Information input

• US 4,631,678 A
• Filed: 05/18/1984
• Issued: 12/23/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Hahlganss, Gunther, Angermuller, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Application Number:
  US06/612,102
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424, 364/436, 364/444, 364/449, 364/450, 340/988, 340/995, 73/178 R
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3623 using a camera or code reader, e.g. for optical or magnetic codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape

Abstract

The invention relates to an information input for a navigation device for highway vehicles in connection with which map markings which represent optically readable information and can be read by a reading device and fed to a data processing unit of the navigation device can be associated with a map, in particular a road map. A mark 6 can be associated with a starting or target point on the map and optically readable location markings 2 and 3 can be read by the reading device in the associated position of the mark 6 to the starting or target point.

Claims

1. A system for identifying locations on a map for inputting data of the locations into an optical map reading device of a navigation device, the locations including a start point and a target point, the navigation device including a data processor, the system comprising

stencil means configured for emplacement on the map for measuring coordinate distances on the map, said stencil means including a mark for association with a starting point or target point on the map, and

location marking means constructed with optically readable location markings, and being disposed on said stencil means for inputting location data into said reading device for use by said data processor, said location data being inputted upon alignment of said mark of said stencil means with a coordinate of the starting point or target point.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein

said location markings represent coordinate values.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein

said location markings comprise vertically and horizontally extending raster strips.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein

said location marking means includes an optically readable end marking and raster strip identifier arranged on one end of a raster strip.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein

said map comprises optically readable markings as imprints on the map, which markings are displaced from the location marking to permit reading by said reading device.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein

said optically readable markings are applied to the map by means of stickers.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising

a support, wherein said map can be applied to said support, said support being provided with optically legible markings and orienting said map with said stencil means.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein

said support is a support plate.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein

said stencil means further comprises a transparent covering for covering said map.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein

said covering comprises a plurality of guidelines extending in the coordinate directions of said location markings.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein

said covering comprises a foil.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein

said mark comprises a vertically or horizontally extending reference line.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein

map markings are provided on the map to enter map identifying information into said reading device, the locating markings of said location marking means being positioned on said stencil means away from the map markings to permit reading by said reading device.

14. The system according to claim 1, further comprising

means aligned with said stencil means for optically feeding program commands to the data processing unit.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein

optically readable number identifiers are associated with the program commands.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein

said map markings, program commands and number identifiers are formed by bar codes.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein

the locating markings, the map markings, the program commands, and the number identifiers are optically readable by means of a light pen.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein

said location marking means comprises a guide edge wherein said light pen can be guided along said guide edge.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein

said location marking means comprises optically readable markings provided with reading direction characters.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein

said stencil means is formed by a vertically or horizontally extending edge of a stencil which edge can be placed along a corresponding reference line of the map.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein

said stencil can be associated with a plurality of maps.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein

said stencil comprises map markings, program commands, and said number identifiers.