Device for the output of safety-related road information in locating and navigating systems of land vehicles

• US 5,146,219 A
• Filed: 01/03/1991
• Issued: 09/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Zechnall, Wolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUMM, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US07/637,060
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 340/990, 340/995, 340/996, 340/988, 340/905, 340/460, 364/449, 364/444, 364/424.1, 364/426.01, 364/426.04
• US Class Current: 340/995.24
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0058 responsive to externally generated signalling
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

The invention provides an information output device for a computerized locating and navigating system of motor vehicles which, in addition to stored geographical data of an electronic road map, delivers safety related information concerning determined sections of road. The information is stored and given out, e.g. optically or acoustically, when reaching the sections of road.

Claims

1. A computerized locating and navigating system of land vehicles including an electronic road map data storage, an entry terminal for starting position data, destination data and vehicle type data, sensors for delivering driving data of an operating vehicle, particularly driving direction and speed, said system comprising a device for selectively outputting safety-related information produced in the vehicle in dependency on driving conditions of the vehicle, the device comprising an additional storage for the safety-related information about determined sections of the road map, a correlation circuit for correlating the safety-related information from the additional storage with the output data from the locating and navigating system;

a safety-related information selecting circuit coupled to an output of the correlation circuit and to the sensors to output in dependency on the driving data and signals of the output of the correlation circuit those of the safety-related signals from said additional storage which are relevant to the momentary driving conditions of the vehicle, and to suppress the output of irrelevant ones of the safety-related signals and to release a warning signal when the actual driving data of the operating vehicle deviates from the relevant safety-related signals from said additional storage, said information selecting circuit including a route information input-output circuit having an input connected to the sensors, a comparator having an input connected via a converter to an output of the correlation circuit and another input connected to an output of the route information input-output circuit, and an evaluation circuit having an input connected to said output of the route information input-output circuit, another input connected to an output of the comparator, and an output connected to another input of the route information input-output circuit for controlling the delivery of the safety-related information at another output of the route information input-output circuit; and

final control elements for cruise control, transmission range selection, brakes and lights controlled by the output of the safety-related information.

2. A navigation system as defined in claim 1, further comprising an output unit connected to the other output of the route information input-output circuit and including means for optically displaying and/or acoustically transmitting the output safety-related signal.

3. A navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the vehicle type data include vehicle weight, height, length, and trailer operation.

4. A navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the time of delivery of the output safety-related signal depends on the driving speed.

5. A navigation system as defined in claim 4, wherein the output safety-related signal depends on driving direction.