Apparatus and method for guiding a vehicle

• US 6,336,075 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2000
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rotis Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rotis Incorporated
• Inventors: Kim, Dong-Joon, Park, Jong-Hun, Jin, Seo-Yong, Sin, Young-Dal, Ko, Joong-Hyup
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US09/522,712
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/119, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/212, 340/901, 340/903, 340/905, 340/991, 340/992, 340/993, 340/995, 731/78.R
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09

Abstract

A method and apparatus for guiding a vehicle in which a transmission signal of a position transmitting device installed at key points on a roadside is received by a position receiving device mounted in the vehicle. The apparatus having members for coding position information on the road where the position transmitting device is installed and traffic information including danger information with respect to the road, storing the same, modulating and continuously transmitting the coded information to the vehicle. Also, the apparatus capable of receiving the transmission signal of a corresponding position while the vehicle is moving on the road, and continuously classifying and searching the information and the intensity of the signal. Another part of the apparatus for detecting the current position of the vehicle either by directly using the searched result or by computing a travel distance of the vehicle. The apparatus for informing the current position of the detected vehicle, its heading position, its advancing the direction, a remaining distance to its destination and danger information for guidance.

Claims

1. A method for guiding a vehicle in which a transmission signal of a position transmitting device installed at key points on a roadside is received by a position receiving device mounted in the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving traffic information for service to a vehicle moving on a road from a traffic information network;

receiving position information on the road and the traffic information received from an interface unit as code values and storing the same;

modulating the position information and the traffic information as coded and stored in a recording unit, and wirelessly transmitting the same to each vehicle moving in the vicinity of the road;

coding the position information on the road and the traffic information obtained by the interface unit, providing it to a recording unit, and controlling the transmitting operation of a first communication module and the receiving operation of the traffic information;

receiving the transmission signal as modulated by the position transmitting device, classifying the information and the intensity of the signal from the received signal, and outputting the same;

digitizing the intensity of the transmission signal as classified by the second communication module;

measuring a travel distance of the vehicle and generating pulses in proportion to the measured travel distance;

detecting the determined current position of the vehicle on the basis of the information as classified by a second communication module, the digital value according to the intensity of the signal and the measure pulse, analyzing the data to output a corresponding position information, travel information and danger information, and periodically controlling the operation of the second communication module; and

visually and acoustically guiding the position information, the travel information and the danger information obtained by a second microprocessor.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the received information and the intensity of the received signal are normal, the current position of the vehicle is detected by the first condition.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, in the first condition, the current position of the vehicle is detected only by the position information of the corresponding position transmitting device according to the intensity of the signal of the position transmitting device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the position information is one of an absolute coordinate value of the position transmitting devices installed at key points on the roadside or an identification number thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein if either one of the state of the received information and the intensity of the received signal is abnormal, the current position of the vehicle is detected by the second condition.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the current position of the vehicle is detected by computing the travel distance of the vehicle on the basis of a position transmitting device that the vehicle has passed most recently.

7. An apparatus for guiding a vehicle including a position transmitting device installed at key points on a roadside for transmitting its own position information and traffic information, and a position receiving device mounted in the vehicle for receiving the position information and the traffic information as transmitted, wherein

the position transmitting device comprising:

an interface unit for receiving traffic information for service to a vehicle moving on a road from a traffic information network;

a recording unit for receiving position information on the road and the traffic information received from the interface unit as code values and storing the same;

a first communication module for modulating the position information and the traffic information as coded and stored in the recording unit, and wirelessly transmitting the same to each vehicle moving in the vicinity of the road; and

a first microprocessor for coding the position information on the road and the traffic information obtained by the interface unit, providing it to the recording unit, and controlling the transmitting operation of the first communication module and the receiving operation of the traffic information according to a due order; and

the position receiving device comprising;

a second communication module for receiving the transmission signal as modulated by the position transmitting device, classifying the information and the intensity of the signal from the received signal, and outputting the same;

an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the intensity of the transmission signal as classified by the second communication module;

a travel distance detector for measuring a travel distance of the vehicle and generating pulses in proportion to the measured travel distance;

a second microprocessor for detecting the current position of the vehicle on the basis of the information as classified by the second communication module, the digital value according to the intensity of the signal and the measure pulse, analyzing the data to output a corresponding position information, travel information and danger information, and periodically controlling the operation of the second communication module; and

an information guiding unit for visually and acoustically guiding the position information, the travel information and the danger information obtained by the second microprocessor.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first communication module includes:

a data converter for converting the position information and the traffic information coded and stored in the recording unit to a bit stream and outputting it;

a modulator for modulating the converted bit value and outputting it; and

a transmission power amplifier for power-amplifying the modulated signal and transmitting it.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second communication module includes:

a receiving/amplifying unit for receiving the signal from the first communication module and amplifying it;

a demodulator for demodulating the extracted information

a data extracting unit for extracting the position information and the traffic information from the amplified signal and providing it to the second microprocessor; and

a radio wave level detector for detecting the intensity of the received signal as amplified and providing it to the analog-to-digital converter.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, further includes a warning sound generator for generating a warning sound under the control of the second microprocessor, so as to inform a driver of danger matters with respect to the road.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information guiding unit includes an absolute coordinate display unit for displaying the position information, the travel information and the danger information as a graphic display.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information guiding unit includes a voice guidance unit for acoustically informing of the position information, the travel information and the danger information.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the voice guidance unit includes:

a voice memory for storing a data in voice;

a digital-to-analog converter for converting the data in voice to an analog signal;

a low frequency amplifier for amplifying the analog signal and outputting it; and

a speaker for converting the amplified analog signal to an audible signal.