Method and apparatus for determining vehicle position on a map
First Claim
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1. A method for determining a vehicle position on a map, comprising:
- determining a distance to a reflecting object by scanning ultrasonic waves in one or more predetermined upward directions, the one or more predetermined upward directions comprising at least one generally vertical direction; and
determining, based upon the distance to the reflecting object, a type of road on a map on which the vehicle is running.
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Abstract
A vertical position of a vehicle running on a multi-layer road is determined on the basis of distances to reflecting objects found with reflected waves scanned in upward directions from the vehicle.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for determining a vehicle position on a map, comprising:
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determining a distance to a reflecting object by scanning ultrasonic waves in one or more predetermined upward directions, the one or more predetermined upward directions comprising at least one generally vertical direction; and
determining, based upon the distance to the reflecting object, a type of road on a map on which the vehicle is running. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for determining a vehicle position on a map, comprising:
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a GPS signal receiver for receiving a GPS signal from a GPS satellite;
an ultrasonic scanner for detecting a distance to a reflecting object by scanning an ultrasonic wave in one or more upward directions, the one or more upward directions comprising at least one generally vertical direction;
a data storage unit for storing map data of the map where the vehicle is running; and
a processing unit for determining the vehicle position on the map on the basis of the received GPS signal, a signal from the ultrasonic scanner, and the map data stored in the data storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for determining a vehicle position on a multi-layer road, comprising:
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determining a distance to a reflecting object by scanning ultrasonic waves from a vehicle in one or more predetermined upward directions substantially perpendicular to, and away from, the road surface; and
determining, based upon the distance to the reflecting object, a type of road on which the vehicle is running. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for determining a vehicle position on a multi-layer road, comprising:
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a GPS signal receiver for receiving a GPS signal from a GPS satellite;
an ultrasonic scanner for detecting a distance to a reflecting object by scanning an ultrasonic wave in one or more upward directions substantially perpendicular to, and away from, a road surface;
a data storage unit for storing map data of the map where the vehicle is running; and
a processing unit for determining the vehicle position on the map on the basis of the received GPS signal, a signal from the ultrasonic scanner, and the map data stored in the data storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification