Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Directive – Including a satellite
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-17
2001-12-25
Phan, Dao (Department: 3662)
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
Directive
Including a satellite
C342S357490, C701S213000, C701S216000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06333711
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to Satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units and a navigation system equipped with a feature to calculate the reckoned position of a mobile unit after it has traveled.
In recent years, a computing system is mounted on a mobile unit which makes executable a variety of application software such as audio apparatus, television sets or navigation systems, according to the user's needs.
When the computing system executes application software of navigation, satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units is used to measure the absolute position of the mobile unit, traveling speed, and heading, etc.
FIG. 4
shows an example of use of conventional satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units. The satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units (positioning section)
51
calculates the “position, traveling speed, and heading” of the mobile unit by tracking signals received from GPS satellites via a GPS antenna
52
. The satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units
51
then outputs the calculation results as GPS data output to the support module
55
of a car computing system
54
via a serial line
53
. In case three satellites are acquired, two-dimensional positioning is allowed. In case four or more satellites are acquired, three-dimensional positioning is allowed. Positioning data calculated via two-dimensional positioning includes “latitude and longitude.” Positioning data calculated via three-dimensional positioning includes “latitude, longitude, and altitude.
The CPU module
56
of the car computing system executes application software of car navigation to provide voice guidance and map display to the user.
The data I/O of the satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units
51
generally uses a universal asynchronous receiver/transceiver (UART). An interface is provided by a protocol control information (PCI) bus between the support module
55
which receives serial data output from the UART and the CPU module
56
.
This example, however, has a problem that the car computing system
54
can use only data from the satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units
51
in order to execute application software of car navigation, resulting in reduced car position reckoning capability compared with a system dedicated for car navigation.
This is because, in a system dedicated for car navigation, the dead reckoning (DR) procedure is followed. The DR collects information from a gyro sensor and a speed sensor on a car to reckon the travel distance and heading of the car in addition to the absolute position information input to the satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units
51
for deciding the position of the car then makes map matching on the overall results obtained from such information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problem, a configuration example shown in
FIG. 5
is proposed. In this example, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)
59
as a data interface to the gyro sensor
58
and a counter
61
as an interface to the speed sensor
60
are provided in the support module
55
. By collecting pertinent data from the support module
55
and outputting the data to the CPU via the PCI bus, the system lets the CPU module
56
to execute application software of complex car position reckoning via DR and GPS.
Note that it impairs advantages and philosophy that the car computing system makes executable a variety of applications according to the user's needs to provide hardware interfaces such as the satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units
51
, gyro sensor
58
, and speed sensor
60
for dedicated use in order to execute application software of car navigation. The car-mounted car computing system
54
must be of a compact size. Thus providing a large number of connectors for data interfaces has physical constraints.
An alternative approach is to incorporate the satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units
51
and gyro sensor
58
in the car computing system
54
in order to reduce the number of hardware interfaces. This implementation also betrays the philosophy of the car computing system
54
. Moreover, this implementation hinders compact-design apparatus and burdens the user who does not need the car navigation feature with unnecessary costs.
The purpose of the invention is thus to provide compact-design-oriented satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units and a car navigation system preferably connected to a car computing system and do not burden the user who does not need the car navigation feature with unnecessary costs.
The first aspect of the invention is satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units using satellites provided on a mobile unit for reckoning the current position of the mobile unit, characterized in that the satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units comprises positioning section for reckoning the current position of the mobile unit based on the position information contained in signals from the satellites, state detecting section for outputting a state detection signal corresponding to the traveling state of the mobile unit, and calculating section for calculating the reckoned position of the mobile unit based on the state detection signal output from the state detecting section and the current position reckoning signal.
The second aspect of the invention is satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units according to the first aspect, characterized in that the state detecting section is a gyro sensor.
The third aspect of the invention is satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units according to the first aspect, characterized in that the state detecting section is a speed sensor.
The fourth aspect of the invention is satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units according to any one of the first aspect through the third aspect, characterized in that the satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units comprises signal converting section for converting an output signal output from the calculating section representing the reckoned position of the mobile unit to a predetermined transmission signal.
The fifth aspect of the invention is satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units according to the fourth aspect, characterized in that the transmission system of the predetermined transmission signal is a daisy chain.
The sixth aspect of the invention is satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units according to the fourth aspect, characterized in that the predetermined transmission signal is transmitted via a universal serial bus.
The seventh aspect of the invention is a car navigation system comprising a car computing system which allows position display of a mobile unit and satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units using satellites for reckoning the current position of the mobile unit, connected to the car computing system, characterized in that the satellite positioning apparatus for mobile units comprises positioning section for reckoning the current position of the mobile unit based on the position information contained in signals from the satellites, state detecting section for outputting a state detection signal corresponding to the traveling state of the mobile unit, calculating section for calculating the reckoned position of the mobile unit based on the state detection signal output from the state detecting section and the current position reckoning signal, and signal converting section for converting an output signal from the calculating section to a predetermined transmission signal, and that the car computing system comprises an interface for receiving the predetermined transmission signal.
The eighth aspect of the invention is a car navigation system according to the seventh aspect, characterized in that the state detecting section is a gyro sensor.
The ninth aspect of the invention is a car navigation system according to the seventh aspect, characterized in that the state detecting section is a speed sensor.
The tenth aspect of the invention is a car navigation system according to any one of the seventh as
Clarion Co. Ltd.
McGinn & Gibb PLLC
Phan Dao
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