Navigation apparatus displaying visual guidance

• US 7,647,170 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2008
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Sawaki, Masaru, Watanabe, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Broadhead; Brian J
• Application Number:
  US12/219,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 340/995.2
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence

Abstract

A navigation apparatus for a vehicle displays, based on map information, a map image for vicinity of a present position of the vehicle and a guidance route in superimposition in a display device. An end point relative to a moving arrow is defined as being a predetermined first distance ahead of the present position along the route; a start point is defined as being a predetermined second distance smaller than the first distance ahead of the present position along the route. The navigation apparatus is further configured to superimpose, on the displayed route, the moving arrow which includes an arrowhead and a line between the arrowhead and the present position, such that the arrowhead moves from the start point to the end point along the route when a distance to a nearest guidance point is smaller than a predetermined distance.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an indicating means including a display portion for displaying an image;

a map information acquiring means for acquiring map information;

a present position designating means for designating a present position of the vehicle;

a route acquiring means for acquiring a route to a destination; and

a navigating means for displaying, based on the acquired map information, a map image of a vicinity of the designated present position and the acquired route in superimposition in the display portion,

wherein when a guidance point distance between the present position and a predetermined guidance point is smaller than a predetermined arrow display start distance, the navigating means is configured to superimpose, on the displayed route, a moving arrow which includes an arrowhead and a line between the arrowhead and the present position, the arrowhead moving from a start point to an end point along the route, the end point being a predetermined first distance ahead of the present position along the route, the start point being a predetermined second distance smaller than the first distance ahead of the present position along the route.

2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the navigating means is configured to repeat displaying the moving arrow multiple times.

3. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an audio arrow indicating means for outputting audio information expressing that the arrowhead moves toward the end point when the moving arrow is displayed.

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

a speed detecting means for detecting a speed of the vehicle,

wherein the navigating means is configured to increase a speed of the moving arrowhead as the detected speed of the vehicle increases.

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

a road class distinguishing means for distinguishing a road class of a road the vehicle travels based on road class information, which is included in the acquired map information,

wherein the navigating means is configured to change a speed of the moving arrowhead based on the distinguished road class.

6. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a guidance point class distinguishing means for distinguishing a guidance point class of the predetermined guidance point based on guidance point class information, which is included in the acquired map information,

wherein the navigating means is configured to change a display configuration for the moving arrow based on the distinguished guidance point class.

7. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a re-display instruction acquiring means for acquiring a re-display instruction for demanding a re-display of the moving arrow,

wherein when the re-display instruction is acquired before the vehicle passes through the predetermined guidance point after displaying the moving arrow is completed, the navigating means is configured to re-display the moving arrow.

8. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

if the guidance point distance is smaller than the arrow display start distance when a display of the display device is changed into the map image of the vicinity of the present position from another image other than the map image of the vicinity of the present position, the navigating means is configured to display the moving arrow.

9. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display instruction acquiring means for acquiring an arrow display selection instruction for indicating whether to allow displaying the moving arrow; and

an arrow display prohibiting means for prohibiting the navigating means from displaying the moving arrow when the acquired instruction indicates that displaying the moving arrow is not allowed.

10. A method for navigating a vehicle, the method comprising:

displaying, based on map information, a map image of a vicinity of a present position of the vehicle and a guidance route in superimposition in a display device;

defining an end point relative to a moving arrow as being a predetermined first distance ahead of the present position along the guidance route;

defining a start point relative to the moving arrow as being a predetermined second distance smaller than the first distance ahead of the present position along the guidance route; and

superimposing, on the displayed guidance route, the moving arrow which includes an arrowhead and a line between the arrowhead and the present position, such as the arrowhead moves from the start point to the end point along the guidance route when a guidance point distance between the present position and a predetermined guidance point is smaller than a predetermined arrow display start distance.