GB2110376A

GB2110376A - Vehicle navigation system

Info

Publication number: GB2110376A
Application number: GB08208023A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frieder Heintz; Rudolf Merkel; Wolfgang Bremer
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 1981-05-14
Filing date: 1982-03-19
Publication date: 1983-06-15
Also published as: IT1152126B; FR2506046A1; IT8221091A0; DE3119120A1; JPS57197417A

Abstract

A navigational aid for the driver of a vehicle, particularly in a town, makes use of a geographical plan of the town which is subdivided into a distance grid having x and y co-ordinates which are at right angles to one another and which are fed into a computer, disposed on the vehicle, for the starting point and the destination point. A display device for the direction of travel and for the distance to be travelled towards the destination is connected to the computer. A log and a compass (and/or steering angle sensor) are also connected to the computer for feeding thereto the distance travelled and changes in the direction of travel so that the display can be kept up-to-date. The display may be in cartesian (Fig. 1) or polar (Fig. 2) form, the length of the actuated display elements 3, 4, or the length and angular position of the arrow 5 being varied as the vehicle moves. The display may comprise an LED, LCD or vacuum display tube display. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A method of, and a device for, the orientation of a vehicle driver, particularly in a town The invention relates to navigational aids for vehicle drivers.

An object of the invention is to guide a vehicle driver, especially in a town, to a desired destination in the simplest possible manner.

The invention comprises a method of aiding the navigation of a vehicle by its driver, in which the coordinates of the starting co-ordinate and the destination co-ordinate are taken from a geographical plan, which is subdivided into a distance grid having x and y co-ordinates, and are fed into a computer fitted in the vehicle, and in which the direction of travel and the distance to be travelled in the direction of the destination are indicated to the driver.

The invention includes a navigational aid for use in a vehicle by its driver, comprising a computer provided with input means for the input of information relating to the present location and destination of the vehicle, a distance sensor connected to the computer for detecting the distance travelled from the input location, a magnetic field sensor and/or a steering angle sensor connected to the computer for detecting the direction of travel, and a display device connected to the computer for displaying a simulation of the distance and direction of the destination in relation to the vehicle.

If it is desired to drive to a specific destination in a town by using the invention, the driver can proceed in the following manner: a) The driver takes the addresses (grid numbers) of the present location and the desired destination from a standard town plan having a defined distance grid. These two addresses are fed to the computer by way of a suitable keyboard.

b) The computer then determines, from the input and the actual direction of the vehicle, the direction in which the destination is located.

c) The driver receives the information concering the direction and the approximate distance of the destination on a corresponding display unit and, on the basis of this display, can drive to his destination.

The invention is further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates the display of a display device of a vehicle driver's navigational aid according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 illustrates the display of a second embodiment of display device; Fig. 3 illustrates the keyboard of a navigational aid according to the invention; and Fig. 4 illustrates the layout of the visible parts of a navigationai aid employing the display device of Fig. 2.

The display device whose display is illustrated in Fig. 1 is connected to a computer (not shown).

The computer is connected both to a log for measuring the distance travelled by the vehicle and either to a compass, such as a magnetic compass, or to a steering angle transducer or to both a compass and a steering angle transducer for noting changes in the direction in which the vehicle is pointing. The display is thereby continuously updated as the vehicle travels away from its starting point and towards its destination.

In Fig. 1, the display (LED, LCD, VF (vacuum display tube) or the like) is in the form of a cross.

A specific distance can be marked in each direction of this cross by a bar or dot code display (bargraph principle). By way of example, the hatched display would mean that the desired destination lies a long distance 3 ahead and a short distance 4 to the right. The driver can then himself choose a strategy for reaching his destination. He drives, for example, straight ahead, the vertical display becoming smaller, then drives to the right, etc., until the bar display collapses to a single point in the centre. (The destination has then been reached).

Figure 2 shows a display device whose display is effected in polar form, and the distance and direction to the destination are represented in the form of an arrow 5. The length of the arrow indicates the distance "as the crow flies", and the angular position of the arrow indicates the direction to the destination. The driver always attempts to follow this direction until the length of the arrow becomes zero. By way of example, the display can be realised by LCD technology.

Advantageously, the input keyboard to the computer can comprise five keys 11 to 1 5 as shown in Figure 3.

The navigational aid is switched on by the starting/input key 11. The inscription "starting address?" appears on the display panel (comprising a destination-finding display and an additional alpha-numeric display as shown in Figure 4). A four digit starting address, taken from the standard town plan having a defined grid, is input by means of the four keys 12 to 15, each key sequentially increasing a place value. The command "destination address?" subsequently appears on the display 11 and is input in the same manner. In order to transfer the data into the computer, it is essential to press the starting/input key 11 after each address has been input by the four keys.

The display device of Figure 1 or 2 subsequently displays the direction to, and distance from, the desired destination.

A sketch of a possible complete display device is illustrated in Figure 4 by way of example.

The navigational aid is particularly useful in towns.

In contrast to known vehicle navigational systems, the present invention does not require any storage of data specific to a town. The unit is usabie irrespective of the town in which the vehicle is being driven and thus requires a minimum of expenditure. The only prerequisite is town plan material for the various towns which is drawn to a uniform standard guide grid and scales.

Claims

1. A method of aiding the navigation of a vehicle by its driver, in which the co-ordinates of the starting co-ordinate and the destination coordinate are taken from a geographical plan, which is sub-divided into a distance grid having x and y co-ordinates, and are fed into a computer fitted in the vehicle, and in which the direction of travel and the distance to be travelled in the direction of the destination are indicated to the driver.

2. A navigational aid for use in a vehicle by its driver, comprising a computer provided with input means for the input of information relating to the present location and destination of the vehicle, a distance sensor connected to the computer for detecting the distance travelled from the input location, a magnetic field sensor and/or steering angle sensor connected to the computer for detecting the direction of travel, and display device connected to the computer for displaying a simulation of the distance and direction of the destination in relation to the vehicle.

3. A navigational aid as claimed in claim 2, in which the display device is adapted to indicate distance by means of a bar or dot code display of variable length and direction by means of Cartesian co-ordinates.

4. A navigational aid as claimed in claim 2, in which the display device is adapted to indicate distance and direction by polar co-ordinates.

5. A method of aiding vehicle navigation substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A navigational aid constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.