Navigation system

• US 6,446,000 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shimabara, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US09/804,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 701/209, 701/208, 701/207, 701/212, 701/210, 701/211, 701/213, 340/990-995
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3658 Lane guidance

Abstract

A guidance information setting unit specifies, during a route guidance operation, a first intersection that the vehicle is about to pass and a second intersection that the vehicle is to pass thereafter, where the vehicle makes a right-turn or a left-turn. Next, the guidance information setting unit sets a recommended travel lane by which the vehicle minimizes the lane change frequency until it reaches the second intersection, and outputs information concerning the recommended travel lane to an intersection guidance unit as the guidance information. The intersection guidance unit produces, as the intersection guidance information concerning the first intersection, drawing data of the intersection guidance information that displays with emphasis the recommended travel lane set by the guidance information setting unit, and displays the data on the screen of a display unit through an image synthesizing unit. As a consequence, the navigation system of the invention ensures an appropriate travel state for the vehicle.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

a route search means that sets a travel route of a vehicle by executing a route search processing;

a guidance information setting means that sets, on the basis of the travel route, guidance information concerning a first intersection that the vehicle passes, in consideration of the conditions of passage at a second intersection that the vehicle is to pass thereafter; and

an intersection guidance means that communicates the guidance information graphically through a visual display;

wherein the intersection guidance means displays all the lanes at the intersections as intersection guidance information, and further displays with emphasis only the recommended travel lanes.

2. A navigation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guidance information setting means sets, on the basis of travelable lanes at the first intersection and the second intersection, the guidance information that minimizes the frequency of lane changes until the vehicle reaches the second intersection.

3. A navigation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a display area for displaying the guidance information concerning the first intersection and the second intersection and a display area for a map image are divided.

4. A navigation system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second intersection is an intersection at which the vehicle next makes a right-turn or a left-turn.

5. A navigation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the intersection guidance means displays by arrows only recommended travel lanes at the intersections as intersection guidance information.

6. A navigation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the intersection guidance means displays the recommended travel lanes and the travelable lanes at the intersections as intersection guidance information, and does not display the lanes that the vehicle is not permitted to travel.

7. A navigation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein, when the vehicle approaches the first intersection within a specific distance, the guidance information setting means displays the guidance information concerning the first intersection.

8. A navigation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein, when the vehicle passes the first intersection, the guidance information setting means deletes the guidance information concerning the first intersection.

9. A navigation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the intersection guidance means displays only recommended travel lanes at the intersections as intersection guidance information, and does not display the other lanes.

10. A navigation system comprising:

a route search means that sets a travel route of a vehicle by executing a route search processing;

a guidance information setting means that sets, on the basis of the travel route, guidance information concerning a first intersection that the vehicle passes, in consideration of the conditions of passage at a second intersection that the vehicle is to pass thereafter; and

an intersection guidance means that graphically displays the guidance information concerning the first intersection and the guidance information concerning the second intersection with a dislocation of display positions thereof, wherein the intersection guidance means displays the lanes at the intersections as intersection guidance information, and further displays with emphasis only the recommended travel lanes.

11. A navigation system as claimed in claim 10, wherein, when the lanes are reduced after passing the first intersection, the intersection guidance means displays the guidance information concerning the first intersection and the guidance information concerning the second intersection with a dislocation of display positions thereof.

12. A navigation system as claimed in claim 10, wherein, when a right-turn lane or a left-turn lane is added at the second intersection, the intersection guidance means displays the guidance information concerning the first intersection and the guidance information concerning the second intersection with a dislocation of display positions thereof.

13. A lane guidance method in a navigation system comprising:

executing a route search to a destination to set a travel route;

setting, on the basis of the travel route, lane guidance information concerning a first intersection that the vehicle is going to pass, in consideration of the conditions of passage at a second intersection that the vehicle is to pass thereafter;

and presenting the lane guidance information graphically through a visual display;

wherein the lane guidance information displays all the lanes at the first intersection and the second intersection, and further displays with emphasis only the recommended travel lanes.

14. A lane guidance method in a navigation system, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the lane guidance information displays recommended travel lanes and travelable lanes at the first intersection and the second intersection, and does not display the lanes that the vehicle is not permitted to travel.

15. A lane guidance method in a navigation system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second intersection is an intersection at which the vehicle next makes a right-turn or a left-turn, and the lane guidance information minimizes the frequency of lane charges until the vehicle reaches the second intersection.

16. A lane guidance method in a navigation system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein, when the vehicle passes the first intersection, the lane guidance information displays with emphasis a recommended travel lane.