Navigation system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A navigation system comprising:
- means for detecting a present position of a vehicle;
first computing means for computing an optimal route for said vehicle from a starting point to a destination;
first means for selecting a first plurality of marked points on said optimal route;
said first plurality of marked points being used for determining a restoration point between said destination and a deviation point;
off-route detection means for detecting a deviation of said vehicle from said optimal route;
said deviation occurring at said deviation point;
second means for selecting one of said first plurality of marked points disposed between a point at which said deviation occurs and said destination, as a restoration point when said off-route detection means detects said deviation;
said second means for selecting including second computing means for computing an optimal restoration route from a plurality of restoration routes each extending from said present position to one of said first plurality of marked points disposed between a deviation point and said destination; and
said optimal restoration route extending from said present position to said restoration point on said optimal route.
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Abstract
A navigation system mounted on a vehicle computes in advance an optimal route from a starting point to a destination. When the vehicle travels off the optimal route, the navigation system detects an off-route deviation. When an off-route deviation is detected, the system computes a restoration route from the vehicle'"'"'s present position to a selected point on the optimal route and rapidly displays navigational information to guide the vehicle thereto. Thus there is no need for the system to compute a new optimal route from the present position to the destination, and there is no delay in supplying the driver with navigational information.
73 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A navigation system comprising:
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means for detecting a present position of a vehicle; first computing means for computing an optimal route for said vehicle from a starting point to a destination; first means for selecting a first plurality of marked points on said optimal route; said first plurality of marked points being used for determining a restoration point between said destination and a deviation point; off-route detection means for detecting a deviation of said vehicle from said optimal route; said deviation occurring at said deviation point; second means for selecting one of said first plurality of marked points disposed between a point at which said deviation occurs and said destination, as a restoration point when said off-route detection means detects said deviation; said second means for selecting including second computing means for computing an optimal restoration route from a plurality of restoration routes each extending from said present position to one of said first plurality of marked points disposed between a deviation point and said destination; and said optimal restoration route extending from said present position to said restoration point on said optimal route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A navigation system, comprising:
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means for detecting a present position of a vehicle; first computing means for computing an optimal route for said vehicle from a starting point to a destination; first means for selecting a first plurality of marked points on said optimal route; said first plurality of marked points being used for determining a restoration point between said destination and a deviation point; off-route detection means for detecting a deviation of said vehicle from said optimal route; said deviation occurring at said deviation point; second means for selecting said restoration point from said first plurality of marked points; second computing means for computing an optimal restoration route from said present position to said restoration point on said optimal route when said off-route detection means detects said deviation; said second selecting means further selects a second plurality of marked points from said first plurality of marked points, said second plurality of marked points being nearer in a straight distance to said present position than are other members of said first plurality of marked points; and said second computing means determines an optimal restoration route from a plurality of restoration routes each extending from said present position to each of said second plurality of marked points.
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6. A navigation system, comprising:
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means for detecting a present position of a vehicle; first computing means for computing an optimal route for said vehicle from a starting point to a destination; first means for selecting a first plurality of marked points on said optimal route; said first plurality of marked points being used for determining a restoration point between said destination and a deviation point; off-route detection means for detecting a deviation of said vehicle from said optimal route; said deviation occurring at said deviation point; second means for selecting said restoration point from said first plurality of marked points; second computing means for computing an optimal restoration route from said present position to said restoration point on said optimal route when said off-route detection means detects said deviation; said second selecting means further selects a second plurality of marked points from said first plurality of marked points, said second plurality of marked points comprising all marked points within a specified distance from a one of said first plurality of marked points that is nearest said present position; and said second computing means determines an optimal restoration route from a plurality of restoration routes each extending from said present position to each of said second plurality of marked points.
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7. A navigation system, comprising:
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means for detecting a present position of a vehicle; first computing means for computing an optimal route for said vehicle from a starting point to a destination; first means for selecting a first plurality of marked points on said optimal route; said first plurality of marked points being used for determining a restoration point between said destination and a deviation point; off-route detection means for detecting a deviation of said vehicle from said optimal route; said deviation occurring at said deviation point; second means for selecting said restoration point from said first plurality of marked points; second computing means for computing an optimal restoration route from said present position to said restoration point on said optimal route when said off-route detection means detects said deviation; said second selecting means further selects a second plurality of marked points from said first plurality of marked points, said second plurality of marked points comprising all marked points within a specified distance from said deviation point; and said second computing means determines an optimal restoration route from a plurality of restoration routes each extending from said present position to each of said second plurality of marked points.
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8. A navigation system comprising:
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a microcomputer; a map information storage medium storing map information; an axle sensor effective for determining distance traveled by a vehicle; a directional sensor effective for determining direction of travel of said vehicle; said microcomputer cooperating with said axle sensor and said directional sensor to determine a present position of said vehicle; an input device effective for entering a starting point and a destination of said vehicle into said microcomputer; said microcomputer cooperating with said map information storage medium for computing an optimal route for said vehicle from said starting point to said destination; said microcomputer being effective for selecting a plurality of marked points on said optimal route; said microcomputer cooperating with said map information storage medium, said axle sensor, and said directional sensor for detecting a deviation of said vehicle from said optimal route; said microcomputer being further effective for selecting potential restoration points from ones of said plurality of marked points disposed between a point at which said deviation occurs and said destination; said microcomputer being further effective for computing, when said deviation of said vehicle from said optimal route is detected, an optimal restoration route from a plurality of restoration routes each extending from said present position to one of said potential restoration points; said optimal restoration route extending from said present position to a restoration point on said optimal route. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification