Portable vehicle navigation system

• US 7,668,652 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MiTAC International Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: MiTAC International Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Hook, legal representative, Stevens, Roger A., Hook, Christopher P., Spencer, Larry, Mouser, Mike, Millington, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/855,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20080027644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence

Abstract

A navigation system includes an operator interface module (OIM) including a display and keypad. A computer module (computer module) includes a CPU, map database and the motion and position sensors. A docking station is fixedly mounted in each of a plurality of vehicles. The docking station includes an electrical connector connected to the vehicle power supply and an electrical connector connected to a GPS antenna and an electrical connector connected to a display extension harness. The computer module and OIM are transportable among each of the vehicles. The computer module slides into the docking station and simultaneously makes electrical contact with the vehicle power supply, GPS antenna and display extension harness. The OIM is connected to the display extension harness, thereby connecting the OIM to the computer module. The OIM and computer module are thus transportable among multiple vehicles having the appropriate docking station.

Claims

1. A vehicle navigation system comprising:

a computer module including a processor, a map database, at least one navigational sensor, and a memory to store first vehicle data to be used with a first vehicle and second vehicle data to be used with a second vehicle; and

a docking station selectively matable with said computer module.

2. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein said at least one navigational sensor is at least one of a GPS receiver and an accelerometer.

3. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein said computer module includes a first electrical connector and said docking station includes a second electrical connector, said first electrical connector becoming electrically connected to the second electrical connector when the computer module is mated with the docking station.

4. The navigation system of claim 3, wherein said first electrical connector is electrically connected to said processor.

5. The navigation system of claim 4, wherein said first electrical connector is electrically connected to a GPS receiver on said computer module.

6. The navigation system of claim 3, further including an operator interface module electrically connected to said second electrical connector when said computer module is mated with the docking station.

7. The navigation system of claim 6, wherein said operator interface module includes a display.

8. The navigation system of claim 3, wherein said docking station is fixedly mounted in a first vehicle.

9. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein said computer module further includes means for determining a position of the navigation system relative to the map database.

10. The navigation system of claim 9, further including means for determining a route from a beginning point to an ending point via said map database.

11. The navigation system of claim 10, wherein the computer module includes an inertial sensor generating a motion signal, said processor propagating position based upon said motion signal.

12. A vehicle navigation system comprising:

a docking station fixedly mounted in a first vehicle;

a computer module including a CPU, map database, GPS receiver, at least one accelerometer, and a memory to store first vehicle data to be used with the first vehicle and second vehicle data to be used with a second vehicle, the computer module comprising a self-contained unit which is selectively matable with and removable from the docking station of the first vehicle and matable with and removable from a docking station of a second vehicle, the computer module including a first electrical connector which is electrically connected with a second electrical connector on the docking station when the computer module is mated to the docking station, said second electrical connector being electrically connected to a power supply in the first vehicle; and

an operator interface module selectively electrically connected to the CPU of the computer module, said operator interface module including a display and a plurality of user activatable switches.

13. The vehicle navigation system of claim 12, wherein the computer module further includes means for determining a position of the vehicle navigation system relative to the map database and means for determining a route via the map database from the current location to a destination in the map database selected by the operator interface module.

14. The navigation system of claim 13, wherein the second docking station of the second vehicle is fixedly mounted in the second vehicle.

15. The navigation system of claim 14, wherein said operator interface module is selectively connectable to said first docking station or said second docking station.

16. A method for using a vehicle navigation system comprising:

removably securing a CPU and inertial sensor in a first vehicle;

removing the CPU and at least one inertial sensor from the first vehicle;

removably securing the CPU and the at least one inertial sensor in a second vehicle;

storing first vehicle data regarding the orientation of the at least one inertial sensor when installed in the first vehicle; and

storing second vehicle data regarding the orientation of the at least one inertial sensor when installed in the second vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising identifying a position of the first vehicle based at least in part upon data from the at least one inertial sensor.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising identifying the position of the second vehicle based at least in part upon data from the inertial sensor.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

propagating the position of the first vehicle based upon the first vehicle data when the CPU and first inertial sensor are installed in the first vehicle; and

propagating the position of the second vehicle based upon the second vehicle data when the CPU and at least one inertial sensor are installed in the second vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising manually selecting whether to use the first vehicle data or second vehicle data via a user input device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising mating said CPU and at least one inertial sensor with a docking station mounted in the first vehicle.