Navigation Device with Automatic Gps Precision Enhancement

• US 20090070038A1
• Filed: 05/16/2006
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Wesselius, Kees, Geelen, Pieter Andreas, Stelpstra, David, Tkachenko, Serhiy
• Application Number:
  US12/225,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20090070038A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/216
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 with correlation of data from several navigational instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/485 whereby the further system is an optical system or imaging system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled

Abstract

A navigation device is disclosed including a processor arranged to receive position information from a positioning device. The processor is also arranged to receive movement information from a movement detector and determine whether said device is standing still using said movement information. In at least one embodiment, if a standstill of the device is determined, the processor calculates an average position over time using information on consecutive positions received from the positioning system during a time period in which the device is standing still. The average position is used for navigation purposes, such as giving instructions to the user. By averaging during a standstill, a more accurate position can be determined which can be used to give better instructions.

Claims

1. Navigation device, comprising:

a processor arranged to receive position information from a positioning device, said processor further being arranged to

receive movement information from a movement detector, and

determine whether said navigation device is standing still using said received movement information, and if a standstill of the navigation device is determined,

to

calculate an average position over time using information on consecutive positions received from said positioning device during a time period in which the navigation device is standing still, and

use said calculated average position for navigation purposes.

2. Navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said processor is arranged to switch off all or some of the functionality of the navigation device once a standstill of the navigation device is determined.

3. Navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said movement information includes speed information produced by a vehicle speed measurement device.

4. Navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said movement information includes data produced by a gyroscope.

5. Navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said movement information includes data produced by an accelerometer.

6. Navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said movement information includes data produced by a camera.

7. Navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said movement information includes data produced by a magnetometer.

8. Vehicle, comprising a navigation device according to claim 1.

13. Navigation device according to claim 2, wherein said movement information includes speed information produced by a vehicle speed measurement device.

14. Navigation device according to claim 2, wherein said movement information includes data produced by a gyroscope.

15. Navigation device according to claim 2, wherein said movement information includes data produced by an accelerometer.

16. Navigation device according to claim 2, wherein said movement information includes data produced by a camera.

17. Navigation device according to claim 2, wherein said movement information includes data produced by a magnetometer.

18. Vehicle, comprising a navigation device according to claim 2.

9. Method for providing navigation directions using a navigation device, the method comprising:

receiving movement information from a movement detector; and

determining whether said navigation device is standing still using said movement information, and if a standstill of the navigation device is determined,

calculating an average position over time using information on consecutive positions received from an positioning device during a time period in which the navigation device is standing still, and

using said calculated average position for navigation purposes.

10. Method according to claim 9, the method comprising:

switching off all or some of the functionality of the navigation device once a standstill of the navigation device is determined.

11. Computer program, when loaded on a computer arrangement, giving the computer arrangement the ability to perform the method of claim 9.

12. Data carrier, comprising a computer program according to claim 11.

19. Computer program, when loaded on a computer arrangement, giving the computer arrangement the ability to perform the method of claim 10.

20. Data carrier, comprising a computer program according to claim 19.