Navigation method and human-machine interface apparatus thereof

• US 20110106424A1
• Filed: 01/08/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: National Taiwan University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Original Assignee: National Taiwan University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Inventors: Luo, Ren-Chyuan, Lai, Chun-Chi, Chi, Cheng-Jan
• Application Number:
  US12/684,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20110106424A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence

Abstract

A human-machine interface apparatus and a navigation method provide navigation information to users according to data provided by a location system. The human-machine interface apparatus comprises a pointing module and a microcontroller unit. The pointing module comprises a pointer. The microcontroller unit receives a first directing point, a second directing point and a third directing point obtained by the location system performing a vision-navigation operation, and deflects the pointer to a first angle, a second angle and a third angle when a vehicle location data reaches to the first, second and third directing points respectively. The third angle is larger than the second angle, and the second angle is larger than the first angle.

Claims

1. A navigation method suitable for a pointing module of a human-machine interface, the pointing module comprising a pointer, and the navigation method comprising:

providing a predetermined route;

performing a vision-navigation operation when a distance between a vehicle location data and a turning point of the predetermined route reaches a turning navigation distance;

obtaining a first directing point, a second directing point and a third directing point according to the vision-navigation operation;

deflecting the pointer to a first angle when the vehicle location data reaches the first directing point;

deflecting the pointer to a second angle when the vehicle location data reaches the second directing point; and

deflecting the pointer to a third angle when the vehicle location data reaches the third directing point;

wherein the third angle is larger than the second angle, and the second angle is larger than the first angle.

2. The navigation method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a corner of actual roads is regarded as the third directing point when performing the vision-navigation operation.

3. The navigation method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the third angle is an angle intersected by roads of the vehicle location data, and is a right angle.

4. The navigation method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pointer is deflected to the first angle and the second angle with a same-angle deflection.

5. The navigation method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turning point of the predetermined route is regarded as the third directing point when performing the vision-navigation operation.

6. The navigation method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the third angle is an angle intersected by roads of the vehicle location data and is 90 degrees.

7. The navigation method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

obtaining a fourth directing point according to the vision-navigation operation; and

deflecting the pointer to a fourth angle when the vehicle location data reaches the fourth directing point.

8. The navigation method as claimed in claim 7, wherein a point intersected by a straight line between the second directing point and the fourth directing point, and a corner of actual roads is an analog directing point.

9. The navigation method as claimed in claim 8, wherein an angle intersected by a straight line between the first directing point and the analog directing point, and a road of the vehicle location data is the first angle.

10. The navigation method as claimed in claim 8, wherein an angle intersected by a straight line between the second directing point and the analog directing point, and a road of the vehicle location data is the second angle.

11. The navigation method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fourth angle and the third angle are different from 90 degrees.

12. The navigation method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third angle is an angle between roads of the vehicle location data, and is 90 degrees.

13. The navigation method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

obtaining a fourth directing point according to the vision-navigation operation; and

deflecting the pointer to a fourth angle when the vehicle location data reaches the fourth directing point.

14. The navigation method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the deflected first angle makes the pointer point to the fourth directing point when the vehicle location data reaches the first directing point.

15. The navigation method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the deflected second angle makes the pointer point to the fourth directing point when the vehicle location data reaches the second directing point.

16. The navigation method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fourth angle and the third angle are different from 90 degrees.

17. A human-machine interface apparatus configured for providing navigation information to a user according to a vehicle location data provided by a location system, the human-machine interface apparatus comprising:

a pointing module comprising a pointer; and

a microcontroller unit configured for receiving the vehicle location data provided by the location system, performing a vision-navigation operation to obtain a first directing point, a second directing point and a third directing point, and deflecting the pointer to a first angle, a second angle and a third angle when the vehicle location data reaches the first directing point, the second directing point and the third directing point respectively;

wherein the third angle is larger than the second angle, and the second angle is larger than the first angle.

18. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a directing-lamp module, wherein the directing-lamp module is electrically coupled to the microcontroller unit and comprises a plurality of direction lamps and a light-penetrating board, and the light-penetrating board covers on the direction lamps.

19. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein a corner of actual roads is regarded as the third directing point when the location system performs the vision-navigation operation.

20. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the third angle is an angle between roads of the vehicle location data and is a right angle.

21. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the pointer is deflected to the first angle and the second angle in sequence with a same-angle deflection.

22. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the turning point of the predetermined route is regarded as the third directing point when the location system performs the vision-navigation operation.

23. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the third angle is an angle between roads of the vehicle location data and is 90 degrees.

24. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the location system further obtains a fourth directing point according to the vision-navigation operation, and the microcontroller unit deflects the pointer to a fourth angle when the vehicle location data reaches the fourth directing point.

25. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein a point intersected by a straight line between the second directing point and the fourth directing point, and a corner of actual roads is regarded as an analog directing point.

26. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein an angle intersected by a straight line between the first directing point and the analog directing point, and a road of the vehicle location data is the first angle.

27. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein an angle intersected by a straight line between the second directing point and the analog directing point, and a road of the vehicle location data is the second angle.

28. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the fourth angle and the third angle are different from 90 degrees.

29. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the third angle is an angle between roads of the vehicle location data and is 90 degrees.

30. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the location system further obtains a fourth directing point according to the vision-navigation operation, and the microcontroller unit deflects the pointer to a fourth angle when the vehicle location data reaches the fourth directing point.

31. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the deflected first angle makes the pointer point to the fourth directing point when the vehicle location data reaches the first directing point.

32. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the deflected second angle makes the pointer point to the fourth directing point when the vehicle location data reaches the second directing point.

33. The human-machine interface apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the fourth angle and the third angle are different from 90 degrees.

34. A navigation method suitable for a pointing module of a human-machine interface apparatus, the pointing module comprising a pointer, and the navigation method comprising:

providing a predetermined route;

performing a vision-navigation operation when a distance between a vehicle location data and a turning point of the predetermined route reaches a turning navigation distance;

obtaining a plurality of directing points according to the vision-navigation operation; and

deflecting the pointer to an angle when the vehicle location data reaches each of the directing points;

wherein, a deflection angle of a fore directing point is larger than a deflection angle of a back directing point which is adjacent to the fore directing point.

35. A human-machine interface apparatus configured for providing navigation information to a user according to a vehicle location data provided by a location system, the human-machine interface apparatus comprising:

a pointing module comprising a pointer; and

a microcontroller unit configured for receiving the vehicle location data provided by the location system, performing a vision-navigation operation to obtain a plurality of directing points, and deflecting the pointer to an angle when the vehicle location data reaches each of the directing points;

wherein a deflection angle of a fore directing point is larger than a deflection angle of a back directing point which is adjacent to the fore directing point.