Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Directive – Beacon or receiver
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-21
2001-01-09
Blum, Theodore M. (Department: 3662)
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
Directive
Beacon or receiver
C701S213000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06172643
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device for a motor vehicle in which a standby operation is provided with limited power consumption.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
To an increasing degree, motor vehicles are being equipped with navigation devices which make it easier for the driver to reach his/her destination by appropriate indications on a display or by spoken messages. The data necessary for this purpose are generally obtained from a stored road map, a location finder (GPS) or by other sensors such as a map measurer and compass. Electrical power is required to operate these devices, it being possible to obtain this power without difficulty from the vehicle battery which is constantly being recharged during travel. However, extended operation of the navigation device with the engine shut off can result in an undesired drainage of the battery. For that reason, navigation devices are switched off if the motor vehicle is not used for an extended period of time.
However, in order to be able to recover all functions of the navigation device immediately after a short pause, a standby operation is provided in known navigation devices in which the power consumption is in fact limited; however, the most important functions for a fast recovery of operation are preserved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to further improve the known navigation devices with respect to power consumption and a fast resumption of operation after being restarted.
According to the present invention, this object is achieved in that means are provided which maintain the standby operation for a period of time after the vehicle ignition and/or the navigation device is switched off, the period of time depending on the previous operating state of the navigation device, and which switch the navigation device off afterwards.
The navigation device according to the present invention is based on the knowledge that standby operation of the navigation device for an extended period of time after the ignition is switched off can be of considerable value in many cases while a short period of time is sufficient in other situations.
Advantageously, the navigation device according to the present invention provides that the period of time of the standby operation is longer than in other operating states if the ignition is switched off during an initial operating state in which navigational guidance was active and not completed by reaching the destination. Consequently, the driver of a motor vehicle can reasonably take extended breaks on the way to a destination to which he/she is being guided by the navigation device. The visual or audible directions of the navigation device are available to him/her immediately after resumption of travel.
A further development of the navigation device according to the present invention is that the other operating states are made up of a second and a third operating state, that the second operating state is present after active navigational guidance with the goal being reached and results in a medium period of time of the standby operation and that the third operating state is present if no navigational guidance was activated after a preceding startup of the navigation device and results in a shorter period of time of standby operation.
This further improvement ensures that hardly any additional power consumption takes place for the standby operation if no data for navigational guidance are available after continued travel in any event. It is ensured, however, that with a previous navigational guidance and the arrival at the destination after a medium period of time, the navigational guidance can be continued toward a different destination immediately after being switched on again.
The time periods selected after each of the previous operating states can be adapted to the particular habits of the driver so that the time periods can be set by operator inputs. A favorable setting which covers a large number of applications is preferably given so that the longer period of time amounts to approximately one hour, that the medium period of time amounts to approximately 10 minutes and the shorter period of time amounts to approximately one minute.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4651282 (1987-03-01), Robinson et al.
patent: 5483664 (1996-01-01), Moritz et al.
Blum Theodore M.
Kenyon & Kenyon
Robert & Bosch GmbH
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