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Vehicle navigation apparatus employing node selection, comparison and elimination techniques

  • US 5,109,344 A
  • Filed: 04/25/1989
  • Issued: 04/28/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for navigating a vehicle, comprising:

  • direction detection means for detecting the direction in which the vehicle is traveling;

    distance detection means for detecting the distance traveled from a start node;

    vehicle position assuming means for assuming the present position of the vehicle relative to a reference position on the basis of data on the traveling direction and the traveled distance detected by said means;

    map information storage means for previously storing map information including data, on the positions of a multiplicity of nodes set on roads and connections therebetween, said nodes including said start node;

    node selection means for selecting nodes which are directly linked to the start node on the basis of the connection data from among said multiplicity of nodes set on roads;

    node bearing calculating means for calculating the bearing from the present position of the vehicle obtained by said vehicle position assuming means to each of said nodes selected by said node selection means;

    comparison means for comparing the bearing to each of said nodes selected by said node selection means with the vehicle traveling direction obtained by said direction detection means; and

    node elimination means for eliminating nodes judged to be impossible to select as target nodes from among the nodes selected by said node selection means on the basis of the result of the comparison effected by said comparison means.

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