Navigation device

• US 5,365,449 A
• Filed: 09/22/1992
• Issued: 11/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Incorporated (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Incorporated (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Kashiwazaki, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US07/949,798
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 364/443, 364/444, 364/449, 73/178 R, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635

Abstract

A navigation device is provided with: a device for measuring a present position of a movable body equipped with the navigation device; a device for displaying map information; a device for storing destination information including at least positional information of a destination to which the movable body is scheduled to move, and an estimated time to arrive at the destination; and a control device for controlling the displaying device to display the map information, which corresponds to the measured present position, and display the measured present position on the displayed map information, selecting destination information, which corresponds to a destination located in the displayed map information, from the stored destination information, and controlling the displaying device to display the selected destination information on the displayed map information.

Claims

1. A navigation device comprising:

means for measuring a present position of a movable body equipped with said navigation device;

means for displaying map information;

means for storing destination information including at least positional information of a destination to which said movable body is scheduled to move, and an estimated time to arrive at the destination; and

a control means for controlling said displaying means to display the map information, which corresponds to the measured present position, and display the measured present position on the displayed map information, selecting destination information, which corresponds to a destination located in said displayed map information, from the stored destination information, and controlling said displaying means to display the selected destination information on the displayed map information,

wherein said control means calculates a distance from the measured present position to the destination and a changing rate of the calculated distance, judges whether or not said movable body has passed the destination if the changing rate is within a predetermined threshold range and a minimum value of the calculated distance is smaller than a predetermined threshold value to output a judgement result, and controls said displaying means to change the brightness of the displayed destination information depending on the judgment result.

2. A navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said measuring means comprises at least one of a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, an azimuth sensor, and a driving sensor.

3. A navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said destination information storing means comprises a RAM (Random Access Memory).

4. A navigation device according to claim 3, wherein said RAM comprises a battery-backup type nonvolatile RAM.

5. A navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing map information.

6. A navigation device according to claim 5, wherein said map information storing means comprises a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory).

7. A navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising means for inputting the destination information to said destination information storing means from the external of the navigation device.

8. A navigation device according to claim 7, wherein said inputting means comprises one selected from a group of RS232C interface, an IC (Integrated Circuit) card interface, and an electric wave receiver.

9. A navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises an MPU (Microprocessor Unit).

10. A navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising operation switches for inputting various operation commands to said control means.

11. A navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said destination information further includes at least one of coordinates of the destination, a name of the destination, and a telephone number of the destination.

12. A navigation device according to claim 1, wherein a flag is turned to be ON in said control means, when it is judged that said movable body has passed the destination, and said control means controls said displaying means depending on a status of the flag.

13. A navigation device comprising:

means for measuring a present position of a movable body equipped with said navigation device;

means for displaying map information;

means for storing destination information including at least positional information of a destination to which said movable body is scheduled to move, and an estimated time to arrive at the destination; and

a control means for controlling said displaying means to display the map information, which corresponds to the measured present position, and display the measured present position on the displayed map information, selecting destination information, which corresponds to a destination located in said displayed map information and includes at least one of coordinates of the destination, a name of the destination, and a telephone number of the destination, from the stored destination information, and controlling said displaying means to display the selected destination information on the displayed map information,

wherein said control means compares the estimated time and a present time, judges whether or not it has passed the estimated time to output a result of judgment, and controls said displaying means to change the brightness of the displayed destination information depending on the result of judgment.

14. A navigation device according to claim 13, wherein said measuring means comprises at least one of a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, an azimuth sensor, and a driving sensor.

15. A navigation device according to claim 13, wherein said destination information storing means comprises a battery-backup type nonvolatile RAM (Random Access Memory).

16. A navigation device according to claim 13, further comprising a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read only Memory).

17. A navigation device according to claim 13, further comprising means for inputting the destination information to said destination information storing means from the external of the navigation device,

wherein said inputting means comprises one selected from a group of RS232C interface, an IC (Integrated Circuit) card interface, and an electric wave receiver.

18. A navigation device according to claim 13, further comprising operation switches for inputting various operation commands to said control means.

19. A navigation device according to claim 13, wherein a flag is turned to be ON in said control means, when it is judged that it has passed the estimated time, and said control means controls said displaying means depending on a status of the flag.

20. A navigation device comprising:

means for measuring a present position of a movable body equipped with said navigation device;

means for displaying map information;

means for storing destination information including at least positional information of a destination to which said movable body is scheduled to move, and an estimated time to arrive at the destination; and

a control means for controlling said displaying means to display the map information, which corresponds to the measured present position, and display the measured present position on the displayed map information, selecting destination information, which corresponds to a destination located in said displayed map information, from the stored destination information, and controlling said displaying means to display the selected destination information on the displayed map information,

wherein said control means calculates a distance from the measured present position to the destination and a changing rate of the calculated distance, judges whether or not said movable body has passed the destination if the changing rate is within a predetermined threshold range and a minimum value of the calculated distance is smaller than a predetermined threshold value to output a first result of judgment, compares the estimated time and a present time, judges whether or not it has passed the estimated time to output a second result of judgment, and controls said displaying means to change the brightness of the displayed destination information depending on the first and second results of judgment.

21. A navigation device comprising:

means for measuring a present position of a movable body equipped with said navigation device;

means for displaying map information;

means for storing destination information including at least positional information of a destination to which said movable body is scheduled to move, and an estimated time to arrive at the destination; and

a control means for controlling said displaying means to display the map information, which corresponds to the measured present position, and display the measured present position on the displayed map information, selecting destination information, which corresponds to a destination located in said displayed map information and includes at least one of coordinates of the destination, a name of the destination, and a telephone number of the destination, from the stored destination information, and controlling said displaying means to display the selected destination information on the displayed map information,

wherein said control means calculates a distance from the measured present position to the destination and a changing rate of the calculated distance, judges whether or not said movable body has passed the destination on the basis of the calculated changing rate to output a first result of judgment, compares the estimated time and a present time, judges whether or not it has passed the estimated time to output a second result of judgment, and controls said displaying means to change the brightness of the displayed destination information depending on the first and second results of judgment.