Navigational information indicator for supplying a vehicle driver with make-turn instructions

• US 4,242,731 A
• Filed: 01/24/1979
• Issued: 12/30/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Oka, Takashi, Yamaki, Kiyoshi, Mizote, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Krass, Errol A.
• Application Number:
  US06/006,113
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424, 364/434, 364/436, 364/443, 364/444, 364/457, 364/460, 340/52 R, 340/54, 340/55, 340/56, 340/67, 340/73, 340/24
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3446 Details of route searching algorithms, e.g. Dijkstra, A*, arc-flags, using precalculated routes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2025/005 Message recorded in a memory device
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 25/00 Audible advertising sound recording or reproducing per se G11B; public address systems H04R27/00

Abstract

A navigational information indicator for supplying a vehicle driver with make-turn instructions comprises a first memory for storing each information indicative of each distance travelled by the vehicle as far as a point at which a turn is made, a second memory for storing each information indicative of the direction of each turn, and a display circuit for displaying a directional sign. When the vehicle travels from a first point toward a second point, the distances and directions of turns are respectively stored in the first and second memories in a sequence and these pieces of information are read out in the reverse sequence when the vehicle travels back to the first point from the second point along the same route. The stored information is read out to display each directional sign so as to supply the vehicle driver with make-turn instructions along the return trip.

Claims

1. A navigational information indicator for supplying a vehicle driver with make-turn instructions, comprising:

(a) first means for producing a first signal indicative of the distance travelled by said vehicle from a starting point when the vehicle is driven from said starting point toward an objective point, and a second signal indicative of the distance remaining to said starting point when the vehicle is driven back from said objective point toward said starting point;

(b) second means for producing a third signal indicative of the direction of each turn of said vehicle, said second means comprising a turn signal switch including a pivotable lever, said lever being manually pivotable selectively in clockwise and counterclockwise directions from a neutral position to respectively assume first and second positions for producing right and left turn signals, said lever being further pivotable by manual force selectively in said clockwise and counterclockwise directions beyond said first and second positions to respectively assume third and fourth positions, and switching means operated by said lever to (1) produce a first turn signal indicative of a right turn, as said third signal, when said lever assumes said third position, and (2) produce a second turn signal indicative of a left turn, as said third signal, when said lever assumes said fourth position, said lever automatically returning to said first and second positions respectively from said third and fourth positions when the manual force is removed;

(c) third means for sequentially storing information indicated by said first signal during turning;

(d) fourth means for sequentially storing information indicated by said third signal during turning;

(e) fifth means for controlling the storing function of said third and fourth means, said fifth means including said switching means which produces one of said turn signals when said lever of said turn signal switch assumes either one of said third and fourth positions;

(f) sixth means responsive to information read out from said third means in the reverse sequence with respect to which it was stored and to said second signal indicative of the remaining distance, said sixth means producing a fourth signal which triggers said fourth means to read out a piece of information from said fourth means in the reverse sequence with respect to which it was stored when the remaining distance has a predetermined relationship with respect to a distance indicated by said read out information; and

(g) seventh means for visually displaying a navigational sign in accordance with the information read out from said fourth means.

2. A navigational information indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first means comprises

(a) a distance sensor for producing a pulse signal each time said vehicle travels over a predetermined unit distance;

(b) an up-down counter for either counting up or counting down the number of pulses applied from said distance sensor;

(c) first and second gate means for selectively supplying said pulse signal to the count-up or count-down terminal of said up-down counter when enabled; and

(d) switching means for selectively enabling one of said first and second gate means;

3. A navigational information indicator as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for clearing the information stored in said up-down counter.

4. A navigational information indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third and fourth means respectively comprises shift registers.

5. A navigational information indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sixth means comprises;

(a) a subtractor responsive to said first signal and said information read out from said third means;

(b) a reference signal generator for producing a signal indicative of a predetermined distance; and

(c) a comparator responsive to the output signal of said subtractor and said reference signal for producing an output signal when the distances indicated by the two signals equal to each other.

6. A navigational information indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seventh means comprises:

(a) first and second switches responsive to said information read out from said fourth means, said first and second switches alternatively turning ON and OFF in accordance with said information;

(b) first and second lamps connected to said first and second switches respectively; and

(c) first and second directional signs arranged to be illuminated by said first and second lamps respectively, for respectively indicating first and second directions.

7. A navigational information indicator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising timer means responsive to said fourth signal from said sixth means, said timer means causing said seventh means to display said navigational sign for a predetermined period of time.

8. A navigational information indicator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an alarm device responsive to said fourth signal from said sixth means.

9. A navigational information indicator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a distance display circuit responsive to said first signal from said first means.