GPS device with compass and altimeter and method for displaying navigation information

• US 6,862,525 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Garmin Corporation (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin Corporation (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Laverick, David J., Olivier, Tracy, Beason, Lawrence W., Burgett, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/812,755
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-201, 701/211, 701/213, 701/214, 340/988
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

A portable, handheld electronic navigation device includes an altimeter, a compass, and a GPS unit. An internal memory stores cartographic data, for displaying the cartographic data on a display of the navigation device. Accordingly, the device is capable of displaying cartographic data surrounding a location of the unit as determined by the altimeter. Additionally, through operation of an input, a user can cause the display to move, and thus display additional cartographic information, in the direction of the compass heading even when the user of the device is standing still. Furthermore, through utilization of a clock, such as the GPS clock, a user can determine altitude changes over time. Also, the altimeter of the navigation may be calibrated with altitude information entered by a user, with altitude information obtained from the cartographic or with altitude information derived from GPS.

Claims

1. A navigation device comprising:

a memory for storing cartographic information, including altitude information;

an input for receiving indication from a user of a first location and a second location;

a processor for creating an elevation profile of changes in elevation between the first location and the second location based upon the cartographic information without requiring the user to move between the first and second locations; and

a display for displaying the elevation profile.

2. The navigation device as set forth in claim 1, further including a GPS receiver for determining a current location of the navigation device, wherein the current location of the navigation device is used as the first location.

3. The navigation device as set forth in claim 1, further including an altimeter for determining a current altitude of the navigation device.

4. The navigation device as set forth in claim 1, further including a three-axis magnetic sensor for providing compass information to the processor.

5. The navigation device as set forth in claim 4, further including a two-axis tilt sensor for providing additional compass information to the processor.

6. The navigation device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the processor calculates a heading of the device based upon the compass information provided by the three-axis magnetic sensor and the additional compass information provided by the two-axis tilt sensor.

7. A method of providing navigation information, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing cartographic information, including altitude information;

(b) receiving an input from a user identifying a first location and a second location;

(c) creating an elevation profile of changes in elevation between the first location and the second location based upon the cartographic information without requiring the user to move from the first location to the second location; and

(d) displaying the elevation profile.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein step (b) further includes determining a current location of the navigation device, and using the current location of the navigation device as the first location.

9. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein step (b) further includes the step of determining a current altitude of the navigation device.

10. A navigation device comprising:

an input for receiving indication from a user of a first location and a second location;

a three-axis magnetic sensor for measuring a strength of earth magnetic field in three directions;

a two-axis tilt sensor for measuring an orientation of the navigation device in pitch and roll; and

a processor for creating an elevation profile of changes in elevation between the first location and the second location and for calculating a heading of the navigation device based on the strength of each magnetic field measured by the three-axis magnetic sensor and the two-axis tilt sensor.

11. The navigation device as set forth in claim 10, further including a memory for storing cartographic information including altitude information.

12. The navigation device as set forth in claim 10, further including a display for displaying the elevation profile and the heading.

13. The navigation device as set forth in claim 10, further including a GPS receiver for determining a current location of the navigation device, wherein the current location of the navigation device is used as the first location.

14. The navigation device as set forth in claim 10, further including an altimeter for determining a current altitude of the navigation device.

15. The navigation device as set forth in claim 10, further including a handheld portable housing for housing the magnetic sensor, the tilt sensor, and the processor.

16. The navigation device as set forth in claim 12, where the display presents a map which is scrollable by a user based on the calculated heading.

17. A navigation device comprising:

a three-axis magnetic sensor for measuring a strength of earth magnetic field in three directions;

a two-axis tilt sensor for measuring an orientation of the navigation device in pitch and roll;

a processor for calculating a heading of the navigation device based on the strength of each magnetic field measured by the three-axis magnetic sensor and the two-axis tilt sensor;

a display, coupled with the processor, for displaying a map; and

an input for allowing a user to scroll the displayed map based on the calculated heading.

18. The navigation device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the navigation device is operable to calculate the heading while the navigation device is stationary.

19. The navigation device of claim 18, wherein the navigation device allows the user to scroll the displayed map while the navigation device is stationary.

20. The navigation device of claim 18, further including a portable handheld housing for housing the magnetic sensor, the tilt sensor, the processor, and the display.

21. The navigation device of claim 17, further including a GPS receiver for determining the geographic location of the navigation device.

22. The navigation device of claim 21, wherein the geographic location of the navigation device is presented on the displayed map such that the user may scroll the displayed map based on the calculated heading in a direction corresponding to the geographic location of the navigation device.