az United States Patent
`US 6,633,813 B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`Oct. 14, 2003
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Deworetzki
`
`
`US006633813B1
`
`(54) NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR
`SUPPLEMENTARY REPRESENTATION OF
`DIRECTIONAL INFORMATION
`
`co
`
`:
`
`§idases
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: fon Deworetzki, Herborn-Uckersdorl
`|
`(73) Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG,Frankfurt am
`Main (DE)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent, is extended of adjusted under 85
`U'S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
` 09/786,491
`
`(22) PCT Filed:
`
`Aug. 25, 1999
`
`(86) PCT No.:
`
`PCT/EP99/06229
`
`§ 371 (cK),
`(2), (4) Date: Apr. 20, 2001
`
`(87) PCT Pub. No.: WO00/14481
`
`PCT Pub. Date: Mar. 16, 2000
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Sep. 3, 1998
`
`(DE) veesesssecsecssssesestessesssseeeees 198 40 120
`
`(51)
`Int. Ch? oe GOIC 21/28; GOLC 21/36
`(52) US. Ch. cccccecseeeeccceee 701/209; 701/201; 701/211;
`342/443; 342/357.13; 33/349
`(58) Field of Search ...0...0000000 ce 701/23, 24, 117,
`701/201-215; 342/357.09, 357.13, 357.06,
`443; 702/178; 33/349, 1 CC; 379/112.05,
`112.01, 112.06
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,372,052 A *
`5,177,685 A *
`5,739,772 A *
`5,790,477 A *
`5,864,305 A *
`
`2/1983 Wakim ..........0. 116/DIG. 43
`1/1993 Davis et al. vcs 340/988
`
`.....
`... 340/990
`4/1998 Nanbaet al.
`.-- 368/10
`8/1998 Hauke.
`..........
`1/1999 Roscnquist
`
`2/1999 Nanbaetal. ou... 340/995
`5,874,905 A *
`
`8/1999 Morimotoetal. .......... 701/201
`5,938,718 A *
`
`.........
`.. 340/906
`5,986,575 A * 11/1999 Jones et al.
`1/2001 Fultz, veccccccsssseeseeseenee 340/988
`6,169,955 BL *
`
`6.192.314 Bl
`*
`2/2001 Khavakh etal. ............ 701/200
`6,321,158 B1 * 11/2001 DeLormeetal. sss... 340/995
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`DE
`DE
`Re
`ars
`
`3613422 AL
`vases GO1C/21/04
`10/1986
`4304367 Al
`9/1994...
`.. B6OI/35/00
`
`sodas ° yjoey
`trees GoleL“
`WO 97/19321
`5/1997
`........... GOLC/21/20
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Article from ADAC Motorwelt (with translation), dated
`Nov. 1994.
`
`Brochure from Philips Car Systems, entitled Carin Naviga-
`tion System, pp. 1-12.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Thomas G. Black
`Assistant Examiner—Ronnie Mancho
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—David M. Thimmig; Mayer,
`Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP
`
`(57)
`
`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
`arrangementat least for inputting a destination, having a
`control arrangement at least for determining a route, and
`having at least one display apparatus for outputting naviga-
`tion instructions. To free the driver from other actions
`diverting his attention from the traffic, the control arrange-
`ment 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 bythe control arrangement.
`
`12 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`Kilian Street
`
`Google Exhibit 1068
`Google Exhibit 1068
`Google v. Mullen
`Google v. Mullen
`
`......0..06 340/905
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 14, 2003
`
`Sheet 1 of 2
`
`US 6,633,813 B1
`
`FIG 1
`
`
`po Erlanger Street
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 14, 2003
`
`Sheet 2 of 2
`
`US 6,633,813 B1
`
`FIG 3
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`25
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`26
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`Kilian Street 22
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`23
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`24
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`21
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`18
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`FIG 4
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`[nf
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`US 6,633,813 Bl
`
`1
`NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR
`SUPPLEMENTARY REPRESENTATION OF
`DIRECTIONAL INFORMATION
`
`BACKGROUND OF‘THE INVENTION
`
`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 naviga-
`tion instructions.
`
`The navigation system CARIN 520 is known from the
`leaflet “CARIN NAVIGATION SYSTEM”from Philips Car
`Systems, 1997. A CD-ROMsupplies digitally coded navi-
`gation instructions to a control arrangement, for example
`one designed with a microprocessor. ‘The position data from
`a GPS system (GPS=Global Positioning System) and the
`direction data from a gyrocompass are used by the naviga-
`tion system to ascertain position information about
`the
`location of the vehicle. Once a destination has been input,
`the navigation system calculates the position of the vehicle
`and the route to be taken and then takes a driver to this
`
`destination by means of audio and visual outputs. Such a
`system enables the driver to head for a destination which he
`does not know, without knowledge of the place and without
`reading maps.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is an object of the invention to provide a navigation
`system which makesit possible to free the driver from other
`actions diverting his attention from the traffic.
`The object is achieved by a navigation system of the type
`mentioned in the introduction in that the control arrange-
`ment
`is provided for determining a direction from the
`calculated position of the land vehicle and a stored position
`for a prescribed location, and the display apparatus is
`provided for additionally displaying the direction ascer-
`tained by the control arrangement.
`According to the invention, the navigation system deter-
`mines the direction of a prescribed place, and this direction
`is displayed on the display apparatus. In this context, the
`control arrangement ascertains the position of the vehicle,
`takes the position of the prescribed place from a database,
`for example, and uses the data to calculate the direction of
`the place. The control arrangement could, by way of
`example, calculate the direction of the city of Mecca, and the
`display apparatus could display the direction of the city of
`Mecca in the form of an arrow and explanatory further
`information. The explanatory further information could be
`the legend “Mecca” or a pictorial representation, for
`example a stylized mosque.
`In addition, the navigation system can also output mes-
`sagesat particular times. By way of example, sunset during
`the fasting month of Ramadan could be calculated and
`output. Furthermore, the navigation system could also per-
`form a prescribed action at particular times, such as playing
`a piece of music.
`BRIE DESCRIPTION OL TITE DRAWINGS
`
`An illustrative embodimentof the invention is explained
`in more detail below with the aid of the FIGURES, in which:
`FIG. 1 showsa block diagram of a navigation system for
`land vehicles.
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`FIGS. 2 and 3 show illustrations of a display apparatus in
`the navigation system.
`FIG. 4 showsa flowchart for ascertaining the direction of
`a prescribed place.
`It should be understood that the Figures are not to scale.
`While some details of and other plan and section views of
`the preferred embodiment depicting the invention have been
`omitted, such details are not considered necessary to a full
`and complete understanding of the invention disclosed and
`claimed herein. It should also be understood that the present
`invention is not limited to the preferred embodimentillus-
`trated.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`FIG. 1 showsanillustrative embodiment of a navigation
`system for land vehicles in the form of a block diagram. The
`navigation system comprises a control arrangement 1, a
`measuring arrangement 2, a data source arrangement3, an
`input arrangement 4 and an output arrangement 5. By way
`of example,
`the control arrangement 1 can comprise a
`microprocessor which, among other things, performs the
`navigation calculations and is coupled to at least one read
`only memory (ROM),for cxample for cxecuting a program,
`and to a read/write memory (RAM)for storing data during
`operation.
`The measuring arrangement 2 supplies data to the control
`arrangement 1 and comprises, by way of example, a
`tachometer, an electronic compass and a GPS reception unit
`(GPS=Global Positioning System). The measuring arrange-
`ment possibly also comprises wheel sensors which supply
`direction and distance data to the control arrangement 1
`from the left and right front or rear wheels of the vehicle.
`The direction and distance data are otherwise ascertained
`
`from the signals output by the tachometer and the electronic
`compass. The GPS reception unit uses received satellite data
`to calculate the present position of the vehicle, and forwards
`the calculated position data to the control arrangement 1.
`These position data supplied by the GPS reception unit have
`an inaccuracy of up to 100 meters.
`The data source arrangement 3 comprises at least one
`apparatus for supplying digitally coded navigation data from
`a navigation data memoryto the control arrangement 1. This
`10 apparatus may, by way of example, be a CD-ROMdrive
`6 which takes data for a particular region (e.g., Germany)
`from a CD-ROM 7 (navigation data memory). In addition,
`the data source arrangement 3 can comprise an RDS-TMC
`receiver 8 (RDS=Radio Data System, TMC=Traffic Mes-
`sage Channel) or a GSM module 9 (GSM=Global System
`for Mobile Communication), which each receive digitally
`coded traffic messages and forward them to the control
`arrangement 1. In addition, the GSM module can also be
`used to conduct telephone conversations.
`The input arrangement 4 comprises a keypad 10 and
`possibly a trackball 11. A user can enter information manu-
`ally using the keypad 10 and/or the trackball 11. In this
`context, the keypad 10 can also be part of a remote control.
`The information entered by a user (e.g., driver) of the
`navigation system using the input arrangement 4 also is
`supplied to the control arrangement 1.
`The output arrangement 5 has a display apparatus 12 and
`a voice output circuit 13. In addition, the display apparatus
`12 is driven by meansofa drive circuit 14, whichis likewise
`contained in the output arrangement 5. Furthermore, com-
`ponent parts of the voice output circuit 13 are, by way of
`example, a voice synthesis circuit 15, an amplifier 16 and a
`loudspeaker 17.
`
`

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`US 6,633,813 Bl
`
`3
`The control arrangement 1 determines a road or route
`between at least two points (starting point and destination).
`Before the journey, the user (e.g., driver) needs to enter at
`least the destination using the input arrangement 4. These
`entered data are generally also output by the output arrange-
`ment 5 for the user to check. During the journey, the control
`arrangement 1 gives the driver audio or visual instructions
`via the output arrangement 5. To carry out route planning
`and give the instructions, for example, the control arrange-
`ment 1 uses various software modules. The data (position,
`direction and distance data) supplied by the measuring
`apparatus 2 and the data supplied by the data source arrange-
`ment3 are used by the control arrangement 1 to calculate the
`respective position of a vehicle at the beginning of and
`during the journeyusing a position finding software module.
`A further, route planning module respectively calculates the
`route to be traveled to the respective destination using the
`position output by the position finding software module and
`the destination. In this context, traffic messages can also be
`taken into account, in order, by way of example, to instruct
`the driver to bypassa traffic jam. A route indication software
`module receives the respective position from the position
`finding software module, various route information from the
`route planning software module, and possibly also naviga-
`tion data from the data source arrangement 3. The route
`indication software module generates control data for voice
`output and for displaying instructions graphically. It is also
`possible to display a map section on the display apparatus 12
`with the respective indication of position.
`The control arrangement 1 conducts a menu-contralled
`dialog with a uscr. By way of cxample, a main menu
`displayed on the display apparatus 12 may offer the menu
`items
`
`1) Enter destination
`2) Map
`3) Location
`4) Settings.
`A coordinate input system which is part of the keypad 10
`is used, by way of example, to select a menu item. Such a
`coordinate input system may, by way of example, comprise
`four direction keys and a confirmation keyor a trackball. By
`actuating a direction key,it is possible to change, by way of
`example, the position of a cursor or of another graphical
`symbol(e.g., bar representation) on the display apparatus
`12.
`If a particular menu item has been graphically
`highlighted, for example, using the direction keys, an action
`is performed once the confirmation key has been actuated.
`At the beginning of a journey, a destination will generally
`first be entered. When the menu item “Enter destination” has
`been selected in the main menu,a place namefirst needs to
`be entered. To do this, the menu item “Place”is selected in
`the submenu “Enter destination”, which, by way of example,
`comprises the menu items
`1) Place
`2) Road
`3) Delete destination
`4) Routing
`5) Information on destination
`6) Enter destination—map
`7) Address book
`8) New address
`9) Back to main menu.
`The display apparatus 12 then displays, by way of
`example, letters and the menu items “Cancel”, “Delete”,
`“Space” (for a space character), “OK”, ctc. Using the
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`coordinate inpul system, the place nameis selected letter by
`letter. When the userhas fully or partly finished entering the
`place name, he selects the menu item “OK”. The control
`arrangement 1 checks whether the place namefully or partly
`entered by the user can be found unambiguously on the
`CD-ROM7.If the place name is not available, the user is
`notified of this, so that he can enter another name. If the
`entry is ambiguous, a list of place names is shown on the
`display apparatus 12, and the desired place name can be
`selected from this list.
`
`Once the place name has been selected, a further menu
`containing letters and the menu items “Cancel”, “Delete”,
`“Space”(for a space character), “OK”, ctc. is displayed on
`the display apparatus 12 for selection of a road name. The
`road name is entered in the same way as the place name.
`If the road name is not known, the destination can be
`entered in another way after the place name has been
`selected. When the menu item “Enter destination—map”has
`been selected, the destination can be entered using a map
`displayed on the display apparatus 12. In this context, a
`cursor shown on the map on a large map scale canfirst be
`usedto select the destination area roughly, and the map scale
`can be reduced step by step until the desired destination has
`been found.
`Once the place name has been selected, the destination
`can also be entered using a list which indicates particular
`destination categories. In the submenu “Enter destination”,
`the menu item “Information on destination” then needs to be
`selected. Once this menu item has been selected, a list
`containing various categories is shown on the display appa-
`ratus 12. These may be, by way of example: hotels,
`restaurants, sights, car parks, filling stations, railroad sta-
`tions or museums. Once a category has been selected, a
`further list containing various selection options within the
`category is shown. In the category “Hotels”, for example, a
`particular hotel representing the destination can be selected.
`In addition, there is the option of using an address book,
`in which personal destinations are stored, by selecting the
`menu item “Address book”. A new destination can be
`entered using the menu item “New address”. Entry for the
`address book proceeds as described above for entry of the
`place name and the road name.
`Aplace name and road name which have been entered,for
`example, as a destination are deleted using the menu item
`“Delete destination”. For the control arrangement 1 to be
`able to perform route planning when the destination has
`been entered, the user needs to select the menu item “Rout-
`ing”. The display apparatus 12 then changes to the submenu
`“Routing”, which offers various display modes (e.g., map
`display). Using the selected display mode, navigation
`instructions intended to complement the voice instructions
`are then given to the driver during the journey.
`FIG. 2 shows anillustration of a display mode on the
`display apparatus 12 during the journey to the selected
`destination (routing). In the picture shownin FIG. 2, various
`information is presented to the driver in various areas of the
`picture. In a central area 18 of the picture, the direction of
`travel is displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 2, an
`intersection with an arrow bendingoff to the left is shown.
`In the top part of the picture, a distance (200 m)is depicted
`in an arca 19 onthe left, and a destination (Kilian Strect) is
`depicted in an area 20 situated next to that on the right. In
`a bottom area 21 of the picture,
`the present position
`(Erlanger Strect) is shown. In an arca 22 on theright of the
`picture, the distance to the destination (12 km) is shown by
`an arrow indicating the direction of the destination. Two
`further arcas 23 and 24 below that contain the legends or
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`

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`US 6,633,813 Bl
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`5
`menu items “End” and “Map”. Selecting the menu item
`“End” returns to the main menu, for example. If the menu
`item “Map”is selected, the map display modeis retrieved.
`Thus, the example picture on the display apparatus 12 in
`FIG. 2 informs the driver that he is on Erlanger Street and
`needsto turn left into Kilian Street after 200 m to arrive at
`his destination after 12 km.
`Other menu items (map, location,settings), not explained
`in more detail here, can be chosen from the main menu.
`Whensuch a menu item has been called, a further submenu
`is displayed.
`the navigation system can
`According to the invention,
`also be used to display particular directions for selected
`places. This may also be linked to messages at prescribed
`times. By way of example, during routing,
`the display
`apparatus 12 may also contain an indication of the direction
`to the city of Mecca for Muslims.
`FIG. 3 showsanother illustration of a display mode on the
`display apparatus 12 with a direction for the city of Mecca
`during routing. Besides the picture arcas 18 to 24 explained
`above with reference to FIG, 2, the picture shown in FIG. 3
`contains a direction for the city of Mecca in an area 25 on
`the left of the picture. This direction contains an arrow,
`pointing in the direction of the city of Mecca, and the name
`Mecca. It is also possible to display a stylized mosque or
`other symbolsfor the city of Mecca as the nameitself in the
`area 25. Below this area 25 is another area 26, which
`contains the legend or the menu item “Options”. If this menu
`item is selected, a submenuis displayed.
`To provide an additional direction instruction, the route
`indication software module contains an extension. This
`module extension can be explained using the flowchart
`shown in FIG. 4. A block 27 (Dir) receives information
`about the position of the vehicle from the a position finding
`module. This is indicated by a block 28 (Pos). The block 27
`receives position information about the city of Mecca from
`a database located on the CD-ROM 7, for example. This is
`indicated by a block 29 (DB). The block 27 usesthe position
`information to calculate the direction of the city of Mecca in
`relation to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The direction
`resulting from this calculation is processed for display
`purposes by a module 30 (Disp).
`The direction information for the city of Mecca may also
`be linked to a time function. In the submenu “Options”, the
`driver can specify times of day, for example, at which he will
`receive a message requesting him to stop. This message
`could be indicated audibly and visually, for example below
`the direction in area 25. In addition, the submenu “Options”
`can also contain a selection of music titles which are played
`from a CD during a stop. Furthermore, a menu item
`“Ramadan”mayalso be included. After retrieving this menu
`item, the driver enters the beginningorthe endofthe fasting
`month of Ramadan. The navigation system then uses the
`position indicated for the vehicle to ascertain sunrise and
`sunset during the fasting month of Ramadan. This can then
`again be indicated audibly and visually.
`Although reference has been made, for the purpose of
`explanation,
`to a preferred embodiment: of a navigation
`system for additionally displaying direction information,it
`should be understood that any of a variety of components
`and suitable materials of construction maybe used to satisfy
`the particular needs and requirementsof the end user.It will
`be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and
`variations can be made in the design and construction ofthe
`navigation system without departing from the scope or spirit
`of the invention. Other embodimentsof the invention will be
`apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the
`specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein.
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`Whatis claimed is:
`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 arrangementat least for inputting a desti-
`nation and a further prescribed place, having a control
`arrangementat least for determining a route to be followed
`based on a sequence of roads betweena 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,
`is provided for also
`wherein the control arrangement
`determining a direction from a present calculated posi-
`tion of the land vehicle to the position for the further
`prescribed place, and
`wherein the display apparatus is adapted to simulta-
`neously display the direction ascertained by the control
`arrangement to the further prescribed place andat 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 apparatusis 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 arrangementis 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 desti-
`nation and a further prescribed place, having a control
`arrangementat 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 out-
`putting 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 posi-
`tion of the land vehicle to the position for the further
`prescribed place, and
`wherein the display arrangement is adapted to simulta-
`neously display the direction ascertained by the control
`arrangementto the further prescribed place andat 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 arrangementis provided for producing messages
`or for performing prescribed actions at chosen times and the
`display arrangement is provided for displaying the mes-
`sages.
`
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`US 6,633,813 Bl
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`7
`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 arrangementat least for inputting a desti-
`nation and a further prescribed place, having a control
`arrangementat least for determining a route to be followed
`based on a sequence of roads between a starting point and
`the destination, and havingat least one display apparatus for
`outputting navigation instructions based on the route to be
`followed to the destination,
`is provided for also
`wherein the control arrangement
`determining a direction from a present calculated posi-
`tion 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
`
`8
`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 apparatusis 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 arrangementis provided for producing messages
`or for performing prescribed actions at chosen times and the
`display apparatus is provided for displaying the messages.
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