Navigation system and navigation method for movable body, program storage device and computer data signal embodied in carrier wave

• US 7,146,272 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Yasushi, Mitsuo, Yanagidaira, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/216,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20030033082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/211, 701/212, 701/214, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 340/435, 340/436, 340/903
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A navigation system for a movable body is provided with: a current position detection device (2) for detecting a current position of a movable body; a map information presentation device (3) for presenting map information corresponding to the detected current position; a route condition information presentation device (4) for presenting route condition information indicating a current condition of a route on which the movable body is driving; and a driving route presentation device (6) for performing a presentation indicating that the movable body can overtake, in case that the movable body on the route can overtake on the basis of the presented map information and the presented route condition information.

Claims

1. A navigation system for a movable body comprising:

a current position detection device for detecting a current position of a movable body;

a map information presentation device for presenting map information corresponding to the detected current position;

a route condition information presentation device for presenting route condition information indicating a current condition of a route on which the movable body is driving, said condition including a presence of another movable body which is present ahead of the movable body; and

an overtaking information presentation device for performing a presentation indicating at least one information that the movable body can pass the another movable body, in case that the movable body on the route can pass the another movable body on the basis of the presented map information and the presented route condition information.

2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein

said route condition information presentation device includes a forward detection device for detecting the presence of the another movable body and outputting a detection result thereof as one of the route condition information and

a presentation by said map information presentation device, a presentation by said route condition information presentation device and the presentation by said overtaking information presentation device are performed if such a condition that the presence of the another movable body is detected by the forward detection device is met as one of required conditions for these presentations.

3. The navigation system according to claim 2, wherein the forward detection device includes a camera with which pictures of a view ahead of the movable body are taken.

4. The navigation system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a driving condition detection device for detecting a driving condition of the movable body; and

an ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) apparatus for controlling a drive of the movable body on the basis of the detected driving condition,

wherein the forward detection device is included in said ACC apparatus.

5. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a driving condition detection device for detecting a driving condition of the movable body; and

an ACC apparatus for controlling a drive of the movable body on the basis of the detected driving condition,

wherein the presentation by said overtaking information presentation device is performed if such a condition that a driving condition supposed to recommend passing set in advance is detected by said driving condition detection device is met as one of required conditions for the presentation.

6. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the map information includes information on geographical feature of a road on which the movable body drives.

7. The navigation system according to claim 6, wherein the information on geographical feature includes information on a road inclination and a radius of curvature of a forward road on which the vehicle drives.

8. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the map information includes information on a passable zone of a road on which the movable body drives.

9. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the map information includes information on a legal speed limit of a road on which the movable body drives.

10. The navigation system according to claim 9, wherein the presentation by said overtaking information presentation device is performed if such a condition that the movable body can pass at or under the legal speed limit is met as one of required conditions for the presentation.

11. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising an input device capable of inputting request information indicating a request for passing from an operator of the movable body,

wherein a presentation by said map information presentation device, a presentation by said route condition information presentation device, and the presentation by said overtaking information presentation device are performed if such a condition that the request information is inputted by said input device is met as one of required conditions for the presentations.

12. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said overtaking information presentation device performs the presentation including at least one of a passable point, a distance to the passable point, a predicted time length to the passable point, and a predicted time of passing through the passable point.

13. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said overtaking information presentation device includes:

a judgment device for judging whether or not the movable body can pass on the route on the basis of the presented map information and the presented route condition information; and

an output device for outputting to an external portion the information indicating that the movable body can pass in case that it is judged that the movable body can pass by the judgment device.

14. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input device capable of inputting a destination; and

a route searching device for searching for a route to the destination ahead of the movable body on the basis of the detected current position and the presented map information.

15. The navigation system according to claim 14, wherein said overtaking information presentation device performs the presentation indicating that the movable body can pass on the basis of the map information associated with the searched route.

16. The navigation system according to claim 1, comprising:

a fixed unit which is not mounted on the movable body; and

a movable unit which is mounted on the movable body, both of which are mutually connected through a communication device,

wherein said map information presentation device, said route condition information presentation device, and said overtaking information presentation device are disposed in said fixed unit at least partially.

17. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the presentation indicates whether or not the movable body can pass another movable body on the route.

18. A navigation system for a movable body comprising:

a current position detection device for detecting a current position of a movable body;

a map information presentation device for presenting map information corresponding to the detected current position;

a route condition information presentation device for presenting route condition information indicating a current condition of a route on which the movable body is driving; and

an overtaking information presentation device for performing a presentation indicating at least one information that the movable body can pass another movable body, in case that the movable body on the route can pass the another movable body on the basis of the presented map information and the presented route condition information,

wherein said route condition information presentation device includes a biological information detection device for detecting biological information on an operator of the movable body and outputting a detection result thereof as one of the route condition information, and

a presentation by said map information presentation device, a presentation by said route condition information presentation device and the presentation by said overtaking information presentation device are performed if such a condition that biological information supposed to recommend passing set in advance is detected by the biological information detection device is met as one of required conditions for the presentation.

19. The navigation system according to claim 18, wherein the biological information detection device detects a physical and mental physiological condition of the operator by at least one of a pulse rate, a perspiration, a skin resistance, a respiration, a heart rate and a heart rate variability.

20. A navigation method for a movable body comprising:

a current position detection process of detecting a current position of a movable body;

a map information presentation process of presenting map information corresponding to the detected current position;

a route condition information presentation process of presenting route condition information indicating a current condition of a route on which the movable body is driving, said condition including a presence of another movable body which is present ahead of the movable body; and

an overtaking information presentation process of performing a presentation indicating at least one information that the movable body can pass the another movable body in case that the movable body on the route can pass the another movable body on the basis of the presented map information and the presented route condition information.

21. The navigation method according to claim 20, wherein the presentation indicates whether or not the movable body can pass another movable body on the route.

22. The navigation method for a movable body as claimed in claim 20, wherein said route condition information presentation device includes a forward detection device for detecting the presence of the another movable body and outputting a detection result thereof as one of the route condition information, and

wherein a presentation by said map information presentation device, a presentation by said route condition information presentation device and the presentation by said overtaking information presentation device are performed if such a condition that the presence of the another movable body is detected by the forward detection device is met as one of required conditions for these presentations.

23. A program storage device readable by a computer in a navigation system for a movable body for tangibly embodying a program of instructions which cause the computer to function as:

a current position detection device for detecting a current position of a movable body;

a map information presentation device for presenting map information corresponding to the detected current position;

a route condition information presentation device for presenting route condition information indicating a current condition of a route on which the movable body is driving, said condition including a presence of another movable body which is present ahead of the movable body; and

an overtaking information presentation device for performing a presentation indicating at least one information that the movable body can pass the another movable body in case that the movable body on the route can pass the another movable body on the basis of the presented map information and the presented route condition information.

24. The program storage device according to claim 23, wherein the presentation indicates whether or not the movable body can pass another movable body on the route.

25. The program storage device as claimed in claim 23, wherein said route condition information presentation device includes a forward detection device for detecting the presence of the another movable body and outputting a detection result thereof as one of the route condition information, and

wherein a presentation by said map information presentation device, a presentation by said route condition information presentation device and the presentation by said overtaking information presentation device are performed if such a condition that the presence of the another movable body is detected by the forward detection device is met as one of required conditions for these presentations.

26. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a series of instructions which cause a computer in a navigation system for a movable body to function as:

a current position detection device for detecting a current position of a movable body;

a map information presentation device for presenting map information corresponding to the detected current position;

a route condition information presentation device for presenting route condition information indicating a current condition of a route on which the movable body is driving, said condition including a presence of another movable body which is present ahead of the movable body; and

an overtaking presentation device for performing a presentation indicating at least one information that the movable body can pass the another movable body, in case that the movable body on the route can pass the another movable body on the basis of the presented map information and the presented route condition information.

27. The computer data signal according to claim 26, wherein the presentation indicates whether or not the movable body can pass another movable body on the route.

28. The computer data signal as claimed in claim 26, wherein said route condition information presentation device includes a forward detection device for detecting the presence of the another movable body and outputting a detection result thereof as one of the route condition information, and

wherein a presentation by said map information presentation device, a presentation by said route condition information presentation device and the presentation by said overtaking information presentation device are performed if such a condition that the presence of the another movable body is detected by the forward detection device is met as one of required conditions for these presentations.

29. A navigation system for a movable body, comprising:

a route condition information presentation device for presenting route condition information indicating a condition of a route on which the movable body is driving, said condition including a presence of another movable body which is present ahead of the movable body; and

an overtaking information presentation device for performing a presentation indicating whether or not the movable body can pass another movable body based on the presented route condition information.

30. A communication navigation system according to claim 29, further comprising:

a map information presentation device for presenting map information corresponding to a position of the movable body,

wherein said overtaking information presentation device performs the presentation based on the presented map information and the presented route condition information.

31. A communication navigation system according to claim 30, wherein said route condition information presentation device presents the route condition information indicating a current condition of the route on which the movable body is driving.

32. A communication navigation system according to claim 29, wherein said route condition information presentation device presents route condition information indicating a current condition of a route on which the movable body is driving.

33. A navigation system, comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing information; and

a controller that determines whether or not a first mobile body can pass a second mobile body based on the information,

wherein the sensor senses, as the information, a biological condition of a driver of the first mobile body.

34. The navigation system according to claim 33, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, and a velocity sensor, and

wherein the information comprises a current position of the first mobile body along a route.

35. The navigation system according to claim 33, wherein the sensor comprises a GPS, and

wherein the information comprises a current position of the first mobile body along a route.

36. The navigation system according to claim 33, wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensing instrument that senses a relative location of the second mobile body to the first mobile body, and

wherein the information comprises the relative location of the second mobile body.

37. The navigation system according to claim 36, wherein the optical sensing instrument comprises a camera that captures an image of the second mobile body.

38. The navigation system according to claim 33, wherein at least a portion of the navigation system is installed in the first mobile body.

39. The navigation system according to claim 33, wherein, when the controller determines that the first mobile body cannot pass the second mobile body, the controller outputs at least one control signal to prevent the first mobile body from passing the second mobile body.

40. The navigation system according to claim 33, wherein the information comprises a relative location of the second mobile body to the first mobile body and a road condition of a road on which the first mobile body is traveling.

41. The navigation system according to claim 40, wherein the information further comprises a biological condition of a driver of the first mobile body.

42. The navigation system according to claim 33, further comprising a display, wherein the display displays a message for the driver of the first mobile body indicating whether or not the first mobile body can pass the second mobile body.

43. A navigation system for a movable body comprising:

a current position detection device for detecting a current position of a movable body;

a map information presentation device for presenting map information corresponding to the detected current position;

a route condition information presentation device for presenting route condition information indicating a current condition of a route on which the movable body is driving, said condition including a presence of another movable body which is present ahead of the movable body; and

an overtaking information presentation device for presenting at least one information that the movable body can pass another movable body on the basis of the presented map information and the presented route condition information.

44. A navigation method for a movable body comprising:

a current position detection process of detecting a current position of a movable body;

a map information presentation process of presenting map information corresponding to the detected current position;

a route condition information presentation process of presenting route condition information indicating a current condition of a route on which the movable body is driving, said condition including a presence of another movable body which is present ahead of the movable body; and

an overtaking information presentation process of presenting at least one information that the movable body can pass another movable body on the basis of the presented map information and the presented route condition information.

45. A program storage device readable by a computer in a navigation system for a movable body for tangibly embodying a program of instructions which cause the computer to function as:

a current position detection device for detecting a current position of a movable body;

a map information presentation device for presenting map information corresponding to the detected current position;

a route condition information presentation device for presenting route condition information indicating a current condition of a route on which the movable body is driving, said condition including a presence of another movable body which is present ahead of the movable body; and

an overtaking information presentation device for presenting at least one information that the movable body can pass another movable body on the basis of the presented map information and the presented route condition information.

46. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a series of instructions which cause a computer in a navigation system for a movable body to function as:

a current position detection device for detecting a current position of a movable body;

a map information presentation device for presenting map information corresponding to the detected current position;

a route condition information presentation device for presenting route condition information indicating a current condition of a route on which the movable body is driving, said condition including a presence of another movable body which is present ahead of the movable body; and

an overtaking information presentation device for presenting at least one information that the movable body can pass another movable body on the basis of the presented map information and the presented route condition information.