GPS Navigation Device With Car Rear-Viewing Function

• US 20090030611A1
• Filed: 11/21/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Supa Technology Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Supa Technology Company Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Jeong-Shiun
• Application Number:
  US11/943,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030611A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A GPS navigation device with a car rear-viewing function is disclosed herein, which includes a monitor, a GPS navigation module receiving a GPS navigation information and providing it to the monitor, a car rear-viewing module providing a car rear image from a camera to the monitor, a switch unit, and a micro control unit. When the shift lever of the car is located in a reverse gear position, the micro control unit sends a switch command to the switch unit to allow the car rear-viewing module to transmit the car rear image to the monitor. In contrast, when the shift lever is not located in the reverse gear position, the monitor is switched to be controlled by the GPS navigation module for displaying the navigation information. Therefore, there is no need to install an additional monitor for displaying the GPS navigation information and the car rear image information, respectively.

Claims

1. A GPS navigation device with a car rear-viewing function, comprising:

a monitor;

a GPS navigation module receiving a navigation information and providing it to the monitor;

a car rear-viewing module providing a car rear image from a camera to the monitor;

a switch unit electronically connected to the GPS navigation module and the car rear-viewing module; and

a micro control unit sending a switch command, according to a position of a shift lever of a car, to the switch unit to communicate the GPS navigation module or the car rear-viewing module with the monitor.

2. The GPS navigation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the shift lever is not located in a reverse gear position, the switch command is to communicate the GPS navigation module with the monitor to allow the GPS navigation module to transmit the navigation information to the monitor.

3. The GPS navigation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the shift lever is located in the reverse gear position, the switch command is to communicate the car rear-viewing module with the monitor to allow the car rear-viewing module to transmit the car rear image to the monitor.

4. The GPS navigation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the shift lever is located in the reverse gear position, after the car rear-viewing module confirms to have received the car rear image from the camera, the micro control unit sends the switch command to communicate the car rear-viewing module with the monitor to allow the car rear-viewing module to transmit the car rear image to the monitor.

5. The GPS navigation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein after the micro control unit confirms that the camera is powered on, it is detected if the shift lever is located in the reverse gear position.

6. The GPS navigation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the micro control unit confirms that the camera is powered off, the car rear-viewing module is shut down.