System for automatically locating and directing a vehicle

• US 6,393,360 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1999
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Erjian Ma
• Original Assignee: Erjian Ma
• Inventors: Ma, Erjian
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US09/442,232
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/117, 701/207, 701/208, 340/905, 340/988, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching

Abstract

This is a method and apparatus for giving an accurate vehicle location and route from one location to a desired destination. This is done by catching signals from a fixed local information source through a receiver system placed in the vehicles. The present invention is called LPS (Local Position System) navigation system because it is based on a local information system instead of getting information from a satellite or city beacon. This system has two main units. The first of these units is the Address Code, this is an emitter or carrier which is placed on roads all over the nation. This unit can provide digitized and standardized road information. The second of these units is the Receiver, which can receive signals on the road and search them in a database. This database is set in the vehicle and tells the accurate location of the vehicle. It then can give precise directions to a location based on user'"'"'s input. Therefore, a system user will know where he is and exactly how to get where he wants to go. The system user can transmit the received signal to his headquarters or to people with the same equipment.

Claims

1. LPS (Local Position System), apparatus for navigation based on receiving signals from signal sources which are installed on local objects, comprising:

(a) address code emitter or carriers means for sending or carrying signals by means to be picked up by moving objects, said signals indicating corresponding road information which are digitized as multi-digit numbers under standard rules; and

(b) databases for storing any road information and digitized electronic maps, said road information is straightforward converted to a multi-digit number which is defined under standard rules; and

(c) a receiver system mounted on moving objects, said receiver system including;

(1) a memory unit for storing the said databases of said digitized road information by means; and

(2) a control panel for inputting desired destination and options to show desired type of information; and

(3) a pick up device for receiving said signals from said signal emitter or carrier by means; and

(4) a computer for decoding received said signals to extract said digitized road information from said signals, and for processing said digitized road information to search said database and determine current position, traffic situation and said road information of said moving objects and find the best route and direction to the desired destination; and

(5) a display device and/or a loudspeaker for showing the user current location as a spot, regional map and the best route and next direction using arrows or different color of lines; and

(6) a transmitter for emitting said received signal by various means into air for other peoples who want to know where the user is;

said moving objects including a vehicle, boat, person and any movable objects;

said receiver being made into an individual box or built into radio, CD player, and cellular phone by various means;

said address code emitter or carrier including plurality of signal sources set on fixed object by means.

2. LPS navigation system according to claim 1 wherein said fixed object includes existing road signboard, road guardrail, navigation mark, buoy, beacon, and any other objects near the road area on ground /water surface or underground.

3. LPS navigation system according to claim 1 wherein said road information includes current address information, traffic information and other useful information shown on both sides of any path, said current address information including post code, street number, direction, building number and so on, said traffic information including any traffic signs at current point.

4. LPS navigation system according to claim 1 wherein said local signal sources sets local information by using an Address Code emitter or an Address Code carrier or their combination.

5. LPS navigation system according to claim 4 wherein said the address code emitter includes the signal generator that can emit road information code into surrounding area, said signals including electronic, magnetic, optic, acoustic signal or their combination by various means.

6. LPS navigation system according to claim 4 wherein said the address code carrier can be a predetermined geometry shape or different color or permanent magnetic field, representing said road information code, which can be picked up by said receiver by various means when it is close to or scans on the address code carriers.

7. LPS navigation system according to claim 5 or 6 wherein said road information code are multi-digit number defined according to specific road information under standard rules in LPS system, said road information codes storing in address code emitter or carriers.

8. LPS navigation system according to claim 6 wherein said predetermined geometry shapes can be set into the strip code by means and said magnetic field can be constructed and comprised of a series of magnetic tapes representing said road information code by various means.

9. LPS navigation system according to claim 8 wherein said predetermined geometry shapes and magnetic field can be protected by reprinting or re-magnetizing and other means.

10. LPS navigation system according to claim 1 wherein said search method includes all methods for searching a digitized electronic map by received address code from local address code emitters or carriers.

11. LPS navigation system according to claim 1 wherein said pick up device includes scanner for scanning the signals from said address code carriers, or an antenna to receive an active signal from said address code emitters.

12. LPS navigation system according to claim 1 wherein said receiver can be made as a separated box, or integrated with other devices in the vehicle, i.e. radio, cassette, CD player or cellular-phone by various means.

13. LPS navigation system according to claim 1 wherein said option function on said receiver are used for selecting the preferred type of traffic information, i.e. regulatory signs, warning signs or information signs by means.

14. LPS navigation system according to claim 1 wherein said databases of digitized electronic maps can be searched automatically by received address code and updated by searching next local Address Code on real time.

15. LPS navigation system according to claim 1 wherein said receiver comprises a display device and/or a loudspeaker for showing the user current location, regional map and said best route and direction to desired destination based on received said road information code.

16. LPS navigation system according to claim 1 wherein said spot is used to represent the current vehicle location and will move to the corresponding point when it receives the next address code.