Navigation system for a vehicle

• US 7,292,934 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Wolf, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/000,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle

Abstract

A navigation system for a vehicle has an evaluation unit for capturing and conditioning vehicle data and/or topographical data. A transmission unit is coupled to the evaluation unit for sending the data captured by the evaluation unit or derived therefrom to navigation systems in other vehicles. A reception unit receives vehicle data and/or topographical data or data derived therefrom from navigation systems in other vehicles. A processing unit is coupled to the reception unit for logically combining and conditioning the data provided by the navigation systems in other vehicles. An output unit outputs the logically combined and conditioned data. The evaluation unit assigns a respective covered path range a numerical value which represents current traffic conditions over this path range, wherein a positive numerical value corresponds to a section on which driving is easy and a negative numerical value signifies poor traffic conditions.

Claims

1. A navigation system for a vehicle, comprising:

an evaluation unit for capturing and conditioning vehicle data and/or topographical data,

a transmission unit, which is coupled to the evaluation unit, for sending the data captured by the evaluation unit or derived therefrom to navigation systems in other vehicles,

a reception unit for receiving vehicle data and/or topographical data or data derived therefrom from navigation systems in other vehicles,

a processing unit which is coupled to the reception unit for the purpose of logically combining and conditioning the data provided by the navigation systems it other vehicles, and

an output unit for outputting the logically combined and conditioned data, which is coupled to the processing unit,

wherein the evaluation unit assigns a respective covered path range a numerical value which represents current traffic conditions over this path range, wherein a positive numerical value corresponds to a section on which driving is easy and a negative numerical value signifies poor traffic conditions.

2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle data include the current or average speed of the vehicle.

3. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising a means for finding a position of the vehicle, wherein said means is provided and is coupled to the transmission unit for the purpose of sending the position of the vehicle.

4. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit provided for inputting a desired travel destination.

5. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the output unit comprises a graphical display.

6. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a commercial vehicle.

7. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit and the reception unit are designed for satellite radio.