DE4306640A1 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

A navigation equipment (10) has a push-in unit (14) as well as a flat display (16) which is arranged detachably on the front wall of said push-in unit (14). A freely programmable computer (26), a semiconductor bulk memory (28), a screen driver board (24) and a measurement unit (32) are accommodated in the push-in unit (14). The measurement unit (32) receives various signals transmitted from navigation satellites and uses them to calculate the location of the vehicle. The computer (26) outputs on the flat display (16) that section of the map which is stored in the bulk memory (28) which is around the location or is in front of the location seen in the direction of movement. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a navigation device for Air, land and water vehicles according to the generic term of claim 1.

Such navigation devices are in the form of known small portable devices, which incoming specially coded signals from messages recondition satellites and in phase with the Compare output signals of a clock and from these Compare the position coordinates of the view calculated and display them on a small display.

Navigation is intended by the present invention device according to the preamble of claim 1 so be trained that a visual display of the Location in a map containing the location is obtained, with the facility altogether one built-in module represents the z. B. in a standardized 6 1/4 '' - recording in the cockpit of an aircraft fits.

This object is achieved by a Navigation device according to claim 1.

The output corresponds to the location of the vehicle corresponding map section on the display unit below Control by the computer can be done in a short time Lichen intervals take place so that the map according to the movement of the vehicle under a driving brand characterizing location moved (Working mode "moving card"). The rendering of the card However, the computer can only use clippings  be carried out at greater intervals, and the calculator can then in between Time periods characterize the location of the vehicle risking mark according to the changed position coordinates move over the map background (working mode "be moved mark ").

Advantageous developments of the invention are in Unter claims specified.

Flat scoreboards are used today as both LCDs and also sold as gas discharge panels. they meanwhile have a high resolving power, so that fine details are also shown on them can. Reading such fine details can u. May be difficult if the navigation module in a less visible area of the valve Field of the vehicle, which is particularly the case Retrofitting is unavoidable because of that places that are easy to see through other instruments are occupied. With the development of the invention Claim 3 it is possible to the flat screen from the main remove part of the navigation device and small closer distance and under a more favorable observation angle to watch.

The development of the invention according to claim 4 is for easy blind weight loss and re-opening attaching the flat display is an advantage.

According to claim 5, the display of the flat display remains preserved even after losing weight for a long time.

In a navigation device according to claim 6 larger gripping bar at the same time  as a storage compartment for batteries or accumulators. This is also in terms of easy access to this stream swelling without opening the slide-in housing is an advantage.

Usually has one shown as a background Card has a much higher information content than a location symbol indicating the location of the vehicle in this map. With the training of Invention according to claim 7, it is possible to under different data transmission requirements for Take background and foreground into account.

Has in a navigation device according to claim 8 you only have a single data connection between the flat display and the display card of the slide-in housing The distribution of the incoming image signals on rear basic image signal memory and foreground image signal memory takes place in the flat display.

In a navigation device according to claim 9 even with the flat display removed from the slide-in housing the change in the location of the vehicle with respect to Card updated continuously, using the wireless Modem, however, only the low information content transmit foreground image signal memory is changed.

The development of the invention according to claim 10 allows with little space on the dashboard In addition, the computer controls the computer user.

With the development of the invention according to claim 11 is achieved that entries in the computer like the An choose menu items very quickly and easily can.  

The development of the invention according to claim 12 is with a view to accommodating a larger number of operating buttons in a given area rich beneficial.

According to claim 13, one also has the plug-in housing removed flat display a control of the computer through the input elements provided on the flat display.

In a navigation device according to claim 14 by removing the flat display from the slide-in housing or automatically from an equivalent secondary holder the background image frozen and the site locations now shows a change in the foreground image posed. Since the latter, as already explained, only behaves needs a reasonably low level of information for data transmission to the removed flat display ver modem did not have a high data transfer rate, can therefore be inexpensive.

According to claim 15 you can additionally on the flat panel display Lich a display of selected operating status par meters of the vehicle received either intermittently rend, at the request of the user or only in the event of a malfunction he follows.

In a navigation device according to claim 16 additional numerical and textual information can be saved across a large number of destinations. This data can then be used by the computer during the calculation a target route to the desired destination or destination definition of one or more alternative routes to an alternative destination be calculated.  

In a navigation device according to claim 17 can one simply the card memory and possibly the data memory overwrite with new information. The data reader can also be used to transfer planning data be created in advance on another computer were.

The development of the invention according to claim 18 with regard to easy handling of the data reader without additional space in the dashboard advantageous.

A navigation device according to claim 19 can according to Beginning of a trip still occurring interference, the be reported to the vehicle wirelessly for one Use modification of the planned target route.

With the development of the invention according to claim 20 is achieved that an accident vehicle very easily can be located. For emergencies, too previously used location transmitter. The localization of the vehicle with the part responding to the emergency signal but recipients are subject to major inaccuracies.

The invention based on embodiment examples with reference to the drawing explained. In this show:

Figure 1 shows a part of a cockpit of a small travel plane.

Fig. 2 gationsgerät a vertical longitudinal section through a navigation system, which is arranged in the cockpit shown in Fig part. 1;

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the navigation device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 modified flat panel displays for a navigation device according to FIGS. 1 to 3.

In Fig. 1, 10 denotes a dashboard, which is located in the cockpit of a small touring aircraft. In addition to other instruments, it carries a navigation device, designated 12 in total. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the latter consists of an insert designated overall by 14 and a flat display 16 detachably attached to the latter.

The insert 14 has a rear housing part 18 , which is made of sheet metal, and a plastic injection molded front panel 20 , which is connected via screws 22 to the housing part 18 .

Inside the slot 14 are in a vertical direction to the plane of the front plate 20 stacked one behind the other a screen driver card 24 , a microprocessor and associated memory-carrying computer card 26 , a mass storage card 28 (silicon disc or a compact hard drive) and a measurement card 32nd . The aforementioned cards have essentially the same format and are carried at the upper end of rods 34 which are cast or screwed into the front plate 20 .

The lower ends of the cards 24 to 32 are connected to one another via plug-in connector parts 36 , 38 which form a data bus between the various cards and provide the voltage supply for these cards.

The measurement card 32 is connected via a cable 40 to a voltage supply socket 42 and via a cable 44 to an antenna socket 46 . Another cable 48 is a connection between output terminals of the driver card 24 and a connector 50 .

The output terminals of the driver card 24 are connected via a plug connector part 52 to spring contacts 54 , which are embedded in the front plate 20 . The driver card 24 also carries a light emitting diode 56 and a photo transistor 58 , both of which extend through openings in the front panel 20 . In Fig. 2 lying behind the cards 24 to 32 , a reader 60 for magnetic cards, mini disks or ROMs is arranged, which is connected to an I / O interface of the computer card 26 and is accessible through a slot 62 in the front plate 20 , if that Flat display 16 is removed from the slot 14 .

The measurement card 32 contains a receiving circuit 64 which is connected to the antenna socket 46 and thus receives navigation signals from an antenna of the aircraft, not shown, which are emitted by various navigation satellites stationed in space. The prepared navigation signals are passed to a computing circuit 66 which compares these signals with one of them and determines the current location of the aircraft from the comparisons carried out for various signals and this data in the form of BCD numbers which are provided by the connector parts 36 , 38 emits formed data bus to the computer card 26 .

The flat panel display 16 has a frame 68 with a web 70 running parallel to the front panel 20 and covering the wall section of an LCD color display panel 72 . This is pushed from behind against the web 70 and is held in this position by a flat housing part 72 which is fixed to the frame 68 .

The housing part 74 has a rear flat chamber 76 , in which a control card 78 is inserted. The chamber 76 is closed by a cover 80 .

In the central section lying at the top in FIG. 2, the housing part 74 has a rectangular depression 82 , seen in the depth direction of the insert, into which a projection 84 of the front plate 20 , which is rectangular in the depth direction, can be positively inserted. The projection 84 has in its lower boundary surface recesses 86 , each of which cut the resilient Endab one of the spring contacts 54 . The latter cooperate with contacts 88 which are cast into the housing part 74 and are connected to the control card 78 .

At its lower rear edge, the frame 68 has a semicircular bearing bead 90 which cooperates with a complementary bearing groove 92 which is formed on the lower edge of the front plate 20 and extends over an angle of less than 180 °, here approximately 120 °.

At the upper end of the frame 68 is a gripping bar 94 is formed, which projects forward and receives in its central part a locking lever 96 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 98 and is biased clockwise by a spring 100 to one of the in Fig bias. 2 right-hand end of the lever GETRA genes locking pin 102 in engagement with a Verrie gelungsbohrung 104 which is formed in the above are the limiting surface of the projection 84th

The flat display 16 can thus be removed from the insert 14 by pressing the locking lever 96 downwards, tilting the flat display forward and then removing it from the bearing groove 92 . The placing it follows in the reverse order, said bevels facilitate, at the ends of Lagerwulst 90 and bearing groove 92, which are indicated in Fig. 1 at 106, the transverse aligning the flat displays, so that it swings back with its recess 82 over the projection 84 running.

A total of ten keys 108 are arranged on the horizontal sections of the web 70 , which serve for making inputs, including four cursor control keys and further labeled keys, e.g. B. an input key and other keys that control special routines of the computer card 26 . These include: placing a location symbol in the middle or on the edge of the flat display 16 ; Status display for the number and quality of the received satellite signals; Emergency button for determining the approach route to the nearest suitable airport; Requesting on-screen displays about the operating status of the aircraft. The keys 108 work together with microswitches 110 , which serve as actual signal transmitters.

In the block diagram of the navigation device 12 shown in FIG. 3, a computer 112 of the computer card 26 is shown , which also includes a working memory 114 for processing the programs. On the one hand, the computer 112 cooperates with the measurement map 32 , which transmits the position coordinates of the location to the computer 112 , as already explained.

To the computer 112 are also connected the mass memory card 28 , which in turn contains a large read / write memory 118 for the graphic representation of flight cards and a read / write memory 120 for flight data and data about airports. On the input side, the computer 112 is connected to the reading device 60 and to a receiving part 122 , which receives character strings transmitted by a ground station, which e.g. B. Changes in the weather or other information that could make a flight change necessary.

Further inputs of the computer are connected to sensors 124 , 126 , 128 which determine various operating parameters of the aircraft, e.g. B. engine temperature, fuel supply, speed, etc. The output signals of the sensors 124 , 126 , 128 are each brought by analog / digital converter 130 in BCD representation.

To the computer 26 , a location transmitter 131 is also connected, which is supplied with the position coordinates of the aircraft and can be activated controlled by the computer or by a manually or acceleration-operated switch 133 . When activated, the locating transmitter 131 assembles the position coordinates and the identification of the aircraft into a character string and emits an emergency signal modulated in accordance with this character string to the antenna of the aircraft. From the caught emergency signal, it is then easy (without complex direction finding devices, which are not available everywhere) and exactly the position of the aircraft that has got into an accident or has an accident to be determined.

It can be seen in Fig. 3 also, the device connected to the output of the computer screen driver board 24 which converts from the given character and graphic data in a point array corresponding to the number of pixels available in row and column directions. A cable 136 is also connected to the output of the display driver card 24 and to two supply conductors 132 , 134 , which also run to the connector part 36 , from which further conductors as well as the contacts 54 are connected to the output of the display driver card 24 and the second end is shown in Fig. 1 at the ceiling of the cockpit. There, a flexible hose 140 is fastened to a base plate 138 , the free end of which carries a holding plate 142 , which is mechanically and electrically designed in exactly the same way as the projection 84 of the front plate 20 . The conductors of the cable 136 are guided through the hose 140 to the spring contacts of the holding plate 142 . From the holding plate 142 , a sheet metal part 144 extends downward, which is provided below with a bearing groove 146 , which speaks to the bearing groove 92 . Thus, a flat display removed from the insert 14 can be attached to the holding plate 142 and works there exactly as if it were placed on the front side of the insert 14 .

The flat display 16 contains, via the connector parts 54 , 88 , accumulators 148 connected to the supply conductors 132 , 134 , which are accommodated in the enlarged gripping strip 94 , as indicated in FIG. 1.

A signal switch 150 is connected to the data contacts of the connector part 88 , the two outputs of which are connected to a background image signal memory 152 or a foreground image signal memory 154 . The signal switch 150 , when it detects a first control command in the transmitted data stream, establishes the connection between its input and the first output, and then, when it detects a second control command in the data stream, a connection between its input and the second output.

An overlay circuit 156 mixes the 154 bit pattern contained in the image signal store 152, together so that the contents of the foreground image signal memory 154, the contents of the background image signal memory 152 superimposed.

Depending on the bit pattern produced by the overlay circuit 156 , the LCD color display panel 72 is driven.

In order to forward the actuation of the buttons 108 provided on the flat display 16 to the computer 112 and to be able to change the foreground image signal memory 154 when the flat display 16 is removed (in principle, the background image signal memory 152 could also be changed, but this requires long data transmission times) would, see further below), a bidirectional infrared transmission link is provided, which comprises a computer-side modem 158 and a display-side modem 160 . The computer-side modem 158 includes the LED 56 as the transmitter and the phototransistor 58 as the receiver. The display-side modem 160 has a phototransistor 162 cooperating with the light-emitting diode 56 and a light-emitting diode 164 cooperating with the phototransistor 58 . These are (see FIG. 2) arranged on the control card 78 and extend through holes in the cover 80 which are aligned with the holes in the front plate 20 which receive the light-emitting diode 56 and the phototransistor 58 .

If necessary, an additional modem corresponding to the modem 158 in function and geometry can be provided on the sheet metal part 144 ; for non-extreme positions of the hose 140 , the flat display 16 placed on the holding plate 142 can also communicate directly with the modem 158 provided in the insert 14 .

The data input DI of the modem 160 is connected to an encoder 166 , which emits different characters when the various keys 108 are pressed and which compiles the various data which are pending at the same time to form a sequence of characters and which it outputs to the modem 160 in series .

Another input of the encoder 166 is connected to a voltage monitor 168 , which then provides an output signal when the supply voltage of the flat panel display 16 falls below a predetermined value. If the computer 112 receives a corresponding signal, an acoustic and / or visual alarm is triggered.

A sensor 170 is coupled to the connector 54 , which generates two different output signals, depending on whether the connector 88 is inserted or removed.

The modem 158 is connected with its data input terminal DI to the output of the screen driver card 24 , its data output DO is connected to an input of the computer 112 .

A sensor 170 corresponding sensor is provided on the holding plate 142 , and the cable 136 contains further conductors for feedback of the output signal of this sensor and the actuation of buttons of the flat display, which are connected to the corresponding inputs of the calculator 112 .

The navigation device described above works as follows so:

If the flat panel display 16 is attached to the insert 14 or the holding plate 142 , then the computer 112 receives a corresponding output signal from the sensor 170 and then works normally so that it stores a mark 172 representing the aircraft in the foreground image signal memory 154 , which either at the bottom of the picture or at the center of the picture, but does not move during the flight.

In accordance with the coordinates given by the measurement card 32 , the computer reads a partial area from the read / write memory 118 containing the card pixels and sends it to the background image signal memory 152 . As the flight progresses, the card thus passes under the 132 mark.

If the flat display 16 is held in the hand for better viewing, then the computer 112 receives no output signal from any of the sensors 170 and now changes its mode of operation: the current content of the background image signal memory 152 is frozen and into the foreground image signal memory 154 , a mark 172 which moves according to the output signals of the measurement card 32 is now written. The amount of data required to move the mark 172 is small, so that it can also be transmitted via a simple infrared modem, while the transmission of the extensive map data would take a long time. If the mark 172 has moved close to the edge when the flat display 16 has been removed, the card can be moved by placing the display on the insert 14 or the holding plate 142 in accordance with the distance traveled since the display was removed, since the computer can now respond to the Sensor 170 goes back into the "moving card" mode.

In the modified flat-panel display shown in FIG. 4 94 two knurling wheels 174, 176 are provided at the ends of the gripping bar, the dashed lines with in Fig. 3 are indicative Neten resolvers 178, cooperate 180th From whose output signals are given via analog / digital converter 182 , 184 to further inputs of the encoder 166 . By actuating the knurled wheels 174 , 176 , the cursor of the flat display can be moved particularly conveniently in the row or column direction.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5 has a coaxial on the front two pairs of knobs 186, 188, 190, 192, each of which operates with a resolver together. You can easily set four variables in different directions. In addition, a flat track controller 194 is provided on the gripping bar 94 and , like the resolvers 178 , 180 , can be connected to a further input of the encoder 126 .

Fig. 4 shows the representation of the flat display with the mark 172 placed in the center of the screen (pulled out) or with the mark 172 placed at the bottom of the image (dashed).

FIG. 5 shows the working of the navigation device in the "moving mark" mode, with a current location, broken lines, showing two locations that were passed through earlier.

For all types of representation, the computer 112 can display representations in the screen contents which give an easily comprehensible representation of the operating parameters determined by the sensors 124 to 128 . This can e.g. B. done so that the computer 112 fills portions of the foreground image signal memory 154 with corresponding bit patterns, which, for. B. an analog display instrument can be simulated. Such displays can be requested by pressing one of the buttons 108 or can be accomplished automatically by the computer 112 at predetermined time intervals or in the presence of abnormal conditions. To delete these displays, the corresponding partial area of the foreground image signal memory 154 is deleted again by the computer 112 .

Claims (20)

1. Navigation device for air, land and water vehicles, with a radio signal from navigation satellites collecting and calculating from these position coordinates measuring unit ( 32 ) and with a function of their output signal driven display unit ( 16 ), characterized in that the Display unit ( 16 ) is a flat display; that the measuring unit ( 32 ), a freely programmable computer ( 26 ), a mass memory ( 28 ) for card data and a screen driver card ( 24 ) are combined in a slide-in housing ( 18 , 20 ); and that the computer ( 26 ) on the display unit ( 16 ) displays a section of the map pixels stored in the mass memory ( 28 ), which is selected as a function of the output signals of the measuring unit ( 32 ). 2. Navigation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross section of the insert housing ( 18 , 20 ) and flat display ( 16 ) is substantially the same and that the flat display ( 16 ) on a front derwand ( 20 ) of the insert housing ( 18 , 20th ) is attached. 3. Navigation device according to claim 2, characterized in that the flat display ( 16 ) via a detachable hinge ( 90 , 92 ) and a hinge ( 90 , 92 ) remote lock ( 102, 104 ) with the insert housing ( 18 , 20 ) is detachably connected and via a detachable, from the hinge ( 90 , 92 ) remote, preferably the lock ( 102 , 104 ) adjacent electrical plug connection ( 54 , 88 ) is connected to the flat display ( 16 ). 4. Navigation device according to claim 3, gekennzeich net by a separate, preferably carried by an adjustable arm (140) a second holder (142, 144) for the flat-panel display (16), the display together with the flat (16) is also a releasable hinge (90 , 146 ) and an interlocking lock and an electrical plug connection, the plug connector part of the secondary holder ( 142 , 144 ) via a cable ( 136 ) providing the same electrical signals as the corresponding plug connector part ( 54 ) of the insert ( 14 ). 5. Navigation device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the flat display ( 16 ) contains an image signal memory ( 152 , 154 ) and a current source ( 148 ) for supplying its electrical components. 6. Navigation device according to claim 5, characterized in that the power source ( 148 ) is housed in a projecting gripping bar ( 94 ) of the flat display ( 16 ). 7. Navigation device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the image signal memory comprises a background image signal memory ( 152 ) and a foreground image signal memory ( 154 ) and an overlay circuit ( 156 ) connected to the latter, the latter being in the background image signal memory ( 152 ) superimposed bit pattern with the bit pattern contained in the foreground image signal memory ( 154 ) superimposed and controls the display board ( 72 ) of the flat display ( 16 ) according to the combination pattern thus obtained. 8. Navigation device according to claim 7, characterized in that the flat display ( 16 ) contains a signal switch ( 150 ) which, depending on interspersed in the transmitted data stream, command their input either with the background image signal memory ( 152 ) or the foreground. Image signal memory ( 154 ) connects. 9. Navigation device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the foreground image signal memory ( 154 ) via a wireless modem ( 118 , 120 ) with the output of the screen driver card ( 24 ) is connected. 10. Navigation device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a frame ( 68 ) of the flat display ( 16 ) carries buttons ( 108 ) which are connected to the computer ( 26 ). 11. Navigation device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a frame ( 68 ) of the flat display ( 16 ) rotatable input elements ( 174 , 176 , 186 to 192 ) or linearly movable input elements ( 194 ) carries with position sensors ( 178 , 180 ) work together, the output signal of which is possibly passed on to the computer ( 26 ) with the interposition of an analog / digital converter ( 182 , 184 ). 12. Navigation device according to claim 11, characterized in that it has at least one pair of coaxially arranged rotatable input elements ( 186 , 188 or 190 , 192 ). 13. Navigation device according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the input elements ( 108 ; 174 to 192 ) of the flat display ( 16 ) via a wireless modem ( 118 , 120 ) with the computer ( 26 ) are connected. 14. Navigation device according to one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that a sensor ( 170 ) is provided which provides a first output signal when the flat display ( 16 ) is arranged on a holding element ( 14 ; 142 ), and a second Output signal provides when the flat panel display ( 16 ) from Hal teelement ( 14 ; 142 ) ( 14 ) is removed, and that the computer ( 26 ) in the presence of the first output signal, the content of the background image signal memory ( 152 ) according to the output signals of the measuring unit ( 32 ) updates and leaves the content of the foreground image signal memory ( 154 ) unchanged, while on receipt of the second output signal it leaves the content of the background image signal memory ( 152 ) unchanged and the foreground image signal memory ( 154 ) according to the output signals of the measuring unit ( 32 ) continues. 15. Navigation device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the computer ( 26 ) is connected to at least one operating state sensor ( 124 to 128 ) and a display pattern representing its output signal intermittently, on demand or when predetermined conditions occur in the foreground Image signal memory ( 154 ) or a part of the same writes. 16. Navigation device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the computer ( 26 ) is connected to a data memory ( 120 ) and the data stored therein when actuating an input element ( 108 ) provided on the flat display ( 16 ) for determining a or several alternative routes from the current location to an unchanged destination or an alternative destination and displays the information about the modified alternative routes on the flat display ( 16 ). 17. Navigation device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized by a with the computer ( 26 ) connected and in the slot ( 14 ) housed data carrier reader ( 60 ). 18. Navigation device according to claim 17, characterized in that a slot ( 62 ) for inserting a data carrier or a connection for connecting a data carrier or a connection socket for an input / output interface of the computer ( 26 ) on the front wall ( 20 ) of the insert housing ( 18 , 20 ) is provided. 19. Navigation device according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that a data receiver ( 122 ) is connected to the computer ( 26 ) and the data transmitted by this are automatically stored in a memory field of the data memory ( 120 ) and / or automatically or can be used on request for planning, implementation and modification of the planned route or route to be taken and / or displayed on the flat display ( 16 ). 20. Navigation device according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized by a locating transmitter ( 131 ) which is acted upon by the position coordinates and which, depending on the same, modulates a locating signal comprising an identification of the vehicle onto an antenna of the vehicle.