Navigation device

• US 6,418,374 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamashita, Atsushi, Hamada, Hiroyuki, Sakamoto, Kiyomi, Ueyama, Yoshiki, Ata, Teruaki, Ogawa, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Louis-Jacques, Jacques H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mancho, Ronnie
• Application Number:
  US09/793,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20010021894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200-215, 701/23, 701/25, 701/24, 701/26, 340/995, 340/988, 340/990, 340/991, 340/925, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 342/357.15, 342/357.13, 342/457, 342/439, 342/357.08, 455/456, 455/557, 455/566, 455/90, 455/575, 705/1
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens

Abstract

A navigation device at least includes a CPU and a detector generating a detection signal for determining whether a main device is used inside a vehicle or not. If determining, based on the detection signal from the detector, that the main device is used inside the vehicle, the CPU operates in on-vehicle mode to carry out first navigation (present position estimation and route search) suitable for use in the vehicle. Otherwise, the CPU operates in off-vehicle mode to carry out second navigation (present position estimation and route search) suitable for use outside of the vehicle. Thus, the navigation device can automatically switch its operation mode between on-vehicle mode and off-vehicle mode.

Claims

1. A navigation device usable inside and outside a vehicle, comprising:

a determination part for determining whether said navigation device is used inside or outside the vehicle; and

a navigation processing part, wherein;

if said determination part determines that said navigation device is used inside the vehicle, said navigation processing part carries out first navigation suitable for use inside of the vehicle; and

if said determination part determines that said navigation device is used outside the vehicle, said navigation processing part carries out second navigation suitable for use outside of the vehicle.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein:

said navigation processing part uses a first cartographic file representing a relatively large area in the first navigation, and uses a second cartographic file representing a relatively small area in the second navigation.

3. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory for storing road network data indicating a connecting relation among roads, wherein;

if said determination part determines that said navigation device is used inside the vehicle, said navigation processing part searches for a first route for guiding the vehicle from a starting point to a destination point based on the road network data stored in said memory; and

if said determination part determines that said navigation device is used outside the vehicle, said navigation processing part searches for a second route for guiding a pedestrian from the starting point to the destination point based on the road network data stored in said memory.

4. The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein:

the road network data includes a record indicating a traffic regulation provided for each of the roads; and

said navigation processing part searches for the first route abiding by the traffic regulation for the vehicle by referring to the record.

5. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a main device accommodating said determination part and said navigation processing part; and

a holder mounted on the vehicle and removably holding said main device, wherein;

said main device further comprises a detector for detecting whether said holder holds said main device or not; and

said determination part determines whether said navigation device is used inside or outside the vehicle based on a detection result by said detector.

6. The navigation device according to claim 4, wherein:

said navigation processing part starts the second navigation while carrying out the first navigation if said determination part determines that said navigation device is used outside the vehicle; and

said navigation processing part starts the first navigation while carrying out the second navigation if said determination part determines that said navigation device is used inside the vehicle.

7. The navigation device according to claim 5, further comprising:

an external storage unit provided outside said main device for storing data required for the first navigation and the second navigation.

8. The navigation device according to claim 7, wherein:

said main device further includes an internal storage unit which is smaller and lighter than said external storage unit; and

said navigation processing part reads, while carrying out the first navigation, data required for the second navigation from said external storage unit to said internal storage unit.

9. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a terminal for connecting to a device which is fixed to the vehicle and is capable of specifying whether the vehicle is driven or parked; and

a detector for detecting whether the vehicle is driven or parked by monitoring a state of said terminal, wherein;

said determination part determines whether said navigation device is used inside or outside the vehicle based on a detection result by said detector.

10. The navigation device according to claim 9, wherein:

said navigation processing part starts the second navigation while carrying out the first navigation if said determination part determines that said navigation device is used outside the vehicle; and

said navigation processing part starts the first navigation while carrying out the second navigation if said determination part determines that said navigation device is used inside the vehicle.

11. The navigation device according to claim 9, farther comprising:

a main device accommodating said determination part and said navigation processing part; and

an external storage unit provided outside said main device for storing data required for the first navigation and the second navigation.

12. The navigation device according to claim 11, wherein:

said main device further includes an internal storage unit which is smaller and lighter than said external storage unit; and

said navigation processing part reads, while carrying out the first navigation, data required for the second navigation from said external storage unit to said internal storage unit.

13. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input part for at least generating, in response to an operation by a user, an operation signal indicating a point where a user gets on or off the vehicle, wherein;

said determination part determines whether said navigation device is used inside or outside the vehicle based on the operation signal from said input part.

14. The navigation device according to claim 13, further comprising:

a terminal for connecting to a device which is fixed to the vehicle and is capable of specifying whether the vehicle is driven or parked; and

a detector for detecting whether the vehicle is driven or parked by monitoring a state of said terminal, wherein;

said determination part determines whether said navigation device is used inside or outside the vehicle based on the operation signal from said input part and a detection result by said detector.

15. The navigation device according to claim 13, wherein:

said navigation processing part starts the second navigation while carrying out the first navigation if said determination part determines that said navigation device is used outside the vehicle; and

said navigation processing unit starts the first navigation while carrying out the second navigation if said determination part determines that said navigation device is used inside the vehicle.

16. The navigation device according to claim 13, further comprising:

a main device accommodating said determination part and said navigation processing part; and

an external storage unit provided outside said main device for storing data required for the first navigation and the second navigation.

17. The navigation device according to claim 16, wherein:

said main device further includes an internal storage unit which is smaller and lighter than said external storage unit; and

said navigation processing part reads, while carrying out the first navigation, data required for the second navigation from said external storage unit to said internal storage unit.

18. The navigation device according to claim 13, wherein said input part comprises at least one of a remote controller, a touch sensor, a keyboard, and a mouse.

19. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input part for at least generating, in response to an operation by a user, an operation signal indicating timing where a user gets on or off the vehicle, wherein;

said determination part determines whether said navigation device is used inside or outside the vehicle based on the operation signal from said input part.

20. The navigation device according to claim 19, wherein:

said navigation processing part starts the second navigation while carrying out the first navigation if said determination part determines that said navigation device is used outside the vehicle; and

said navigation processing part starts the first navigation while carrying out the second navigation if said determination part determines that said navigation device is used inside the vehicle.

21. The navigation device according to claim 19, further comprising:

a main device accommodating said determination part and said navigation processing part; and

an external storage unit provided outside said main device for storing data required for the first navigation and the second navigation.

22. The navigation device according to claim 21, wherein:

said main device further includes an internal storage unit which is smaller and lighter than said external storage unit; and

said navigation processing part reads, while carrying out the first navigation, data required for the second navigation from said external storage unit to said internal storage unit.

23. The navigation device according to claim 19, wherein said input part comprises at least one of a remote controller, a touch sensor, a keyboard, and a mouse.

24. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a main device accommodating said determination part and said navigation processing part; and

an external communications controller provided outside said main device and fixed to the vehicle for communicating with said main device, wherein;

said main device further comprises an internal communications controller for generating a notification signal indicating whether communications are possible with said external communications controller; and

said determination part determines said navigation device is used inside or outside the vehicle based on the notification signal from said internal communications controller.

25. The navigation device according to claim 24, wherein:

said navigation processing unit starts the second navigation while carrying out the first navigation if said determination part determines that said navigation device is used outside the vehicle; and

said navigation processing part starts the first navigation while carrying out the second navigation if said determination part determines that said navigation device is used inside the vehicle.

26. The navigation device according to claim 24, further comprising:

an external storage provided outside said main device for storing data required for the first navigation and the second navigation.

27. The navigation device according to claim 26, wherein:

said main device further includes an internal storage unit which is smaller and lighter than said external storage unit; and

said navigation processing part reads, while carrying out the first navigation, data required for the second navigation from said external storage unit to said internal storage unit.

28. The navigation device according to claim 24, wherein:

said external communication controller transmits a radio wave with electric power substantially covering the inside of the vehicle to communicate with said internal communications controller.

29. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising an output device for displaying a map.

30. The navigation device according to claim 29, wherein said output device comprises a liquid crystal display device and a loudspeaker.

31. A method for navigation using a computer device usable inside and outside a vehicle, said method comprising:

determining, using the computer device, whether the computer device is used inside or outside the vehicle;

carrying out first navigation suitable for use in the vehicle if it is determined in said determining that the computer device is used inside the vehicle; and

carrying out second navigation suitable for use outside the vehicle if it is determined in said determining that the computer device is used outside the vehicle.

32. A computer-readable recording medium containing a program for use with a computer device usable inside and outside a vehicle, said program operable to:

determine, using the computer device, whether the computer device is used inside or outside the vehicle;

carry out first navigation suitable for use in the vehicle if it is determined in said determine that the computer device is used inside the vehicle; and

carrying out second navigation suitable for use outside of the vehicle if it is determined in said determine that the computer device is used outside the vehicle.

33. A computer-readable program for use with a computer device usable inside and outside a vehicle, said program operable to:

determine, using the computer device, whether the computer device is used inside or outside the vehicle;

carry out first navigation suitable for use in the vehicle if it is determined in said determine that the computer device is used inside the vehicle; and

carrying out second navigation suitable for use outside of the vehicle if it is determined in said determine that the computer device is used outside the vehicle.