Mobile object position detecting apparatus

• US 7,555,384 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishida, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US10/777,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• Field of Search: 701207-208, 701/29, 340988-989, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340991-994, 342/357.12, 342/357.13, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/457, 455/420
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/396 Determining accuracy or reliability of position or pseudorange measurements

Abstract

A control unit 10 detects the presence/absence of receiving position information based on the position data provided from a GPS receiver 14. While the GPS receiver 14 is supplying no position data, the control unit 10 computes the travel distance of a vehicle according to a vehicle speed pulse signal input from a vehicle speed pulse input unit 18. When the obtained travel distance exceeds a predetermined distance, the control unit 10 determines abnormal reception due to faulty equipment. The predetermined distance is set in advance based on a reception disability area, etc. When the control unit 10 determines abnormal reception due to faulty equipment, it turns on an orange indicator. Thus, the person in the vehicle can recognize the abnormal reception due to faulty equipment.

Claims

1. A movable object emergency information apparatus comprising

a control unit;

an antenna configured to receive radio waves from a satellite;

a receiver configured to calculate vehicle position information of the movable object based on the received radio waves and supply the vehicle position information to the control unit;

an emergency sensor configured to provide emergency information related to the movable object to the control unit;

a speed detecting device configured to supply speed information of the movable object to the control unit;

a timer configured to calculate a time during which the control unit does not receive vehicle position information from the receiver due to one or more of a plurality of faulty radio wave reception conditions, or due to geographic limitations to radio wave reception, and during which the speed information indicates that the movable object is traveling; and

an indicator configured to warn an occupant of the movable object that reception of the radio waves has become abnormal due to one of the plurality of faulty radio wave reception conditions;

wherein the control unit is configured to determine the existence of faulty radio wave reception conditions when the calculated time exceeds a predetermined time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable object is a wheeled vehicle and the speed detecting device provides the speed information based on a speed signal generated by wheel rotation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of faulty radio wave reception conditions include interference with the radio waves by at least one of a component provided on the movable object or a faulty connection in the antenna or the receiver.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to disable the indicator from giving the warning when the position information is not received from the receiver, due only to geographic limitations to radio wave reception.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emergency information provided by the emergency sensor includes at least one of airbag deployment, collision, and equipment malfunction.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a voice transmitter and a receiver.

7. A movable object emergency information apparatus, comprising:

a control unit;

an antenna configured to receive radio waves from a satellite

a receiver configured to calculate vehicle position information of the movable object based on the received radio waves and supply the vehicle position information to the control unit;

an emergency sensor configured to provide emergency information related to the movable object to the control unit;

a speed detecting device configured to supply speed information of the movable object to the control unit; and

an indicator configured to warn an occupant of the movable object that reception of the radio waves has become abnormal due to one of a plurality of faulty radio wave reception conditions;

wherein the control unit is configured to compute a travel distance of the movable object when the vehicle position information is not received from the receiver due to one or more of the plurality of faulty radio wave reception conditions, or else due to geographic limitations to radio wave reception.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the movable object is a wheeled vehicle and the speed detecting device provides the speed information based on a speed signal generated by wheel rotation.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of faulty radio wave reception conditions include interference with the radio waves by at least one of a component provided on the movable object, or a faulty connection in the antenna or the receiver.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control unit is further configured to disable the indicator from giving the warning when the position information is not received from the receiver, due only to geographic limitations to radio wave reception.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a timer configured to calculate a time the movable object travels without the control unit receiving position information;

and

wherein the control unit is configured to determine the existence of faulty radio wave reception conditions when the calculated time exceeds a predetermined time.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the emergency information provided by the emergency sensor includes at least one of airbag deployment, collision, and equipment malfunction.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a voice transmitter and receiver.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control unit is configured to determine the existence of faulty radio wave reception conditions when the computed travel distance exceeds a predetermined distance.