Mobile object position detecting apparatus and method

• US 20040210384A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishida, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,555,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/396 Determining accuracy or reliability of position or pseudorange measurements

Abstract

A control unit 10 detects the presence/absence of receiving position information based on the position data provided from a GPS receiver 14. While the GPS receiver 14 is supplying no position data, the control unit 10 computes the travel distance of a vehicle according to a vehicle speed pulse signal input from a vehicle speed pulse input unit 18. When the obtained travel distance exceeds a predetermined distance, the control unit 10 determines abnormal reception due to faulty equipment. The predetermined distance is set in advance based on a reception disability area, etc. When the control unit 10 determines abnormal reception due to faulty equipment, it turns on an orange indicator. Thus, the person in the vehicle can recognize the abnormal reception due to faulty equipment.

Claims

1. A mobile object position detecting apparatus which detects a position of a mobile object according to position information transmitted from an external position information transmission apparatus, comprising:

reception status detection means for detecting presence/absence of receiving position information;

travel distance obtaining means for obtaining a travel distance of a mobile object receiving no position information;

determination means for determining abnormal reception due to faulty equipment when said travel distance exceeds a predetermined distance; and

warning means for warning of abnormal reception when said determination means determines abnormal reception.

4. The mobile object position detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said mobile object is a vehicle, and said travel distance obtaining means obtain a travel distance based on a turn of wheels.

5. The mobile object position detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said determination means release a determination of abnormality when position information is first received after determining abnormal reception.

2. A mobile object position detecting apparatus which detects a position of a mobile object according to position information transmitted from an external position information transmission apparatus, comprising:

reception status detection means for detecting presence/absence of receiving position information;

traveling time obtaining means for obtaining a traveling time of a mobile object receiving no position information;

determination means for determining abnormal reception due to faulty equipment when said traveling time exceeds a predetermined time; and

warning means for warning of abnormal reception when said determination means determine abnormal reception.

3. The mobile object position detecting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising

mobile object speed detection means for detecting a speed of a mobile object, wherein

a traveling time of said mobile object is a real traveling time in which a speed of the mobile object is detected as greater than 0 km/h.

6. A mobile object position detecting method which detects a position of a mobile object according to position information transmitted from an external position information transmission apparatus, comprising:

a reception status detecting step of detecting presence/absence of receiving position information;

a travel distance obtaining step of obtaining a travel distance of a mobile object receiving no position information;

a determining step of determining abnormal reception due to faulty equipment when said travel distance exceeds a predetermined distance; and

a warning step of warning of abnormal reception when said determining step determines abnormal reception.

9. The mobile object position detecting method according to claim 6, wherein

said mobile object is a vehicle, and said travel distance obtaining step obtains a travel distance based on a turn of wheels.

10. The mobile object position detecting method according to claim 6, wherein

said determining step releases a determination of abnormality when position information is first received after determining abnormal reception.

7. A mobile object position detecting method which detects a position of a mobile object according to position information transmitted from an external position information transmission apparatus, comprising:

a reception status detecting step of detecting presence/absence of receiving position information;

a traveling time obtaining step of obtaining a traveling time of a mobile object receiving no position information;

a determining step of determining abnormal reception due to faulty equipment when said traveling time exceeds a predetermined time; and

a warning step of warning of abnormal reception when said determining step determines abnormal reception.

8. The mobile object position detecting method according to claim 7, further comprising

a mobile object speed detecting step of detecting a speed of a mobile object, wherein

a traveling time of said mobile object is a real traveling time in which a speed of the mobile object is detected as greater than 0 km/h.

11. A mobile object position detecting apparatus which detects a position of a mobile object according to position information transmitted from an external position information transmission apparatus, comprising:

a position detector for receiving said position information and detecting a position of a mobile object;

a travel distance detector for detecting information about a travel distance of a mobile object;

a controller for computing a travel distance of a mobile object while said position detector is not receiving position information based on output of said position detector and said travel distance detector, and determining abnormal reception due to faulty equipment when said travel distance exceeds a predetermined distance; and

a warning device for warning of abnormal reception when said controller determines abnormal reception.

12. A mobile object position detecting apparatus which detects a position of a mobile object according to position information transmitted from an external position information transmission apparatus, comprising:

a position detector for receiving said position information and detecting a position of a mobile object;

a timer for detecting a duration in which said position detector is not receiving position information;

a controller for defining a duration detected by said timer as a traveling time of a mobile object, and determining abnormal reception due to faulty equipment when said traveling time exceeds a predetermined time; and

a warning device for warning of abnormal reception when said controller determines the abnormal reception.

13. The mobile object position detecting apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising

a mobile object speed detector for detecting a speed of a mobile object, wherein

said timer detects a real traveling time of a mobile object while said mobile object speed detector is detecting a speed of a mobile object.