Motor vehicle navigation system arrangement

• US 6,040,766 A
• Filed: 01/20/1999
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Rech, Bernd, Lubke, Andreas, Zawade, Torsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US09/234,262
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/905, 340/988, 340/995, 340/936, 701/23, 701/24, 701/213, 701/35, 701/36, 701/49
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/32 Road surface or travel path
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/331 characterised by the driving side, e.g. on the left or right hand side
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• 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

Abstract

A motor vehicle navigation system arrangement includes a receiver for receiving information from a navigation system and an evaluation unit connected with the receiver for evaluating received navigation data and determining the current position of the vehicle. In addition, a country-determining arrangement is connected to the evaluation unit to determine from the position data the country in which the vehicle is currently located and a control unit sets vehicle parameters in accordance with the requirements of that country.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle navigation system arrangement comprising:

a receiver for receiving navigation data from a navigation system

an evaluation unit connected to the receiver for evaluating navigation data and providing position data relating to the current position of the vehicle;

a country-determining arrangement connected to the evaluation unit for determining the country in which the vehicle is currently located, and

a control arrangement responsive to the country-determining arrangement for setting at least one of a measuring unit for a speed indicator and a measuring unit for an indicator of distance traveled.

2. A motor vehicle navigation system arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the control arrangement responsive to the country-determining arrangement is arranged to set additional motor vehicle parameters as a function of a country determined by the country-determining arrangement.

3. A motor vehicle navigation system arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the additional motor vehicle parameters include at least one of a lock system setting and a switch condition for a motor vehicle lighting system.

4. A motor vehicle navigation system arrangement according to claim 1 including a data bus on at least one control device in the motor vehicle for the transmission of information concerning a country determined by the country-determining arrangement.

5. A motor vehicle navigation system arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the country-determining arrangement includes a CAN unit.

6. A motor vehicle navigation system arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the control device is a CAN unit.

7. A motor vehicle navigation system arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the control device drives at least one CAN unit for setting predetermined country-specific motor vehicle parameters as a function of a country determined by the country-determining arrangement.

8. A motor vehicle navigation system arrangement according to claim 7 wherein the control device is an additional CAN unit.

9. A motor vehicle navigation system arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the CAN unit is at least one of a light module, a lock system control device, a dashboard control device and a control device for a motor vehicle lighting system.

10. A motor vehicle navigation system arrangement according to claim 1 including a storage unit for storing predetermined sets of country-specific motor vehicle parameter settings for predetermined countries which are called up according to the country determined by the country-determining arrangement so that an appropriate country-specific motor vehicle parameter setting, corresponding to the country currently determined by the country-determining arrangement, is set.

11. A motor vehicle navigation system arrangement according to claim 10 wherein the storage unit is selected from a storage unit which is arranged separately in the motor vehicle, a storage unit which is integral with the country-determining arrangement and a storage unit which is integral with a control device.