Mobile navigation system

• US 6,253,150 B1
• Filed: 07/19/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Kazumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/356,585
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/202, 701/208, 701/211, 701/23, 701/25, 340/901, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 348/148, 180/170
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A navigation ECU 1 retrieves stop-position data from a map data base 8, calculates a distance between a present position of a self vehicle and a stop position closest to the present position of the self vehicle, and judges whether or not the distance is within 300 m. If it is within 300 m, the ECU 1 generates a stop informing message or a slow-down warning. Further, when a distance between a present position of the self vehicle and the stop position closest to the present position is reduced to within 5 m, the ECU 1 instructs the driver of the self vehicle to cautiously look right and left.

Claims

1. A mobile navigation system for a vehicle, comprising:

storing means for storing information on a road map and stop positions at which a driver of the vehicle must stop the vehicle, said stop positions being contained in the road map;

present-position detecting means for detecting a present position of the vehicle; and

stop informing means for informing the driver of a stop position closest to the vehicle in the vehicle advancing direction based upon said detected present position of the vehicle and said stop positions stored in said storing means.

2. A mobile navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said present-position detecting means includes a global positioning system.

3. A mobile navigation system for a vehicle having present-position detecting means for detecting a present position of the vehicle, destination setting means for setting a place for which the vehicle is destined, route searching means for searching a route to said set destination place, and guide means for guiding a driver of the vehicle to said set destination place based upon said searched route and said detected present position of the vehicle, wherein said mobile navigation system comprises:

storing means for storing information on a road map and stop positions at which a driver of the vehicle must stop the vehicle, said stop positions being contained in the road map;

retrieving means for retrieving stop positions present on said searched route; and

stop informing means for informing the driver of the stop position closest to the vehicle based upon said detected present position of the vehicle and said retrieved stop positions.

4. A mobile navigation system according to claim 3, wherein said present-position detecting means includes a global positioning system. stored in said storing means.

5. A mobile navigation system for a vehicle having present-position detecting means for detecting a present position of the vehicle, destination setting means for setting a place for which the vehicle is destined, route searching means for searching a route to said set destination place, and guide means for guiding a driver of the vehicle to said set destination place based upon said searched route and said detected present position of the vehicle, wherein said mobile navigation system comprises:

storing means for storing information on a road map and stop positions at which a driver of the vehicle must stop the vehicle, said stop positions being contained in the road map;

retrieving means for retrieving said stop positions present on said route; and

stop informing means for informing the driver of the stop position closest to the vehicle based upon said detected present position of the vehicle, as determined by said global positioning system, and said retrieved stop positions, said stop informing means comprising;

advance informing means for informing the driver that said stop position closest to the present position of the vehicle is present ahead when the vehicle approaches a first zone within a first preset distance measured from said closest stop position, and

watching instruction means for instructing the driver to cautiously look right and left when the vehicle will pass said closest stop position when the vehicle approaches a second zone within a second preset distance measured from said closest stop position.

6. A mobile navigation system according to claim 5, wherein said stop informing means includes alarming means operating such that said alarming means detects a speed of the vehicle before the vehicle enters said second zone, and generates a slow-down warning based upon the detected vehicle speed to instruct the driver to decrease the vehicle speed to a speed low enough to stop the vehicle.

7. A mobile navigation system according to claim 6, wherein said alarming means alters a relationship between the vehicle speed and a distance to generate the slow-down warning depending on a deceleration of the vehicle when the vehicle approaches the stop position.

8. A mobile navigation system according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising speed reducing means for reducing the vehicle speed depending on an operation of said alarming means.

9. A mobile navigation system according to claim 8, wherein said present-position detecting means includes a global positioning system.