

Note that the cruising reserve value does not have to be the remaining battery capacity. For example, the remaining cruising value may be the remaining fuel amount of the vehicle 2. Further, a cruising range (cruising range) calculated based on information on the remaining battery level (or remaining fuel level) included in the information acquired from the in-vehicle device 3 may be used as the cruising remaining power value. Further, the cruising reserve value may be a cruising time.

In the road map data selection processing (step S22), road map data used for extracting (selecting) a cruising route is stored in the storage unit 15 in accordance with the remaining battery capacity (cruising leeway) as a cruising surplus value. One of the plurality of road map data W, M, and L is selected.
Here, the remaining battery capacity as the cruising surplus value decreases in accordance with the distance (road) from the current location (reference point). Accordingly, the road map data W, M, and L to be selected differ depending on the point from the current location (reference point) until the remaining cruising capacity is eliminated.

FIG. 5 shows the detailed procedure of the selection process (S22). The road map data is determined according to the remaining battery level (cruising reserve power value) at the end point (point X in FIG. 7) at that point of the cruising route that has already been obtained during the calculation (step S221). It should be noted that in the first stage of the calculation for obtaining the cruising route, there is no cruising route that has already been obtained, so the road map data is determined according to the remaining battery level (cruising reserve value) at the current location (reference point) of the vehicle 2. Selected.

In the present embodiment, a first threshold value and a second threshold value are provided for the remaining battery capacity as the cruising reserve value. In the present embodiment, the first threshold value is set to the remaining battery level = 10% (the ratio of the remaining power when the electric energy during full charge is set to 100%), and the second threshold value is set to the remaining battery level = 20%.
Note that the threshold value is not particularly limited. The number of threshold values is not particularly limited, and only one threshold value may be set or three or more threshold values may be set according to the number of selectable road map data. .

If it is determined in step S221 that the remaining battery level is less than the first threshold (10%), the most detailed third road map data (third layer) L is selected (step S222).
In step S222, when it is determined that the remaining battery level is greater than or equal to the first threshold (10%) and less than the second threshold (20%), the second road map data (the level of detail is lower than the third road map data L) The second layer M is selected (step S223).
When it is determined in step S222 that the remaining battery level is equal to or greater than the second threshold value (20%), basically, the first road map data (first layer) having a lower level of detail than the second road map data M. ) W is selected (step S225).

In other words, in the present embodiment, as the battery remaining amount as the cruising surplus value becomes smaller (as the end point of the already determined cruising route departs from the current location), the road map data W and M used to obtain the cruising route , L are changed to those with higher levels of detail.

However, in the present embodiment, even if the battery remaining amount as the cruising surplus value is equal to or greater than the second threshold value (20%), depending on the cruising distance D from the current location (reference point) of the vehicle 2, The road map data L or the second road map data M may be selected.
Specifically, even if it is determined in step S221 that the remaining battery capacity as the cruising surplus value is greater than or equal to the second threshold (20%), any one of the road map data W, M, L is selected (step S224).

In the present embodiment, in order to determine the road map data W, M, and L selected according to the distance D, a first reference distance and a second reference distance are provided. In the present embodiment, the first reference distance is 10 km and the second reference distance is 20 km.
Note that the value of the reference distance is not particularly limited. The number of reference distances is not particularly limited, and only one reference distance may be set according to the number of selectable road map data, or three or more reference distances may be set. May be.

If it is determined in step S224 that the cruising distance D is less than the first reference distance (10 km), the most detailed third road map data (third layer) L is selected (step S226).
In step S224, when it is determined that the distance D is greater than or equal to the first reference distance (10 km) and less than the second reference distance (20 km), the second road map data having a lower level of detail than the third road map data L. (Second layer) M is selected (step S227).
If it is determined in step S224 that the distance D is equal to or greater than the second reference distance (20 km), the first road map data (first layer) W having a lower level of detail than the second road map data M is selected. (Step S235).

That is, as shown in FIG. 6B, as the cruising distance (calculated) by the obtained cruising route becomes longer, road map data W, M, and L used for obtaining the cruising route are more It will be changed to a less detailed one.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, a cruising route is obtained using the road map data L having a higher degree of detail at the vicinity of the current location and immediately before the remaining cruising capacity, but it is far away from the current location and the cruising range. In the case of a point where the remaining battery level is sufficient as the reserve power value, the cruising route is obtained using the road map data W having a lower level of detail.

Returning to FIG. 4, in the extraction process in step S <b> 23, road links that are cruising routes are extracted using the road map data W, M, and L selected in step S <b> 22.
FIG. 7 shows how to extract road links. A point X in FIG. 7 indicates the end point node (one of the end points of the reachable route as viewed from the current location) of the road link R at the tip of the reachable route that has already been obtained. Note that, in the first stage of the calculation for obtaining the cruising route, there is no cruising route that has already been obtained, so the current location (reference point) of the vehicle 2 is the point X.

In the extraction process in step S23, there are unselected (unextracted) road links A, B, and C connected to the node at the point X in the road map data W, M, and L selected in step S22. In this case, these road links A, B, and C are selected (extracted) as road links to be added to the already determined cruising route. Therefore, the cruising possible route is further extended by branching from the point X to each of the road links A, B, and C. That is, the route links A, B, and C become a new part of the updated route that can be continued.

However, if it is assumed that the vehicle 2 has traveled on a cruising route starting from the current location and ending at the point X, the remaining battery level (the remaining battery level at the point X) at the point X is zero. When there is no cruising capacity, selection (extraction) of new road links A, B, and C is not performed.
In addition, even when there is no unselected (unextracted) road link connected to the point X in the selected road map data W, M, and L, of course, selection (extraction) of the road link is not performed) .

The extraction process in step S23 is repeatedly performed until the remaining battery level (cruising surplus capacity) is zero when it is considered that the vehicle 2 has traveled on the obtained cruising possible route.
Therefore, the cruising route is required as a road network that spreads radially like a mesh around the current location.

Here, it is preferable to use road map data with a high degree of detail in order to more appropriately obtain a cruising route. However, if the calculation for obtaining the cruising route is performed using only the road map data having a high degree of detail, the number of road links extracted in step S23 increases, and accordingly, the cruising route such as the calculation of the remaining battery level is obtained. The calculation load in the entire calculation for obtaining is increased.
On the other hand, when road map data with a low level of detail is used as in this embodiment, the number of road links selected is reduced because the number of road links connected to a certain node is relatively small. Can be suppressed. In this embodiment, a part of the cruising route is obtained using road map data with a low level of detail, so that the amount of calculation can be suppressed.

In step S23, when new road links A, B, and C constituting the cruising route are extracted, the battery at each of the end points XA, XB, and XC (end points of the updated cruising route) of the new road link. The remaining amount (cruising surplus value) is calculated (step S24).
The remaining battery level calculated in step 24 is used in step S23 described above and step S25 described later.

In the present embodiment, the calculation of the remaining battery capacity as the cruising surplus value is acquired from not only the road map data W, M, and L in the storage unit 15 but also the static traffic information and the dynamic traffic information, and the in-vehicle device 3. Information (time, vehicle ID (vehicle type), auxiliary machine power consumption, number of passengers) is also used.

When the remaining battery level is easily obtained, the remaining battery level at points XA, XB, and XC can be calculated if the remaining battery level at point X and the power consumption of motor 8 according to the distance between road links A, B, and C are known. Good.
However, since the power consumption of the motor 8 of the vehicle 2 changes not only by the distance but also by the road gradient, more appropriate calculation can be performed by considering the road gradient information included in the static traffic information. The remaining battery level can be calculated. In addition, since the power consumption of the vehicle changes due to accidents and traffic jams even at the same distance, a more appropriate battery level can be calculated by performing calculations that also take into account dynamic traffic information such as accident and traffic jam information on the relevant road links. can do.

In addition, since the motor performance and the like differ depending on the vehicle type, a more appropriate remaining battery level can be calculated by performing a calculation in consideration of the vehicle ID (vehicle type).
Furthermore, since the power consumption of the vehicle is affected by the power consumption of the auxiliary equipment 9 (headlight, wiper, air conditioner) of the vehicle 2, by performing calculation in consideration of the power consumption of the auxiliary equipment 9, An appropriate remaining battery level can be calculated.
Furthermore, since the power consumption of the vehicle 2 is influenced by the number of passengers, an appropriate remaining battery level can be calculated by performing a calculation that takes into account the number of passengers.

The calculated battery remaining amount (estimated battery remaining amount) is stored in the storage unit 15 for each road link constituting the cruising route. Information indicating the road map data W, M, and L used for extraction (selection) is also accumulated in the storage unit 15 for each selected (extracted) road link. Information indicating the remaining battery level and road map data for each road link is used to generate display data for display in the in-vehicle device 3.

When the remaining battery level, which is a cruising surplus value, is zero (no cruising surplus) at all of many end points in the cruising route obtained as a road network (step S25), processing including extraction processing in step S24 Exiting the loop, the cruising route calculation process (step S2) ends.
In the present embodiment, the cruising route is continuously obtained until the remaining battery level becomes zero (no cruising surplus), but the cruising route calculation uses a predetermined value (for example, the remaining battery level (cruising surplus power)). This may be done until the remaining battery level is 5% or less.

When the calculation process of the cruising route (step S2) is completed, the calculation unit 19 generates the above-described data and transmits it (step S3). Here, display data transmitted to the in-vehicle device 3 will be described.
The display data includes road link information indicating the road links constituting the cruising route obtained in step S2. By including the road link information in the display data, the in-vehicle device 3 can indicate the road obtained as the cruising route and the cruising range based on the lane on the road map for display.

In the present embodiment, the display data further includes information (classification information) for distinguishing (color-coding) and displaying the road obtained as the cruising route according to the battery remaining amount (estimated battery remaining amount). included.
In the present embodiment, the classification information is color information indicating in what color the road indicated by the road link information is displayed on the in-vehicle device 3 side. The relationship between the remaining battery level and the display color in the in-vehicle device 3 is shown in FIG.
Based on the battery remaining amount (estimated battery remaining amount) for each road link accumulated in the storage unit 15, the calculation unit 19 determines the display color for each road link constituting the cruising route according to the relationship shown in FIG. The information indicating the determined display color is used as color information (section information) for each road link.

By including color information (classification information) in the display data, the display unit 3c of the in-vehicle device 3 distinguishes the road obtained as a cruising route according to the amount of remaining battery power (cruising capacity) (color coding). Can be displayed. It is easier for the driver (user) to intuitively understand the relationship between the remaining battery level and the cruising point by displaying the distinguishable (color-coded) cruising route according to the battery level. It becomes.

In the in-vehicle device 3, there is no need to perform color-coded display according to the classification information. For example, in the in-vehicle device 3 capable of three-dimensional display, the battery remaining amount indicated by the height is displayed on the two-dimensional road map. It may be displayed.

In the present embodiment, the display data can be crushed according to the road map data W, M, and L used for obtaining a cruising route (to extract road links constituting the cruising route). Line width information for varying the thickness of a line indicating a road as a route is included.
In the present embodiment, the line width indicating the road of the cruising route (road link) obtained using the first road map data having the lowest level of detail is maximized, and the level of detail of the used road map data is increased. Accordingly, the line width information is set to be narrow so that the line width indicating the road becomes small.

That is, if the line width at the time of displaying the road link extracted using the first road map data is “large”, the line width at the time of displaying the road link extracted using the second road map data is “medium”. The line width when the road link extracted using the third road map data is displayed is “small”.

When a cruising route is obtained using road map data with a low degree of detail, roads exist in the vicinity of the cruising route, although the road map data with a low degree of detail is omitted. Therefore, the cruising route obtained using the road map data with a low degree of detail is a road network with a coarse mesh, but the fact that the road map data with a low degree of detail is used has a relatively large amount of remaining battery power. Therefore, it is highly possible to reach the mesh.

Therefore, display data for distinguishing and displaying the obtained cruising route according to the level of detail of the road map data used to obtain the cruising route may be generated. For example, a road map with a low level of detail is used to indicate that a road around a cruising route that is omitted in road map data with a low level of detail (a road that has not been extracted as a cruising route) can be reached. By increasing the line width at the time of displaying the road link extracted by using the driver, the driver (user) can be shown the possibility of cruising to a road that is not extracted as a cruising route.

For example, when a national road is selected as a cruising route, the line width when displaying the national road is a thick line that covers the road around the national road so that it can also travel around the national road. This can be shown to the driver (user).

As described above, the arithmetic device for a cruising route according to the present embodiment can function as a display data generation device that generates data to be displayed on the display unit 3c capable of screen display. And the calculating part 19 of this apparatus will classify | categorize the road contained in this cruising route according to the magnitude | size of the battery remaining amount (cruising surplus power) of the vehicle 2, if the cruising possible route of the vehicle 2 is acquired (color classification). Display data to be displayed can be generated.
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the relationship between the magnitude (threshold value) of the remaining battery level (cruising surplus capacity) of the vehicle 2 and the road display mode of the cruising route is set. For example, when the remaining battery level (cable capacity) of the vehicle 2 is less than 39% and 30% or more, the road display mode of the cruising route is “green”.
And the calculating part 19 will acquire the battery remaining amount (cruising surplus power) of the vehicle 2, with reference to the said relationship (relationship shown in FIG. 8), the cruising possible path | route corresponding to this battery remaining amount (cruising surplus power). The display mode of the road is determined.
Then, display data for causing the display unit 3c to display the road included in the cruising route according to the determined display mode is generated. That is, in order to display the road included in the cruising route on the display unit 3c according to the determined display mode, the display data includes color information (discrimination information) indicating the display mode.
According to this apparatus, the cruising possible route is distinguished (color-coded) according to the size of the remaining battery level (cable remaining capacity), and the relationship between the remaining battery level and the cruising point is indicated by the driver (user). Makes it easier to make it intuitive.

[4. Display example of cruising routes]
FIG. 9 shows a road map screen displayed on the display unit 3c by the in-vehicle device 3 that has received the display data. In FIG. 9, roads arranged in only the vertical and horizontal (east, west, north, and south) directions are shown for simplification, but actually, the roads correspond to actual road shapes.
In FIG. 9, the thinnest line indicates a road that is not a reachable route, and the thicker line indicates that the route is a reachable route.

As shown in FIG. 9, the cruising route is displayed separately from the roads that are not cruising routes (actually color-coded display), so the driver (user) can display the road map displayed on the display unit 3c. In the above, it is possible to intuitively grasp the cruising range from the current location. The outermost peripheral part of the cruising range is a point where the remaining battery capacity (cruising remaining power) becomes zero.
In FIG. 9, the color-coded display according to the battery remaining amount of the cruising route is omitted for simplification.

In FIG. 9, there are two types of thick lines indicating cruising routes: thicker lines and thinner lines. In FIG. 9, for the sake of simplification, two types of road map data are used for obtaining a cruising route, and the cruising route obtained using road map data W having a lower level of detail is indicated by a thicker line. In addition, the cruising route obtained using the road map data M having a higher level of detail is indicated by a thinner line.

In the selection process (step 22) shown in FIG. 5, when steps S222 and S226 relating to the third road map data selection are omitted, as shown in FIG. The far-ranging range F in which the remaining force) becomes small is indicated by a thinner line. The cruising range I of the circumferential range I between the current location N and the far range F is indicated by a thicker line.

In the remote range F where the remaining battery capacity (cruising capacity) is small, it is better to know exactly which point the vehicle can reach, so it is better to show the cruising routes including narrow roads such as narrow streets. In the relatively large range I, there is no problem even if only a relatively large road such as a main road is shown.
In addition, since there is a possibility of driving on various roads such as narrow streets in the vicinity of the current location N (not necessarily on the main road immediately from the present time), the route that can be navigated in more detail in the vicinity of the current location The display will be appropriate.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, the cruising route in the vicinity of the current location may be displayed with a rough display. That is, steps S224, 226, and 227 in FIG. 5 may be omitted. When emphasizing the display of the outermost periphery of the cruising range, even the display as shown in FIG. 10 is appropriate.

FIG. 11 is a reference example of a display example of a cruising route. FIG. 11 shows a display screen when a cruising route is obtained using only one type of road map data M. That is, the selection process of FIG. 5 is omitted. Also in FIG. 11, the color-coded display according to the battery remaining amount of the cruising route is omitted for simplification.

[5. Folding suppression processing in lower-level road map data]
In the present embodiment, the road map data used to obtain the cruising route may be switched from a lower level of detail to a higher level of road map data. In this case, FIG. The phenomenon shown will occur.

In FIG. 12A, the cruising route obtained using road map data (for example, first road map data W) having a lower level of detail is indicated by hatching. In FIG. 12A, a dotted line indicates a road included in road map data (for example, first road map data W) having a lower level of detail. As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 12A, the road map data includes few roads.
Further, the cruising possible route indicated by hatching in FIG. 12A is displayed in a display color corresponding to the estimated remaining battery level, and here, it is assumed that it is indicated by a yellow-green color YG.

It is assumed that the road map data is switched to road map data (for example, road map data M) having a higher level of detail in a state where a cruising route is obtained up to the state of FIG. In the road map data M having a higher level of detail, there are more roads (road links) than in FIG. 12A, as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG.
Therefore, when switching to road map data M having a higher level of detail, when selecting a new road link that constitutes a cruising route, in FIG. 12 (b), the already obtained cruising route (yellowish green YG Many of the road links around the road shown) can be selected.

Here, the color of the road of the road link selected using the road map data M having a higher level of detail is indicated by yellow Y indicating that the remaining battery level is lower than yellow-green YG (FIG. 8). reference).
In FIG. 12B, most of the roads indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 12B become new cruising routes, and the new cruising route is displayed in yellow Y.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the road closer to the current location is indicated by yellow Y than the cruising possible route (road indicated by yellow green YG) already obtained in FIG. 12 (a). It will be. That is, yellow Y indicating that the remaining battery level is lower is displayed on the current location side than yellow-green YG indicating that the remaining battery level is higher.

When such a display is switched to road map data M with a higher level of detail, a route (road link) is determined so as to return to the current location side from a point that can be reached with road map data W with a lower level of detail. Arise.
That is, when switching to road map data M with a higher level of detail, it becomes possible to select a road link that did not exist in road map data W with a lower level of detail, so such a reason link is selected. This is because it is possible to obtain a route that turns back to approach the current location.

Even if such a route is turned back, there is no particular problem if the cruising possible route is not distinguished (color-coded) according to the remaining battery capacity (cruising remaining power).
However, when displaying with distinction (color-coded) according to the cruising capacity, the display color Y indicating that the remaining battery level is lower is closer to the current location than the display color YG indicating that the remaining battery level is higher. It will be displayed, giving the driver (user) unnaturalness.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the road map data used for obtaining the cruising route is switched from the road map data W having a lower level of detail to the road map data M having a higher level of detail. The cruising available route (the road link group selected using the road map data W having a lower level of detail) is set as a road link that cannot travel (including crossing) (turnback suppression processing) ).

Selection of a road link that passes (crosses) a road link that cannot travel when a new road link that constitutes a cruising route is extracted (selected) using road map data M having a higher degree of detail. Is forbidden.
For example, when a new road link is selected from the point X in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the road links A and B are set as road links that cannot be traveled. When the road links A and B are not travelable, it is possible to select the unselected road link B as a cruising route, but here, it is prohibited to pass (cross) the road links A and B. Therefore, the road link B is not selected. That is, a new cruising route is not extended from the point X.

In many cases, the cruising route is a mesh-like road network centered on the current location, so that the road link that is already a cruising route is not allowed to travel. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of a cruising route (road link) that turns back inside.
Therefore, even if a non-travelable road (road link) is set and a switch to road map data with a higher level of detail occurs, a cruising route that has already been obtained using road map data with a lower level of detail. It is suppressed that the route on the current location (reference point) side is newly obtained as a cruising route. Therefore, the return of the cruising route is suppressed, and an unnatural display can be suppressed.

It is impossible to travel as a process (return suppression process) that suppresses the need for a route that is closer to the current location (reference point) than a route that has already been obtained using road map data that is less detailed. Not limited to road (road link) setting processing, unextracted (unselected) road links on the current location (reference point) side of the cruising route already determined using road map data with a lower level of detail, The processing may be regarded as an extracted (selected) road link.
By considering it as an extracted (selected) road link, an unextracted (unselected) road link closer to the current location (reference point) than the already obtained cruising route is newly calculated as a cruising route. Can be suppressed.

In the said embodiment, the calculating part 19 can produce | generate the display data for distinguishing and displaying the calculated | required navigable route according to the detail of the road map data used for calculating this navigable route. . That is, the calculation unit 19 can generate display data for displaying the cruising route using road map data having the same level of detail as the road map data used to obtain the cruising route.
In addition to this, the calculation unit 19 may generate display data for displaying the cruising route using road map data having a different level of detail from the road map data used to obtain the cruising route. .
For example, the calculation unit 19 obtains a cruising route using road map data L with a high degree of detail, and displays display data for displaying the obtained cruising route using road map data W with a low degree of detail. It may be generated. In this case, road map data with a high degree of road detail can be used to obtain a cruising route, and map data with a low road detail can be used to display the obtained cruising route, It is possible to reduce a calculation load for displaying a cruising route.

[6. Addendum]
In addition, embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes all modifications within the scope equivalent to the configurations described in the claims.

[Explanation of symbols]
In addition, the code | symbol used in the above 1st chapter is used only in this 1st chapter, and is unrelated to the code | symbol of the following 2nd chapter.
1: Traveling route calculation device 2: Vehicle (electric vehicle)
5: Server 7: Battery 15: Storage unit 17: Computing device 18: Acquisition unit 19: Computing unit

<< Chapter 2 >>
<Problem 2 (Regarding the background art 2)>
Simply displaying the cruising range may not be useful enough for the driver.
On the other hand, if it is possible to present to the driver a place (range) that can be reached with the current remaining battery capacity (climbing capacity), it is more beneficial for the driver.

For example, if it is possible to present to the driver a place where the current battery remaining amount (climbing capacity) can be reciprocated from home (reachable point when reciprocating), the driver can go from home on a day drive. Can be confirmed.

In addition, even if the departure point and destination are not round trips, if you can show the driver where you can take a detour (reachable point when detouring) from the departure point to the destination, The driver can see where he can detour before reaching his destination.

Here, as a reachable point that can be reciprocated from the departure place, it is possible to simply seek a place that can be reached with half of the remaining battery power. However, this can be inaccurate.

For example, when the forward path is an uphill and the return path is a downhill, the power consumption of the return path is smaller than the power consumption of the outbound path. For this reason, there is a possibility that the vehicle can reach farther than a point that can be reached from the departure point with half the battery remaining power.
Conversely, when the forward path is a downhill and the return path is an uphill, the power consumption of the return path is larger than the power consumption of the forward path. For this reason, if it goes from the departure place to a place that can be reached with half of the remaining battery power, it may not be possible to return to the departure place.

Further, there may be a case where traffic conditions such as occurrence of traffic congestion change between the forward path and the return path, and the power consumption of the outbound path and the power consumption of the return path are not equal.
Furthermore, the forward path and the return path may be different paths, and in this case also, the power consumption of the forward path and the power consumption of the return path are not equal.

In this way, in order to more accurately determine how far you can reach from the home that is starting from your home and returning to your destination home, simply “battery level” The idea of “a point that can be reached with half the power” is not appropriate.

Also, the idea of simply finding “a point that can be reached with half the remaining battery power” cannot find a place to detour.

Therefore, an appropriate method for obtaining a cruising point from the starting point to the destination is desired.

[Description of Embodiment of the Present Invention]
First, the contents of the embodiment of the present invention will be listed and described.

(1) The present invention is a device that calculates a cruising route of a vehicle, and searches for a first route for traveling in a direction away from the departure point based on the road map data, using the departure point as a base point. Based on the forward direction search process, the reverse direction search process for searching for the second route for traveling in the direction approaching the destination based on the road map data, and cruising to the determination target point A determination process for determining sex, and the determination target point is a point that can be reached from the departure point by the first route and can reach the destination by the second route, In the determination process, the estimated value of the first energy consumption when traveling on the first route from the departure point to the determination target point and the second route traveled from the determination target point to the destination situational Based on the estimated value of the second energy consumption is cruising route computation device cruising potential is determined to the determination target point.

According to the present invention, the first route for traveling in the direction away from the departure place and the second route for approaching the destination can be obtained. Then, a point that can be reached from the starting point by the first route and that can reach the destination by the second route is set as a determination target point, and energy consumption when passing through the determination target point in the first route and the second route is calculated. By estimating, the possibility of cruising to the determination target point can be determined.
Therefore, for example, it is possible to determine whether or not a certain point is a point that can be reached in a reciprocable manner, or whether or not a certain point is a point that can be detoured.

(2) It is preferable that the starting point and the destination are the same point. In this case, it can be determined whether or not the determination target point is a point that can be reached in a reciprocable manner. The departure point and the destination may be different points.

(3) In the determination process, the possibility of cruising to the determination target point is determined on the basis of the remaining cruising capacity of the vehicle and the sum of the first energy consumption and the second energy consumption. preferable.
In this case, the possibility of cruising to the determination target point can be determined in light of the remaining cruising capacity of the vehicle (for example, the remaining battery level in the electric vehicle and the remaining fuel level in the vehicle having the internal combustion engine).
When determining the possibility of cruising to the point to be judged, it is not limited to the current cruising capacity of the vehicle, but may be judged using the cruising capacity when the battery is fully charged or the assumed cruising capacity. good.

(4) The information for estimating the first energy consumption includes information indicating a road gradient on the first route, and the information for estimating the second energy consumption includes the first energy consumption. Information indicating the slope of the road in the two routes is preferably included.
In this case, each of the first energy consumption and the second energy consumption can be estimated more accurately according to the road gradient.

(5) Further, the present invention is a computer program for causing a computer to function as the cruising route calculation device according to any one of (1) to (4).

As described above, according to the apparatus described in (1) and the computer program described in (5), a new point for obtaining a cruising reachable point from the starting point to the destination is obtained. A method is obtained.

[Details of the embodiment of the present invention]
Hereinafter, specific examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[1. Information system]
FIG. 15 shows an example of an information system provided with a computation device for a cruising route. The information system includes an in-vehicle device 3 and a server 5.
The server 5 can communicate with the in-vehicle device 3 having a wireless communication function via the roadside communication device 4 that performs wireless communication.
The in-vehicle device 3 is not limited to a device that is fixedly mounted on the vehicle, and may be any device that is used on the vehicle. As the in-vehicle device 3, other than a device that is fixedly installed on the vehicle 2, for example, A mobile terminal such as a smartphone carried by a driver (passenger) may be used.

The vehicle 2 of the present embodiment is an electric vehicle that has a rechargeable battery 7 and travels by a travel motor (main machine) 8 that is driven by using the battery 7 as a power source. The vehicle 2 includes an auxiliary machine 9 in addition to the traveling motor 8 that is the main machine. The auxiliary machine 9 is a device that uses the power of the battery 7 in the vehicle 2, such as a headlight, a wiper, and an air conditioner, although it is not directly related to traveling.

The in-vehicle device 3 has a computer, acquires information on the electric vehicle 2 on which the in-vehicle device 3 is mounted, and transmits the information to the server 5 via the roadside communication device 4. Furthermore, information generated by the server 5 (display data, which will be described later) is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 3 via the roadside communication device 4.

The in-vehicle device 3 includes an input unit 3a for a driver (passenger; user) to input various information, a position acquisition unit 3b that can acquire information on the current position, and a display unit 3c. I have.
The input unit 3a includes, for example, a touch panel operated by a driver, and the driver can input various information such as the number of passengers and time of the vehicle by inputting characters.
The position acquisition unit 3b is composed of a device having a GPS function, for example, and acquires information on the current position.
The display unit 3c includes a display and can display various display data on the screen.
Further, the in-vehicle device 3 can acquire information on the remaining amount of battery (remaining power amount) in the battery 7 of the vehicle 2 and the amount of power used by the auxiliary machine 9 (use status of the auxiliary machine 9).

Many roadside communication devices 4 are installed on roads in each region. Each roadside communication device 4 includes a communication device and a communication controller, can wirelessly communicate with the in-vehicle device 3, and can communicate with the server 5 by wire (or wirelessly). The roadside communication device 4 may be a wireless base station that performs wireless communication with a mobile terminal as the in-vehicle device 3.

The server 5 includes one or a plurality of computers, a storage unit 15 including a hard disk storing a computer program and various information, a communication device 16 including a communication interface for communicating with the roadside communication device 4, And an arithmetic device 17 having a function of performing arithmetic processing.

The storage unit 15 includes a road network database 15a that stores road map data (road network data) of each region, and a traffic information database 15b that stores traffic information. Note that the storage unit 15 may be any storage unit 15 that can acquire data via an internal bus or an external interface of the computer, and need not be built in the computer.
The road network database 15a has information on the road network, and the length, gradient, road type, etc. of each road link constituting the road network, and other requirements for the electric vehicle 2 to travel on each road link. Static traffic information necessary for calculating (estimating) the power consumption of the battery 7 is included.

The traffic information database 15b stores dynamic traffic information that changes over time. Examples of the dynamic traffic information include information on road congestion, temperature, weather, accident occurrence, and the like. The dynamic traffic information is also used to calculate (estimate) the power consumption of the battery 7 required for traveling on the road link.
Note that the static traffic information and the dynamic traffic information may be stored outside the server 5. In this case, the server 5 may acquire static traffic information or dynamic traffic information stored outside as needed.

[2. Travelable route calculation device]
The server 5 has a plurality of functional units that perform various functions, and one of these functional units is the cruising route calculation device 1. The server 5 includes a computer having a CPU, an internal memory, and the like, and a computer program for causing the server 5 to function as the cruising route calculation device 1 is installed in the storage unit 15. Each function (the functions of the acquisition unit 18 and the calculation unit 19) provided in the cruising route calculation device 1 is exhibited when the computer program is executed by the server 5 (computer). The computer program can be stored in a storage medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the in-vehicle device 3 transmits request information i <b> 1 in order to acquire information (display data) on the reachable range of the vehicle 2 from the server 5. The request information i1 may be transmitted based on an operation performed by the input unit 3a by the driver (user of the in-vehicle device 3), or may be transmitted periodically.
The in-vehicle device 3 transmits, to the server 5, transmission information used for calculating the cruising route of the vehicle 2 together with the request information i1 when transmitting the request information i1.
The transmission information includes, for example, the current location (departure location), destination, and time (current time (departure time) or arrival time at the destination) of the vehicle 2, the remaining battery level of the battery 7, and the vehicle ID of the vehicle 2 ( Information such as the type of the vehicle 2, the amount of electric power used by the auxiliary machine 9 of the vehicle 2, and the number of passengers of the vehicle 2 can be included.

The current location transmitted to the server 5 is acquired by the position acquisition unit 3b. The time transmitted to the server 5 can be the one input from the input unit 3a by the driver (user of the in-vehicle device 3).
The battery remaining amount transmitted to the server 5 is acquired from a battery remaining amount monitoring function unit (not shown) of the battery 7. The battery remaining amount is an example of surplus information indicating the cruising surplus capacity at the current location (current time) of the vehicle 2.
The remaining power information transmitted to the server 5 is not limited to the remaining battery level but may be the remaining fuel level (in the case of the vehicle 2 having an engine).
Further, the surplus information transmitted to the server 5 may be information indicating the power consumption of the vehicle 2. For example, when the server 5 knows the remaining battery level of the vehicle 2 in the past, the in-vehicle device 3 transmits information indicating the power consumption from the past time to the server 5. Also good. In this case, the server can obtain the battery remaining amount of the vehicle 2 at the present time by subtracting the power consumption from the battery remaining amount at the past time. Note that the amount of fuel consumed may be used instead of the amount of power consumed.

The vehicle ID (vehicle type) transmitted to the server 5 may be acquired from a control unit (not shown) of the vehicle 3 or may be registered in the storage device 15 of the in-vehicle device 3.
The auxiliary machine power transmitted to the server 5 may be obtained from a control unit (not shown) that controls the auxiliary machine 9 in the vehicle 3, or a control unit (not shown) that controls the auxiliary machine 9 in the vehicle 3. May be obtained, and the power usage of the auxiliary machine 9 may be calculated by the in-vehicle device 3.
The number of passengers transmitted to the server 5 is input from the input unit 3a. Further, when there is no input from the input unit 3a, the number of persons set as a default value (for example, one or two persons) may be transmitted to the server 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the acquisition unit 18 of the server 5 together with the request information i <b> 1 transmitted from the in-vehicle device 3, the current location and time of the vehicle 2 (current time (departure time) or arrival time at the destination). , Information on the remaining battery capacity of the battery 7 (remaining capacity information indicating the cruising surplus capacity), the vehicle ID of the vehicle 2 (model of the vehicle 2), the amount of power used by the auxiliary machine 9 of the vehicle 2, the number of passengers of the vehicle 2, etc. (Step S1).
When the server 5 acquires the request information i1, the server 5 uses the information such as the remaining battery level (remaining power information) acquired together with the request information i1 to calculate a range (a reachable area) in which the vehicle 2 can be reciprocated. (Step S2). This calculation is performed by the calculation unit 19.
When the server 5 obtains a roundtrip reachable area (reachable range) as a calculation result, the server 5 generates information i2 (display data) indicating the determined reachable range, and transmits the information i2 to the in-vehicle device 3 (step) S3).

When receiving the information i2 (display data) indicating the calculation result from the server 5, the in-vehicle device 3 generates a display screen using the information i2 (display data) and displays it on the display unit 3c. The in-vehicle device 3 generates a display screen showing a range on which the vehicle 2 can be reciprocated on the display road map based on the display data.
This makes it easy for the driver of the vehicle 2 to intuitively understand how far the vehicle 2 can travel.

[3. Calculation of service area that can be reciprocated]
FIG. 17 shows a procedure for calculating a service area that can be reciprocated by the calculation unit 19 (step S2).
In the calculation of the service area that can be reciprocated, first, the remaining battery setting process is performed as the cruising reserve value used for the calculation (step S11).
In the setting process (step S11), the information on the remaining amount of battery included in the information acquired from the in-vehicle device 3 (the remaining capacity information indicating the remaining cruising capacity at the current location (departure location)) is set as the cruising remaining capacity value in the service area calculation. Here, the battery remaining amount is set as the cruising surplus value.
The battery remaining amount as the cruising surplus value is used for comparison with the power consumption (energy consumption) consumed by traveling on a route passing through a certain point (determination target point).
Note that the remaining cruising power value may not be the remaining battery capacity. For example, the remaining cruising value may be the remaining fuel amount of the vehicle 2.

Subsequent to the setting process (step S11), two route search processes including a forward direction search process (step S12) and a reverse direction search process (step S13) are performed. Both of the two route search processes are performed based on road map data (road network data) stored in the road network database 15.

In the forward direction search process in step S12, one or a plurality of first routes for traveling in a direction away from the departure point (current location) are searched with the departure point (current location) as a base point.
In the reverse direction search process in step S13, one or a plurality of second routes for traveling in a direction approaching the destination are searched for using the destination as a base point.

Hereinafter, the forward direction search process and the backward direction search process will be described based on a specific example of FIG.
FIG. 18A shows road map data (road link structure) around the home serving as the starting point and destination. In FIG. 18A, the home is on a road that can be passed in both directions. Further, in FIG. 18A, lanes whose traveling direction is a direction from the left side to the right side in the drawing are shown as a first link, a second link, a third link, a fourth link, and a fifth link. In addition, lanes whose traveling direction is the direction from the right side to the left side in the figure are shown as the sixth link, the seventh link, the eighth link, the ninth link, and the tenth link. Moreover, the direction of the arrow in each link indicates the traveling direction of the vehicle in each link.
It is assumed that the home is on the third link and the eighth link shown in FIG.

When the reachable point is determined with the home as the departure point and the destination, in the forward direction search process (step S12), one or a plurality of first routes for traveling in the direction away from the home (departure point) (forward direction) is obtained. The search is based on the starting point of the home. That is, a route along the direction of the arrow of each link is searched from the home as a base point.
Therefore, in the case of the road link structure shown in FIG. 18 (a), the first forward path “third link → the fourth link → the fifth link →... A second forward path “8th link → 9th link → 10th link →...” Is searched.

Further, in the reverse direction search process (step S13), one or a plurality of second routes for traveling in a direction approaching the home (destination) is searched for based on the home that is the destination. That is, a route along the reverse direction of the arrow of each link is searched from the home.
Therefore, in the case of the road link structure shown in FIG. 18 (a), as the second route (reverse route), the first reverse route “third link → second link → first link →...”, The second reverse direction path “8th link → 7th link → 6th link →...” Is searched.

In FIG. 18 (a), since the road structure is simple, the number of searched routes is small for both the first route and the second route, but in the case of a complicated road structure including branches and intersections, there are many routes. The first route and the second route are searched.
In addition, the lengths of the first route and the second route to be searched are set as a length sufficient to obtain a later-described determination target point.

For each link that constitutes the first route searched in the forward direction search process (step S12) and each link that constitutes the second route searched in the reverse direction search process (step S13), a vehicle is provided for each link. An estimated value of power consumption (energy consumption) is calculated.

Since the road map data in the storage unit 15 includes length information indicating the length of each link, based on the length of each link, an estimated value of power consumption when traveling through each link is obtained. Can be calculated.

In this embodiment, the calculation of the estimated value of power consumption is not only the length of each link, but also static traffic information and dynamic traffic information, and information acquired from the in-vehicle device 3 (departure time or arrival time, vehicle ID (vehicle type), auxiliary machine power consumption, number of passengers) is also used.

Since the power consumption of the motor 8 of the vehicle 2 varies not only with the travel distance of the vehicle but also with the road gradient, the calculation of the power consumption amount is calculated in consideration of the road gradient information included in the static traffic information. By doing so, the estimated value of the power consumption can be calculated more accurately.
For example, as shown in FIG. 18B, when the fourth link is a downhill and the seventh link is an uphill, even if the fourth link and the seventh link are the same road, the consumption at the seventh link electric energy X ₇ is larger than the power consumption amount X ₄ of the fourth link.

In addition, since the power consumption of the vehicle changes due to accidents and traffic jams even at the same distance, it is possible to estimate power consumption more accurately by performing calculations that also take into account dynamic traffic information such as accident and traffic jam information on the relevant road links. A value can be calculated. Note that, based on the departure time or the arrival time, traffic congestion prediction information in a time zone in which a link travels may be obtained, and the power consumption may be estimated in consideration of the traffic congestion prediction information.

In addition, since the motor performance and the like vary depending on the vehicle model, the estimated value of the power consumption can be calculated more accurately by performing the calculation taking the vehicle ID (vehicle model) into consideration.
Furthermore, since the power consumption of the vehicle is affected by the power consumption of the auxiliary equipment 9 (headlight, wiper, air conditioner) of the vehicle 2, by performing calculation in consideration of the power consumption of the auxiliary equipment 9, The estimated power consumption can be calculated more accurately.
Furthermore, since the power consumption of the vehicle 2 is affected by the number of passengers, the estimated value of the power consumption can be calculated more accurately by performing a calculation in consideration of the number of passengers.

In the present embodiment, the determination process is performed after the forward direction search process and the backward direction search process (step S14). In the determination process, the possibility of cruising to a determination target point on the first route and the second route is determined.
The determination target point is selected as a point that can be reached from the home (departure point) by the searched first route and can reach the destination by the searched second route.
For example, FIGS. 18A and 18B show a case where the end point of the fifth link (start point of the sixth link) is set as the determination target point.

In this case, in the determination process, based on the estimated value of the power consumption of each link constituting the first route (the third link → the fourth link → the fifth link) from the home (departure place) to the determination target point, An estimated value of the first integrated power (first energy consumption) when traveling on the first route (third link → fourth link → fifth link) is obtained.
Further, in the determination process, based on the estimated value of the power consumption of each link constituting the second route (sixth link → seventh link → eighth link) from the determination target point to the home (destination), An estimated value of the second integrated power (second energy consumption) when traveling on two routes (sixth link → seventh link → eighth link) is obtained.

Further, in the determination process, the power consumption when reciprocating between the home and the determination target point is the sum of the first integrated power (power consumption in the forward direction) and the second integrated power (power consumption in the reverse direction). An estimate of the quantity).

If the amount of power consumed when reciprocating between the home and the determination target point is equal to the remaining battery capacity (cruising surplus value), the determination target point is the limit point where the user can reciprocate from the home. In addition, if the power consumption when reciprocating between the home and the determination target point is smaller than the battery remaining amount (cruising surplus value), the determination target point can reciprocate from the home and the battery remaining amount (cruising range) If it is larger than the reserve power value), the determination target point cannot be reciprocated from the home.

Therefore, in the determination process (determination of cruising possibility), the sum of the first integrated power (power consumption in the forward direction) and the second integrated power (power consumption in the reverse direction) and the remaining battery level (cruising remaining power value) And compare. As a result of the comparison, if the remaining battery level is greater, it is determined that the determination target point can be reciprocated from home, and if the remaining battery level is smaller, the determination target point cannot be reciprocated from home. It is determined.
Further, if the sum of the first integrated power (power consumption in the forward direction) and the second integrated power (power consumption in the reverse direction) and the remaining battery level (cruising reserve power value) are substantially equal, the determination target point Is determined to be a reachable point that is the limit of the cruising range.

The above determination processing is performed for a plurality of determination target points on the first route and the second route. Therefore, a plurality of reachable points that are the limits of cruising can be obtained based on the result of the determination process. A set of a plurality of reachable points that are the limits of the cruising range indicates a reachable area (reachable range) that can be reciprocated.

Note that the determination process may be executed as an end condition for the forward direction search process and the backward direction search process. In this case, a search for a new link is performed so as to extend the first route or the second route until a link that becomes a cruising limit is obtained, and when a link that becomes a cruising limit is obtained, a forward search process and The reverse direction search process ends.

FIG. 19 shows a modification of the present embodiment. In FIG. 18, the starting point and the destination are the same point, but in FIG. 19, the starting point and the destination are different points. In such a case, the calculation shown in FIG. 17 can be performed. When it is determined that the determination target points T ₁ and T ₂ shown in FIG. 19 are reachable points that are the limits of the cruising range, the points that can be detoured from the departure point to the destination (arrival of the detour) Sphere).

[4. Addendum]
In addition, embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes all modifications within the scope equivalent to the configurations described in the claims.
For example, in the embodiment disclosed this time, the information system includes a vehicle-mounted device (device mounted on a vehicle). The person may operate a portable terminal such as a personal computer or a smartphone at home or office. That is, the request information i1 may be transmitted from a personal computer or a smartphone at home or office, and the information i2 indicating the reachable range may be received from the server 5.

[Explanation of symbols]
In addition, the code | symbol used in the above 2nd chapter is used only in this 2nd chapter, and is unrelated to the code | symbol of the said 1st chapter.
1: Traveling route calculation device 2: Vehicle (electric vehicle)
5: Server 7: Battery 15: Storage unit 17: Computing device 18: Acquisition unit 19: Computing unit

Claims (19)

An apparatus for calculating a cruising route of a vehicle,
A storage unit for storing road map data;
Based on the road map data stored in the storage unit, a calculation unit for obtaining a cruising route on which the vehicle can travel from a reference point until the cruising remaining capacity of the vehicle becomes a predetermined value or less;
With
The storage unit stores a plurality of road map data with different degrees of detail,
The calculation unit selects any one of the plurality of road map data according to a point from the reference point until the remaining cruising capacity of the vehicle becomes a predetermined value or less, and selects the selected road map data. A cruising route calculation device that uses a cruising route to find a cruising route The plurality of road map data stored in the storage unit includes first road map data and second road map data having a road detail level higher than that of the first road map data.
The computing unit is
When obtaining a cruising route at a point where the cruising surplus is greater than a threshold, obtain a cruising route using the first road map data,
The cruising route calculation device according to claim 1, wherein the cruising route is obtained using the second road map data when the cruising route is obtained at a point where the remaining cruising power is smaller than the threshold value. When the calculation unit obtains a cruising route using the second road map data, the route closer to the reference point than the cruising route already obtained using the first road map data is a cruising route. The cruising route calculating device according to claim 2, wherein processing for suppressing the demand is performed. The calculation unit uses the second road map data at a point where the distance from the reference point on the route that can be reached does not exceed the reference distance even if the remaining cruising capacity is greater than the threshold. The cruising route calculation device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a cruising route is obtained, and a cruising route is obtained using the first road map data at a point exceeding the reference distance. The calculation unit generates display data for distinguishing and displaying the obtained cruising route according to the magnitude of the cruising remaining capacity on the obtained cruising route. The described cruising route calculation device. The calculation unit generates display data for distinguishing and displaying the obtained cruising route according to the level of detail of the road map data used to obtain the cruising route. The cruising route calculation device according to item 1. An acquisition unit for acquiring surplus information indicating the remaining cruising capacity at the reference point;
The cruising route calculation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the remaining power information includes information indicating a remaining battery capacity of the vehicle. The acquisition unit further acquires information indicating power usage of auxiliary equipment of the vehicle,
The cruising route calculation device according to claim 7, wherein the calculation unit calculates a cruising remaining capacity on a cruising route using the information indicating the electric power used by an auxiliary device of the vehicle. The acquisition unit further acquires information indicating the number of passengers of the vehicle,
The cruising route calculation device according to claim 7, wherein the calculation unit calculates a cruising surplus capacity on a cruising route using the information indicating the number of passengers of the vehicle. The cruising route calculation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the calculation unit calculates cruising surplus capacity on a cruising route using dynamic traffic information that changes over time. The navigable according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit generates display data for displaying the navigable route using road map data having a different level of detail from the road map data used for obtaining the navigable route. Route arithmetic unit. The calculation unit obtains a cruising route using road map data with a higher degree of detail, and generates display data for displaying the obtained cruising route using road map data with a lower degree of detail. Item 12. The cruising route calculation device according to item 11. A computer program that causes a computer to function as a calculation unit that calculates a cruising route of a vehicle,
The computing unit is
Obtaining a cruising route on which the vehicle can travel from a reference point until the cruising margin of the vehicle becomes a predetermined value or less;
Select one of a plurality of road map data according to a point from the reference point until the remaining cruising capacity of the vehicle becomes a predetermined value or less, and use the selected road map data to select a cruising route The computer program you want. A display data generation device that generates data for display on a display unit capable of screen display,
When obtaining a cruising route of the vehicle, a calculation unit that generates display data for displaying the roads included in the cruising route according to the cruising capacity of the vehicle,
The computing unit further acquires the cruising surplus capacity of the vehicle, refers to the relationship between the cruising surplus capacity of the vehicle and the display mode in the display unit of the road included in the cruising available route, and corresponds to the acquired cruising surplus capacity. A display data generation device that determines the display mode and generates the display data for causing the display unit to display a road included in a cruising route according to the determined display mode. An apparatus for calculating a cruising route of a vehicle,
Based on the road map data, a forward direction search process for searching for a first route for traveling in a direction away from the departure point from the departure point;
Based on the road map data, a reverse direction search process for searching for a second route for traveling in a direction approaching the destination with the destination as a base point;
A determination process for determining the cruising possibility to the determination target point;
Is configured to run
The determination target point is a point that can be reached from the starting point by the first route and can reach the destination by the second route,
In the determination process, the estimated value of the first energy consumption when traveling on the first route from the departure point to the determination target point and the second route traveled from the determination target point to the destination A cruising route calculation device in which the cruising possibility to the determination target point is determined based on the estimated value of the second energy consumption in the case. The cruising route calculation device according to claim 15, wherein the starting point and the destination are the same point. 17. In the determination process, the possibility of cruising to the determination target point is determined based on a surplus vehicle cruising capacity and the sum of the first energy consumption amount and the second energy consumption amount. The described cruising route calculation device. The information for estimating the first energy consumption includes information indicating a road gradient in the first route,
The cruising route calculation device according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the information for estimating the second energy consumption includes information indicating a road gradient in the second route. A computer program that causes a computer to function as a cruising route calculation device that calculates a cruising route of a vehicle,
The cruising route calculation device is:
Based on the road map data, a forward direction search process for searching for a first route for traveling in a direction away from the departure point from the departure point;
Based on the road map data, a reverse direction search process for searching for a second route for traveling in a direction approaching the destination with the destination as a base point;
A determination process for determining the cruising possibility to the determination target point;
Is configured to run
The determination target point is a point that can be reached from the starting point by the first route and can reach the destination by the second route,
In the determination process, the estimated value of the first energy consumption when traveling on the first route from the departure point to the determination target point and the second route traveled from the determination target point to the destination The computer program which determines the cruising possibility to the said determination target point based on the estimated value of the 2nd energy consumption in the case.

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