Current location indication apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle

• US 5,113,185 A
• Filed: 10/01/1990
• Issued: 05/12/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US07/593,277
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995, 340/988, 340/990, 364/449, 364/460, 365/228, 73/178 R
• US Class Current: 340/995.27
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A current location indicating apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle. The apparatus comprises a current travel distance detection unit adapted to detect a current cumulated travel distance of the vehicle. A bearing detection unit is adapted to detect a current bearing in accordance with current travel. A signal processing unit is adapted to obtain a current locational point in terms of two-dimensional coordinates of the moving vehicle in accordance with the outputs from each of the detection units. A path of travel store unit is adapted to sequentially store the locational data in terms of the two-dimensional coordinates varying from time to time as obtained by the signal processing unit and hold the contents thereof as current continuous locational information on the moving vehicle. Also provided is a microfilm including a series of photographic images of area maps which are prepared in advance for display use, an image pick-up unit adapted to electrically read desired information on an area map from the microfilm, a display unit adapted to visually indicate a map in accordance with the current read-out map information and display with a marking showing the state of travel motion on the same display screen in accordance with the locational data stored in the path of travel store unit, and a manual operating unit adapted to selectively specify an area map desired to be shown on the display screen and properly initialize the marking of indication on the display.

Claims

1. A current location indicating apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle, comprising:

current travel distance detection means for detecting a current cumulated travel distance of said automotive vehicle;

bearing detection means for detecting a current bearing or heading of said vehicle in accordance with a current traveling motion of said vehicle;

signal processing means for obtaining a current location point in terms of two-dimensional coordinates of the moving vehicle in accordance with the outputs from each of said detection means;

path of travel store means for sequentially storing the locational data in terms of the two-dimensional coordinates varying from time to time which are obtained by said signal processing means and holding the contents thereof as current continuous locational information on the moving vehicle;

image storing means including a series of photographic images of area maps which are prepared in advance for display use;

image pick-up means for electrically reading desired information on an area map from said image storing means;

display means including a display screen for visually indicating a map in accordance with the current read-out map information and displaying a marking showing the current state of travel motion of said vehicle on said display screen, including a current location of the vehicle, a current travel direction of the vehicle at the current location thereof and a current tracing path of travel up to the current location thereof, in accordance with the locational data stored in said path of travel store means;

manual operating means for selectively specifying an area map desired to be shown on said display screen of said display means and initializing said marking on the display screen;

predetermined portions of said area maps of said image storing means being recorded with different scales so that the map images may selectively be presented on said display screen in a desired sequence in accordance with the recorded map information as read by said image pick-up means, together with the current location indication of said vehicle, and in accordance with said different scales;

means for indicating to a driver when the vehicle is in the vicinity of said predetermined portions of said area maps, and adapted to present a different map scale on said display screen in accordance with a given operating command;

said means for indicating including digital data read by said image pick-up means in said predetermined portions of said area maps when said current location indication of said vehicle is in the vicinity of said predetermined portions;

setting means for setting a starting point and desired destination of said vehicle, respectively, on said display screen from an optional operating command; and

a plurality of sectioned indicating means disposed adjacent to and around substantially the entire periphery of said display screen in a divided frame fashion to indicate the up-and-down, the right-and-left, and the diagonal directions, respectively, and adapted to present an approximated indication of direction of said destination in accordance with a given operating command.

4. A current location indicating apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for recording digital coded auxiliary data used to guide visual representations of said display means, and for causing said signal processing means to read digital signals taken in a photographic image form of said auxiliary data.

5. A current location indicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said signal processing means is adapted to detect the state of a power down of the indicating apparatus when said vehicle stops; and

said apparatus further comprises non-volatile memory means for storing backup data, including at least the number of an area map currently on said display at the start of the power-down state and the data relating to the current location and direction of heading of said vehicle in terms of the two-dimensional coordinates.

6. A current location indicating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for presenting an auxiliary marking which represents a reservation of a preselected traveling direction at at least one predetermined location on said display screen in accordance with a given operating command, said auxiliary marking being automatically presented together with said map and said marking on said display screen when said vehicle is in the vicinity of the predetermined location.

2. A current location indicating apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle, comprising:

current travel distance detection means for detecting a current cumulated travel distance of said automotive vehicle;

bearing detection means for detecting a current bearing or heading of said vehicle in accordance with a current traveling motion of said vehicle;

signal processing means for obtaining a current locational point in terms of two-dimensional coordinates of the moving vehicle in accordance with the outputs from each of said detection means;

path of travel store means for sequentially storing the locational data in terms of the two-dimensional coordinates varying from time to time which are obtained by said signal processing means and holding the contents thereof as current continuous locational information on the moving vehicle;

image storing means including a series of photographic images of area maps which are prepared in advance for display use;

image pick-up means for electrically reading desired information on an area map from said image storage means;

display means including a display screen for visually indicating a map in accordance with the current read-out map information and displaying a marking showing the current state of travel motion of said vehicle on said display screen, including a current location of the vehicle, a current travel direction of the vehicle at the current location thereof and a current tracing path of travel up to the current location thereof, in accordance with the locational data stored in said path of travel store means;

manual operating means for selectively specifying an area map desired to be shown on said display screen of said display means and initializing said marking on the display screen;

predetermined portions of said area maps of said image storing means being recorded with different scales so that the map images may selectively be presented on said display screen in a desired sequence in accordance with the recorded map information as read by said image pick-up means, together with the current location indication of said vehicle, and in accordance with said different scales;

means for indicating to a driver when the vehicle is in the vicinity of said predetermined portions of said area maps, and adapted to present a different map scale on said display screen in accordance with a given operating command;

said means for indicating including digital data read by said image pick-up means in said predetermined portions of said area maps when said current location indication of said vehicle is in the vicinity of said predetermined portions;

setting means for respectively setting a starting point and at least one destination on said display screen; and

bearing indicating means for detecting an orientation as viewed from said starting point toward said destination, and that as viewed from one preset destination on way of the travel path of said vehicle toward another, in presenting an approximated indication of said orientation with an arrow directed towards said destination at the place of said staring point and said one preset destination in accordance with a given operating command.

7. A current location indicating apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising:

means for recording digital coded auxiliary data used to guide visual representations of said display means, and for causing said signal processing means to read digital signals taken in a photographic image form of said auxiliary data.

8. A current location indicating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said signal processing means is adapted to detect the state of a power down of the indicating apparatus when said vehicle stops; and

said apparatus further comprises non-volatile memory means for storing backup data, including at least the number of an area map currently on said display at the start of the power-down state and the data relating to the current location and direction of heading of said vehicle in terms of the two-dimensional coordinates.

9. A current location indicating apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

means for presenting an auxiliary marking which represents a reservation of a preselected traveling direction at at least one predetermined location on said display screen in accordance with a given operating command, said auxiliary marking being automatically presented together with said map and said marking on said display screen when said vehicle is in the vicinity of the predetermined location.

3. A current location indicating apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle, comprising:

current travel distance detection means for detecting a current cumulated travel distance of said automotive vehicle;

bearing detection means for detecting a current bearing or heading of said vehicle in accordance with a current traveling motion of said vehicle;

signal processing means for obtaining a current locational point in terms of two-dimensional coordinates of the moving vehicle in accordance with the outputs from each of said detection means;

path of travel store means for sequentially storing the locational data in terms of the two-dimensional coordinates varying from time to time which are obtained by said signal processing means and holding the contents thereof as current continuous locational information on the moving vehicle;

image storing means including a series of photographic images of area maps which are prepared in advance for display use;

image pick-up means for electrically reading desired information on an area map from said image storing means;

display means including a display screen for visually indicating a map in accordance with the current read-out map information and displaying a marking showing the current state of travel motion of said vehicle on said display screen, including a current location of the vehicle, a current travel direction of the vehicle at the current location thereof and a current tracing path of travel up to the current location thereof, in accordance with the locational data stored in said path of travel store means;

manual operating means for selectively specifying an area map desired to be shown on said display screen of said display means and initializing said marking on the display screen;

predetermined portions of said area maps of said image storing means being recorded with different scales so that the map images may selectively be presented on said display screen in a desired sequence in accordance with the recorded map information as read by said image pick-up means, together with the current location indication of said vehicle, and in accordance with said different scales;

means for indicating to a driver when the vehicle is in the vicinity of said predetermined portions of said area maps, and adapted to present a different map scale on said display screen in accordance with a given operating command;

said means for indicating including digital data read by said image pick-up means in said predetermined portions of said area maps when said current location indication of said vehicle is in the vicinity of said predetermined portions;

setting means for setting a starting point and at least one desired destination of said vehicle, respectively, on said display screen;

a plurality of sectioned indicating means disposed adjacent to and around substantially the entire periphery of said display screen in a divided frame fashion to indicate the up-and-down, the right-and-left, and the diagonal directions, respectively, and adapted to present an approximated indication of direction of said destination in accordance with a given operating command; and

bearing indication means for detecting an orientation as viewed from said starting point towards said destination, and that as viewed from one preset destination on way of the travel path of said vehicle toward another, and presenting an approximated indication of said orientation with an arrow directed towards said destination at the place of said starting point and said one preset destination in accordance with a given operating command.

10. A current location indicating apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising:

means for recording digital coded auxiliary data used to guide visual representations of said display means, and for causing said signal processing means to read digital signals taken in a photographic image form of said auxiliary data.

11. A current location indicating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said signal processing means is adapted to detect the state of a power down of the indicating apparatus when said vehicle stops; and

said apparatus further comprises non-volatile memory means for storing backup data, including at least the number of an area map currently on said display at the start of the power-down state and the data relating to the current location and direction of heading of said vehicle in terms of the two-dimensional coordinates.

12. A current location indicating apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

means for presenting an auxiliary marking which represents a reservation of a preselected traveling direction at at least one predetermined location on said display screen in accordance with a given operating command, said auxiliary marking being automatically presented together with said map and said marking on said display screen when said vehicle is in the vicinity of the predetermined location.