REAL-IMAGE NAVIGATION APPARATUS

• US 20080186210A1
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MiTAC International Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: MiTAC International Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Tseng, Chao-Hsien
• Application Number:
  US11/775,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20080186210A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/995.26
• 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 21/365 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: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

The invention provides a real-image navigation apparatus capable of being mounted on a vehicle having transparent equipment (windows) installed therein, including an image-capturing unit adapted to instantly capture images of a road in front of a vehicle; a satellite navigation system adapted to navigate and generate navigation routes and driver-assisting navigation information; a comparing unit adapted to compare and determine the consistency between obtained images captured by the image-capturing unit and road parameters of mapping information pre-stored in the system, and further output three-dimensional navigation routes planned by cooperating with the system; and a see-through display unit mounted on transparent equipment installed within the vehicle to display real-time driver-assisting navigation information and 3-D navigation routes outputted by the comparing unit to the user/driver, thereby presenting useful navigation data and related geographical information without overly diverting eye focus or obstructing the driver'"'"'s view, and thus increase driving safety.

Claims

1. A real-image navigation apparatus applicable in a motor vehicle having transparent equipment installed therein, the real-image navigation apparatus at least comprising:

an image-capturing unit adapted to correspondingly face and instantly capture images of a road in front of a mobile vehicle in a real-time manner;

a satellite navigation system installed within the vehicle and provided with mapping information to navigate the vehicle and generate appropriate navigation routes and driver-assisting navigation information;

a comparing unit installed within the vehicle and adapted to compare and determine consistency between the obtained images of a road in front of the vehicle captured by the image-capturing unit and road parameters of the mapping information pre-stored in the satellite navigation system, and further output three-dimensional navigation routes generated by cooperating with the satellite navigation system; and

a transparent display unit mounted on a transparent equipment installed within the vehicle to display thereon in real time to the user the driver-assisting navigation information generated by the system and the 3-D navigation routes output by the comparing unit.

2. The real-image navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when the comparing unit compares and then determines that a consistency exists between the captured images in front of a vehicle and the pre-stored road parameters of the mapping information, it outputs 3-D navigational routes generated by the satellite navigation system according to the obtained images;

and, conversely, if the comparing unit detects an inconsistency between the captured images in front of a vehicle and the pre-stored road parameters of the mapping information, it proceeds to adjust and correct the mapping data according to the obtained images, and by cooperating with the satellite navigation system, further output 3-D navigational routes of a planned and target route.

3. The real-image navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image-capturing unit is a picture-taking camera.

4. The real-image navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the satellite navigation system at least consists of:

an input module for allowing a user to set navigation goals;

a Global Positioning System Module (GPS Module) for receiving satellite positioning signals;

a database for storing mapping data therein; and

a data processing module electrically connected to the input module, the GPS Module, and the database for planning navigation routes according to navigation goals, satellite positioning signals and mapping data, and further executing a navigation function and generating driver-assisting navigation information.

5. The real-image navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the road parameters include the dimensions and contours of a road.

6. The real-image navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent display unit is a Transparent Organic Light-Emitting Diode Display (T OLED).

7. The real-image navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent equipment installed within the vehicle includes the windscreen (windshield) and vehicle windows.