GPS device for displaying traffic conditions and method thereof

• US 8,219,310 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2009
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HannStar Display Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hsieh, Kuan-Hong, Li, Xiao-Guang, Hu, Hsin-Nan, Ma, Chao-Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Fadok, Mark
• Application Number:
  US12/426,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096877 where the input to the navigation device is provided by a suitable I/O arrangement details of I/O arrangements for onboard navigation computers G01C21/36; I/O arrangements for general purpose computers G06F3/00

Abstract

This present disclosure provides a GPS device for displaying traffic conditions and method thereof. The GPS device defines turn distance ranges according to GPS navigation information. When running into the defined turn distance range, the vehicle turns on a video device and turn signal lamps automatically, and displays the video feed provided by the video device. When passing by the defined turn distance range, the vehicle turns off the video device and the turn signal lamps automatically.

Claims

1. A global position system (GPS) device used in a vehicle, comprising:

a GPS wireless communications unit configured to receive GPS satellite navigation signals in real time;

a GPS locating module configured to receive the navigation signals from the GPS wireless communications unit, and determine a current location of the vehicle according to the navigation signals;

a route planning module configured to obtain a best route;

a display unit configured to display information, wherein the information comprises current traffic conditions around the vehicle and navigation information corresponding to the navigation signals;

a communications unit configured to transmit communication data between the GPS device and external devices of the GPS device;

a turn determining module configured to determine turn information for each turning maneuver that should occur along the best route, and the turn information comprising a turn start position and a turn end position wherein the turn start position of a turn information for a turning maneuver is defined as a location having a predetermined distance away from a turn point where the turning maneuver is to occur, and the turn end position of the turn information for the turning maneuver is defined as another location having another predetermined distance away from the turn point;

a storage unit configured to connect with the GPS locating module and the turn determining module;

a control signal generating module configured to generate a left or a right turn control signal when the GPS locating module determines the current location is a turn start position of a turning maneuver, and send the control signal to control a video device to provide the current traffic conditions around the vehicle, and generate another left or another right turn control signal when the GPS locating module determines the current location is a turn end position of the turning maneuver, and send the turn control signal to turn off the video device;

a signal receiving module configured to receive an video feed provided by the video device; and

a display control module configured to automatically switch the display unit to display the live feed traffic conditions when it is received and switch back to display the navigation information when the live feed ends.

2. The GPS device as described in claim 1, wherein the control signal generating module further sends the left or the right turn control signal to turn on turn signal lamps through the communications unit, and sends the another left or another right turn control signal to turn off the turn signal lamps.

3. The GPS device as described in claim 2, wherein the control signal generating module is configured to generate a reverse control signal to turn on the video device having a view to the rear of the vehicle when the vehicle has been shifted into reverse, and to generate another reverse control signal to turn off the video device when the vehicle is shifted from reverse.

4. The GPS device as described in claim 1, wherein the turn determining module determines turn information for all the turning maneuver that occur along the best route, numbers each turning maneuver, and saves the determined turn information in the storage unit.

5. The GPS device as described in claim 1, wherein the turn determining module determines next turn information of a next turning maneuver when the vehicle finishes a turn, and saves the next turn information to the storage unit.

6. A method of displaying traffic conditions used in a global position system (GPS) device of a vehicle, the GPS device comprises a GPS wireless communications unit configured to receive GPS satellite navigation signals in real time, the method comprising:

determining turn information for each turning maneuver according to navigation information which correspond to the navigation signals, and saving the determined turn information, and the turn information comprising a turn start position and a turn end position wherein the turn start position of a turn information for a turning maneuver is defined as a location having a predetermined distance away from a turn point where the turning maneuver is to occur, and the turn end position of the turn information for the turning maneuver is defined as another location having another predetermined distance away from the turn point;

generating and transmitting a left or a right turn control signal to control a video device to provide live feed of traffic conditions around the vehicle through a communications unit, after determining that the vehicle arrives at a turn start position of a turning maneuver;

receiving an video feed provided by the video device through the communications unit;

switching a display unit to display the provided video feed;

generating and transmitting another left or another right turn control signal to turn off the video device through the communications unit, after determining that the vehicle arrives at a turn end position of the turning maneuver; and

switching back to display the navigation information when the live feed of traffic conditions ends.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting the left or right turn control signal to turn on turn signal lamps through the communication unit, after determining that the vehicle arrives at the turn start position;

transmitting the another left or another right turn control signal to turn off the turn signal lamps through the communications unit, when determining that the vehicle arrives at the turn end position.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

generating a reverse control signal to turn on the video device having a view to the rear of the vehicle when the vehicle has been shifted into reverse, and to generate another reverse control signal to turn off the video device when the vehicle is shifted from reverse.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining turn information is determining turn information for all the turning maneuver that occur along the best route, numbers each turning maneuver, and saves the determined turn information in the storage unit.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining turn information is determining next turn information for a next turning maneuver when the vehicle finishes a turn, and saves the next turn information to the storage unit.