Point-of-interest display system

• US 20080097698A1
• Filed: 10/20/2003
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Hughes, Alan S., Arnold-Huyser, Nisa M., Milstead, Ian, Bambini, John S., Sonday, Susan K.
• Application Number:
  US10/532,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20080097698A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/300
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/771 on the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

A point of interest display system (20) includes an updatable database which interfaces with a microprocessor (50) which receives data from a GPS receiver (40) providing the system with current vehicle location and direction of travel information. A display (26) provides the operator graphic display data information and easily accessible control switches (24) allow the operator to select upcoming highway exits, categories of points of interests, and points of interest.

Claims

1. A point-of-interest memory system for use in a vehicle comprising:

a database including roadway data including highway identification information including exits and location information, street names and address numbers and the location and identification of points of interest, wherein said database has data sets layered thereon according to road network information and separately point-of-interest information such that said database can be updated separately at different time intervals for separately updating the road network information and point-of-interest information.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said database is programmed into a programmable memory.

3. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein said programmable memory is a removable memory device.

4. The system as defined in claim 3 wherein said removable memory device is a flashcard.

5. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein said system includes:

a GPS receiver;

a display; and

a microprocessor coupled to said memory, to said GPS receiver, and to said display for displaying point-of-interest information to an operator of a vehicle in which said system is installed.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 and further including at least one operator-actuated switch coupled to said microprocessor to allow the operator to select for individual display one of addresses on a street on which the vehicle is traveling and separately cross-streets ahead and behind the vehicle.

7. The system as defined in claim 6 wherein said display of addresses further includes a display of the street name on which the vehicle is traveling.

8. The system as defined in claim 7 wherein said display of cross streets includes graphic lines depicting sides of a roadway and the cross streets are positioned between said lines.

9. The system as defined in claim 8 wherein said display of cross streets includes at least one arrow aligned with respect to the displayed cross streets at a position indicating the position of the vehicle with respect to said cross streets.

10. The system as defined in claim 9 wherein said display displays two cross streets ahead of the vehicle.

11. The system as defined in claim 10 wherein said display includes two arrows with an arrow positioned adjacent each graphic line representing a side of a roadway.

12. The system as defined in claim 6 and further including at least one operator actuated switch which permits the operator to select a point of interest from a menu of available points of interest when on a highway and said display displays the distance and direction to said selected point of interest.

13. The system as defined in claim 6 wherein said operator-actuated switch permits the operator to select a point of interest from a menu of available points of interest and said display selectively displays detailed information regarding a selected point of interest.

14. The system as defined in claim 12 wherein said operator-actuated switch permits the operator to selectively display the exits on a highway on which the vehicle is traveling, wherein said microprocessor is programmed to respond to operator input signals from said switch to provide a scroll-forward display of upcoming highway exits and for displaying points of interest accessible at such highway exits

15. The system as defined in claim 5 and further including an electronic compass coupled to said display.

16. The system as defined in claim 5 and further including an outside temperature sensor coupled to said display.

17. The system as defined in claim 5 and further including a trip computer coupled to said display.