Navigator for vehicles

• US 4,514,810 A
• Filed: 09/15/1982
• Issued: 04/30/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Ito, Yoji, Miura, Kunio, Muramoto, Kazuo, Inoue, Yozo, Hara, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US06/418,530
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424, 364/443, 364/444, 364/449, 364/521, 353/11, 353/12, 343/450-453, 340/988-990, 340/992, 340/995, 340/996, 73/178 R, 358/104
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3641 Personalized guidance, e.g. limited guidance on previously travelled routes

Abstract

A vehicle navigator is disclosed, in which in response to a storage command signal generated by the turning on of a storage switch, the present position data of a vehicle corresponding to the present cursor position is stored in a memory. In response to a set command signal subsequently generated by the turning on of a set switch, the running track data between the latest position stored and the present cursor position is stored in the memory, so that the running track is additionally displayed on a road map display device.

Claims

1. A vehicle navigator for displaying a running track of the vehicle, comprising:

present position detector means for detecting the present position of the vehicle and outputting a present position signal corresponding to the present position of the vehicle;

first memory means for storing a plurality of original road maps indicative of running tracks of the vehicle, said first memory means selectively reading out map data corresponding to one of said plurality of original road maps in response to a control signal;

control means comprising;

first means for receiving said present position signal from said present position detector means, and for outputting said control signal to said first memory means in order to receive said map data, wherein said first means processes said received present position signal and said map data to generate a display signal for displaying running route data of the vehicle on said map data;

second means for receiving and storing the map data and the running route data, including running track data and the present position of the vehicle, in response to said display signal from said first means and for generating corresponding video and sync signals;

display means for receiving said video and sync signals from said second means in order to display said map data and said running route data;

second memory means for storing as additional running track data a running track formed when the vehicle runs on a new road which is not indicated on the displayed map data; and

road addition means for allowing said display means to additionally display, as a road, the additional running track data stored by said second memory means on the selected map data, when the selected map data is re-displayed by said display means.

2. A vehicle navigator according to claim 1, said present position detection means comprising:

distance detection means for detecting a running distance of the vehicle;

direction detection means for detecting a travelling direction of the vehicle; and

calculation means for calculating the present position of the vehicle on the basis of the running distance of the vehicle detected by said distance detection means and the travelling direction of the vehicle detected by said direction detection means and outputting said present position signal to said first means.

3. A vehicle navigator for displaying a running track of the vehicle, comprising:

present position detection means for detecting the present position of the vehicle and outputting a present position signal corresponding to the present position of the vehicle;

map data memory means for storing a plurality of map data for a plurality of original road maps indicative of the running regions of the vehicle;

map designation means for designating which one of said plurality of original road maps is to be displayed;

display control means for reading map data of the original road map, designated by said map designation means, from said memory means and outputting a map display signal, and for receiving said present position signal from said present position detection means, wherein said present position signal is processed for generating and outputting a running track signal indicative of a running track of the vehicle on said designated original map;

display means for receiving said map display and running track signals from said display control means for displaying the designated original map and the running track of the vehicle;

additional running track storage means operably connected to said display control means for storing as additional running track data a running track formed when the vehicle runs on a new road which is not indicated on the designated road map in response to receipt of a memory command signal;

memory command means for outputting a storage command to said display control means when said additional running track data is to be stored and wherein said display control means issues said memory command signal to said additional running track storage means upon receipt of said storage command; and

road addition means for allowing said display means to additionally display, as a road, the additional running track data stored by said additional running track storage means on the designated road map when the designated road map is re-displayed by said display means.

4. A vehicle navigator according to claim 3, said present position detection means comprising:

distance detection means for detecting a running distance of the vehicle;

direction detection means for detecting a travelling direction of the vehicle; and

calculation means for calculating the present position of the vehicle on the basis of the running distance of the vehicle detected by said distance detection means and the travelling direction of the vehicle detected by said direction detection means and outputting said present position signal to said display control means.