Navigation apparatus for navigating a vehicle based on symbolic sounds

• US 6,446,001 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakai, Hideki, Takinami, Takashi, Matsumoto, Miyuki, Amano, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US09/519,211
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/213, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 340/996, 340/384.1, 340/384.3, 340/384.7, 731/78.R, 381/86, 381/17, 381/61, 381/119, 381/18, 381/19
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00

Abstract

A navigation apparatus includes a command input block from which the user inputs a command signal, a current positional data supply unit, a data reading unit for reading from a CD-ROM map data, voice guidance data, object data about an object displayed on a map of the navigation apparatus, and sound data symbolizing a geographical location corresponding to the object on the map, and a controller for displaying the map and the object onto a display device and sounding the voice guidance and sound data from a speaker.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus installed on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

command signal inputting means for inputting a command signal to select an operation mode of navigation;

current position detecting means for detecting a current position of the vehicle on which said navigation apparatus is installed and supplying current positional information;

data reading means for reading voice guidance data, object data indicative of a geographical location, sound data symbolizing a feature of said geographical location, and map data from an information storage medium storing said map data in response to said command signal and said current positional information; and

navigation control means for displaying said map data and said object data read by said data reading means onto a display device and for outputting a voice guidance corresponding to said voice guidance data and outputting audible sounds to a user of the apparatus through a speaker when said vehicle is within a predetermined distance of said geographical location, said audible sounds corresponding to said sound data symbolizing a feature of said geographical location.

2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said navigation control means sets an output level of said sound in accordance with a distance to said object.

3. A navigation apparatus installed on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

command signal inputting means for inputting a command signal to select an operation mode of navigation;

current position detecting means for detecting a current position of the vehicle on which said navigation apparatus is installed and supplying current positional information;

data reading means for reading voice guidance data, object data indicative of a geographical location, sound data symbolizing a feature of said geographical location, and map data from an information storage medium storing said map data in response to said command signal and said current positional information; and

navigation control means for displaying said map data and said object data read by said data reading means onto a display device and for outputting a voice guidance corresponding to said voice guidance data and outputting audible sounds to a user of the apparatus through a speaker when said vehicle is within a predetermined distance of said geographical location, said audible sounds corresponding to said sound data symbolizing a feature of said geographical location, wherein said navigation control means includes means for determining if a duration of time in which said sound is continuously outputted exceeds a predetermined reference time and for outputting said sound under a predetermined condition.

4. A navigation apparatus installed on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

command signal inputting means for inputting a command signal to select an operation mode of navigation;

current position detecting means for detecting a current position of the vehicle on which said navigation apparatus is installed and supplying current positional information;

data reading means for reading voice guidance data, object data indicative of a geographical location, sound data symbolizing a feature of said geographical location, and map data from an information storage medium storing said map data in response to said command signal and said current positional information; and

navigation control means for displaying said map data and said object data read by said data reading means onto a display device and for outputting a voice guidance corresponding to said voice guidance data and outputting audible sounds to a user of the apparatus through a speaker when said vehicle is within a predetermined distance of said geographical location, said audible sounds corresponding to said sound data symbolizing a feature of said geographical location, wherein said navigation control means includes means for determining if a duration of time in which said sound is continuously outputted exceeds a predetermined reference time and for outputting said sound only for said predetermined reference time.