Position input system for vehicular navigation apparatus

• US 5,115,399 A
• Filed: 11/26/1990
• Issued: 05/19/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Kabushiki Kaisha Shinsangyokaihatsu
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Kabushiki Kaisha Shinsangyokaihatsu
• Inventors: Yamada, Takashi, Nimura, Mitsuhiro, Sumiya, Koji, Yokoyama, Shoji, Moroto, Shuzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US07/618,021
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 364/443, 364/444, 364/449, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 73/178 R
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers

Abstract

A position input system for a vehicular navigation apparatus includes an input unit for inputting a desired destination and a present position, a memory unit for storing desired destination information and map information, and a display unit for outputting the desired destination information and map information in response to input information from the input unit. The map information is indicative of intersections and a geographical point located between intersections and possessing useful guidance information. A desired destination and present position are capable of being inputted by setting the useful guidance information between a road leading to and a road leading from the geographical point. This makes it possible to enter position simply and accurately. Positions are precise since they are selected from pre-stored information relating to geographical locations. Vehicle direction can also be inputted in accurate fashion where parking lot exits and intersections are concerned.

Claims

1. A navigation system for a vehicle having a position input system for assisting vehicle navigation to a desired destination, which comprises:

input means for inputting said desired destination and for inputting a present intersection position in terms of characters or code numbers identifying the present intersection;

memory means for storing information about said desired destination and map information;

said map information including an intersection list and a road data list;

said intersection list including information of landmarks located in the vicinity of respective intersections;

said road data list including starting point intersection information and ending point intersection information;

display means for displaying guidance information; and

control means for controlling said display means to display the present intersection, roads in said road data list having starting point information corresponding to said intersection and a landmark in the vicinity of said intersection, wherein said control means includes means for determining a line bisecting an angle between two roads displayed on said display means and intersecting at said intersection, and means for positioning the display of the landmark on the bisecting line a selected distance from said intersection;

said input means further including means for inputting a present road position by identifying one of said displayed roads relative to said landmark as displayed on said display means.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said desired destination is a parking lot.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said desired destination is inputted according to class or by code number.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the desired destination and the map information is stored in a CD-ROM.

5. A navigation system for a vehicle having a position input system for assisting vehicle navigation to a desired destination, which comprises:

input means for inputting a present position in terms of characters or code numbers and for inputting said desired destination by first selecting a class of destinations and then selecting a destination from the selected class;

memory means for storing information about said desired destination and map information;

said map information including intersection and road data, and a landmark located between intersections;

display means for displaying guidance information; and

control means for controlling said display means to firstly display a plurality of classes of destinations and secondly to display destinations corresponding to said selected class of destinations, wherein said displayed destinations are in response to the selection of said class of destinations causing said destinations to be displayed on said display means, and said desired destination is selected by identifying one of said destinations displayed on said display means;

and wherein said desired destinations information includes a list of desired destinations each having classification data corresponding to one of said plurality of classes of destinations, and said displayed destinations are selected by determining destinations in said list of desired destinations which have classification data corresponding to said selected class.