Apparatus for visually indicating the current location of an automotive vehicle

• US 4,521,777 A
• Filed: 08/16/1982
• Issued: 06/04/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Yukinobu, Takahashi, Tsuneo, Tagami, Katsutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Application Number:
  US06/408,274
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 340/23, 340/24, 340/988, 340/995, 364/457, 364/460, 364/449, 364/450, 364/571, 73/504, 73/505, 73/516 LM, 73/1 E, 73/178 R, 33/356, 343/451, 343/452
• US Class Current: 340/995.28
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 with correlation of data from several navigational instruments

Abstract

A current location indicating apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle wherein a current location of the automotive vehicle is arithmetically obtained in terms of two-dimensional coordinates by a signal processing unit on the basis of the outputs from a travel distance detecting unit and a bearing detecting unit, and the current location of the vehicle is visually indicated on the screen of a display from the thus-obtained data in connection with the current location thereof. The apparatus comprises, in operative combination, a first bearing detecting unit employing an earth magnetism sensor as a primary component, a second auxiliary detecting unit employing a rate type gyroscope or the like, and a signal processing unit adapted to monitor the output from the first bearing detecting unit in comparison with the operating state of the second auxiliary bearing detecting unit to determine whether or not the earth magnetism sensor of the first bearing detecting unit is under the influence of any external disturbances for a short period so that the output of the first bearing detecting means can be corrected accordingly.

Claims

1. A current location indicating apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle wherein a current location of said automotive vehicle is arithmetically obtained in terms of two-dimensional coordinates by a signal processing unit on the basis of the outputs from a travel distance detecting unit and a bearing detecting unit, and the current location of said vehicle is visually indicated on the screen of a display from the thus-obtained data in connection with the current location thereof, which comprises, in operative combination:

first bearing detecting means including an earth magnetism sensor as a primary component thereof;

second auxiliary detecting means including a rate type gyroscope or the like; and

signal processing means for continuously monitoring the output from said first bearing detecting means in comparison with the operating state of said second auxiliary bearing detecting means to determine whether or not said earth magnetism sensor of said first bearing detecting means is under the influence of external disturbances for a short period so that the output of said first bearing detecting means can be immediately corrected accordingly, while said vehicle is in motion.