US6084543A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Route guide apparatus
Assignee: Denso Ten Ltd
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Filing: 1998-03-31
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Granted: 2000-07-04
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Expires: 2018-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A route guide apparatus is disclosed, in order to supply guidance at a guide point along a guide route before reaching the guide point in an easy-to-understand fashion. Guide routes are displayed along roads in map data displays and the number of traffic lights existing between a vehicle position and the guide point where the direction is to be changed is displayed or indicated by voice. Such phases as "Turn at fourth traffic light" or "Turn after passing third traffic light" are displayed on the map displays or indicated by voice. A traffic light icon, if displayed, can facilitate the determination of the presence or absence of a traffic light at the intersections and the guide point.
Inventors
- 👤 Katsuya Iizuka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/34; G01C21/36; G01C21/3626; G01C21/3644
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A route guide apparatus for a vehicle, for supplying guidance relating to a guide point on a guide route, while detecting a vehicle position and referring to road network information, the route guide apparatus comprising: a guidance output point detecting unit for detecting whether or not the vehicle position has reached a guidance output point set before the guide point on the guide route; a traffic light counting unit for counting a number of traffic lights existing along the guide route from the vehicle position to the guide point based on the road network information and information as to a presence or absence of traffic lights at respective locations on the guide route; and a guidance output unit for supplying the guidance related to the guide point using the number of traffic lights counted by said traffic light counting unit when said guidance output point detecting unit detects that the vehicle position has reached the guidance output point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A route guide apparatus for a vehicle, for supplying guidance relating to a guide point on a guide route, while detecting a vehicle position and referring to road network information, the route guide apparatus comprising: a guidance output point detecting unit for detecting whether or not the vehicle position has reached a guidance output point set before the guide point on the guide route; a traffic light counting unit for counting a number of traffic lights existing along the guide route from the vehicle position to the guide point based on the road network information and information as to a presence or absence of traffic lights at respective locations on the guide route; and a guidance output unit for supplying the guidance related to the guide point using the number of traffic lights counted by said traffic light counting unit when said guidance output point detecting unit detects that the vehicle position has reached the guidance output point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the road network information is stored in the form of a set of nodes representing coordinate points and links connecting the nodes, the route guide apparatus further comprising: a display unit for displaying a road map based on the road network information and the vehicle position in relation to each other; and a route search unit for searching for the guide route to a destination with reference to the road network information in accordance with a predetermined condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guidance output point detecting unit detects that the vehicle has reached the guidance output point based on a distance to the guide point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 3, wherein the road network information is stored in the form of a set of nodes representing coordinate points and links connecting the nodes, the route guide apparatus further comprising: a display unit for displaying a road map based on the road network information and the vehicle position in relation to each other; and a route search unit for searching for guide route to a destination with reference to the road network information in accordance with a predetermined condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guidance output point detecting unit detects that the vehicle has reached the guidance output point based on an estimated time length to reach the guide point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 5, wherein the road network information is stored in the form of a set of nodes representing coordinate points and links connecting the nodes, the route guide apparatus further comprising: a display unit for displaying a road map based on the road network information and the vehicle position in relation to each other; and a route search unit for searching for the guide route to a destination with reference to the road network information in accordance with a predetermined condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guidance output unit indicates of the number of traffic lights up to the guide point by displaying an image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guidance output unit indicates by voice the number of traffic lights to the guide point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 8, wherein said guidance output unit indicates the number of traffic lights to the guide point by displaying an image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a distance detecting unit for detecting a distance from the guidance output point to the guide point, wherein said guidance output unit further includes the distance detected by said distance detecting unit in the guidance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a guide information detecting unit for detecting guide information at the guide point, wherein said guidance output unit further includes the guide information detected by said guide information detecting unit in the guidance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a setting unit for presetting a condition for detecting the guidance output point by said guidance output point detecting unit and for presetting a method for outputting the guidance by the guidance output unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
168 words
A route guide apparatus for a vehicle, for supplying guidance relating to a guide point on a guide route, while detecting a vehicle position and referring to road network information, the route guide apparatus comprising: a traffic light counting unit for counting a number of traffic lights existing along the guide route from the vehicle position to the guide point based on the road network information and information as to a presence or absence of traffic lights at specific locations on the guide route; a guidance output point detecting unit for detecting whether or not the vehicle position has reached a guidance output point set before the guide point by a predetermined number of traffic lights, based on the number of traffic lights counted by said traffic light counting unit; and a guidance output unit for supplying the guidance relating to the guide point using the number of traffic lights when said guidance output point detecting unit detects that the vehicle position has reached the guidance output point.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
168 words
A route guide apparatus for a vehicle, for supplying guidance relating to a guide point on a guide route, while detecting a vehicle position and referring to road network information, the route guide apparatus comprising: a traffic light counting unit for counting a number of traffic lights existing along the guide route from the vehicle position to the guide point based on the road network information and information as to a presence or absence of traffic lights at specific locations on the guide route; a guidance output point detecting unit for detecting whether or not the vehicle position has reached a guidance output point set before the guide point by a predetermined number of traffic lights, based on the number of traffic lights counted by said traffic light counting unit; and a guidance output unit for supplying the guidance relating to the guide point using the number of traffic lights when said guidance output point detecting unit detects that the vehicle position has reached the guidance output point.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
86 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 13, wherein the road network information is stored in the form of a set of nodes representing coordinate points and links connecting the nodes, the route guide apparatus further comprising: a display unit for displaying a road map based on the road network information and the vehicle position in relation to each other; and a route search unit for searching for the guide route to a destination with reference to the road network information in accordance with a predetermined condition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 13, wherein said guidance output unit indicates the number of traffic lights up to the guide point by displaying an image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 13, wherein said guidance output unit indicates by voices the number of traffic lights before to the guide point.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 13, wherein said guidance output unit indicates the number of traffic lights to the guide point by displaying an image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a distance detecting unit for detecting a distance from the guidance output point to the guide point, wherein said guidance output unit further includes the distance detected by said distance detecting unit in the guidance.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a guide information detecting unit for detecting guide information at the guide point, wherein said guidance output unit further includes the guide information detected by said guide information detecting unit in the guidance.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
The route guide apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a setting unit for presetting a condition for detecting the guidance output point by said guidance output point detecting unit and for presetting a method for outputting the guidance by the guidance output unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPH0668386A
Cited
JPH0735559A
Cited
JPH0749243A
Cited
JPH07103776A
Cited
US5926118A
Cited
JPH09101169A
Cited
JPH09120499A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-04 | 2004-01-03 | 2004-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-04 | 2008-01-03 | 2008-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-04 | 2012-01-03 | 2012-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |