Motorcycle navigation system

• US 6,157,890 A
• Filed: 06/19/1998
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Meguro, Takayoshi, Kurita, Hiroaki, Nakai, Noboru, Kidera, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/100,572
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/211, 701/200, 701/201, 701/207, 340/998, 340/990, 340/995, 340/461
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 electronic, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3652 Guidance using non-audiovisual output, e.g. tactile, haptic or electric stimuli

Abstract

A navigational system particularly adapted for use with small open vehicles such as a motorcycle. The navigational system includes a display which displays, in addition to vehicle speed and distance traveled, navigational information as to points along a pre-selected course of travel and the distance and turning direction to reach each successive point. The operator may also insert information about each point, such as observations about the point as the name of the point. The display switches from providing a first display condition that provides the travel information and a second condition that permits the insertion of data into the system. The insertion display is not enabled unless the vehicle is in a standing condition.

Claims

1. A navigational system for a vehicle comprised of a display, an input section for receiving input location data for a plurality of sequential locations, a sensor for sensing the actual location of said display, a control for sequentially displaying on said display the data from said input section as to the next location from the input section and at least the heading toward the next location from the sensed instantaneous location, and means for providing a warning signal to the operator when the vehicle is close to the next location by providing a vibrating sensation to the head of the operator of the vehicle.

2. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the display also displays the distance to the next location calculated from the distance traveled from the previous location.

3. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the warning is given to the head of the operator through a helmet worn by the operator.

4. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the warning is given to the opposite sides of the head of the operator by respective vibrators in relative magnitudes to provide an indication of which direction the operator should turn at the next point.

5. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein a visual warning is also given to the operator.

6. A navigational system for a vehicle comprised of a display, an input section for receiving input location data for a plurality of sequential locations, a sensor for sensing the actual location of said display, and a control for sequentially displaying on said display the data from said input section as to the next location from the input section and at least the heading toward the next location from the sensed instantaneous location and the rider must reset the display after each location has been reached in order to display the information regarding the next location.

7. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 6 wherein the display also is capable of displaying memo information regarding each location and wherein the input section is capable of receiving input data from the rider for such display.

8. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 7 wherein the rider must insert the longitude and latitude of each location into the input section.

9. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 8 wherein the data may be input to the input section through a wireless connection.

10. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 9 wherein the wireless connection comprises an infrared connection.

11. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 6 wherein the system also includes a geomagnetic sensor and the directional signal is corrected at at least one location from the output of said geomagnetic sensor.

12. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein the directional signal is corrected at each location from the output of the geomagnetic sensors.

13. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 6 wherein the display also displays operating characteristics of the vehicle.

14. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the display displays at least vehicle speed.

15. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 14 wherein the display also displays the distance traveled.

16. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 6 wherein the vehicle comprises a motorcycle and wherein the display input section sensor and control are mounted as a unit adjacent to the handlebars thereof.

17. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 16 wherein the display displays the navigational information without a map.

18. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 17 wherein the display also displays the distance to the next location calculated from the distance traveled from the previous location in numerical form.

19. A navigational system for a vehicle comprised of a display, an input section for receiving input location data for a plurality of sequential locations, a sensor for sensing the actual location of said display, a control for sequentially displaying on said display the data from said input section as to the next location from the input section, and an infrared device for exchanging data regarding input location data for a plurality of sequential locations with an external source without requiring electrical or mechanical connections.

20. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 19 wherein the input section receives data through the infrared device.

21. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 19 wherein the input section transmits data through the infrared device.

22. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 21 wherein the input section also receives data through the infrared device.

23. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 19 wherein the vehicle comprises a motorcycle and wherein the display input section sensor and control are mounted as a unit adjacent to the handlebars thereof.

24. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 23 wherein the infrared device is positioned on at least one side of the display so as to exchange information with a navigational system of an adjacent motorcycle.

25. A navigational system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 24 wherein an infrared device is positioned on both sides of the display so as to exchange information with a navigational system of an adjacent motorcycle on either side thereof.

26. A vehicle and navigational system comprised of a display, an input section for receiving input location data for a plurality of sequential locations, a sensor for sensing the actual location of said display, and a control for sequentially displaying on said display the data from said input section as to the next location from the input section and at least the heading toward the next location from the sensed instantaneous location, and means for providing a warning signal to the opposite sides of the head of the operator by respective vibrators in relative magnitudes to provide an indication of which direction the operator should turn at the next point when the vehicle is close to the next location.

27. A vehicle and navigational system as set forth in claim 26 wherein a visual warning is also given to the operator.