Navigation device vehicle comprising the device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A navigation device for navigating a user from a starting point along a selected route to a destination point, comprising:
- a memory for storing cartographic data relating to the selected route;
a position sensing unit for supplying the memory with data indicative of the user'"'"'s present position at any time;
an input unit for supplying the memory unit with data indicative of the user'"'"'s destination;
a display unit for producing from the data in the memory a display only of a map section relevant to the user'"'"'s present position and the selected route, said relevant map section showing a plurality of intersections but being only a small part of the selected route from starting to destination point and including only the most recent route segment actually followed by the user up to the present position and the next immediate route segment for the user to follow to reach eventually the user'"'"'s destination point and the immediate surrounding territory of the present position, said next immediate route segment including at least the next two successive intersections requiring a decision by the user; and
a control unit for controlling the data supplied from the memory to the display unit so that the relevant map section is repeatedly up-dated in accordance with actual changes in the user'"'"'s position;
said control unit comprising picture processing means for further controlling the data supplied from the memory to the display unit such that in the relevant map section displayed the most recent route segment which has already actually been travelled is depicted in a first manner and the next immediate route segment which is next to be travelled including at least through said two successive intersections to reach eventually the user'"'"'s destination point is depicted in a second manner different from said first manner, the remaining routes of the relevant map section, other than the most recent segment actually travelled and the next immediate route segment which is next to be travelled, being depicted in a third manner different from both the first and second manners and less apparent to a user than the first and second manners, such that the most recent route segment that has actually been travelled and the next immediate route segment that is next to be travelled are more apparent to the user.
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Abstract
A navigation device which is operative to navigate a user along a selected route, utilizing displays of relevant map sections and the selected route. The relevant map section is updated by a control unit in accordance with changes in user'"'"'s present position. The control unit includes a picture processor which controls the display unit to show in a distinctive manner within a relevant map section the route segment already travelled and the segment yet to be travelled. The resulting display can therefore be very quickly interpreted by the user.
110 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A navigation device for navigating a user from a starting point along a selected route to a destination point, comprising:
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a memory for storing cartographic data relating to the selected route; a position sensing unit for supplying the memory with data indicative of the user'"'"'s present position at any time; an input unit for supplying the memory unit with data indicative of the user'"'"'s destination; a display unit for producing from the data in the memory a display only of a map section relevant to the user'"'"'s present position and the selected route, said relevant map section showing a plurality of intersections but being only a small part of the selected route from starting to destination point and including only the most recent route segment actually followed by the user up to the present position and the next immediate route segment for the user to follow to reach eventually the user'"'"'s destination point and the immediate surrounding territory of the present position, said next immediate route segment including at least the next two successive intersections requiring a decision by the user; and a control unit for controlling the data supplied from the memory to the display unit so that the relevant map section is repeatedly up-dated in accordance with actual changes in the user'"'"'s position; said control unit comprising picture processing means for further controlling the data supplied from the memory to the display unit such that in the relevant map section displayed the most recent route segment which has already actually been travelled is depicted in a first manner and the next immediate route segment which is next to be travelled including at least through said two successive intersections to reach eventually the user'"'"'s destination point is depicted in a second manner different from said first manner, the remaining routes of the relevant map section, other than the most recent segment actually travelled and the next immediate route segment which is next to be travelled, being depicted in a third manner different from both the first and second manners and less apparent to a user than the first and second manners, such that the most recent route segment that has actually been travelled and the next immediate route segment that is next to be travelled are more apparent to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A navigation system for navigating a user from a starting point along a selected route to a destination point, comprising:
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(a) means for providing cartographic data representing a map including the selected route, (b) means for determining the user'"'"'s present position, (c) means for selecting from the cartographic data specific data representing a section of the map which includes the user'"'"'s present position, a first route segment corresponding to the most recent route segment actually followed by the user up to the present position, a second route segment corresponding to the next immediate route segment up to and including at least the next two successive route intersections requiring a decision by the user, and other route segments in the immediate surrounding territory of the present position, (d) means for displaying the route segments corresponding to the first route segment and the second route segment when not included within the selected route in substantially the same shape as when they are included in the selected route, (e) means for displaying the first route segment and the second route segment when they are included in the selected route with respective different identifying characteristics, other than shape, which distinguish said first and second route segments from the other route segments and which also includes in the display a prominent point of demarcation where said first and second route segments meet, said demarcation point identifying the user'"'"'s present position on the display.
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12. A navigation method for navigating a user from a starting point along a selected route to a destination point, comprising the steps:
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(a) providing cartographic data representing a map including the selected route, (b) determining the user'"'"'s present position, (c) selecting from the cartographic data specific data representing a section of the map which includes the user'"'"'s present position, a first route segment corresponding to the most recent route segment actually followed by the user up to the present position, a second route segment corresponding to the next immediate route segment up to and including at least the next two successive route intersections requiring a decision by the user, and other route segments in the immediate surrounding territory of the present position, (d) when not included within the selected route, displaying the route segments corresponding to the first route segment and the second route segment in substantially the same shape as when they are included in the selected route, but when they are included in the selected route displaying the first route segment and the second route segment with respective different identifying characteristics, other than shape, which distinguish said first and second route segments from the other route segments and which also includes in the display a prominent point of demarcation where said first and second route segments meet, said demarcation point identifying the user'"'"'s present position on the display. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification