GPS DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20100049437A1
• Filed: 04/20/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HannStar Display Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: HU, HSIN-NAN, MA, CHAO-FENG, HSIEH, KUAN-HONG, LI, XIAO-GUANG
• Granted Patent: US 8,219,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096877 where the input to the navigation device is provided by a suitable I/O arrangement details of I/O arrangements for onboard navigation computers G01C21/36; I/O arrangements for general purpose computers G06F3/00

Abstract

This present disclosure provides a GPS device for displaying traffic conditions and method thereof. The GPS device defines turn distance ranges according to GPS navigation information. When running into the defined turn distance range, the vehicle turns on a video device and turn signal lamps automatically, and displays the video feed provided by the video device. When passing by the defined turn distance range, the vehicle turns off the video device and the turn signal lamps automatically.

Claims

1. A global position system (GPS) device used in a vehicle, comprising:

a GPS wireless communications unit configured to receive GPS satellite navigation signals in real time;

a GPS locating module configured to receive the navigation signals from the GPS wireless communications unit, and determine a current location of the vehicle according to the navigation signals;

a route planning module configured to obtain a best route;

a display unit configured to display information, wherein the information comprises current traffic conditions around the vehicle and navigation information corresponding to the navigation signals;

a communications unit configured to transmit communication data between the GPS device and external devices of the GPS device;

a turn determining module configured to determine turn information for each turning maneuver that should occur along the best route;

a storage unit configured to connect with the GPS locating module and the turn determining module;

a control signal generating module configured to generate a left or a right turn control signal when the GPS locating module determines the current location is a turn start position, and send the control signal to control a video device to provide the current traffic conditions around the vehicle, and generate another left or another right turn control signal when the GPS locating module determines the current location is a turn end position, and send the turn control signal to turn off the video device;

a signal receiving module configured to receive the video feed provided by the video device; and

a display control module configured to automatically switch the display unit to display the live feed traffic conditions when it is received and switch back to display the navigation information when the live feed ends.

2. The GPS device as described in claim 1, wherein the control signal generating module further sends the left or the right turn control signal to turn on turn signal lamps through the communications unit, and sends the another left or another right turn control signal to turn off the turn signal lamps.

3. The GPS device as described in claim 1, wherein the turn information comprises a turning direction, a turn start position, and a turn end position.

4. A method of displaying traffic conditions used in a global position system (GPS) device, the GPS device comprises a GPS wireless communications unit configured to receive GPS satellite navigation signals in real time, the method comprising:

determining turn information according to navigation information which correspond to the navigation signals, and saving the determined turn information;

generating and transmitting a left or a right turn control signal to control a video device to provide live feed of traffic conditions around the vehicle through a communications unit, after determining that a vehicle arrives at a turn start position;

receiving the video feed provided by the video device through the communications unit;

switching a display unit to display the provided video feed;

generating and transmitting another left or another right turn control signal to turn off the video device through the communications unit, after determining that the vehicle arrives at a turn end position; and

switching back to display the navigation information when the live feed of traffic conditions ends.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting the left or right turn control signal to turn on turn signal lamps through the communication unit, after determining that the vehicle arrives at the turn start position;

transmitting the another left or another right turn control signal to turn off the turn signal lamps through the communications unit, when determining that the vehicle arrives at the turn end position.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the turn information comprises a turning direction, a turn start position, and a turn end position.