Vehicle running guide system

• US 4,812,845 A
• Filed: 02/02/1987
• Issued: 03/14/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Motokazu, Matsuhashi, Hajime, Fukui, Tomonori, Ikeda, Motozo, Nagata, Tomihiko, Hayakawa, Hideyuki, Kaneko, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US07/011,366
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 340/996, 340/988, 340/995, 340/990, 73/178 R, 180/169, 364/447, 364/449, 364/457, 364/460, 364/444
• US Class Current: 340/995.21
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/028 using a RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 where the complete route is shown to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice

Abstract

A running guide system for an automotive vehicle planned for running in a sightseeing area or the like. Special running data including right or left turn, passage through a tunnel, running in a predetermined direction and passage on a slope are stored in a cassette tape together with distance data representing the distance from a start point in the form of a plurality of check point data. By collation of the running distance data actually measured and the special running condition data with the stored data, the automobile is guided audibly or visually. Geographical data or sightseeing data are also recorded in the cassette tape and reproduced in voice from time to time. When the automobile is displaced from the planned running route, an alarm is issued. When the automobile is restored to the planned running route, the planned running guide is restored.

Claims

1. A running guide system for a vehicle in which said vehicle is guided along a predetermined running route on which a plurality of check points including a start point are point, comprising:

distance detector means for detecting a running distance traveled by said vehicle and producing a running distance signal indicative thereof;

memory means having check point data indicating said plurality of check points stored therein, said check point data including distance data ds indicating respective relative positions between the check points, and condition data indicating a specific running condition of said vehicle at said check points, for use in checking whether said vehicle has been displaced from said running route at points adjacent one of said check points;

condition detector means for detecting a running condition of said vehicle;

computer means including;

(1) reading means for reading said distance data ds from said memory means;

(2) correcting means for correcting said distance data ds, when said vehicle is positioned at one of said checkpoints, by adding distance error data Δ

d, indicative of a distance error between a previous distance between two checkpoints and a previous distance data ds indicative of said distance between said two checkpoints, to said distance data ds to form corrected distance data ds'"'"';

(3) setting means for setting said distance error data Δ

d to equal said corrected distance data ds'"'"';

(4) reducing means for reducing said distance error data Δ

d in accordance with said running distance signal from said distance detector means;

(5) first decision means for determining whether said distance error data set by said setting means has been reduced to a value lower than a predetermined value;

(6) second decision means for accessing said memory means to determine a checkpoint and a first specific running condition indicative thereof, and for determining whether said running condition detected by said condition detector means is said first specific running condition when said first decision means determines that the distance error data has been reduced to said predetermined value; and

(7) information means for providing alarm information indicating that the vehicle is out of said predetermined running route when said second decision means determines that said first specific running condition of the vehicle is not detected by said condition detector means.

2. A system as in claim 1 further comprising a radio receiver which receives radio transmissions.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said specific running condition includes the condition of passage of the vehicle through a tunnel, and said condition detector means detects a first abnormal reception of said radio receiver during said passage.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein said specific running condition includes the condition of passage of the vehicle under a high voltage transmission cable, and said condition detector means detects a second abnormal reception of said radio receiver during said passage.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said information means includes a voice generator.

6. A running guide system for a vehicle in which said vehicle is guided along a predetermined running route on which a plurality of check points including a start point are provided comprising:

distance detector means for detecting a running distance traveled by said vehicle and producing a distance signal indicative thereof;

memory means having check point data indicating said plurality of check points stored therein, said check point data including distance data ds indicating respective relative positions of the check points, and condition data indicating a stored specific condition of said vehicle at said check points;

condition detector means for detecting a specific condition of said vehicle;

first decision means for reading distance data from said memory means for a next check point, from said memory means at a predetermined timing, accumulating a running distance of the vehicle on the basis of a distance signal generated by said distance detector means, and determining a region of detecting said specific condition based on a comparison between the distance data read-out to the next check point and the accumulated running distance;

second decision means for determining whether said specific condition detected by said condition detector means corresponds to said stored specific conditions of the vehicle, during a time interval in which said first decision means determines said region of detecting said specific condition;

announcing means for announcing that the vehicle is out of said predetermined running route, when said second decision means determines that the stored specific condition of the vehicle in said region of detection is not detected by said condition detector means;

first instruction means for generating instructions to start a restoration to said predetermined running route when said vehicle is out of the predetermined running route, and to end said restoration when the vehicle returns to said predetermined running route;

first restoration control means for correcting said running distance of the vehicle obtained in said first decision means by decreasing said running distance based on the distance signal from said distance detector means, during a time period between generation of said start instruction and generation of said end instruction, when said second decision means determines that said stored specific condition of the vehicle in said region of detection has not been detected.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said specific running condition includes the conditions of right turn and left turn of the vehicle, and said condition detector means detects the operations of turning-right and turning-left of a steering system of the vehicle.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein said specific running condition includes the condition of a straight run in a predetermined direction, and said condition detector means detects said straight run of the vehicle in said predetermined direction.

9. A system according to claim 6, wherein said specific running condition includes the condition of passage along a slope of a predetermined inclination angle, and said condition detector means detects an inclination angle of the vehicle during said passage.

10. A system according to claim 6, wherein said memory means includes cassette tape means.

11. A system according to claim 6, wherein said distance data represents a distance between check points, and said first decision means obtains the running distance of the vehicle from a last check point.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said first decision means determines said region of detecting the specific condition based on a difference between as distance from said last check point to said next check point and a running distance of the vehicle from said last check point.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein said region of detecting the specific condition is determined when said difference is within a predetermined distance.

14. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

second instruction means for commanding an initiation of a restoration to said last check point; and

second restoration control means for determining said region of detecting the specific condition by setting the running distance of the vehicle obtained by said first decision means to zero upon generation of said restoration command from said second instruction means, after said second decision means determines that the specific condition of the vehicle in said region of detection has not been detected.

15. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

second instruction means for commanding a restoration to said next check point; and

second restoration control means for detecting a check point after said next check point, upon generation of said restoration instruction from said second instruction means when said second decision means determines that the region of detecting the specific condition of the vehicle has not been detected.

16. A running guide system for a vehicle in which said vehicle is guided along a predetermined running route on which a plurality of check points, including a start point, are provided, comprising:

distance detector means for detecting a running distance traveled by said vehicle and producing a running distance signal indicative thereof;

memory means having check point data indicating said plurality of check points stored therein, said check point data including distance data indicating respective relative positions of the check points, guide data for guiding between the check points and condition data indicative of a passage of said vehicle through a tunnel;

a radio receiver for receiving radio reception;

condition detector means for detecting a specific running condition of said vehicle by detecting a first abnormal reception of said radio receiver during said passage;

computer means including;

first decision means for;

(1) reading a first distance data indicating a distance between a current check point and a next check point from said memory means at a first predetermined time, (2) accumulating a running distance of the vehicle on the basis of a distance signal generated by said distance detector means, and calculating distance error data representing a difference between the running distance and said first distance data, and (3) determining whether said distance error data is smaller than a predetermined value, and

second decision means for determining whether said condition detector means has detected said first abnormal reception during a same time interval during which said first decision means determines that said distance error data is smaller than said predetermined value; and

information means for providing guide information for said next check point when said second decision means determines that said condition detector means has detected said first abnormal radio reception, and for providing alarm information indicative of the vehicle being out of said predetermined running route when said second decision means determines that said first abnormal radio reception is not detected by said condition detector means.

17. A running guide system for a vehicle in which said vehicle is guided along a predetermined running route on which a plurality of check points including a start point are provided, comprising:

distance detector means for detecting a running distance traveled by said vehicle and producing a running distance signal indicative thereof;

memory means having check point data indicating said plurality of check points stored therein, said check point data including distance data indicating respective relative positions of the check points, guide data for guide between the check points, and condition data indicative of a passage of said vehicle under a high voltage transmission cable;

a radio receiver for receiving radio reception;

condition detector means for detecting a specific running condition of said vehicle by detecting a specific running condition of said vehicle by detecting a first abnormal reception of said radio receiver during said passage;

computer means including;

first decision means for;

(1) reading a first distance data indicating a distance between a current check point and a next check point from said memory means at a first predetermined time, (2) accumulating a running distance of the vehicle on the basis of a distance signal generated by said distance detector means, and calculating distance error data representing a difference between the running distance and said first distance data, and (3) determining whether said distance error data is smaller than a predetermined value, and

second decision means for determining whether said condition detector means has detected said first abnormal reception during a same time interval during which said first decision means determines that said distance error data is smaller than said predetermined value; and

information means for providing guide information for said next check point when said second decision means determines that said condition detector means has detected said first abnormal radio reception, and for providing alarm information indicative of the vehicle being out of said predetermined running route when said second decision means determines that said first abnormal radio reception is not detected by said condition detector means.