Navigation system having in-vehicle and portable modes

• US 6,816,783 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Hashima, Saburo, Inoue, Tooru, Ebi, Masaki, Narita, Ko
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/270,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20040204840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/208, 701/209, 701/211, 701/212, 701/213, 701/201, 701/210, 701/214, 340/995.14, 340/995.15, 340/995.16, 340/995.17, 340/995.19, 340/995.25, 340/995.27, 340/995.28, 340/995.2
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3423 Multimodal routing, i.e. combining two or more modes of transportation, where the modes can be any of, e.g. driving, walking, cycling, public transport
• 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 system executes a portable mode for guiding a person when a GPS antenna is connected with it and a speed signal has not been inputted for ten seconds or more. The portable mode enables a predetermined function being nonfunctional in an in-vehicle mode for guiding a vehicle while it disables a predetermined function being functional in the in-vehicle mode. It furthermore modifies, for the portable mode, a predetermined function set in the in-vehicle mode. The navigation system can thereby utilize functions suitable for guiding a person-guiding instead of guiding a vehicle, which effect enhances usability of the system.

Claims

1. A navigation system connectable with a vehicle, the navigation system comprising:

determining means which determines whether connected to or disconnected from the vehicle;

controlling means which executes an in-vehicle mode according to a determination of connection to the vehicle and a portable mode according to a determination of disconnection from the vehicle; and

storing means in which the controlling means stores a shift position where the in-vehicle mode is shifted into the portable mode,

wherein the controlling means differentiates functions between the in-vehicle mode and the portable mode, and

wherein the controlling means enables a predetermined function, which is not functional in the in-vehicle mode, for the portable mode when the portable mode is executed.

2. A navigation system connectable with a vehicle, the navigation system comprising:

determining means which determines whether connected to or disconnected from the vehicle;

controlling means which executes an in-vehicle mode according to a determination of connection to the vehicle and a portable mode according to a determination of disconnection from the vehicle; and

storing means in which the controlling means stores shift time when the in-vehicle mode is shifted into the portable mode,

wherein the controlling means differentiates functions between the in-vehicle mode and the portable mode, and

wherein the controlling means enables a predetermined function, which is not functional in the in-vehicle mode, for the portable mode when the portable mode is executed.

3. A navigation system connectable with a vehicle, the navigation system comprising:

determining means which determines whether connected to or disconnected from the vehicle; and

controlling means which executes an in-vehicle mode according to a determination of connection to the vehicle and a portable mode according to a determination of disconnection from the vehicle,

wherein the controlling means differentiates functions between the in-vehicle mode and the portable mode,

wherein the controlling means enables a predetermined function, which is not functional in the in-vehicle mode, for the portable mode when the portable mode is executed, and

wherein, in the portable mode, the controlling means continuously allows a user to operate all functions possessed by the controlling means.

4. A navigation system connectable with a vehicle, the navigation system comprising:

determining means which determines whether connected to or disconnected from the vehicle;

controlling means which executes an in-vehicle mode according to a determination of connection to the vehicle and a portable mode according to a determination of disconnection from the vehicle; and

displaying means,

wherein the controlling means differentiates functions between the in-vehicle mode and the portable mode,

wherein the controlling means enables a predetermined function, which is not functional in the in-vehicle mode, for the portable mode when the portable mode is executed, and

wherein, in the portable mode, the controlling means continuously displays, on the displaying means, an address where the navigation system is being located.

5. A navigation system connectable with a vehicle, the navigation system comprising:

determining means which determines whether connected to or disconnected from the vehicle;

controlling means which executes an in-vehicle mode according to a determination of connection to the vehicle and a portable mode according to a determination of disconnection from the vehicle; and

displaying means,

wherein the controlling means differentiates functions between the in-vehicle mode and the portable mode,

wherein the controlling means enables a predetermined function, which is not functional in the in-vehicle mode, for the portable mode when the portable mode is executed, and

wherein, in the portable mode, the controlling means continuously displays, on the displaying means, a direction to a set destination.

6. A navigation system connectable with a vehicle, the navigation system comprising:

determining means which determines whether connected to or disconnected from the vehicle;

controlling means which executes an in-vehicle mode according to a determination of connection to the vehicle and a portable mode according to a determination of disconnection from the vehicle;

displaying means; and

a touch panel button which is illustrated on the displaying means and which is functional as a manipulation button,

wherein the controlling means differentiates functions between the in-vehicle mode and the portable mode,

wherein the controlling means disables a predetermined function being functional in the in-vehicle mode when the portable mode is executed,

wherein, in the portable mode, the controlling means chooses either of a first and second cases,

wherein in the first case a predetermined touch panel button, which is illustrated and functional in the in-vehicle mode, is not illustrated, and

wherein in the second case the predetermined touch panel button is disabled with being still illustrated.