Method for outputting navigation instructions

• US 8,831,883 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2013
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Schumann, Josef, Breisinger, Marc, Mariet, Robertus
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Calvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHUDY, ANGELINA M
• Application Number:
  US13/896,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20130253830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/533, 701/418, 701/426, 340/992, 340/995.11, 340/995.15, 340/995.17, 340/995.2, 340/995.27, 340/995.14
• US Class Current: 701/533
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3658 Lane guidance

Abstract

A method is provided for outputting navigation instructions in a motor vehicle having a navigation system and a head-up display. Graphical navigation instructions are output in at least three instruction categories which differ substantially in terms of the graphical level of detail of the particular navigation instruction, the instruction category being selected based on the distance between the motor vehicle and an action point for the navigation maneuver. Navigation instructions in the category for short distances include a perspective lane-exact representation of a map section relevant to the navigation maneuver in the head-up display, a first driving line which is proposed by the navigation system is depicted in the map section in a lane-exact manner by way of a first graphical line object and an alternative second driving line is also depicted in a lane-exact manner by way of a second graphical line object differing from the first line object.

Claims

1. A method for outputting navigation instructions in a motor vehicle which has a navigation system and a head-up display device suitable for outputting graphical navigation information, the method comprising the acts of:

outputting, by the navigation system to the heads-up display, graphical navigation instructions in at least three instruction categories which differ with respect to an extent of graphical details of a respective navigation instruction;

selecting, by the navigation system, the instruction category for the output of a navigation instruction to be output at least as a function of a distance of the motor vehicle to an action point of the navigation maneuver announced by the navigation instruction, wherein;

navigation instructions of that instruction category, which is selected for short distances, comprise a perspective lane-exact display of a map section relevant to the navigation maneuver in the head-up display device,

a first driving line proposed by the navigation system is depicted in the map section in a lane-exact manner by way of a first graphical line object,

a second driving line proposed by the navigation system as an alternative is depicted in the map section in a lane-exact manner by a second graphical line object, which differs from the first line object at least with respect to its graphical object fill,

the action point is graphically marked in the map section by an action point marker arranged along the first line object, and

a current distance of the motor vehicle to the action point is graphically marked in the map section by way of a distance marker arranged along the first graphical line object, in line with position changes of the motor vehicle, wherein a position of the distance marker, within the first graphical line object, varies as a function of the distance of the motor vehicle to the action point of the navigation maneuver.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

navigation instructions of a second instruction category, which is selected for medium distances, contain driving lane information which is visualized by a graphical display of driving lanes available in a current position of the motor vehicle in its current driving direction, which graphical display is arranged essentially as a horizontal strip at a lower edge of a display surface of the head-up display device, and

the graphical display of the driving lanes in the second instruction category ends in front of the action point.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

the graphical display of the driving lanes is taken over from the second instruction category as part of the map section into a first instruction category, which is selected for short distances, when, because of a reduction of the distance between the motor vehicle and the action point, a transition takes place from the second instruction category to the first instruction category.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein:

the graphical display of the driving lanes in the second instruction category is graphically enhanced by way of a first driving lane indication object which marks that driving lane on which the first driving line extends which is proposed by the navigation system,

the graphical display of the driving lanes in the second instruction category, in addition, is graphically enhanced by way of a second driving lane indication object, which marks that driving lane on which the second driving line extends that was proposed by the navigation system, and which second driving lane indication object differs from the first driving lane indication object at least with respect to its graphical object fill,

the first driving lane indication object is replaced by the first line object when, because of a reduction of the distance between the motor vehicle and the action point, a transition takes place from the second instruction category to the first instruction category, and

the second driving lane indication object is replaced by the second line object when, because of a reduction of the distance between the motor vehicle and the action point, a transition takes place from the second instruction category to the first instruction category.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein:

the graphical object fill of the first line object corresponds essentially to that of the first driving lane indication object, and

the graphical object fill of the second line object corresponds essentially to that of the second driving lane indication object.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein:

navigation instructions of a third instruction category, which are selected for long distances, contain no driving lane information.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

navigation instructions of a third instruction category, which are selected for long distances, contain no driving lane information.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein:

the motor vehicle has at least a second display unit for the output of graphical navigation instructions, and

the navigation instructions of the third instruction category are output exclusively by the second display unit.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein:

the navigation instructions of the third instruction category are output in the instrument cluster of the motor vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the instruction category that is selected for the output of a navigation instruction to be output is also selected as a function of a traveled type of road.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

changes of the current distance of the motor vehicle from the action point are displayed within the scope of a navigation instruction of the first instruction category in that;

a) below the action point marker, the first line object has a first area with a first graphical object fill, which area essentially adjoins the action point marker, and a second area with a second graphical object fill, which second area is adjacent to the first area and extends to a lower end of the line object, and

b) a boundary between the first area and the second area is displaced in a direction of the action point marker as the distance decreases.