Navigation system

• US 20060041372A1
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kubota, Tomoki, Yamamoto, Yukio, Shibata, Yumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,244,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A navigation system presents and updates information that allows the driver to determine an appropriate vehicle speed and a steering angle depending on a condition or a feature of a road. The navigation system includes storage means for storing map data, a display for displaying information, a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, and a controller for determining the shape of a road section being approached by a vehicle, based on the map data and the vehicle speed, and controlling the display to display the shape of the road.

Claims

1. A navigation system for a vehicle comprising:

(a) storage means for storing map data;

(b) a display unit for displaying information;

(c) a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed; and

(d) a controller for determining a shape of a road section being approached by the vehicle, based on the map data and the vehicle speed, and controlling the display unit to display the shape of the road section.

2. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the controller changes timing of updating of the display of the shape of the road section, depending on the detected vehicle speed.

3. A navigation system according to claim 2, wherein

(a) the storage means stores a table of data associated with various road section shapes;

and

(b) the controller determines the shape of the road section by reference to the table.

4. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein

(a) the storage means stores a table of data associated with various road section shapes;

and

(b) the controller determines the shape of the road section by reference to the table.

5. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the controller employs an arrow as the shape of the road section and determines the direction of the arrow, the width of the arrow, and the curvature of the arrow.

6. A navigation system according to claim 2, wherein the controller employs an arrow as the shape of the road section and determines the direction of the arrow, the width of the arrow, and the curvature of the arrow.

7. A navigation system according to claim 3, wherein the controller employs an arrow as the shape of the road section and determines the direction of the arrow, the width of the arrow, and the curvature of the arrow.

8. A navigation system according to claim 4, wherein the controller employs an arrow as the shape of the road section and determines the direction of the arrow, the width of the arrow, and the curvature of the arrow.

9. A navigation system according to claim 5, wherein:

(a) the road section is a curve; and

(b) the controller determines the direction of the arrow, the width of the arrow, and the curvature of the arrow, depending on the length and the curvature of the curve and a lateral turning acceleration calculated from the vehicle speed.

10. A navigation system according to claim 6, wherein:

(a) the road section is a curve; and

(b) the controller determines the direction of the arrow, the width of the arrow, and the curvature of the arrow, depending on the length and the curvature of the curve and a lateral turning acceleration calculated from the vehicle speed.

11. A navigation system according to claim 7, wherein:

(a) the road section is a curve; and

(b) the controller determines the direction of the arrow, the width of the arrow, and the curvature of the arrow, depending on the length and the curvature of the curve and a lateral turning acceleration calculated from the vehicle speed.

12. A navigation system according to claim 8, wherein:

(a) the road section is a curve; and

(b) the controller determines the direction of the arrow, the width of the arrow, and the curvature of the arrow, depending on the length and the curvature of the curve and a lateral turning acceleration calculated from the vehicle speed.

13. A navigation system according to claim 5, wherein the display unit includes a main display unit for displaying a map and an auxiliary display for displaying the arrow.

14. A navigation system according to claim 6, wherein the display unit includes a main display unit for displaying a map and an auxiliary display for displaying the arrow.

15. A navigation system according to claim 7, wherein the display unit includes a main display unit for displaying a map and an auxiliary display for displaying the arrow.

16. A navigation system according to claim 8, wherein the display unit includes a main display unit for displaying a map and an auxiliary display for displaying the arrow.

17. A navigation system according to claim 9, wherein the display unit includes a main display unit for displaying a map and an auxiliary display for displaying the arrow.

18. A navigation system according to claim 10, wherein the display unit includes a main display unit for displaying a map and an auxiliary display for displaying the arrow.

19. A navigation system according to claim 11, wherein the display unit includes a main display unit for displaying a map and an auxiliary display for displaying the arrow.

20. A navigation system according to claim 12, wherein the display unit includes a main display unit for displaying a map and an auxiliary display for displaying the arrow.

21. A method for providing navigational guidance to the driver of a vehicle comprising:

(a) storing map data as electronic data;

(b) detecting vehicle speed; and

(c) determining a shape of a road section being approached by the vehicle, based on the map data and the detected vehicle speed;

(d) displaying the determined shape of the road section.

22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising changing timing of updating of the display of the shape of the road section, responsive to changes in the detected vehicle speed.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the map data includes a table of data associated with various road section shapes;

and

wherein the shape of the road section is determined by reference to the table.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein the shape of the road section is indicated by displaying an arrow and wherein the direction of the arrow, the width of the arrow, and the curvature of the arrow represent the shape of the road section.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein:

the road section is a curve; and

further comprising;

calculating a lateral turning acceleration within the curve based on the detected vehicle speed, and wherein the direction of the arrow, the width of the arrow, and the curvature of the arrow are determined depending on the length and the curvature of the curve and the calculated lateral turning acceleration.

26. A navigation system according to claim 24, further comprising displaying a map on a main display unit while displaying the arrow on an auxiliary display unit.