Navigation system for supplementary representation of directional information

• US 6,633,813 B1
• Filed: 04/20/2001
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Deworetzki, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US09/786,491
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 701/23, 701/24, 701/117, 701/201-215, 342/357.09, 342/357.13, 342/357.06, 342/443, 702/178, 333/49, 33/1.CC, 379/112.05, 379/112.01, 379/112.06
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/00 Compasses; Devices for ascertaining true or magnetic north for navigation or surveying purposes using gyroscopic effect G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications

Abstract

The invention relates to a navigation system for a land vehicle having a measuring arrangement for supplying position, direction and/or distance data, having a data source arrangement for supplying navigation data, having an input arrangement at least for inputting a destination, having a control arrangement at least for determining a route, and having at least one display apparatus for outputting navigation instructions. To free the driver from other actions diverting his attention from the traffic, the control arrangement determines a direction from the calculated position of the land vehicle and a stored position for a prescribed place. The display apparatus additionally displays the direction ascertained by the control arrangement.

Claims

1. A navigation system for a land vehicle having a measuring arrangement for supplying position, direction and/or distance data, having a data source arrangement for supplying navigation data comprising map and/or road data, having an input arrangement at least for inputting a destination and a further prescribed place, having a control arrangement at least for determining a route to be followed based on a sequence of roads between a starting point and the destination, and having at least one display apparatus for outputting navigation instructions based on the route to be followed to the destination,

wherein the control arrangement is provided for also determining a direction from a present calculated position of the land vehicle to the position for the further prescribed place, and

wherein the display apparatus is adapted to simultaneously display the direction ascertained by the control arrangement to the further prescribed place and at least a portion of the navigation instructions for the route to be followed to the destination.

2. The navigation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control arrangement is provided for determining the direction from a present calculated position of the land vehicle to a city inputted as the further prescribed place, and the display apparatus is provided for displaying the direction to the city in the form of an arrow and explanatory further information.

3. The navigation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the city is the city of Mecca.

4. The navigation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control arrangement is provided for producing messages or for performing prescribed actions at chosen times and the display apparatus is provided for displaying the messages.

5. A navigation system for a land vehicle having a measuring arrangement for supplying position, direction and/or distance data, having a data source arrangement for supplying navigation data comprising map and/or road data, having an input arrangement at least for inputting a destination and a further prescribed place, having a control arrangement at least for determining a route to be followed based on a sequence of roads between a starting point and the destination, and having an output arrangement for outputting audio or visual navigation instructions for the route to be followed to the destination, wherein the output arrangement comprises at least one display arrangement,

wherein the control arrangement is provided for also determining a direction from a present calculated position of the land vehicle to the position for the further prescribed place, and

wherein the display arrangement is adapted to simultaneously display the direction ascertained by the control arrangement to the further prescribed place and at least a portion of the audio or visual navigation instructions for the route to be followed to the destination.

6. The navigation system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control arrangement is provided for determining the direction from a present calculated position of the land vehicle to a city inputted as the further prescribed place, and the display arrangement is provided for displaying the direction to the city in the form of an arrow and explanatory further information.

7. The navigation system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the city is the city of Mecca.

8. The navigation system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control arrangement is provided for producing messages or for performing prescribed actions at chosen times and the display arrangement is provided for displaying the messages.

9. A navigation system for a land vehicle having a measuring arrangement for supplying position, direction and/or distance data, having a data source arrangement for supplying navigation data comprising map and/or road data, having an input arrangement at least for inputting a destination and a further prescribed place, having a control arrangement at least for determining a route to be followed based on a sequence of roads between a starting point and the destination, and having at least one display apparatus for outputting navigation instructions based on the route to be followed to the destination,

wherein the control arrangement is provided for also determining a direction from a present calculated position of the land vehicle to the position for the further prescribed place, and

wherein the display apparatus has multiple display areas and is adapted to simultaneously display at least a present direction of travel in one display area, the destination in a second display area, and the direction ascertained by the control arrangement to the further prescribed place in a third display area.

10. The navigation system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control arrangement is provided for determining the direction from a present calculated position of the land vehicle to a city inputted as the further prescribed place and the display apparatus is provided for displaying the direction to the city in the form of at least an arrow.

11. The navigation system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the city is the city of Mecca.

12. The navigation system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control arrangement is provided for producing messages or for performing prescribed actions at chosen times and the display apparatus is provided for displaying the messages.