DE4105180A1 - Autonomous motor vehicle navigation system - records and plays back directional information using pulse trains to measure path lengths - Google Patents

Abstract

The equipment comprises symbols (1) for direction indication, LEDs (2) and keypad (3) for direction instructions and input respectively, a keypack (4) for an operating device on a controller unit (5). The device records, stores and plays back directional information entered by the user. The device has a snap-on cover (7) to allow installation of memory chips, and uses the direction/flasher switch to record vehicle turns. ADVANTAGE - Independant system that requires neither infrastructure nor an electronic atlas in CD-ROM form.

Description

The invention serves the purpose of unfamiliar drivers to lead to a certain goal.

They are self-sufficient navigation systems for motor vehicles known the road network as electronic Road atlas in the form of a compact disc (CD-ROM) have saved and after entering the destination Provide travel information.

Route guidance systems are also known in which a Arrow indicates the target as the crow flies, with the target beforehand with a light pen using a prepared Street map is entered.

A high-frequency transmission of also serves suitable satellites for navigation or Positioning of vehicles.

Finally, non-self-sufficient navigation aids are known based on information from traffic control centers Infrared beacons on the roadside or induction grinding in the lanes are instructed. The disadvantage, however, is that with self-sufficient systems Compact Disc data acquisition for e.g. B. All of Europe down to the smallest side street and a constant one Updating the data takes a lot of time and money and will probably never succeed.

There are restrictions on the use of the devices therefore everywhere where the road network is not or still is is not stored on CD-ROM.

There are even greater restrictions non-self-sufficient navigation system for which only one Infrastructure must be created.  

Such a system for all localities and everyone Establishing states is almost impossible.

In contrast, the aim of the invention is a road to create guidance system for motor vehicles, which avoids the disadvantages and neither an infrastructure another electronic atlas in the form of a CD-ROM needed.

To solve this problem, a device is proposed that it allows the user to follow the course of the road record yourself and in an ordinary memory Store chip (battery-backed S-RAM). So the device is able to track the road record and play back.

Recording and playback is done by a switch on the device causes.

The device is handled as follows: The course of the road from the motorway exit to Residence (destination) is departed once.

The device is connected to a pulse generator, the distance impulses, z. B. Speedometer. The direction changes are recorded by the tape on the device gropes.

The device has 6 symbols with traffic signs and the corresponding button under each symbol.

Should the driver z. B. to the left, so the button under this symbol becomes short pressed.

The same applies to all other changes of direction when recording the route to the destination.

The distance impulses and those sensed by tape Changes in direction are stored in the memory chip. The memory chip can be removed from the device and is now available to visitors as travel information Available.  

You can bezw this memory chip. an EPROM Send duplicate to a visitor who uses the memory chip inserted into his device and led to the goal.

To do this, the device is switched to "Playback" and at the Atobahn exit - exactly on the sign "EXIT" - pressed the start button on the device.

From now on the visitor is lit by the corresponding symbols on the device - and also by an acoustic signal - exactly to the destination, just like the course of the road with all changes of direction was originally recorded.

The device is small in size, approx. 80 × 80 × 80 mm and has a cube shape.

Since the device is not permanently installed in the vehicle, but only on the dashboard when needed is fastened with a clamp, a another major advantage.

You can see the entire device and a visitor Send the memory chip, if it doesn't already have one own device.

The only requirement is that you have a miniature Plug connection (flange socket) into the fittings board - e.g. B. in the existing blind cap can be installed.

The entire supply of the device takes place via a 4 pin Connector.

In a further embodiment of the invention, instead of the 6 pushbuttons for entering the direction Changes, the turn signal lever in the vehicle be used.

In this case, the device saves the actuation the turn signal lever as direction information.  

The advantages that can be achieved with the invention exist in that the device for recording and playback of the Road layout is designed and therefore not un becomes useful because one is only from the device manufacturer CD-ROM to be supplied for the desired roads course or Place is missing.

Furthermore, the device is not permanently installed in the vehicle, as is the case with all known systems, but it only gets to the dashboard when needed connected with a detachable connection and can stored in the glove compartment when not in use. By dispensing with the permanent installation of the device and due to its small dimensions of only approx. According to the invention, the large one results in 80 × 80 × 80 mm Advantage that the device with a visitor saved road course z. B. sent by post becomes.

The price of the device according to the invention is significantly lower than the price of all devices on the market or announced and is well below DM 1000. An embodiment of the invention is described in more detail in the drawing Fig. 1.

The display is in horizontal segments 1 . . . 6 broken down.

In the top row 1 there are the symbols for the changes of direction.

From left to right: arrange to the left, left turn straight, turn right, right classify, parking (destination).

Below this are 6 light-emitting diodes 2 which are assigned to the upper symbols 1 .

If the driver is in z. B. right classify, the one underneath lights up LED on.  

At the same time, a buzzer sounds, which turns the driver on draws attention to a change of direction.

There are 6 push buttons 3 below the LEDs 2 . These pushbuttons are also assigned to the upper symbols 1 .

These push buttons 3 are used for "recording" the route as input buttons for changes in direction. Is z. If, for example, the pushbutton under the "arrange to the left" symbol is pressed, this process is saved in the memory.

Segment 4 contains various pushbuttons and pushbuttons, e.g. B. to switch the device from RECORD to PLAY.

Segment 5 contains a control counter for checking various internal functions and for determining the distance impulses per kilometer. The determination of the distance impulses per kilometer is an important parameter, which is referred to as the vehicle key figure.

The vehicle identification number determined in this way is entered using 4 coding switches, which are located in segment 6 .

This ensures that the vehicle too Vehicle existing differences in the number of Distance impulses per kilometer are standardized and so the recording of the distance with a vehicle exactly identical to the representation of the route and direction information from another vehicle is.

In Fig. 1, a hinged lid 7 is shown, which can be opened for the removal of the battery-backed S-RAM memory chip.

Claims (3)

1. Autonomous road guidance system for motor vehicles, characterized in that a device for recording, storing and reproducing an impulse-resolved route is used with manually entered changes in direction. 2. Autonomous road guidance system for motor vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the device via a hinged cover ( 7 ), the memory chip removed or. can be used. 3. Autonomous road guidance system for motor vehicles according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the direction changes to be entered manually Recording the distance by means of the turn signal lever in the vehicle.