Information and control system for vehicles

• US 7,139,661 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2001
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schweizer, Philippe, Ibanez, Miguel, Holze, Harald
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/333,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20040064248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,960 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/49, 701/200, 701/207, 701/209, 701/211, 340/995.1, 340/955.16, 340/995.17, 340/995.19, 340/438, 307/10.1, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

An information and/or control system for a vehicle includes a positioning unit for determining a current geographic position of the vehicle, a map unit containing information at least regarding routes on which the vehicle may travel, and an interface unit for selective output of information from the map unit as a function of the current geographic position. Furthermore, information, referred to as a virtual traffic sign, regarding properties of a section of a drivable route is stored in the map unit in correlation with a geographic position along this route. This information is outputable by the interface unit when the distance of the vehicle from this geographic position is less than a limit value.

Claims

1. A system for providing at least one of information and control for a vehicle, comprising:

a positioning unit for determining a current geographic position of the vehicle;

a map unit storing information regarding at least one travel route available for the vehicle, including information regarding properties of a plurality of sections of the at least one travel route, information regarding each section of the at least one travel route being stored in correlation with a corresponding geographic position along the at least one travel route; and

an interface unit for providing selective output of information from the map unit as a function of the current geographic position of the vehicle, including information regarding properties of a selected section of the at least one travel route stored in the map unit, when the distance of the vehicle from a geographic position corresponding to the information regarding the selected section of the at least one travel route is less than a limit value, wherein the interface unit is configured to control a plurality of function groups of the vehicle as a function of the information regarding properties of the selected section of the at least one travel route, wherein;

a predetermined direction is assigned to the information regarding properties of the selected section of the at least one travel route,

the interface unit outputs the information regarding properties of the selected section only when the vehicle is approaching along the predetermined direction,

the limit value is different than zero,

the geographic position of the information regarding properties of the selected section of the at least one travel route is within the selected section of the at least one travel route, and

the limit value is determined as a function of a speed of the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a signal generator for receiving the information regarding properties of the selected section of the at least one travel route from the interface unit and for outputting a message to a driver of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the limit value is zero, and wherein the geographic position of the information regarding properties of the selected section of the at least one travel route is such that the vehicle reaches the geographic position of the information shortly before the vehicle reaches the selected section of the at least one travel route.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface unit is connected to at least one sensor of the vehicle and selectively outputs the information regarding properties of the selected section of the at least one travel route as a function of a detection result of the at least one sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the information regarding properties of the selected section of the at least one travel route includes information regarding at least one of a curve, an inclination, a bottleneck, an increased risk of ice, an object of tourist interest, a gas station, and a repair shop.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the information regarding properties of the selected section of the at least one travel route includes information regarding at least one of a shift command for an automatic transmission, an on/off command for headlights of the vehicle, and a control command for controlling a light distribution of the headlights.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data carrier for carrying information regarding geographic position of the at least one travel route and the information regarding properties of the plurality of sections of the at least one travel route.