In-vehicle navigation system with removable navigation unit

• US 7,606,660 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Diaz, Melvin Bernard, Ogawa, Tsutomu Tommy
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/642,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20070203641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-214, 34235706-35713, 340988-995
• US Class Current: 701/208
• 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 navigation system includes an in-vehicle portion and a removable navigational unit, where the removable navigation unit is a portable device with navigation capability on its own. The removable navigation unit is capable of being connected to the in-vehicle portion through an navigation interface to perform the navigation function in combination with the in-vehicle portion. The removable navigation unit seamlessly integrates with the in-vehicle portion of the vehicle to provide portability of navigation function when used independently from the in-vehicle portion, and taking advantage of the components of in-vehicle portion when used in conjunction with the in-vehicle portion.

Claims

1. A navigation system for displaying a map image for guiding a user to a destination, comprising:

an in-vehicle portion provided within a vehicle, the in-vehicle portion at least including a navigation interface and a power source; and

a removable navigational unit at least including a map database and a processor for processing map data from the map database;

wherein the removable navigation unit is connected to the in-vehicle portion such that the removable navigational unit operates in combination with the in-vehicle portion to perform navigation functions that are improved than that performed by the removable navigation unit alone, and wherein the removable navigation unit includes an integral display and the in-vehicle portion includes an in-vehicle display, and when mounted on the navigation interface, the removable navigation unit disables the integral display and activates the in-vehicle display to use only the in-vehicle display for performing the navigation functions.

2. A navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the navigation interface in the in-vehicle portion establishes communication between the removable navigation unit and the in-vehicle portion when the removable navigation unit is mounted on the navigation interface where the interface includes a connector to transmits electrical signals and power between the removable navigation unit and the in-vehicle portion.

3. A navigation system as defined in claim 2, wherein the removable navigation unit includes an internal power source, and when mounted on the navigation interface, the removable navigation unit switches the internal power source to use the power source in the in-vehicle portion for performing the navigation functions;

and wherein the removable navigation unit charges the internal power source by the power source of the in-vehicle portion.

4. A navigation system as defined in claim 2, wherein when mounted on the navigation interface, the removable navigation unit activates both the integral display and the in-vehicle display for performing the navigation functions.

5. A navigation system as defined in claim 2, wherein the removable navigation unit includes an integral speaker and the in-vehicle portion includes an in-vehicle speaker, and when mounted on the navigation interface, the removable navigation unit disables the integral speaker and activates the in-vehicle display to use only the in-vehicle speaker for performing the navigation functions.

6. A navigation system as defined in claim 5, wherein the removable navigation unit controls relative volume of sounds that are reproduced by the in-vehicle speaker such that the volume of navigational sounds is greater than that of non-navigational sounds.

7. A navigation system as defined in claim 2, wherein the removable navigation unit includes an integral antenna and the in-vehicle portion includes an in-vehicle antenna, and when mounted on the navigation interface, the removable navigation unit disables the integral antenna and activates the in-vehicle antenna to use only the in-vehicle antenna for performing the navigation functions.

8. A navigation system as defined in claim 2, wherein the removable navigation unit includes an integral antenna and the in-vehicle portion includes an in-vehicle antenna, and when mounted on the navigation interface, the removable navigation unit activates both the integral antenna and the in-vehicle antenna for performing the navigation functions.

9. A navigation system as defined in claim 2, wherein the removable navigation unit includes integral controls and the in-vehicle portion includes in-vehicle controls, and when mounted on the navigation interface, the removable navigation unit disables the integral controls and activates the in-vehicle controls to use only the in-vehicle controls for performing the navigation functions.

10. A navigation system as defined in claim 2, wherein the removable navigation unit includes integral controls and the in-vehicle portion includes in-vehicle controls, and when mounted on the navigation interface, the removable navigation unit activates both the integral controls and the in-vehicle controls for performing the navigation functions.

11. A navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the removable navigation unit further includes integral controls, an integral navigation antenna, and an integral power source, thereby performing the navigation functions independently from the in-vehicle portion.

12. A navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle portion further includes in-vehicle controls, an in-vehicle antenna, an in-vehicle information source including map data, and an in-vehicle data generator including vehicle speed pulses, thereby performing the navigation functions independently from the portable navigation unit.

13. A navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the navigation interface in the in-vehicle portion is a docking station or cradle that receives the removable navigation unit, the docking station having an electrical connector to establish electric connection between the in-vehicle portion and the removable navigation unit.

14. A navigation system as defined in claim 13, wherein, when the removable navigation unit is mounted on the navigation interface, the navigation interface sends signals and data to components in the in-vehicle portion and receives signals and data from the components in the in-vehicle portion through wired communication.

15. A navigation system as defined in claim 13, wherein, when the removable navigation unit is mounted on the navigation interface, the navigation interface sends signals and data to components in the in-vehicle portion and receives signals and data from the components in the in-vehicle portion through wireless communication.

16. A navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle portion includes an in-vehicle display unit having a receptacle therein so that the removable navigation unit is connected with the receptacle within the in-vehicle display unit, thereby displaying images involving the navigation function by the in-vehicle display unit.

17. A navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle portion has a display receptacle that receives the display of the removable navigation unit such that the integral display faces a driver for viewing.