NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20090234576A1
• Filed: 03/13/2009
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: OU, WEN-CHIN, YANG, MING-LIANG, CHEN, GUO-JHANG
• Application Number:
  US12/403,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20090234576A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5015 using specific interfaces or standards, e.g. USB, serial, parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/061 with electronic detecting or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/411 Identification of targets based on measurements of radar reflectivity G01S7/415 takes precedence

Abstract

A navigation device includes a transceiver, a timer, an angle detector, and a processor. The transceiver is for projecting a detecting signal and receiving the detecting signal reflected from an obstacle in front of the transceiver. The timer is for calculating a time interval between projecting the detecting signal and receiving the detecting signal reflected from the obstacle. The angle detector is for detecting a projecting angle of the detecting signal projected from the transceiver with respect to the vertical direction. The processor is for calculating a horizontal distance to the obstacle according to a velocity of the detecting signal, the time interval, and the projecting angle.

Claims

1. A navigation device comprising:

a transceiver for projecting a detecting signal and receiving the detecting signal reflected from an obstacle in front of the transceiver;

a timer for calculating a time interval T between projecting the detecting signal and receiving the detecting signal;

an angle detector for detecting a projecting angle α

of the detecting signal projected from the transceiver with respect to the vertical direction; and

a processor for calculating a horizontal distance to the obstacle according to a velocity V of the detecting signal, the time interval T, and the projecting angle α

.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal distance is calculated according to:

the horizontal distance=V*T*(sin ∠

α

)/2.

3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is for calculating a size of the obstacle according to:

the size=a height of the navigation device−

(V*T*cos ∠

α

)/2.

4. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the angle detector is a magnetic-sensing resistor.

5. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the angle detector is a liquid level measuring apparatus.

6. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing an alerting program and a predetermined safe value.

7. The navigation device according to claim 6, wherein the processor is also for calling the alerting program to generate an alert signal according to the horizontal distance.

8. The navigation device according to claim 7, further comprising a speaker for reproducing an audio alert according to the alert signal.

9. The navigation device according to claim 6, wherein the memory is also for storing a digital map.

10. The navigation device according to claim 9, further comprising an inputting module for inputting a destination.

11. The navigation device according to claim 10, further comprising a communication module for receiving a location signal indicating a current location of the navigation device from satellites.

12. The navigation device according to claim 11, wherein the processor is for searching the destination in the digital map, and selecting an optimum course from the location to the destination.

13. The navigation device according to claim 12, wherein the processor is also for calling the alerting program to generate an alert signal according to the optimum course.

14. The navigation device according to claim 13, further comprising a speaker for reproducing an audio alert according to the alert signal.

15. A navigation method comprising:

projecting a first detecting signal, and receiving the first detecting signal reflected from an obstacle;

calculating a first time interval between projecting the first detecting signal and receiving the first detecting signal;

detecting a projecting angle of the first detecting signal with respect to the vertical direction; and

calculating a horizontal distance to the obstacle according to the first time interval, a velocity of the first detecting signal, and the projecting angle.

16. The navigation method according to claim 15, further comprising:

projecting a second detecting signal vertically to the ground, and receiving the second detecting signal reflected from the ground;

calculating a second time interval between projecting and receiving the second detecting signal; and

calculating a size of the obstacle according to the first time interval, the second time interval, a first velocity of the first detecting signal, a second velocity of the second detecting signal, and the projecting angle.

17. The navigation method according to claim 16, further comprising:

comparing an absolute value of the size of the obstacle with a predetermined safe value; and

going to step “

projecting a first detecting signal, and receiving the first detecting signal reflected from an obstacle”

if the absolute value does not exceed the predetermined safe value.

18. The navigation method according to claim 17, further comprising:

determining whether the size is positive or negative if the absolute value exceed the predetermined safe value;

generating a positive signal if the size is positive;

generating a negative signal if the size is negative;

calling the alerting program to generate an alert signal according to the horizontal distance, the size, and the positive/negative signal; and

reproducing an audio alert according to the alert signal.

19. The navigation method according to claim 15, further comprising:

inputting a destination;

receiving a location signal from satellites;

searching the destination in a digital map; and

selecting an optimum course from the location to the destination.

20. The navigation method according to claim 19, further comprising:

calling the alerting program to generate an alert signal according to the optimum course; and

reproducing an audio alert according to the alert signal.