EP0763713A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for calibration of a distance sensor in a vehicle navigation system
Assignee: Visteon Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1996-09-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-09-16
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for modifying an odometer reading in a vehicle navigation system to compensate for odometer errors. A first distance measurement is obtained from the odometer, and a second distance measurement is obtained from at least one other sensor. The difference between the first and second distance measurements is determined and an adjustment amount is generated in response thereto. A modification factor is then adjusted by the adjustment amount, the modification factor being for modifying the odometer reading. The odometer reading is then modified with the modification factor. A method and apparatus for selecting a pulse rate setting in a vehicle navigation system to correspond to a pulse rate associated with the odometer are also described. A first distance measurement is obtained from the odometer and a second distance measurement is obtained from at least one other sensor. The difference between the first and second distance measurements is then determined. The pulse rate setting is changed to correspond to the odometer pulse rate if the difference is greater than a threshold level, and is left unchanged if the difference is less than the threshold level.
Inventors
- 👤 Hidekazu Oshizawa
- 👤 Toshikazu Sakakibara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C25/00; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/28; G01C22/00; G01C22/02; G01S; G01S19/00; G01S19/38; G01S19/39; G01S19/42; G01S19/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for modifying an odometer reading in a vehicle navigation system to compensate for odometer errors, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a first distance measurement from the odometer; obtaining a second distance measurement from at least one other sensor; determining a first difference between the first and second distance measurements; generating an adjustment amount in response to the determining step; and adjusting a modification factor by the adjustment amount, the modification factor being for modifying the odometer reading; and modifying the odometer reading with the modification factor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of repeating the obtaining steps before generating the adjustment amount if the first difference is greater than a threshold level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step. of obtaining a first distance measurement comprises receiving first distance data from the odometer and the step of obtaining a second distance measurement comprises receiving second distance data from the at least one other sensor, the method further comprising the step of repeating the cbtaining steps before generating the adjustment amount if either of the first and second distance data are determined to be unreliable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a maximum value limit is placed on the adjustment amount and wherein the generating step comprises setting the maximum value limit to one of a plurality of levels, each of the plurality of levels corresponding to the number of repetitions of the adjusting step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the obtaining, determining, generating, adjusting, and modifying steps are repeated a plurality of times, and wherein the obtaining steps employ a first number of distance data points to obtain the first and second distance measurements, the first number varying according to the number of repetitions of the adjusting step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: determining a first vehicle position based on the first distance measurement; determining a second vehicle position based on the second distance measurement, the second vehicle position having a relative relationship with the first vehicle position; determining whether the relative relationship is consistent with the modification factor; proceeding to the adjusting step if the relative relationship is consistent with the modification factor; and repeating the obtaining steps if the relative relationship is inconsistent with the modification factor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one other sensor comprises a global positioning satellite (GPS) sensor which receives a GPS signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of: determining whether reception of the GPS signal is stable for the obtaining steps; proceeding to the adjusting step if the reception of the GPS signal is determined to be stable during the obtaining steps; and repeating the obtaining steps if the reception of the GPS signal is determined to be unstable during the obtaining steps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of: determining a vehicle speed using the GPS signal; proceeding to the adjusting step if the vehicle speed is determined to be greater than or equal to a threshold level; and repeating the obtaining steps if the vehicle speed is determined to be less than the threshold level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
104 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the odometer has a pulse rate associated therewith and the vehicle navigation system has a pulse rate setting associated therewith, the method further comprising the steps of: obtaining a third distance measurement from the odometer; obtaining a fourth distance measurement from the at least one other sensor; determining a second difference between the third and fourth distance measurements; changing the pulse rate setting to correspond to the pulse rate if the second difference is greater than or equal to a threshold level; and proceeding to the adjusting step if the second difference is less than the threshold level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one other sensor comprises a global positioning satellite (GPS) sensor which receives a GPS signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: determining whether reception of the GPS signal is stable for the third and fourth obtaining steps; proceeding to the step of determining a second difference if the reception of the GPS signal is determined to be stable during the third and fourth obtaining steps; and repeating the third and fourth obtaining steps if the reception of the GPS signal is determined to be unstable during the third and fourth obtaining steps.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: determining a vehicle speed using the GPS signal; proceeding to the step of determining a second difference if the vehicle speed is determined to be greater than or equal to a threshold level; and repeating the third and fourth obtaining steps if the vehicle speed is determined to be less than the threshold level.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for modifying an odometer reading in a vehicle navigation system to compensate for odometer errors, wherein the odometer has a pulse rate associated therewith and the vehicle navigation system has a pulse rate setting associated therewith, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a first distance measurement from the odometer; obtaining a second distance measurement from at least one other sensor; determining a first difference between the first and second distance measurements; changing the pulse rate setting to correspond to the pulse rate if the first difference is greater than or equal to a threshold level; obtaining a third distance measurement from the odometer; obtaining a fourth distance measurement from the at least one other sensor; determining a second difference between the third and fourth distance measurements; generating an adjustment amount in response to the step of determining a second difference; adjusting a modification factor by the adjustment amount, the modification factor being for modifying the odometer reading; modifying the odometer reading with the modification factor thereby generating a modified odometer reading repeating the third and fourth obtaining steps, the second determining step, the generating step, the adjusting step, and the modifying step a plurality of times.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one other sensor comprises a global positioning satellite (GPS) sensor which receives a GPS signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: determining whether reception of the GPS signal is stable for the first and second obtaining steps; proceeding to the step of determining a first difference if the reception of the GPS signal is determined to be stable during the first and second obtaining steps; and repeating the first and second obtaining steps if the reception of the GPS signal is determined to be unstable during the first and second obtaining steps.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: determining a vehicle speed using the GPS signal; proceeding to the step of determining a first difference if the vehicle speed is determined to be greater than or equal to a threshold level; and repeating the first and second obtaining steps if the vehicle speed is determined to be less than the threshold level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: determining whether reception of the GPS signal is stable for the third and fourth obtaining steps; proceeding to the adjusting step if the reception of the GPS signal is determined to be stable during the third and fourth obtaining steps; and repeating the third and fourth obtaining steps if the reception of the GPS signal is determined to be unstable during the third and fourth obtaining steps.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: determining a vehicle speed using the GPS signal; proceeding to the adjusting step if the vehicle speed is determined to be greater than or equal to a threshold level; and repeating the third and fourth obtaining steps if the vehicle speed is determined to be less than the threshold level.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 14 wherein a maximum value limit is placed on the adjustment amount and wherein the generating step comprises setting the maximum value limit to one of a plurality of levels, each of the plurality of levels corresponding to a number of repetitions of the adjusting step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the third and fourth obtaining steps employ a first number of distance data points to obtain the third and fourth distance measurements, the first number varying according to the number of repetitions of the adjusting step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of: determining a first vehicle position based on the third distance measurement; determining a second vehicle position based on the fourth distance measurement, the second vehicle position having a relative relationship with the first vehicle position; determining whether the relative relationship is consistent with the modification factor; proceeding to the adjusting step if the relative relationship is consistent with the modification factor; and repeating the third and fourth obtaining steps if the relative relationship is inconsistent with the modification factor.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for selecting a pulse rate setting in a vehicle navigation system to correspond to a pulse rate associated with an odometer, comprising the steps of: obtaining a first distance measurement from the odometer; obtaining a second distance measurement from at least one other sensor; determining a difference between the first and second distance measurements; changing the pulse rate setting to correspond to the pulse rate if the difference is greater than or equal to a threshold level; and leaving the pulse rate setting unchanged if the difference is less than the threshold level.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the at least one other sensor comprises a global positioning satellite (GPS) sensor which receives a GPS signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the steps of: determining whether reception of the GPS signal is stable for the obtaining steps; proceeding to the step of determining a difference if the reception of the GPS signal is determined to be stable during the obtaining steps; and repeating the obtaining steps if the reception of the GPS signal is determined to be unstable during the obtaining steps.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the steps of: determining a vehicle speed using the GPS signal; proceeding to the step of determining a difference if the vehicle speed is determined to be greater than or equal to a threshold level; and repeating the obtaining steps if the vehicle speed is determined to be less than the threshold level.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
88 words
A vehicle navigation system operable to compensate for odometer errors comprising: an odometer; at least one other sensor; means for determining a difference between a first distance measurement from the odometer and a second distance measurement from the at least one other sensor; means for generating an adjustment amount in response to the determination of the difference; and means for adjusting a modification factor by the adjustment amount, the modification factor being for modifying the odometer reading; and means for modifying the odometer reading with the modification factor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
97 words
A vehicle navigation system operable to select a pulse rate setting to correspond to a pulse rate associated with an odometer comprising: an odometer; at least one other sensor; means for determining a difference between a first distance measurement from the odometer and a second distance measurement from the at least one other sensor; and means for changing the pulse rate setting to correspond to the pulse rate if the difference is greater than or equal to a threshold level, and for leaving the pulse rate setting unchanged if the difference is less than the threshold level.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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