EP0349652B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle navigation system
Assignee: Aisin AW Co Ltd
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Filing: 1988-12-23
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Granted: 1996-03-27
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Expires: 2008-12-23
Abstract
Abstract The navigation system of the invention includes a distance sensor (1), a steering angle sensor (3), a curve detection unit (9) to which a distance signal and a steering angle signal are inputted and which calculates a car driving direction change by referring to a steering angle-driving direction conversion table (17), a route search unit (13) to which the present position and the destination are inputted and which makes route search from crossing data, road data and node data, a comparison/judgement unit (11) for comparing the searched route data with the result of curve detection and judging whether or not the difference between them is within a predetermined value and a guide processing unit (15) for executing predetermined guide processing in accordance with the comparison result. Accordingly, the apparatus can judge whether or not the car has turned at a guide crossing or a node on the course, and whether or not the car is on the scheduled course and if the car has turned correctly, calculates the present position by correcting the distance from its crossing position data or node data and if the car is judged to be off the course, notifies it to the driver and instructs him of the subsequent processing.
Inventors
- 👤 Shoji Yokoyama
- 👤 Akimasa Nanba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:40
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/28; G01C21/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
Navigation method comprising the following steps: a) course exploration for generating course data from a present position to a destination, based on intersection data, road data and node data b) providing a driver with the guidance information, c) comparing the course data with measured travel data, representing change in travelling direction as calculated from measured travelled distance and steering angle d) deciding whether or not the vehicle is travelling along the course, e) providing the driver with an instruction to stop the vehicle if it is decided that the vehicle has strayed off course, f) once the vehicle has stopped, exploring a new course from the calculated location at which the vehicle has stopped to the original destination, g) comparing the new course to the original course, and h) in dependence on the result of said comparison, providing the driver with instructions either to continue travel in accordance with the new course or to return to the point where the vehicle strayed off the original course and to continue along that course.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
268 words
A navigation apparatus comprising: a) a distance sonsor (1) for detecting distance travelled and for generating a distance signal; b) a vehicle travelling angle sensor (3) for generating a signal for vehicle travelling angle; c) a curve detecting unit (9) provided with inputs of the distance signal and the vehicle travelling angle signal for calculating a change in vehicle travelling direction; d) an exploration unit (13) for performing course exploration based on intersection data, road date and node data, and for generating course data from the present position to the destination; e) a comparison-decision unit (11) for comparing said course data explored by said exploration unit with travel data from said curve detecting unit, and for deciding whether or not the vehicle is travelling along the course; f) a guidance processor unit (15) for providing the driver with guidance information and instructions; characterized in that g) the guidance processor unit (15) is adapted to inform the driver about "OFF-COURSE" when it is judged that the vehicle has strayed off the course to then instruct the driver to stop the vehicle; h) said exploration unit (13) is adapted to re-explore a new course from the present stopped position to the destination when it is judged that the vehicle has strayed off the course; i) means are provided for comparing the new course to the original course and in dependence on the result of said comparison providing the driver with instructions either to continue travel in accordance with the new course or to return to the point where the vehicle strayed off the course and to continue along that course.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein said curve detecting unit (9) is adapted to calculate a change in vehicle travelling direction by referring to a steering angle-travelling direction conversion table (17).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said re-exploration unit (313) is adapted to guide course for return to the point of strayed off course when new course from present position to destination can not be found.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the guidance processor unit (15) is adapted to calculate the present position by performing a distance correction based on intersection position data or node position data when the difference between an angle of an intersection or node of a retrieved course and the results of curve detection is less than a predetermined value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, adapted for performing of distance computation with the intersection position being taken as a geographical point at which steering angle is maximum during detection of a curve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the guidance processor unit (15) is adapted to provide an off-course indication and instructions for subsequent countermeasures when it is determined that the vehicle is not on a predetermined course by comparing retrieved course data and the results of curve detection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, adapted to give the off-course indication and the instructions for subsequent countermeasures provided by the guidance processor unit (15) in the form of a display or voice output.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 8, wherein, the guidance processor unit (15) is adapted to compare the new course and an original course and, based on the results of the comparison, to give instructions to travel in accordance with the new course or to return to a geographical point at which the vehicle went off course when the vehicle is detected to be off course, the vehicle is stopped and a new course from a geographical point at which the vehicle is stopped to a destination is found.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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