SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVE CANCELLATION OF NAVIGATION LOCKOUT

• US 20110224897A1
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tan, Adrian K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,700,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a navigation system for a vehicle. The navigation system includes a user interface configured to receive input from and output information to a user, and a controller configured to perform a plurality of functions based on the user input, the controller further configured to disable performance of at least one of the plurality of functions based on a vehicle condition and provide a warning to the user indicating that performance of the plurality of functions is to be performed by a passenger other than a driver, wherein the controller enables performance of the at least one of the plurality of functions upon receiving input signifying that the user is a passenger other than the driver.

Claims

1. A navigation system for a vehicle, comprising:

a user interface configured to receive input from and output information to a user; and

a controller configured to perform a plurality of functions based on the user input, the controller further configured to disable performance of at least one of the plurality of functions based on a vehicle condition and provide a warning to the user indicating that performance of the plurality of functions is to be performed by a passenger other than a driver;

wherein the controller enables performance of the at least one of the plurality of functions upon receiving input signifying that the user is a passenger other than the driver.

2. The navigation system of claim 1, further comprising:

an occupant detection sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of the presence of an occupant in a passenger seat, wherein the controller enables performance of the at least one of the plurality of functions if the signal is indicative of the presence of the passenger in the passenger seat and upon receiving input signifying that the user is a passenger other than the driver regardless of the vehicle condition.

3. The navigation system of claim 2, wherein the passenger seat is a front passenger seat.

4. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the warning is at least one of audible, visual and tactile.

5. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the controller continually displays the warning while allowing performance of the plurality of functions.

6. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle condition is at least one of vehicle speed and transmission position.

7. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes at least one steering wheel input device, wherein the controller is configured to disable the at least one steering wheel input device when performance of the at least one of the plurality of functions is disabled.

8. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the controller disables performance of the plurality of functions upon receiving no input signifying that the user is a passenger other than the driver.

9. A vehicle, comprising:

a driver seat;

a passenger seat;

an occupant detection sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of the presence of an occupant in the passenger seat; and

a navigation system including a user interface configured to receive input from and output information to a user and a controller configured to perform a plurality of functions based on the user input, the controller further configured to disable performance of at least one of the plurality of functions based on a vehicle condition and provide a warning to the user indicating that performance of the at least one of the plurality of functions is to be performed by a passenger other than the driver;

wherein the controller allows performance of the at least one of the plurality of functions if the signal is indicative of the presence of the passenger in the passenger seat and receiving input signifying that the user is a passenger other than the driver.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the warning is at least one of audible, visual and tactile.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the controller continually displays the warning while allowing performance of the plurality of functions.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the vehicle condition is at least one of vehicle speed and transmission position.

13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the user interface includes at least one steering wheel input device, wherein the controller is configured to disable at least one steering wheel input device when performance of the at least one of the plurality of functions is disabled.

14. A method of controlling a navigation device in a vehicle, comprising:

detecting a vehicle condition;

selectively enabling and disabling at least one of a plurality of functions of the navigation device based on the vehicle condition;

providing a warning to the user, the warning indicating that performance of the at least one of the plurality of functions is to be performed by a passenger other than a driver; and

enabling use of the at least one of the plurality of functions in response to receiving input signifying that the user is a passenger other than the driver.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting the presence of the passenger; and

enabling use of the at least one of the plurality of functions in response to the presence of the passenger and receiving input signifying that the user is a passenger other than the driver regardless of the vehicle condition.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the warning is at least one of audible, visual and tactile.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

continually providing the warning while enabling use of the at least one of the plurality of functions.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle condition is at least one of vehicle speed and transmission position.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

disabling at least one steering wheel input device when use of the at least one of the plurality of functions is disabled.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

disabling use of the at least one of the plurality of functions in response to receiving no input signifying that the user is a passenger other than the driver.