Saddle-type vehicle equipped with a navigation system

• US 7,209,830 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing; Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US10/650,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20040135722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.06, 701/213
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/225 Mounting arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/01 Motorcycles with four or more wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/003
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/01 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/24 Acquisition or tracking or demodulation of signals transmitted by the system synchronisation aspects of direct sequence spread spectrum modulation H04B1/7073
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/30 code related G01S19/246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/08 at the receiving station

Abstract

A GPS antenna is arranged such that it can easily receive satellite radio waves. An ATV is a saddle-type vehicle equipped with a navigation system for measuring the position of the vehicle by receiving radio waves from an artificial satellite. A meter box is mounted to a front portion of the vehicle, and a GPS unit is mounted in an upper portion of the meter box. A GPS antenna is mounted to the top of the GPS unit. A second GPS antenna is mounted to a rear fender to enable diversity reception.

Claims

1. A saddle-type vehicle equipped with a navigation system for measuring its own location by receiving radio waves from an artificial satellite, comprising:

a meter box disposed substantially rearward and upward with respect to a central portion of a steering handle and connected to an underside of a steering handle by a frame having a forward end, a rear end, and a bent central porition between the forward and rear ends, the rear end of the frame being connected to an underside of the meter box, the forward end of the frame being connected to the underside of steering handle, and the bent central portion being disposed above the steering handle and above the forward end and the rear end of the frame;

wherein a GPS unit and a GPS antenna are mounted close to the meter box,

whereby the meter box, the GPS unit, and the GPS antenna are rotatable with the steering handle.

2. The saddle-type vehicle equipped with a navigation system according to claim 1, and further including a pole extending upward from a fender covering wheels and a second GPS antenna mounted on top of the pole to enable diversity of reception with the GPS antenna in the GPS unit.

3. The saddle-type vehicle equipped with a navigation system according to claim 1, wherein a carrier for mounting baggage is installed at a front and a rear of the vehicle.

4. The saddle-type vehicle equipped with a navigation system according to claim 2, wherein a carrier for mounting baggage is installed at a front and a rear of the vehicle.

5. The saddle-type vehicle equipped with a navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the meter box comprises the GPS unit, an indicator for indicating position information supplied from the GPS unit, and a cover for covering the GPS unit and the indicator.

6. The saddle-type vehicle equipped with a navigation system according to claim 2, wherein the meter box comprises the GPS unit, an indicator for indicating position information supplied from the GPS unit, and a cover for covering the GPS unit and the indicator.

7. The saddle-type vehicle equipped with a navigation system according to claim 3, wherein the meter box comprises the GPS unit, an indicator for indicating position information supplied from the GPS unit, and a cover for covering the GPS unit and the indicator.

16. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the GPS unit is located forward of the meter unit in a position adjacent to an upper back side of the meter unit.

19. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising a cover extending downwardly over the central portion of the steering handle so as to cover a top side of the meter box, the central portion of the steering handle, and the support member.

8. A navigation system adapted to be used with a saddle-type vehicle for measuring a location of a vehicle by receiving radio waves from an artificial satellite, comprising:

a meter box adapted to be attached to a steering handle by a pair of L-shaped frames and a support member;

a GPS unit operatively positioned in said meter box and mounted in an upper portion of the meter box;

a GPS antenna operatively mounted on the top of the GPS unit;

wherein the meter box has a pair of frames fixed to a support member,

wherein one length of each of the L-shaped frames extends rearwardly and downwardly with respect to the steering handle and along a back side of the meter box, and a second length of each of the L-shaped frames extends forwardly and downwardly with respect to the steering handle to a point where the second lengths are fixed to the support member, the support member being connected to a lower front side of the steering handle.

9. The navigation system according to claim 8, and further including a pole adapted to extend upwardly from a fender covering wheels and a second GPS antenna mounted on top of the pole to enable diversity of reception with the GPS antenna in the GPS unit.

10. The navigation system according to claim 8, wherein a carrier for mounting baggage is adapted to be installed at a front and a rear of the vehicle.

11. The navigation system according to claim 9, wherein a carrier for mounting baggage is adapted to be installed at a front and a rear of the vehicle.

12. The navigation system according to claim 8, wherein the meter box comprises the GPS unit, an indicator for indicating position information supplied from the GPS unit, and a cover for covering the GPS unit and the indicator.

13. The navigation system according to claim 8, wherein the support member is disposed forwardly and downwardly from a central portion of the steering handle, and

wherein ends of the support member are attached to the steering handle.

14. The navigation system according to claim 10, wherein the meter box comprises the GPS unit, an indicator for indicating position information supplied from the GPS unit, and a cover for covering the GPS unit and the indicator.

17. The navigation system according to claim 8, wherein the GPS unit is located forward of the meter unit in a position adjacent to an upper back side of the meter unit.

20. The navigation system according to claim 8, further comprising a cover extending downwardly over a central portion of the steering handle so as to cover a top side of the meter box, the central portion of the steering handle, and the support member.

15. A saddle-type vehicle equipped with a navigation system for measuring its own location by receiving radio waves from an artificial satellite, comprising:

a meter box mounted to a front portion of the vehicle;

a GPS unit mounted in an upper portion of the meter box;

a GPS antenna mounted on the top of the GPS unit;

a support member extending in a lateral direction of the vehicle, the support member being attached to a steering handle in a position forwardly and downwardly thereof;

a pair of L-shaped frames arranged in positions such that inside corners of the L-shaped frames are disposed above the steering handle,

a forward end of each of the frames being attached to the support member forward of the steering handle; and

a rear end of each of the frames being fixed to an under side of the meter box rearward of the steering handle for fixing the meter box to the steering handle.

18. The navigation system according to claim 15, wherein the GPS unit is located forward of the meter unit in a position adjacent to an upper back side of the meter unit.

21. The navigation system according to claim 15, further comprising a cover extending downwardly over a central portion of the steering handle so as to cover a top side of the meter box, the central portion of the steering handle, and the support member.