Navigation apparatus and method for a vehicle on which traffic lane guide image is displayed

• US 20080036626A1
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai AMCO Company Limited (Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai AMCO Company Limited (Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Hee
• Application Number:
  US11/705,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20080036626A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/995.14
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3658 Lane guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3673 Labelling using text of road map data items, e.g. road names, POI names
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus and method for a vehicle on which a traffic lane guide image is displayed so that an optimal traffic lane can be selected based on road information of a next section when a vehicle is driven. According to an aspect of the present invention, the shortest route between a current location of a vehicle and a desired destination is determined. When the vehicle turns left or right at the intersection, etc., an optimal traffic lane can be decided in advance. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that when a driver drives a vehicle, driving convenience can be improved.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus for a vehicle on which a traffic lane guide image is displayed, the apparatus comprising:

a GPS (Global Positioning System) information receiver to receive an electric wave, and a current location of a vehicle and road information including a straight-ahead road, right- and right-turn roads and road intersecting point from a plurality of artificial satellites belonging to a GPS through an antenna;

a current location calculation unit to receive the current location from the GPS information receiver, calculating traveling information such as a current location and ongoing direction of the vehicle, and transferring traveling information of the vehicle, which has been finally calculated, to a system control unit;

the system control unit to receive information from the current location calculation unit and controlling various components that are electrically connected to each other;

a map information storage unit serving to interface a driver and the navigation apparatus, to store therein map information and additional data and transferring data to the system control unit;

a manipulation unit including a keypad having a plurality of keys, to allow a driver to set a desired command;

a map matching module unit to match data of the GPS and shape information of an electronic map and determining a road on which the vehicle is currently driven;

a route guide module unit to acquire traffic lane information about the road on which the vehicle is currently driven based on information received from the map matching module unit;

a traffic lane guide module unit to guide a traffic lane as an arrow (for example, information such as the number of arrows to be overlapped with each other, a location of a center of the arrow, and to which direction the arrow is oriented is reflected on the name of an image, and the usage as only the name of an image file) based on information received from the route guide module unit, wherein various kinds of arrows for traffic lane indication images are stored in the traffic lane guide module unit; and

a display unit to display various pieces of information under the control of the system control unit, wherein the display unit displays the information such as the number of arrows to be overlapped with each other, a location of a center of the arrow, and to which direction the arrow is oriented is reflected on the name of an image, and the usage as only the name of an image file, when a traffic lane image is displayed.

2. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arrow includes a gray arrow indicating a direction on which the vehicle can be driven on a current traffic lane, a white arrow indicating a direction on which the vehicle must be driven according to route search, and a blue arrow indicating a recommended traffic lane considering a next intersection.

3. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arrow can represent five arrow images including three gray images, one white image and one blue image at the maximum for one traffic lane, which are overlapped with each other.

4. A method of displaying for a vehicle on which a traffic lane guide image is displayed, the method comprising:

calculating traveling information of the vehicle based on a current location and ongoing direction of the vehicle;

determining a road on which the vehicle is currently driven; and

displaying a traffic lane of the road on which the vehicle is currently driven.

5. A display, comprising:

a road graphic;

a vehicle graphic positioned on the road graphic; and

arrow graphics positioned in association with the road graphic and indicating a direction in which the vehicle can be driven in a current traffic lane, indicating a direction in which the vehicle must be driven according to a calculated route, and indicating a recommended traffic lane considering a next intersection.