Navigation apparatus which selects an entrance and/or exit of a carpool lane based on a distance set according to the number of lanes to be crossed

• US 8,190,358 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2007
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Machino, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahone, Kristie A
• Application Number:
  US12/514,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20100063720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,694 Days
• Field of Search: 701/410, 701/423, 701/425, 701/431, 701/533, 701/538, 340/995.19
• US Class Current: 701/408
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3658 Lane guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096833 where different aspects are considered when computing the route

Abstract

A navigation apparatus includes a route searching unit 130 for, when including a road where a car pool lane is also provided in a recommended route at a time of searching for a route from a current position determined by a current position determining means to a destination inputted by an input unit on the basis of map data acquired by a map data acquiring means, calculating a distance to be traveled according to the number of lanes which are crossed at the time of an entry to the car pool lane and at the time of an exit from the car pool lane, and then determining the recommended route in such a way that the recommended route uses an entrance and an exit of the car pool lane each of which is located at a location dependent upon the calculated distance.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus comprising:

a map data acquiring unit for acquiring map data including data about roads where a car pool lane is also provided;

a current position determining unit for determining a current position;

an input unit for inputting a destination;

a setting unit for setting up a vehicle type; and

a route searching unit for, when including a road where a car pool lane is also provided in a recommended route at a time of searching for a route from the current position determined by said current position determining unit to the destination inputted by said input unit on a basis of the map data acquired by said map data acquiring unit, changing a setting value of a distance to be traveled according to a number of lanes which are crossed at least one of;

during travel from the current position on said road, which is determined by the current position determining unit, or from an entrance of said road, to an entry to said car pool lane, and

during travel from an exit from said car pool lane to an exit from said road, and according to the vehicle type set up by said setting unit, selecting an entrance or an exit of the car pool lane each of which is located at a location dependent upon said changed setting value, and then determining the recommended route in such a way that the recommended route includes said entrance or said exit of the car pool lane.

4. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit is also for setting up the setting value of the distance to be traveled.

2. A navigation apparatus comprising:

a map data acquiring unit for acquiring map data including data about roads where a car pool lane is also provided;

a current position determining unit for determining a current position;

an input unit for inputting a destination;

a setting unit for setting up at least one of dates, days of week, and a time interval; and

a route searching unit for, when including a road where a car pool lane is also provided in a recommended route at a time of searching for a route from the current position determined by said current position determining unit to the destination inputted by said input unit on a basis of the map data acquired by said map data acquiring unit, changing a setting value of a distance to be traveled according to a number of lanes which are crossed at least one of;

during travel from the current position on said road, which is determined by the current position determining unit, or from an entrance of said road, to an entry to said car pool lane, and

during travel from an exit from said car pool lane to an exit from said road,

and according to at least one of the dates, the days of week, and the time interval which is set up by said setting unit, selecting an entrance or an exit of the car pool lane each of which is located at a location dependent upon said changed setting value, and then determining the recommended route in such a way that the recommended route includes said entrance or said exit of the car pool lane.

5. The navigation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting unit is also for setting up the setting value of the distance to be traveled.

3. A navigation apparatus comprising:

a map data acquiring unit for acquiring map data including data about roads where a car pool lane is also provided;

a current position determining unit for determining a current position;

an input unit for inputting a destination;

a road information acquiring unit for acquiring road information including congestion information; and

a route searching unit for, when including a road where a car pool lane is also provided in a recommended route at a time of searching for a route from the current position determined by said current position determining unit to the destination inputted by said input unit on a basis of the map data acquired by said map data acquiring unit, changing a setting value of a distance to be traveled according to a number of lanes which are crossed at least one of;

during travel from the current position on said road, which is determined by the current position determining unit, or from an entrance of said road, to an entry to said car pool lane, and

during travel from an exit from said car pool lane to an exit from said road, and according to presence or absence of congestion based on the road information acquired by said road information acquiring unit, selecting an entrance or an exit of the car pool lane each of which is located at a location dependent upon said changed setting value, and then determining the recommended route in such a way that the recommended route includes said entrance or said exit of the car pool lane.

6. The navigation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the navigation apparatus has a setting unit for setting up a setting value of a distance to be traveled.