Vehicular navigation system

• US 20020105481A1
• Filed: 02/06/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kanevsky, Dimitri, Zlatsin, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 6,919,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicular navigation system which utilizes an optical arrangement installed in eyeglasses or on the vehicle window or windshield so as to impart improved guiding directions to the vehicle. The navigation system enables a user to display their positional coordinates through the intermediary of a global positioning system (GPS) which communicates with a computer of the system. An additional element to current GPS (Global Positioning Systems), which utilizes an optical system located either on the windshield of a vehicle, such as an automobile or truck, or on the eyeglasses of a driver, or possibly on the windshield of an aircraft, which mimics an arrow pointing in the direction in the driver should be traveling.

Claims

1. A navigational system for a vehicle comprising an optical arrangement installed on at least one transparent viewing surface for a driver of the vehicle, said optical arrangement representing images displayed on said at least one viewing surface producing guiding images for imparting directions to the driver.

2. A navigational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said images comprise graphical representation pointing towards objects observed by the driver.

3. A navigational system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said graphical representations comprise an image of at least one arrow display on said at least one viewing surface pointing towards a selected object for guiding the driver in a specified direction of travel.

4. A navigational system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least on arrow is projected on said at least one viewing surface so as to be perceived in a 3-dimentional spatial image.

5. A navigational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one viewing surface comprises the windshield of an automotive vehicle.

6. A navigational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one viewing surface comprises a side front window of an automotive vehicle.

7. A navigational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one viewing surface comprises eyeglasses worn by the driver of the vehicle.

8. A navigational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one viewing surface comprises lenses of said optical arrangement having at least one arrow provided thereon, said lenses having regulatable degrees of curvature and through which there are displayed objects located exteriorly of said vehicle, said lens curvatures facilitating the 3-dimensional spatial image perception.

9. A navigational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system comprises means to assist drivers of the vehicle having reading disabilities and restrictions to read the names of objects and streets displayed on said at least one viewing surface.

10. A navigational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system comprises means to assist drivers of the vehicle to recognize the colors of traffic lights as displayed on said at least on viewing surface.

11. A navigational system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said system is in operative communications with a global positioning system (GPS) so as to impart information to the driver regarding objects observed on said at least one viewing surface and as indicated by the driver by pointing to the objects with pointing means.

12. A navigational system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said pointing means comprise said at least one arrow.

13. A navigational system as claimed in claim 11, wherein a computer is operatively connected to said system for operating said at least one arrow;

means for inputting information to said computer by said driver;

said computer including means for analyzing said information displayed on said at least one viewing surface while communicating with said global positioning system, and imparting directional instructions to said driver in responsive to processing of said items of information.

14. A navigational system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said information is inputted to said computer through a microphone in the form of verbal commands, and instructions received through a loudspeaker.

15. A navigational system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said information is inputted to said computer through hand-written or keyboard-operated functions.

16. A navigational system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said computer processes interrogations from said system regarding tasks including the reading of signs, determining colors and identifying objects, processing images related to specified tasks and providing answers to the driver responsive thereto which are displayed on said at least one viewing surface to assist the driver in directional guidance of the vehicle.

17. A navigational system as claimed in claim 13, wherein control means for said system are installed on a driver steering wheel of said vehicle.

18. A navigational system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said control means comprise a mouse which is mounted on the steering wheel.

20. A navigation method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said images comprise graphical representation pointing towards objects observed by the driver.

21. A navigation method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said graphical representations comprise an image of at least one arrow display on said at least one viewing surface pointing towards a selected object for guiding the driver in a specified direction of travel.

22. A navigation method as claimed in claim 21, wherein said at least on arrow is projected on said at least one viewing surface so as to be perceived in a 3-dimentional spatial image.

23. A navigation method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said at least one viewing surface comprises the windshield of an automotive vehicle.

24. A navigation method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said at least one viewing surface comprises a side front window of an automotive vehicle.

25. A navigation method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said at least one viewing surface comprises eyeglasses worn by the driver of the vehicle.

26. A navigation method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said at least one viewing surface comprises lenses of said optical arrangement having at least one arrow provided thereon, said lenses having regulatable degrees of curvature and through which there are displayed objects located exteriorly of said vehicle, said lens curvatures facilitating the 3-dimensional spatial image perception.

27. A navigation system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said system to assists drivers of the vehicle having reading disabilities and restrictions in reading the names of objects and streets displayed on said at least one viewing surface.

28. A navigation method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said system comprises assisting drivers of the vehicle in recognizing the colors of traffic lights as displayed on said at least on viewing surface.

29. A navigation method as claimed in claim 21, wherein said system is in operative communications with a global positioning system (GPS) so as to impart information to the driver regarding objects observed on said at least one viewing surface and as indicated by the driver by pointing to the objects with pointing means.

30. A navigation method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said pointing means comprise said at least one arrow.

31. A navigational system as claimed in claim 29, wherein a computer is operatively connected to said system for operating said at least one arrow;

inputting information to said computer by said driver;

said computer analyzing said information displayed on said at least one viewing surface while communicating with said global positioning system, and imparting directional instructions to said driver in responsive to processing of said items of information.

32. A navigation method as claimed in claim 31, wherein said information is inputted to said computer through a microphone in the form of verbal commands, and instructions received through a loudspeaker.

33. A navigation method as claimed in claim 32, wherein said information is inputted to said computer through hand-written or keyboard-operated functions.

34. A navigation method as claimed in claim 31, wherein said computer processes interrogations from said system regarding tasks including the reading of signs, determining colors and identifying objects, processing images related to specified tasks and providing answers to the driver responsive thereto which are displayed on said at least one viewing surface to assist the driver in directional guidance of the vehicle.

35. A navigation method as claimed in claim 31, wherein a control for said system is installed on a driver steering wheel of said vehicle.

36. A navigation method as claimed in claim 35, wherein said control comprises a mouse which is mounted on the steering wheel.

19. A method for the navigation of a vehicle comprising installing an optical arrangement on at least one transparent viewing surface for a driver of the vehicle, said optical arrangement representing images displayed on said at least one viewing surface producing guiding images for imparting directions to the driver.