Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Employing position determining equipment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-09-04
Chin, Gary (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Employing position determining equipment
C701S208000, C340S990000, C340S995190
Reexamination Certificate
active
06285952
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a navigation system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a navigation system that is installed in an automobile and provides information on a current location of the automobile, as well as other supplementary information.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A navigation system receives waves from a plurality of wave sources, that is, satellites, and obtains a measure of the distance from the wave sources using time differences between the arrival of the waves, differences of phase, and Doppler shift so that the current position of the navigation system is found. If a driver inputs a destination to the navigation system before the automobile starts moving, the current position is displayed on a navigation system map, and the system indicates when to change direction in order to reach the destination.
Some recent navigation systems are also equipped with a voice guidance function. This function guides the driver to proceed down branch roads, and announces this guidance several times until the car reaches the appropriate branch road. Examples of this guidance are “Please turn to your right after driving one kilometer.” or “Please turn to your right after driving 700 meters.”
When the above noted announcements are played, the output from the automobile sound system is muted, and when the announcements are finished, the output is resumed. Because of the potential inconvenience of this audio cutout, the driver should have the opportunity to disable this function.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system wherein the driver can select voice guidance when needed, and wherein directional indicators can be visually displayed to the driver.
In one aspect of the present invention, a navigation system providing information on a position of an automobile comprises a switch receiving information from a user about whether to operate a voice guidance function; a controller controlling the navigation system to provide a voice guidance function according to a selection of the switch so as to direct the driver to a branch road; and a voice guide announcing an audible guide message according to control signals from the controller.
The system further comprises a projector that projects a directional display on a windshield according to the control signals of the controller.
Operation of the switch allows the user to select either the voice guidance or the projection function, or both. When the switch is pushed once the voice guidance function is enabled, and when the switch is pushed again only the projection function is enabled. When the switch is pushed a third time, the voice guidance and projection functions are concurrently enabled, and when the switch is pushed once more the system is disabled.
The projector lamp blinks as the automobile approaches an impending turn. As the guidance system steps progress, that is, as the automobile gets closer to the branch road, the blinking becomes quicker, and in the final step the directional indicator stays lit. When the car passes the branch road the lamp is turned off.
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Chin Gary
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Hyundai Motor Company
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