Method and device for a detachable navigation system

• US 6,681,176 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Funk, Karsten, Schmidt, Hauke, Moellendorf, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/139,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20030208314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/212, 701/213, 701/201, 701/202, 701/49, 340/990, 340/995, 342/357.01, 342/357.12, 342/357.1, 342/357.14
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens

Abstract

A faceplate including an antenna for receiving navigation signals, a processor electrically coupled to the antenna for determining a position, a display electrically coupled to the processor for displaying navigation information, and at least one input arrangement. The faceplate able to be installed on a front side of a vehicular electronic unit in a dashboard of a vehicle. The at least one input arrangement controlling the vehicular electronic unit when the faceplate is received on the front side of the vehicular electronic unit. A system for navigating including a handheld unit. The handheld unit includes an antenna, a processor electrically coupled to the antenna, and a display electrically coupled to the processor. A further antenna is situated on a vehicle and a receptacle is situated in a dashboard of the vehicle for receiving the handheld unit. The receptacle electrically couples the further antenna to the handheld unit when the handheld unit is received in the receptacle. The handheld unit operates to navigate a user in a stand-alone capacity and operates to navigate a driver of the vehicle when the handheld unit is received in the receptacle. A method for navigating a pedestrian, navigating a driver, and securing a vehicular electronic component is provided. The method includes determining by a processor whether a handheld unit is received in a dashboard receptacle. The processor is situated in the handheld unit and electrically coupled to an antenna situated in the handheld unit. The processor is electrically coupled to a display situated in the handheld unit. The dashboard receptacle is situated in the vehicle. Navigating the pedestrian using the antenna if the handheld unit is not received in the dashboard receptacle. Navigating the driver using a further antenna if the handheld unit is received in the dashboard receptacle. The further antenna is situated on the vehicle.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a faceplate including an antenna for receiving navigation signals, a processor electrically coupled to the antenna for determining a position, a display electrically coupled to the processor for displaying navigation information, and at least one input arrangement;

wherein the faceplate is configured to be received on a front side of a vehicular electronic unit in a dashboard of a vehicle; and

wherein the at least one input arrangement is coupled to the vehicular electronic unit when the faceplate is received on the front side of the vehicular electronic unit.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicular electronic unit includes at least one of a radio, a CD player, an MP3 player, a cell phone, an instant messaging system, and a game.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the faceplate further includes at least one electrical contact, wherein the at least one electrical contact contacts at least one further electrical contact of the vehicular electronic unit when the faceplate is received on the front side of the vehicular electronic unit.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein a further antenna is situated in the vehicle, the further antenna electrically coupled to the processor when the faceplate is received on the front side of the vehicular electronic unit.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the faceplate further includes at least one of a radio, an MP3 player, a cell phone, an instant messaging system, and a game.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation information includes at least one of:

a first position of the user on a two-dimensional map;

a second position of the user on a three-dimensional map;

a diagram of an anticipated driving direction;

at least one geographical coordinate;

the two-dimensional map; and

the three-dimensional map.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the faceplate further includes at least one of a removable memory and a permanently installed memory.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one input arrangement is electrically coupled to the processor.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the faceplate further includes:

a battery electrically coupled to at least one of the antenna, the processor, and the display;

wherein the battery is rechargeable when the faceplate is received on the front side of the vehicular electronic unit.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the faceplate further includes an inertial sensor electrically coupled to the processor.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein an inertial sensor is situated in the vehicle, the inertial sensor electrically coupled to the processor when the faceplate is received on the front side of the vehicular electronic unit.

12. A navigation system, comprising:

a handheld unit including an antenna for receiving navigation signals, a processor electrically coupled to the antenna, a display electrically coupled to the processor for displaying navigation information, and at least one input arrangement electrically coupled to the processor;

a further antenna situated on a vehicle for receiving navigation signals;

a receptacle situated in a dashboard of the vehicle for receiving the handheld unit, the receptacle electrically coupled to the further antenna, the receptacle electrically coupled to the handheld unit when the handheld unit is received in the receptacle; and

at least one electronic unit situated in the receptacle;

wherein the at least one input arrangement is configured to operate the at least one electronic unit;

wherein the processor determines a position using navigation signals received at the antenna when the handheld unit is not received in the receptacle; and

wherein the processor determines a position using navigation signals received at the further antenna when the handheld unit is received in the receptacle.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a data storage unit for storing at least one map set situated in the vehicle, the data storage unit electrically coupled to the handheld unit when the handheld unit is received in the receptacle.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the data storage unit includes a CD-ROM.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the at least one map set includes at least one of a two-dimensional map, a three-dimensional map, a topographic map, a road map, and a geographic coordinates map.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the display is a visual display showing at least one of:

a first position of the user on the two-dimensional map;

a second position of the user on the three-dimensional map;

a third position of the user on the topographic map;

a diagram of an anticipated driving direction; and

at least one geographical coordinate.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein the handheld unit further includes at least one of a removable memory and a permanently installed memory, the at least one of the removable memory and the permanently installed memory electrically coupled to the data storage unit when the handheld unit is received in the receptacle.

18. The system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a personal computer including a docking station, the docking station adapted to receive the handheld unit, the docking station electrically coupling the personal computer and the at least one of the removable memory and the permanently installed memory when the handheld unit is received in the docking station;

wherein when the handheld unit is received in the docking station, the handheld unit is able to download map information from the personal computer and is able to upload position information to the personal computer.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the handheld unit is able to store a personal preference profile, the personal preference profile including at least one of a personal seat position, a personal environmental control preference, and a personal preset radio station set.

20. The system according to claim 17, further comprising at least one further handheld unit.

21. The system according to claim 12, further comprising at least one further electronic unit situated in the handheld unit.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein at least one of the at least one electronic unit and the at least one further electronic unit includes at least one of a radio, a CD player, an MP3 player, a cell phone, an instant messaging system, and a game.

23. The system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one input arrangement is configured to operate at least one function of the handheld unit.

24. The system according to claim 12, wherein the handheld unit further includes a battery electrically coupled to at least one of the antenna, the processor, and the display, the battery rechargeable when the portable handheld unit is received in the receptacle.

25. The system according to claim 12, further comprising an inertial sensor at least one of:

situated in the handheld unit and electrically coupled to the processor; and

situated in the vehicle and electrically coupled to the handheld unit when the handheld unit is received in the receptacle.

26. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:

at least one electrical contact situated on the handheld unit; and

at least one further electrical contact situated on the receptacle;

wherein the at least one electrical contact contacts the at least one further electrical contact when the handheld unit is received in the receptacle.

27. A method for navigating a pedestrian, navigating a driver, and securing a vehicular electronic component, the method comprising:

determining by a processor whether a handheld unit is received in a dashboard receptacle, wherein the processor is situated in the handheld unit and electrically coupled to an antenna situated in the handheld unit, wherein the processor is electrically coupled to a display situated in the handheld unit, and wherein the dashboard receptacle is situated in the vehicle;

navigating the pedestrian using the antenna if the handheld unit is not received in the dashboard receptacle;

navigating the driver using a further antenna if the handheld unit is received in the dashboard receptacle, wherein the further antenna is situated on the vehicle; and

operating at least one electronic unit with at least one input arrangement in the handheld unit.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising:

removing the handheld unit from the dashboard receptacle if the driver becomes a pedestrian; and

navigating the pedestrian using the antenna.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising storing at least one of a local map set and a remote map set in the handheld unit prior to removing the handheld unit from the dashboard receptacle.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising storing the remote map set in the handheld unit by selecting a destination region prior to removing the handheld unit from the dashboard receptacle.

31. The method according to claim 27, further comprising:

inserting the handheld unit into the dashboard receptacle if the pedestrian becomes a driver; and

navigating the driver using the further antenna.

32. The method according to claim 27, further comprising operating the navigation device with the at least one input arrangement in the handheld unit.

33. The method according to claim 27, further comprising determining an inertial measurement with an inertial sensor situated in at least one of the handheld unit and the vehicle, wherein the inertial measurement is for when at least one of the antenna and the further antenna is blocked from receiving positioning signals.

34. The method according to claim 27, further comprising downloading map information from a personal computer to the handheld unit when the handheld unit is received in a docking station, wherein the personal computer includes the docking station and the docking station is adapted to receive the handheld unit and electrically couples the handheld unit and the personal computer when the handheld unit is received in the docking station.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising uploading position information from the handheld unit to the personal computer.