Navigation device for a vehicle

• US 7,512,491 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2006
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakashima, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tan Q
• Application Number:
  US11/376,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20060235607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/204, 701/207, 701/208, 701/210, 701/211, 701/29, 701/36, 701/41, 701/70, 340/995.12
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/064 Degree of grip
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A navigation device for a vehicle comprises a current position detection unit for detecting a current position of the vehicle and a control unit. The control unit executes, when the detected current position approaches a point of guidance along a route, route guidance indicating a path to be taken at the point of guidance in order to go through the point of guidance along the route. The control unit also estimates a degree of traveling stability of a vehicle in traveling on a road and controls a timing to execute the route guidance so that the timing becomes earlier when the estimated degree of the traveling stability is smaller.

Claims

1. A navigation device for a vehicle, comprising:

a current position detection unit for detecting a current position of the vehicle; and

a control unit for;

executing, when the detected current position approaches a point of guidance along a route, route guidance indicating a path to be taken at the point of guidance in order to go through the point of guidance along the route;

estimating a degree of traveling stability of a vehicle in traveling on a road; and

controlling a timing to execute the route guidance so that the timing becomes earlier as the estimated degree of the traveling stability becomes smaller.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit estimates the degree of the traveling stability based on information provided by a stabilizing device for stabilizing the vehicle in traveling, the stabilizing device being installed to the vehicle.

3. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the stabilizing device are one of an anti-lock controller, an anti-skid controller and a traction controller, wherein the anti-lock controller is for preventing a wheel of the vehicle from locking, the anti-skid controller is for preventing the vehicle from skidding, and the traction controller is for preventing a wheelspin of the wheel.

4. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a storage unit for storing road map data,

wherein the control unit;

makes, based on the road map data and the detected current position, a determination whether the road on which the vehicle is traveling decreases the degree of traveling stability of the vehicle; and

controls the timing to execute the route guidance so that the timing becomes earlier when the determination is affirmative than when the determination is negative.

5. The navigation device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit determines that the road on which the vehicle is traveling decreases the degree of traveling stability of the vehicle, when the road is one of an uphill road, a downhill road, a road on a bridge and a curving road.

6. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit estimates the degree of the traveling stability based on information provided by a controlling device for controlling the vehicle in traveling, the controlling device being installed to the vehicle.

7. A navigation device for a vehicle, comprising:

a current position detection unit for detecting a current position of the vehicle;

a storage unit for storing road map data; and

a control unit for;

executing, when the detected current position approaches a point of guidance along a route, route guidance indicating a path to be taken at the point of guidance in order to go through the point of guidance along the route;

making, based on the road map data and the detected current position, a determination whether the road on which the vehicle is traveling decreases the degree of traveling stability of the vehicle; and

controlling the timing to execute the route guidance so that the timing becomes earlier when the determination is affirmative than when the determination is negative.

8. The navigation device according to claim 7, wherein the control unit:

estimates a degree of traveling stability of a vehicle in traveling on a road; and

controls a timing to execute the route guidance so that the timing becomes earlier as the estimated degree of the traveling stability becomes smaller.

9. A computer program product for route guidance, comprising:

at least one computer-readable medium; and

a computer program mechanism embedded in the medium for causing a computer to;

execute, when a current position approaches a point of guidance along a route, route guidance indicating a path to be taken at the point of guidance in order to go through the point of guidance along the route;

estimate a degree of traveling stability of a vehicle in traveling on a road; and

control a timing to execute the route guidance so that the timing becomes earlier when the estimated degree of the traveling stability is smaller.

10. A computer program product for route guidance, comprising:

at least one computer-readable medium; and

a computer program mechanism embedded in the medium for causing a computer to;

execute, when a current position approaches a point of guidance along a route, route guidance indicating a path to be taken at the point of guidance in order to go through the point of guidance along the route;

make, based on the road map data and the detected current position, a determination whether the road on which the vehicle is traveling decreases the degree of traveling stability of the vehicle; and

control the timing to execute the route guidance so that the timing becomes earlier when the determination is affirmative than when the determination is negative.