Navigation device and method of navigating vehicle

• US 20070233380A1
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaka, Yutaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams

Abstract

A navigation device includes a position detector, a controller, a display portion, an imaging portion and an image processor. The imaging portion images a forward view in front of the vehicle as a forward image from a predetermined distance before a guidance point. The image processor extracts and analyzes visual information of an on-road object from the forward image. The controller specifies a position of the on-road object based on the visual information and map information. The display portion displays and highlights an image of the on-road object at a true position in a road map image, when the position of the on-road object corresponds to the guidance point.

Claims

1. A navigation device for a vehicle comprising:

a position detector for outputting a present position of the vehicle;

a controller for obtaining a map information from a map database, and performing a guidance of a predetermined route based on the present position of the vehicle and the map information;

a display portion for displaying a road map image based on the map information;

an imaging portion for imaging a forward view in front of the vehicle as a forward image from a predetermined distance before a guidance point of the route; and

an image processor for extracting and analyzing a visual information of an on-road object from the forward image, wherein

the controller specifies a position of the on-road object based on the visual information of the on-road object and the map information of the route, and

the controller controls the display portion to display and highlight an image of the on-road object at a true position in the road map image, when the position of the on-road object corresponds to the guidance point of the route.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein

the image processor extracts a textual information as the visual information.

3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein

the image processor extracts a pictorial information as the visual information.

4. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller controls the display portion to display the image of the on-road object at a position different from the true position in the road map image, when the image of the on-road object is difficult to be displayed at the true position in the road map image, and

the controller controls the display portion to display an auxiliary display element together with the image of the on-road object such that a driver of the vehicle recognizes the position of the on-road object.

5. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein

the controller converts the textual information into a different textual information in a predetermined language, when the on-road object includes the textual information.

6. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein

the display portion is capable of displaying an input image on a windshield of the vehicle.

7. The navigation device according to claim 6, further comprising:

an eyes detector for detecting an eyes of a driver of the vehicle, wherein

the controller forms a guide line image indicating the position of the on-road object, when the driver sees the on-road object through the windshield from the eyes detected by the eyes detector, and

the controller outputs the guide line image into the display portion.

8. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein

the display portion is capable of displaying an input image beyond a windshield of the vehicle.

9. The navigation device according to claim 8, further comprising:

an eyes detector for detecting an eyes of a driver of the vehicle, wherein

the controller forms a guide line image indicating the position of the on-road object, when the driver sees the on-road object through the windshield from the eyes detected by the eyes detector, and

the controller outputs the guide line image into the display portion.

10. A method of navigating a vehicle comprising:

obtaining a present position of the vehicle and a map information;

imaging a forward view in front of the vehicle as a forward image from a predetermined distance before a guidance point of a predetermined route so as to extract a visual information of an on-road object from the forward image;

specifying a position of the on-road object by comparing the visual information with the map information;

displaying a road map image and an image of the on-road object at a true position in the road map image, when the position of the on-road object corresponds to the guidance point; and

performing a route guidance based on the present position of the vehicle and the map information.