Apparatus for switching navigation device mode

• US 8,170,790 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2009
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Lee, Choy Wai, Jantz, Karen J., Zahorsky, David C., Tompkins, Mark D., Moore, Ryan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Airapetian, Mila
• Application Number:
  US12/371,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20090271109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/400
• US Class Current: 701/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A portable navigation device operable to present a plurality of operating modes. The device may include a display; a location determining component operable to determine a current geographic location of the navigation device; mount detection circuitry operable to determine a mounting status of the navigation device; and a processor coupled with the location determining component, the mount detection circuitry, and the display. The processor is operable to select one of a plurality of operating modes based on the determined mounting status and present information specific to the selected operating modes on the display.

Claims

1. A portable navigation device operable to present a plurality of operating modes, the navigation device comprising:

a display;

a location determining component operable to determine a current geographic location of the navigation device and a speed of the navigation device; and

a processor coupled with the location determining component and the display, the processor operable to select one of the plurality of operating modes based on the determined speed of the device and present information specific to the selected operating mode on the display,

wherein the operating modes include a pedestrian mode and an automobile mode and the processor is operable to select the automobile mode when the determined speed of the device exceeds a predetermined threshold of about 15 miles per hour.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to present a confirmation of the selected operating mode on the display before selecting the operating mode.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the display is a touch screen and a user is operable to confirm selection of the operating mode by selecting a prompt on the display.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the operating modes include a pedestrian mode, an automobile mode, and a bicycle mode.

5. A portable navigation device operable to be received by a mount and present a plurality of operating modes, the navigation device comprising:

a display;

a location determining component operable to determine a current geographic location of the navigation device;

mount detection circuitry operable to determine a mounting status of the navigation device; and

a processor coupled with the location determining component, the mount detection circuitry, and the display, the processor operable to select one of the plurality of operating modes based on the determined mounting status and present information specific to the selected operating mode on the display.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the mount detection circuitry includes a mechanical switch.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the mount detection circuitry includes an integrated circuit operable to detect a component associated with the mount.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the operating modes include an automobile mode and the processor selects the automobile mode when the determined mounting status indicates that the navigation device is received by the mount.

9. The device of claim 5, wherein the operating modes include a pedestrian mode and the processor selects the pedestrian mode when the determined mounting status indicates that the navigation device is not received by the mount.

10. The device of claim 5, wherein the operating modes include a pedestrian mode and an automobile mode and the processor selects the pedestrian mode or the automobile mode based on the determined mounting status.

11. The device of claim 5, wherein the processor is further operable to present a confirmation of the selected operating mode on the display before selecting the operating mode.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the display is a touch screen and a user is operable to confirm selection of the operating mode by selecting a prompt on the display.