Vehicle navigation system

• US 5,343,399 A
• Filed: 07/23/1993
• Issued: 08/30/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kishi, Hiroshi, Ito, Toru, Yokoyama, Shoji, Kuroda, Kenji, Nanba, Akimasa, Morimoto, Kyomi, Katoh, Kiyohide
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/095,440
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 364/443, 364/444, 364/449, 73/178 R, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice

Abstract

In a vehicle navigation system, when a voice control part, which is displayed on a screen, is switched off, a voice control part inhibits voice guidance from being output to a speaker. Now, if a current-location/guide selection key is operated, the voice control part creates voice guidance according to the operation of the selection key and outputs the voice guidance from the speaker. With this navigation system, aural route guiding is possible only at the driver'"'"'s request.

Claims

1. A vehicle navigation system comprising:

(a) map information storage means;

(b) route computing means for searching a route to an intended destination of a vehicle using the map information stored in said map information storage means;

(c) route guide and control means for displaying the computed route on a display screen and for outputting voice guidance via a speaker;

(d) on-off selecting means for selecting whether or not the voice guidance should be output;

(e) inhibition means for inhibiting outputting of the voice guidance if said on-off selecting means selects that the voice guidance should not be output;

(f) input means for inputting a request for outputting the voice guidance;

(g) voice guidance creating means for creating the voice guidance in response to the output request from said input means; and

(h) voice guidance output means for releasing the inhibition status of said inhibition means for a predetermined period of time to output the voice guidance created by said voice guidance creating means.

2. A vehicle navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said on-off selecting means is a touch switch displayed on the screen.

3. A vehicle navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said output means serves also as a start switch to start route guidance.

4. A vehicle navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said voice guidance creating means creates the voice guidance by combining a plurality of voice phrases previously stored.