Car navigation system

• US 5,416,478 A
• Filed: 03/09/1993
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Morinaga, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US08/028,418
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995, 340/990, 340/988, 340/461, 340/705, 364/449, 73/178 R
• US Class Current: 340/995.27
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard

Abstract

A driver operates a car by watching an intersection number and an arrow which indicate direction by reflecting the information in the front windshield. The indicated arrow direction shows the direction in which the car is advancing. Accordingly, the driver does not need to observe the indicator displayed on the dashboard during operation and can drive more safely by concentrating his energy on operating the car. In the navigation system for cars, the advancing direction of the car at an intersection is previously designated by the driver, information regarding driving straight or turning is projected by a projector which includes an LCD or a fluorescent indicator tube whenever the car approaches the intersection based on the information, the above projected light is projected on a half-mirror provided at the front windshield of the car and an imaginary image is reflected before the front glass.

Claims

1. In a navigation system for a car provided with a detecting means of the present position of the car, an arithmetic unit which calculates the present position of the car based on the above detecting means, an external storage which records map information, an input unit which inputs a course where the car passes and a destination, and an indicator, which displays a map and the driving locus, said navigation system for the car being provided with a projector which projects an image including a directional arrow of related display information of the indicator on a half-mirror portion of the front windshield of the car, the car navigation system arithmetic unit calculating the shortest course from the location of the car, to the input destination with said arithmetic unit thereby indicating the shortest course thereof on said indicator, the directional arrow length of said image projected by the indicator changing with a lapse of time.

2. A car navigation system according to claim 1, wherein a time period of light emission of said projected image is selectively set by a distance from the position of the car to an intersection by said input unit.

3. A car navigation system according to claim 1, wherein a light emission time of said image is selectively set by the time from a present point of time to a time for reaching an intersection by said input unit using the speed at a present point as a parameter.

4. A car navigation system according to claim 1, wherein an arrow of the image projected by the indicator changes its color according to an access to an intersection.

5. A car navigation system according to claim 1, wherein an arrow of the image projected by the indicator changes its position in the image thereof according to the access to an intersection.

6. A car navigation system according to claim 1, wherein an inputted course and an alternative course thereof are indicated by the navigation system.

7. In a navigation system for a car provided with a detecting means for detecting a current position and orientation of a car, an arithmetic unit which calculates the current positions of the car based on information from the detecting means, memory means for recording map information, an input unit which inputs a course where the car passes and a destination, and an indicator which displays a map and the driving locus of the car, said navigation system further comprising projecting means for projecting an image of selected display information related to the map and driving locus of the car, including a directional arrow, on a half-mirror portion of the front windshield of the car, the selected display information being less than that shown on said indicator to minimize distraction of the driver while assisting the driver to navigate the car in accordance with programmed directions, the car navigation system arithmetic unit calculating the shortest course from the location of the car to the input destination with said arithmetic unit thereby indicating the shortest course thereof on said indicator, the directional arrow length of said image projected by the projecting means changing with a lapse of time.

8. In a navigation system for a car according to claim 7, wherein the selected display information comprises a directional arrow pointing in the direction in which the car is to be turned at a given point of the locus of the car.

9. In a navigation system for a car according to claim 8, wherein said arrow is one of a plurality of preset radial arrows emanating from a central region and angularly offset from each other.

10. In a navigation system for a car according to claim 9, wherein eight arrows are provided.

11. In a navigation system for a car according to claim 9, wherein the selected display information also includes an indicia which also appears on the map display on said indicator to correlate the projected turning directions with specific points on the driving locus of the car.

12. A method of providing navigational information for driving a car comprising the steps of detecting a current position and orientation of a car;

calculating the current position of the car based on information obtained from said detecting step with an arithmetic unit;

recording map information;

inputting a course where the car passed and a destination;

displaying a map and driving locus of the car;

projecting an image of selected display information related to the map and driving locus of the car on a half-mirror portion of the front windshield of the car, including a directional arrow the selected display information being less than that shown on an indicator to minimize distraction of the driver while assisting the driver to navigate the car in accordance with programmed directions;

calculating the shortest course from the location of the car to the input destination with said arithmetic unit thereby indicating the shortest course thereof on said indicator; and

selectively changing the directional arrow length of said image projected by the projecting step with a lapse of time.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein said projecting step comprises projecting a directional arrow pointing in the direction in which the car is to be turned at a given point of the locus of the car.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein said arrow is one of a plurality of preset radial arrows emanating from a central region and angularly offset from each other.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein eight arrows are provided.

16. Method according to claim 14, wherein said projecting step comprises projecting an indicia which also appears on the map display on said indicator to correlate the projected turning directions with specific points on the driving locus of the car.