Navigation Device

• US 20180112986A1
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Published: 04/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Relish Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Relish Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Putnam, Thomas, Jenner, Mark, Bruce, Charles, Hulme, Alex, Arrive, Julie, Marshall, Jon
• Application Number:
  US15/572,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20180112986A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/10 Arrangement of audio equipment; Supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 electronic, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/225 Mounting arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/28 Electromagnetic compasses with north seeking magnetic elements and having electric pick-offs G01C17/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/36 with north-seeking action by magnetic means, e.g. gyromagnetic compasses
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/10 by using measurements of speed or acceleration G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/14 Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction aerial arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00; combinations of different interacting aerial units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q21/29; aerials or aerial systems providing at least two radiation patterns H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a navigation device (12) for receiving navigation data from a portable computing device (11). The navigation device (12) comprises a display (21) and at least one sensor (22, 23, 24) configured to determine a reference direction, the reference direction being a direction relative to the display (21). The navigation device (12) further comprises wireless communication means (25) for wirelessly receiving data relating to a desired bearing from a portable computing device (11) and a processing unit connected to the display (21), the at least one sensor (22, 23, 24) and the wireless communication means (25). The processing unit is configured to receive a desired bearing from the wireless communication means (25); receive the reference direction from the at least one sensor (22, 23, 24); determine a desired direction based upon the reference direction and desired bearing; and operate the display (21) to display an indicium for indicating the desired direction relative to the display (21). The navigation device (12) is particularly suitable for mounting on bicycles.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising a navigation device for receiving navigation data from a portable computing device, the navigation device comprising:

a display;

at least one sensor configured to determine a reference direction, the reference direction being a direction relative to the display;

wireless communication means for wirelessly receiving data relating to a desired bearing from a portable computing device; and

a processing unit connected to the display, the at least one sensor and the wireless communication means, the processing unit being configured to;

receive a desired bearing from the wireless communication means;

receive the reference direction from the at least one sensor;

determine a desired direction based upon the reference direction and desired bearing; and

operate the display to display an indicium for indicating the desired direction relative to the display.

2. A navigation system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reference direction is based upon the direction of magnetic north and the desired bearing is an absolute bearing relative to the direction of magnetic north.

3. A navigation system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the reference direction and/or desired bearing are adapted to account for magnetic declination between magnetic north and true north.

4. A navigation system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the at least one sensor comprises a compass and/or a gyroscope and the reference direction is based upon the output of the compass and/or gyroscope.

5. A navigation system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the processing unit is configured to receive a compass reference direction and calibrate a gyroscope reference direction based on the compass reference direction.

6. A navigation system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the processing unit is configured to:

determine compass and gyroscope reference directions;

determine a desired direction based upon the gyroscope reference direction;

determine a confidence parameter associated with the compass; and

if the confidence parameter meets a threshold value, calibrate the gyroscope to the compass reference direction.

7. A navigation system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the processing unit is configured to:

receive outputs from the compass and gyroscope;

determine whether a magnitude or rate of change relating to the outputs of the compass and/or gyroscope are greater than a threshold value; and

determine a desired direction based upon the gyroscope reference direction and the desired bearing if the magnitude or rate of change meets a threshold value;

or

determine a desired direction based upon the compass reference direction and the desired bearing if the magnitude or rate of change does not meet the threshold value.

8. A navigation system as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the wireless communication means is for receiving map and/or distance data; and

the processing unit is configured to receive the map and/or distance data from the wireless communication means and operate the display to show the map and/or distance data.

9. A navigation system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the compass is a magnetometer.

10. A navigation system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor comprises an accelerometer and the processing unit is configured to receive acceleration data from the accelerometer.

11. A navigation system as claimed claim 4 wherein the processing unit is configured to determine an orientation of the navigation device utilising the accelerometer and/or gyroscope and determine the reference direction based upon the orientation of the navigation device.

12. A navigation system as claimed in claim 4 wherein processing unit is configured to determine the compass reference direction accounting for any external magnetic fields other than that of the Earth.

13. A navigation system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one input connected to the processing unit, the processing unit being configured to send data to the portable computing device via the wireless communication means.

15. A navigation system as claimed in claim 1 and a portable computing device comprising wireless communication means for wireless communication with the wireless communication means of the navigation device.

16. A navigation system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the portable computing device comprises:

position determination means for determining the absolute position of the portable computing device;

at least one input means for receiving an input from a user relating to a desired position; and

a further processing unit configured to determine a desired bearing based upon the absolute position and the desired position and send the desired position to the navigation device via the wireless communication means.

17. A navigation system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the further processing unit is configured to:

determine a travel direction of the portable computing device based upon sequential determinations of the absolute position of the portable computing device;

determine a desired bearing as a relative bearing between the travel direction and a desired direction, the desired direction being that from the absolute position and the desired position; and

send the desired bearing to the navigation device,

wherein the processing unit of the navigation device is configured to;

determine a desired direction based upon the desired bearing and a reference direction of travel of the navigation device; and

indicate the desired direction on the navigation device.

14. (canceled)

18. A method of operating a navigation system comprising a navigation device, the navigation device comprising a display, at least one sensor, wireless communication means and a processing unit, wherein the method comprises:

determining a reference direction of the navigation device via the at least one sensor;

receiving at the navigation device a desired bearing from a portable computing device via the wireless communication means;

operating the processing unit to determine a bearing difference between a desired direction based upon the reference direction and desired bearing; and

operating the display to display an indicium, the indicium being oriented relative to the display based upon the desired direction.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the at least one sensor comprises a compass and a gyroscope and the method comprises:

receiving, at the processing unit of the navigation device, outputs from a compass and a gyroscope;

operating the processing unit to;

determine whether a magnitude or rate of change relating to the outputs of compass and gyroscope meets a threshold value; and

determine a desired direction based upon a gyroscope reference direction and the desired bearing if the magnitude meets the threshold value;

or

determine a desired direction based upon a compass reference direction and the desired bearing if the magnitude does not meet the threshold value.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the system further comprises a portable computing device, the portable computing device comprising wireless communication means, position determination means, at least one input means and a further processing unit, wherein the method further comprises:

determining the absolute position of the portable computing device via the position determination means;

receiving an input relating to a desired position at the at least one input means;

determining, via the further processing unit, a desired bearing based upon the absolute position and the desired position; and

sending the desired position to the navigation device via the wireless communication means.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20 further comprising:

determining a travel direction of the portable computing device based upon sequential determinations of the absolute position of the portable computing device;

determining, via the further processing unit, a desired bearing as a relative bearing between the travel direction and a desired direction, the desired direction being that from the absolute position and the desired position;

sending the desired bearing to the navigation device via the wireless communication means;

determining, at the processing unit of the navigation device, a desired direction based upon the desired bearing and a reference direction of travel of the navigation device; and

indicating the desired direction on the display of the navigation device.

22-37. -37. (canceled)