Navigation Device with Camera-Info

• US 20090125234A1
• Filed: 06/06/2005
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Mattu, Marc, Geelen, Pieter
• Granted Patent: US 8,180,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams

Abstract

The present invention relates to a navigation device (10). The navigation device (10) is arranged to display navigation directions (3, 4, 5) on a display (18). The navigation device (10) is further arranged to receive a feed from a camera (24). The navigation device (10) is further arranged to display a combination of a camera image fr>m the feed fr>m the camera (24) and the navigation directions (3, 4, 5) on the display (18).

Claims

1-24. -24. (canceled)

25. Navigation device, comprising:

a display to display navigation directions, the navigation device being arranged to receive a feed from a camera, and the display being arranged to display a combination of a camera image from the feed from the camera and the navigation directions.

26. Navigation device according to claim 25, wherein the camera is formed integrally with the navigation device.

27. Navigation device according to claim 25, wherein the navigation directions are one or more of position arrow, route, arrow, points of interest, roads, buildings, and map data stored in at least a memory unit of the navigation device.

28. Navigation device according to claim 25, wherein the navigation device is further arranged to superimpose the navigation directions over the camera image such that the position of the navigation directions are in a predefined spatial relationship with respect to corresponding parts of the camera image.

29. Navigation device according to claim 25, further comprising:

a processing unit;

a positioning device; and

orientation sensors, the positioning device and the orientation sensors being arranged to communicate with the processing unit, the processing unit being arranged to use readings from the positioning device and the orientation sensors to compute a position and an orientation of at least one of the camera and the navigation device, based on which the position of the navigation directions on the display are computed by the processing unit.

30. Navigation device according to claim 29, wherein the positioning device includes at least one of a GPS based device, a device based upon the European Galileo system, a device based upon any other global navigation satellite system, a positioning sensing technology device based on ground-based beacons.

31. Navigation device according to claim 29, wherein the processing unit computes the orientation of the camera with respect to a first rotational axis that in use is substantially vertical, by comparing the positions of at least one of the camera and the navigation device, determined by the positioning device at subsequent points in time.

32. Navigation device according to claim 29, further comprising:

a compass to provide compass readings to the processing unit, the processing unit being arranged to compute the orientation of the camera with respect to a first rotational axis that in use is substantially vertical, based on the compass readings.

33. Navigation device according to claim 29, wherein the orientation sensors comprise tilt sensors to determine the orientation of the camera with respect to second and third rotational axes, the second and third rotational axes in use being substantially horizontal.

34. Navigation device according to claim 29, wherein the processing unit uses pattern recognition techniques to superimpose the navigation directions over the camera image such that the position of the navigation directions are in a predefined spatial relationship with respect to corresponding parts of the camera image.

35. Navigation device according to claim 34, wherein the navigation device uses map data as input for the pattern recognition techniques.

36. Navigation device according to claim 29, wherein the processing unit uses steady cam techniques to compensate for vibrations in the camera feed.

37. Navigation device according to claim 25, wherein the navigation device is arranged to receive calibration corrections, to store these calibration corrections, and to apply the calibration corrections when combining the navigation directions and the camera image.

38. Navigation device according to claim 25, wherein the navigation device is arranged to at least one of receive and read in camera settings and use the camera settings to compute the position of the navigation directions on the display.

39. Navigation device according to claim 25, wherein the navigation device is further arranged to receive feeds from more than one camera, and the navigation device is arranged to select one of the feeds to be displayed on the display.

40. Navigation device according to claim 25, wherein the camera is sensitive to electromagnetic radiation outside the range of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible by the human eye.

41. Navigation device according to claim 40, wherein the camera is an infrared camera.

42. Navigation device according to claim 25, wherein the camera is arranged to at least one of zoom in and zoom out.

43. Navigation device according to claim 42, wherein the camera is arranged to zoom in or out depending on the speed of at least one of the navigation device and a vehicle in which the navigation device is located.

44. Dashboard, comprising a navigation device according to claim 25.

45. Vehicle, comprising a navigation device according to claim 25.

46. Vehicle according to claim 45, further comprising a vehicle tilt sensor to determine the tilt of the vehicle, providing vehicle tilt readings to the navigation device.

47. Method for providing navigation directions, the method comprising:

displaying navigation directions on a display;

receiving a feed from a camera; and

displaying a combination of a camera image from the feed from the camera and the navigation directions on the display.

48. Computer program, when loaded on a computer arrangement, arranged to perform the method of claim 47.

49. Data carrier, comprising a computer program according to claim 48.