Navigation device

• US 6,662,104 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamada, Kunihiro, Kato, Daisuke, Ito, Yasunobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Broadhead, Brian J
• Application Number:
  US09/736,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20010023388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/33, 701/36, 340/825.06, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

The navigation device of the invention includes a main processing unit provided with a CPU and storage means; a sub-processing unit connected to the main processing unit; connectors for connecting the main processing unit and the sub-processing unit; and functional components connected to the sub-processing unit. In this case, even when the specifications of the various functional component (s) connected to the sub-processing unit are different, by designing and manufacturing the sub-processing unit in conformance with each component, the main processing unit can be designed and manufactured as a general-purpose (standardized) product. Therefore, not only is the mountability of the navigation device improved, but also the cost thereof is reduced.

Claims

1. A navigation device comprising:

at least one component providing a signal representing a parameter utilized in providing navigational guidance;

a motherboard for receiving the signal, said motherboard being designed in accordance with specifications of said component, said motherboard comprising;

a vehicle interface matched with a vehicle in which said navigation device is mounted, said vehicle interface providing communication with an engine control unit which controls an engine in the vehicle, said vehicle interface receiving signals from sensors including a vehicle speed sensor;

a current position detection processing unit, said current position detection processing unit receiving signals from current position detection means;

a standardized sub-board comprising;

component identification means for judging the type of said motherboard, and for generating control signals for the motherboard in accordance with the judged type of motherboard; and

a CPU for overall control of the entire navigation device and for execution of a vehicle navigation program;

a working memory, a program memory containing the vehicle navigation program, an ASIC, and a voice LSI; and

connection means for connecting said motherboard and sub-board.

2. A navigation device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sub-board determines specifications of said component based on the judged type of motherboard and generates the control signals in accordance with the determined specifications.

3. A navigation device as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said motherboard and said sub-board comprises at least one circuit board.

4. A navigation device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sub-board is detachably connected to said motherboard.

5. A navigation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the navigation program stored in said program memory includes route search and route guidance programs.

6. A navigation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connection means is a board-to-board connector, a flexible cable or solder pins.

7. A navigation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein both said motherboard and said sub-board are circuit boards, wherein said sub-board is mounted on said motherboard and wherein said connection means is a board-to-board connection.

8. A navigation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said motherboard and said sub-board are both mounted within the navigation device.

9. A navigation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connection means includes a card slot in said motherboard and wherein said sub-board can be freely inserted into and ejected from said card slot.