Navigation apparatus and information generating apparatus

• US 6,349,259 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2000
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Xanavi Informatics Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sato, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/643,767
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/207, 701/208, 701/210, 701/213, 701/214, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 with correlation of data from several navigational instruments

Abstract

A navigation apparatus includes: a first position information generating device that generates first position information as current position information regarding the navigation apparatus based upon a signal received from outside; a second position information generating device that generates second position information as current position information based upon another signal received from outside; and a control device that implements control to provide route guidance based upon current position information and map information. And the control device uses the first position information as effective current position information if a position corresponding to the first position information generated by the first position information generating device is within an error range set for a position corresponding to the second position information generated by the second position information generating device.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus comprising:

a first position information generating device that generates first position information as current position information regarding the navigation apparatus based upon a signal received from outside of the navigation apparatus;

a second position information generating device that generates second position information as current position information based upon another signal received from outside of the navigation apparatus that is different from said signal; and

a control device that implements control to provide route guidance based upon current position information and map information, wherein;

said control device uses said first position information as effective current position information if a position corresponding to said first position information generated by said first position information generating device is within an error range set for a position corresponding to said second position information generated by said second position information generating device.

2. A navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said first position information has a higher degree of accuracy and a lower degree of reliability than said second position information.

3. A navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said navigation apparatus is a navigation apparatus installed in a vehicle; and

said first position information generating device includes a beacon reception device that receives information transmitted by a beacon device installed at a road and generates said first position information by receiving position information indicating a position at which said beacon device is installed.

4. A navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said second position information generating device includes a satellite signal reception device that receives position signals from satellites and generates said second position information based upon said position signals which have been received.

5. A navigation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said second position information generating device includes a satellite signal reception device that receives position signals from satellites and generates said second position information based upon said position signals which have been received.

6. A navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a movement detection device that detects movement of the navigation apparatus, wherein;

said movement detection device detects said movement of the navigation apparatus occurring over a period of time in elapsing between a time point at which said second position information generating device generates said second position information and a time point at which said first position information generating device generates said first position information; and

said control device assumes a new position by incorporating said movement detected by said movement detection device into said position corresponding to said second position information and utilizes said first position information as effective current position information if the position corresponding to said first position information is within said error range relative to said new position.

7. A navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a movement detection device that detects movement of the navigation apparatus, wherein;

said movement detection device detects said movement of the navigation apparatus occurring over a period of time in elapsing between a time point at which said second position information generating device generates said second position information and a time point at which said first position information generating device generates said first position information; and

said control device expands said error range set for the position corresponding to said second position information by taking into consideration a traveled distance based upon said movement detected by said movement detection device.

8. A navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said control device expands said error range set for the position corresponding to said second position information by taking into consideration a length of time elapsing between a time point at which said second position information is generated by said second position information generating device and a time point at which said first position information is generated by said first position information generating device.

9. A navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said first position information generating device includes a position signal reception device that receives information transmitted by a position signal providing device and generates said first position information by receiving position information indicating a position at which said position signal providing device is installed.

10. An information generating apparatus, comprising:

a first information generating device that generates first information as specific information;

a second information generating device that generates second information as said specific information;

a control device that uses said first information or said second information as said specific information under different circumstances, wherein;

said second information has a predetermined error range with respect to said specific information;

said first information has a higher degree of accuracy and a lower degree of reliability than said second information; and

said control device uses said first information as said specific information when said first information is within said error range of said second information.

11. A recording medium that records a control program for a navigation apparatus, the control program comprising:

a first instruction that generates first position information as current position information regarding the navigation apparatus based upon a signal received from outside of the navigation apparatus;

a second instruction that generates second position information as current position information based upon another signal received from outside of the navigation apparatus that is different from said signal;

a third instruction that determines said first position information as effective current position information if a position corresponding to said first position information generated by said first position information generating device is within an error range set for a position corresponding to said second position information generated by said second position information generating device; and

a fourth instruction that implements control to provide route guidance based upon said effective current position information and map information.

12. A data signal transmitted through a communication line comprising a control program for a navigation apparatus, the control program comprising:

a first instruction that generates first position information as current position information regarding the navigation apparatus based upon a signal received from outside of the navigation apparatus;

a second instruction that generates second position information as current position information based upon another signal received from outside of the navigation apparatus that is different from said signal;

a third instruction that determines said first position information as effective current position information if a position corresponding to said first position information generated by said first position information generating device is within an error range set for a position corresponding to said second position information generated by said second position information generating device; and

a fourth instruction that implements control to provide route guidance based upon said effective current position information and map information.