US5428545A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle guiding system responsive to estimated congestion
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1994-01-05
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Granted: 1995-06-27
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Expires: 2014-01-05
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a vehicle guidance system capable of showing a recommendable route between the present position of the vehicle and a destination on a map. The vehicle guidance system comprises a routing unit for finding a recommendable route between the present position of the vehicle and a destination by using road data, a congestion detecting unit detects traffic congestion on the basis of the traveling mode of the vehicle, and a congested place estimating unit estimates presumably congested roads on the recommendable route by using the road data when the congestion detecting unit detects traffic congestion.
Inventors
- 👤 Shouiti Maegawa
- 👤 Chisato Yoshida
- 👤 Shuichi Nishikawa
- 👤 Takashi Kakitani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:49
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/09; G08G1/0962; G08G1/0968; G08G1/096805; G08G1/096827; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/34; G01C21/3407; G01C21/3415; G01C21/3453; G01C21/3492
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A vehicle guidance system comprising: a road data storage means storing road data serving as information about roads; a present position detecting means for detecting the present position of the vehicle; a destination specifying means for specifying the destination of the vehicle; a routing means for finding a recommendable route between the present position and the destination by using the road data; and a congested place estimating means for estimating congested roads on the recommendable route by using the road data when the vehicle is involved in traffic congestion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A vehicle guidance system comprising: a road data storage means storing road data serving as information about roads; a present position detecting means for detecting the present position of the vehicle; a destination specifying means for specifying the destination of the vehicle; a routing means for finding a recommendable route between the present position and the destination by using the road data; and a congested place estimating means for estimating congested roads on the recommendable route by using the road data when the vehicle is involved in traffic congestion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A vehicle guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the congested place estimating means estimates congested roads on the basis of classes of roads.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A vehicle guidance system according to claim 1, further comprising a travel speed calculator, calculating a traveling speed of the vehicle; and wherein the congested place estimating means estimates congested roads on the basis of a variation of the traveling speed of the vehicle involved in traffic congestion, and the road data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the congested place estimating means uses statistically estimated congestion data representing traffic congestion, and the road data when estimating congested roads.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A vehicle guidance system according to claim 1, further comprising a road data weighing means for weighing the road data of the estimated congested roads by weighing factors included in the road data, and wherein the routing means also finds a new recommendable route between the present position of the vehicle and the destination on the basis of the weighted road data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A vehicle guidance system according to claim 4, wherein the congested place estimating means includes statistically estimated congestion data updating means for updating the statistically estimated congestion data on the basis of information about a congested road detected by a congestion detecting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
A vehicle guidance system comprising: a road data storage means for storing road data serving as information about roads; a present position detecting means for detecting the present position of the vehicle; a destination specifying means for specifying the destination of the vehicle; a routing means for finding a recommendable route between the present position and the destination by using the road data; a congestion detecting means for detecting traffic congestion on the basis of a traveling mode of the vehicle; and a congested place estimating means for estimating presumably congested roads on the recommendable route by using the road data when the congestion detecting means detects traffic congestion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
A vehicle guidance system comprising: a road data storage means for storing road data serving as information about roads; a present position detecting means for detecting the present position of the vehicle; a destination specifying means for specifying the destination of the vehicle; a routing means for finding a recommendable route between the present position and the destination by using the road data; a congestion detecting means for detecting traffic congestion on the basis of a traveling mode of the vehicle; and a congested place estimating means for estimating presumably congested roads on the recommendable route by using the road data when the congestion detecting means detects traffic congestion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A vehicle guidance system according to claim 7, further comprising a travel speed calculator, calculating a traveling speed of the vehicle; and wherein the congestion detecting means detects traffic congestion on the basis of the traveling speed of the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A vehicle guidance system according to claim 7, further including a braking detector, detecting braking of the vehicle; and wherein the congestion detecting means detects traffic congestion on the basis of a variation of intervals between braking cycles while the vehicle is traveling.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A vehicle guidance system according to claim 7, further including a braking detector, detecting braking of the vehicle; and wherein the congestion detecting means detects traffic congestion on the basis of a number of braking cycles in a predetermined time interval while the vehicle is traveling.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vehicle guidance system according to claim 7, wherein the congested place estimating means estimates presumably congested roads on the basis of the classes of roads included in the road data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
A vehicle guidance system according to claim 7, further comprising a speed calculator, calculating a traveling speed of the vehicle; and wherein the congested place estimating means estimates presumably congested roads on the basis of a variation of the traveling speed of the vehicle involved in traffic congestion, and the road data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle guidance system according to claim 7, wherein the congested place estimating means estimates presumably congested roads on the basis of statistically estimated congestion data and the road data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
A vehicle guidance system according to claim 7, further comprising a road data weighing means for weighing the road data of the estimated congested roads by weighing factors included in the road data, wherein the routing means finds a new recommendable route between the present position of the vehicle and the destination by using the weighted road data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A vehicle guidance system according to claim 13, wherein the congested place estimating means includes statistically estimated congestion data updating means for updating the statistically estimated congestion data by using information about the congested road detected by the congestion detecting means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-06-26 | 1998-12-26 | 1999-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-06-26 | 2002-12-26 | 2003-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-06-26 | 2006-12-26 | 2007-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |