US5898390A — Method and apparatus for calibration of a distanc…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 109 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; modifying the odometer reading with the modification factor; and repeating the obtaining steps before generating the adjustment amount if the first difference is greater than a threshold level.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 109 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; modifying the odometer reading with the modification factor; and repeating the obtaining steps before generating the adjustment amount if the first difference is greater than a threshold level.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 135 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; 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 4

Independent Claim 135 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; 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

Independent Claim 140 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; 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

Independent Claim 140 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; 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 7

Independent Claim 181 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; 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; modifying the odometer reading with the modification factor; 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 8

Independent Claim 181 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; 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; modifying the odometer reading with the modification factor; 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 9

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 4 wherein the at least one other sensor comprises a global positioning satellite (GPS) sensor which receives a GPS signal.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 81 words

The method of claim 5 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 11

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 5 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 12

Independent Claim 200 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 th e third and fourth obtaining steps, the second determining step, the generating step, the adjusting step, and the modifying step a plurality of times.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 200 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 th e third and fourth obtaining steps, the second determining step, the generating step, the adjusting step, and the modifying step a plurality of times.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 8 wherein the at least one other sensor comprises a global positioning satellite (GPS) sensor which receives a GPS signal.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 81 words

The method of claim 9 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 16

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 9 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 17

Dependent Claim 77 words

The method of claim 9 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 18

Dependent Claim 60 words

The method of claim 9 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 19

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 8 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 20

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 8 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 21

Dependent Claim 89 words

The method of claim 8 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 22

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 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 17 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 18 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 18 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 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.

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.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 89 words

A method for selecting a pulse rate setting to correspond to a pulse rate associated with an odometer in a vehicle navigation system, the method comprising: determining a difference between a first distance measurement from the odometer and a second distance measurement from at least one other sensor; and 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.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 89 words

A method for selecting a pulse rate setting to correspond to a pulse rate associated with an odometer in a vehicle navigation system, the method comprising: determining a difference between a first distance measurement from the odometer and a second distance measurement from at least one other sensor; and 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.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-04-26	2002-10-26	2003-04-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-04-26	2006-10-26	2007-04-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-04-26	2010-10-26	2011-04-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for calibration of a distance sensor in a vehicle navigation system

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag