Navigation system for use in vehicle

• US 5,377,113 A
• Filed: 05/05/1993
• Issued: 12/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: Zexel Corporation
• Inventors: Shibazaki, Masami, Abe, Tatsuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/056,912
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 364/443, 364/444, 364/449, 73/178 R, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233

Abstract

In a navigation system for use in a vehicle, an administrative district and a first and a second roads are inputted by an input device. In the inputted administrative districts, an intersection formed by the inputted first and second roads is determined. The determined intersection is provided as at least one of a starting point intersection and a destination intersection. An optimum route from the starting point intersection to the destination intersection is computed.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

(a) a display unit;

(b) map information storage means for storing map information, said map information including intersections, a net of roads, and administrative districts;

(c) destination input mode executing means for executing a destination input mode to determine a destination intersection;

(d) optimum route computation means for computing an optimum route from a starting point intersection to said destination intersection;

(e) current position detection means for detecting a current position of a vehicle; and

(f) route guidance display means for displaying route guiding information on said display unit based on the optimum route and the current position;

wherein said destination input mode executing means includes;

(i) first list means for listing names of the administrative districts on said display unit;

(ii) administrative district input means for inputting one of the listed administrative districts;

(iii) second list means for listing names of transit roads passing through the inputted administrative district on said display unit;

(iv) first road input means for inputting one of the listed transit roads as a first road;

(v) third list means for listing names of intersecting roads on said display unit, the intersecting roads intersecting said first road and passing through the inputted administrative district;

(vi) second road input means for inputting one of the listed intersecting roads as a second road; and

(vii) intersection determination means for determining said destination intersection formed by said inputted first and second roads.

2. A navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising cursor display means for displaying a cursor on said display unit when the names of one of the administrative districts, the transit roads and the intersecting roads are listed on said display unit, said administrative district input means inputting said one of the administrative districts designated by said cursor, said first road input means inputting said one of the transit roads designed by said cursor, and second road input means inputting said one of the intersecting roads designated by said cursor.