MXPA97001980A - Expandable, multi-level intelligent vehicle highway system - Google Patents

Abstract

An expandable multi-level intelligent vehicle highway navigation system 11 for a motor vehicle having an input device 34 that is adapted to load the segments 21 of a route into a memory means 32. A controller 30 receives a wheel pulse input 28 for distance and electric power 36 from the vehicle and controls the memory 32 and a plurality of displays 13 for displaying the segments 21 of the route, graphic symbols for vehicle direction and segment distance. The controller 30 may be adapted to control additional units such as infrared transceivers 58, RF transceivers 44, GPS devices 52, routing computers 48, map data bases 50, compass 56, etc. and various miscellaneous inputs 54 to build the basic unit into a more complex routing system.

Description

ROAD SYSTEM FOR INTELLIGENT VEHICLE OF EXPANDABLE MULTIPLE LEVEL, Field of the invention. This invention is directed to systems for use in highway systems for intelligent vehicles in general and more particularly to a vehicle unit that has the capacity of expansion and aggregation characteristics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are several different types of vehicle navigation systems. The first system uses depresentations of stored maps where the maps of a predetermined area are stored in the computer of a vehicle and presented to the operator of the vehicle or driver. The maps, knowing the place where the vehicle started to walk and where it is going, will indicate the direction and the driver will have to read the presentation and follow the route. One of those systems offered by General Motors on its 1994 Oldsmobile, uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) for satellites and advanced estimated course techniques to determine a precise location. Some of the companies that are involved in GPS are Pioneer Electronic Corporation that has the patent US 5'276,451 granted on January 4, 1994, entitled Navigation System with processing of data of nevegacidn and the patent US 5 * 210,540 granted on 11 May 1993, entitled "Global Positioning System" The vehicle has communication means to receive data in the form of radio waves from satellites that give the location of the media in longitude and latitude data. The driver provides the data of the destination you want on a computer on board or integrated into the vehicle, in the form of specific address, an intersection of walks, etc. The stored map is presented and then the operator points the desired destination with pins, then the on-board computer calculates the most efficient route and then presents on a display unit, the distance and the direction of each maneuver of turns in easy-to-read graphs and also includes an oral warning, Other system, described in the patent US-5-274,560 granted to Charles LaRue on December 28, 1993, entitled "Vehicle navigation system without sensor, which uses an input / output interface of voice to put a driver in from its source point to its destination point "does not use GPS and has no sensing devices connected to the vehicle. The route information is contained in a device that is coupled to the CD player of the vehicle's audio system. The controls are introduced to the system via a microphone and the results are emitted through the vehicle's horns. The operator of the vehicle spell places and destinations, letter by letter. The system confirms the places by repeating the complete words. Once the system has received the current place and destination, the system develops the route and calculates the estimated time. The operator uses several specific operating commands, such as "next" and then the system begins to give route directions segment by segment. Yet another system, such as the Siemens Ali-Scout system, requires the driver to co-locate the destination address coordinates in a computer integrated in the evirus. A compass means located in the vehicle then gives a "compass" address to the destination address. That compass direction is shown in graphs that are easy to read as an arrow on an exhibit unit that indicates the direction the driver will follow. Along the walking side there are several sites with infrared beacons that transmit data information to the appropriately equipped vehicle in relation to the site of adjacent fabales. With all the information received, the computer integrated in the vehicle selects the data information of the fa rts that are desired towards the next lighthouse and presents a graphic symbol for the operator of the vehicle to be followed and the distance to the desired destination. There is no map to read; Both, a simple graphic symbol and a segment of the route are presented and an oral warning tells the operator of the vehicle when to return and when it continues in the same direction. Once the program begins, the participation of the operator is no longer required. US Pat. No. 4,350,970, assigned to Siemens AG and granted on September 21, 1982 to von Tomkewitsch and entitled "Method for determining traffic in a route and information system for the traffic of individual motor vehicles" describes a method for traffic management in a route and information system for motor vehicle traffic. The system has an electrical network of stationary routing stations each located in the vicinity of the road, which transmits the route information and local information regarding the position of passing vehicles. The destination address of the trip is loaded by the operator of the vehicle in an on-board device in the vehicle and by means of estimated course techniques a distance and direction graph is presented. The first route station that the vehicle passes, transmits a message to the vehicle with route data to the next route station, The vehicle receives the message and as it executes, the vector distances in the message accumulate time and distance which is transmitted to the second route station, when it is interrogated by the second route station. In this way, -c 'traffic management is updated in real time and vehicles are always put in the "best way" route.Of course the best way may be the shortest route, the smallest road, the cheapest road or any combination of these and other criteria, US Patent Application 08/258241 entitled "vehicle navigation systems and guidance of route with central database ", presented on August 3, 1994 assigned to a common transferee, is an improvement on the system described above.

THE INVENTION.

Two of the previously described systems require super structures within the elaborate vehicle, all of which are expensive, to rely on signals from sources internal and external to the vehicle. The third system does not use any external source or any input of the vehicle's sensor. The present system provides a building block designed from a very simple system for guidance = route in I VHS for a very complicated system that achieves many options. The basic requirements of the iVHS system are a key board, a display, a computer system, a known location knob, a wheel impulse input and, of course, a battery power source. Wheel and the battery power source, are already available in the vehicle, The operator supplies the route that has been previously determined in the computer. Then the operator places his vehicle at the beginning of the route. Each segment of the route, including its mileage, will be presented in sequence on the screen. The input of wheel pulses to the computer is used to measure the travel distance and will work, in the preferred embodiment, to count the distance shown on the screen. The screen tells the operator when to turn or change the address and what the new address will be.

In order to achieve the above advantages, a road navigation system of an intelligent vehicle for a vehicle having a generator of wheel impulse input signals, such as a device, is described here. electronic or doometric signal and a source of energy in the vehicle infrastructure, The system has a memory unit adapted to contain a plurality of predetermined routes to travel from an initial place to a destination and is also adapted to receive additional routes that each comprise a plurality of route segments A display unit exhibits graphic symbols indicating the direction of travel of the vehicle including the direction that the vehicle should turn at the end of each route segment. A data display unit displays fan symbolics describing each route segment of the route and the distance of each route segment, so that the vehicle operator is informed of the beginning and end of each route segment. A unit of the input device for supplying to the memory unit the route segments for a route and for supplying the desired designation designation to select one of the predetermined routes. A controller is adapted to receive the signals generated by the wheel pulse input generator and the power source and operates to organize and operate the various units of the system to present successive route segments from the route e = to the unit. of screen in response to distance-travel. According to the present invention, there is provided a road navigation system for intelligent vehicle for a vehicle having a unit integrated in the vehicle which includes a wheel input signal generator, a power source, means of positioning for determine the initial and present position of the vehicle in latitude and longitude coordinates, a memory unit adapted to contain a plurality of addresses and points of interest that represent the identification of designated places and identified by coordinates of latitude and longitude, an input device for - supplying to the memory unit the desired designation designation for selecting a route and its segments for -directions from the initial location to the designated location, a display means for presenting graphic symbols indicating the direction of vehicle trip for each route segment and having a data presentation unit for displaying alpha-numeric symbols, describing various segments of the route, and a controller adapted to receive the signals generated by the signal generator positioning means input of wheel pulses and power source, and arranged to operate the output means to present successive segments of the route in response to the traveled distance measured by the pulses of the input signal generator-pulses of wheel; characterized by radio frequency means for communication between the memory unit ^ and central processing means for directing the central processing means for generating and transmitting route segments and trip information to the vehicle memory unit. ass, DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: These and other advantages will become obvious from the following description and drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of the display control unit. Figure 2 is a front view of the display control unit with the keypad entry unit. Figure 3 is a block diagram of the basic display control system of the preferred embodiment. Fig.-A 4 is an example of the stages of programming a route in the basic display control system. Figure 5 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the basic display control system of the "preferred embodiment, Figure 6 is a block diagram of yet another embodiment of the basic display control system of the preferred embodiment. . Figure 7 is a block diagram of yet another embodiment of the basic display control system of the preferred embodiment *, and Figure 8 is a block diagram of yet another embodiment of the basic display control system of the -preferred accomplishment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION, With reference to Figure 1, there is illustrated a display control unit 10 of a highway navigation system 11 for expandable intelligent vehicle for motor vehicles that is inexpensive and, as will be shown, has the ability to be expandable from a very simple system to a system -very complex, This unit 10 is contained in a housing 12 that is capable of being located in view of the driver but not in its driving distance view, the display unit 10 it has a first display 13 comprising a first screen or direction screen 14, shown on the left in the figure, which has an arrow or arrows 16 indicating the direction taken by the vehicle, also placed on the address screen 14 and in the lower right corner, is a numerical indication of the distance to travel in miles, kilometers, etc .; in this case, 13 «42m indicate miles and an account bar for better visibility to the driver. Along with the visual indication of a turn, the unit 10 may have an audio means to indicate to the driver that the vehicle must turn by means of a sound device such as ringing or another similar device.

Located in the housing 12 and adjacent to the address screen 14 is a second data screen 20 which is an exhibitor having two lines of 17 numerical alpha characters each, although more or fewer characters can be used. The messages that are displayed on the data screen 20 are route segments 21 and other alpha numeric information, some examples of which are illustrated in figure 4.

Beneath the data screen 20 is a series of operator controls 22 including means for winding the data screen, causing the unit 23 to turn on and off and other controls as required. In addition there is a known place button 24 which is located on the steering wheel or turn signal so that when activated as will be described hereinafter, the driver can operate the button. Unit 10 in Figure 2 is the same unit as shown in Figure 1, but is illustrated with the front cover with the wings facing down showing a modified 26 alpha numeric keypad and other controls, some of which are duplicates of those shown in figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates in block diagram form the basic system of the preferred embodiment. The system comprises a wheel drive generator 28 that functions as a distance or speed detector; a housing as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 having a controller 30, a memory, a knob 24 of known location, the first and second displays 20, an interface 34 of the driver or input and a power source 36 In the present embodiment, the basic display unit 10 of Fig. 1 is a portable device that is releasably mounted on the vehicle and connected by means of a connector to receive the necessary inputs of the vehicle such as the wheel drive input generator. or detector 28 away, power 36 and any other control such as on and may also include a connector means for directing the memory for storing the various routes as will be described hereinafter. The controller 30 provides the operating system for the unit including operating the displays 13.

The memory 32 is a non-volatile memory that can hold several different routes loaded to call back at any time. As will be shown, if the desired route is not stored in memory, the vehicle operator pre-plans its route and loads the route, segment by segment 21, into memory 32. As an example, in quick rental applications, the owner can install Several routes to several places known for rent location to such places as airports, hotels, railway stations, public buildings, restaurants and other points of interest in the area as an aid to the rental operator who is not familiar with the area. As a part of each segment 21, the distance traveled along the segment, ie from the beginning to the end of the segment, is also loaded into the computer.

In most vehicles there is a wheel speed detector and detects the pitch of a sprocket that is typically coupled to the drive train of the vehicle.

The detector output signal is supplied to a pulse-forming circuit, wheel drive input generator 28, which takes the output signal from the detector and forms digital pulses, which are supplied to the controller . These impulses are used to measure the distance traveled.

The known location button 24 is typically activated when the vehicle has finished the segment 21 and the screen 14 that there is still a distance to travel 18. Then the vehicle operator will activate the known location button 24 to cause the controller 30 to initiate the address and data screens 14 and 20 to the present location of the vehicle and cause the presentation of the next segment 21 of the route on the data screen 20. The next segment has the name of the place of the present location and the name of the place of the next location where the vehicle will turn together with the distance to the turn that is shown on the screen 14 away.

In this system and in each of the following embodiments, the input device 34 is some form of a keyboard device, or a computer. If the input is a computer, the operator can put his route somewhere else than in the vehicle and when he goes inside the vehicle, the computer can be connected to memory 32 and the route downloaded into memory. The computer can have some form of a route and map data program that will allow the operator to develop their unique route.

With reference to Figure 4, the route segments 21 for transporting a vehicle from an initiation site 38 to a destination 40 are illustrated. The first table shows the last message that was displayed and in particular the message that was displayed when It turned off on power. In that example, the location is the place where the vehicle is parked and it is the starting place 38. The vehicle operator then winds up the various routes that are located on the computer until the name of the desired destination place 40 is on the screen 20. When the destination place 40 is selected, the address screen 14 shows the distance it will cover. trip.

The next segment 21 is displayed by pressing the button 24 of the known place. This segment 21 tells the operator of the vehicle to go from the place where it is parked towards the street a distance of 0.02 ml and when he arrives at the street, he must make a right turn. The bargraph 42 located above the distance measurement is a visual signal showing the distance counted downward to the turn. Precisely before the distance traveled to zero is counted what indicates a turn, an audible means such as a peal or buzzing sounds will warn the driver approaching an intersection and that there is a necessary turn in the indicated direction. The first screen 14 also gives a visual indication that the direction of the vehicle is that it must turn.

When turning, the data screen 20 wraps the next segment 21 that shows the present place on the second line and which street of the route will take on the first line. Again on the direction of the first screen 14, the distance is indicated and the direction arrows tell the operator to turn left on Inkster Road, which is the name of the first segment line of the data screen 20.

The route continues and the presentations change each time the distance drops to zero. In the event that the place on the screen is reached before the distance goes to zero, the vehicle operator can press the known location button 24 which readjusts the distance to zero and causes the screens 13 to wind up to the next segment and under appropriate control, update the distance of segment 21. The strength of the system is that the distance detector 28 as found in most vehicles is extremely accurate, much more than most other route inputs and detectors, so that The distance that you are going to travel can be reliable. It is found that the distance detector 28 has an error of 0.2% to 0.3%.

With reference to figure 5, a further improvement or second embodiment of the system of figure 3 is illustrated in block diagram form. In that system the memory / controller 30/32 is added a radio integrated in the vehicle or a 44 RF transceiver. This allows communication to and from a central processor 46 to assist in the planning of the route. When this system is used, the central processor 46 provides the route segment 21 to take and can take into account any known route changes required by deviations, accidents, etc. The route is transmitted from the central processor 46 and stored in the memory / controller 30/32 of the system. The controller 30 receives signals from the distance and energy detector 28 of the vehicle to operate the system. The RF transceiver 44 communicates over cellular systems, extended spectrum telecommunications systems or any similar system.

With reference to figure 6, a further improvement or a third embodiment of the system of figure 3 is illustrated in block diagram form. This system is added to the memory / controller 30/32, a routing computer 48 integrated in the system is added. the vehicle and base 50 of map data. The operator provides the base 50 which may be in the form of a CD or other means and which is integrated by the route computer 48 to generate the route. In this embodiment, the vehicle operator supplies the initial place and the place of destination. Depending on the sophistication of the route computer 48, the operator may have to supply both the starting place and the destination place in geodetic coordinates or may supply common names such as City Airport or Joe Muer's Restaurant. Route computer 48 and map data base 50 calculate the route to be taken and load the route in memory 32 and controller 30 finally displays route segments 21 as indicated above.

The difference between Figure 5 and Figure 6 is selection and each may well be the first addition to the system of Figure 3. It is the purpose of this invention to be able to create the system that the vehicle operator desires. In the system of Figure 5, the vehicle operator has communication time regimes and central processor regimes. In turn it is capable of having the latest data path information, this of course depends on the different impulses towards the central processor 46 such as road maintenance information, deviations, accident information, traffic density to name a few entries. In areas of high traffic density, the communication time between the vehicle and the central processor 36 can be significant. The route is transmitted from the central processor 46 and is stored in the memory / controller 30/32 of the system. The controller 30 receives the signals 28 from the distance and energy detector 36 of the vehicle to operate the system. The 44 RF transceiver communicates over cellular systems, extended spectrum telecommunications systems or any similar system.

In the system of Figure 6, the vehicle operator has to maintain one or more map data bases 50 that cover a certain geographical area. If the vehicle goes beyond the limits of the map data base 50, then the vehicle operator must, through the entry device 34, add the segments 21 necessary to complete its route. In summary, the selection of the system depends on cost and availability.

With reference to Figure 7, an optional GPS device 52 is added to do with this a GPS-based system. A computer 48 of route and base 50 of map data are added to the system of figure 5. If the GPS device 52 is activated, the GPS is used to provide the initial location and may also indicate to the controller 30 when the vehicle has strayed from its route. In that situation, the controller 30 can be programmed to inform the vehicle operator and consequently can return on the route. The map data base 50 is used to generate the various segments 21 of the route as explained with Figure 6 and causes the segments to be displayed on the screen 13. The RF 44 transceiver when activated can provide updated routes which go beyond the capacity of the base 50 of map data stored in the vehicle unit. In this system, the use of the 44 RF transceiver may be under the operator's control so as to control the payment of communication rights. The route computer 18 may be programmed to indicate when the mapped data base 50 does not have sufficient range to complete the route and that it is necessary to communicate with the central processor 46 for additional route. In the alternative, the system design may also be such that the vehicle operator does not realize when the capacity of the map data base 50 has been exceeded and the route computer 48"calls" the central processor 46. In addition, if desired, the vehicle operator can program the route computer 48 to ensure it is directed by the best route. A number of additional on-off input 54 installations are provided which can be to change the turn-on of the unit 10 when the headlights are on or if the directional detector or compass device 56 is added and when the window defogger is activated. After causing an additional electromagnetic field that interferes with the operation of the compass 56, the output of the compass is corrected.

With reference to Figure 8 the system of Figure 7 is improved by providing the Ali-Scout (MR) control via the 58 IR transceiver. This aspect of the system provides communication to road-side headlights 60 and headlight controllers 62 that provide information to the vehicle about the route via the next segment 21 that links the vehicle's route. An important part of the headlights 60 beside the IR road is that all the vehicles that pass a lighthouse next to the road receive routes at the same time. Therefore, the IR communication link may not be saturated when it can link RF that communicates to each individual vehicle. By adding the IR transceiver and therefore the IR communication link, the total Ali-Scout system will not be saturated due to the increased number of vehicles that can exist with the addition of only one integrated radio to the vehicle or 44 RF transceiver.

Therefore, now the system has the ability to use its own "canned" routes as described in figures 3 and 4, modify them with the GPS information according to the latitude and longitude coordinates of the present location as described in Figure 7 or generate mapping information as described in Figure 6. Finally, by adding the 58 IR transceiver and the headlight capacity 60 along the path of several segments of the route you can modify the real time to provide the "best" route that is known. " The central processor 46 can receive updates according to road conditions and provide additional modifications to the selected route segments. When the 58-62 Ali-Scout components are added, the controller 30 will receive as his first information or priority route information, the information received from the headlights 60 and when he determines that the headlight information is that which is taken because the vehicle has gone beyond the network of the lighthouse, then direct the route computer 48 in a similar manner as explained in figure 7.

As explained above, a method for loading the selected routes in the memory 32 is by means of the keyboard illustrated in Figure 2. Other methods of loading selected routes in the display control unit 10 are by means of a base of map data and route algorithm that runs on a personal computer. The route algorithm automatically generates routes and stores them on the computer until they are downloaded to the display control unit 10. The unloading can be done inside or outside the vehicle through a "hardwired" serial link through the connector or other means.

The aggregation of a voice digitizer to the unit for controlling the display to convert a spoken audio signal into the corresponding electrical signal will allow the display control unit 10 to operate in response to a single voice or audio command. That system has been described in the US patent - previously indicated no. 5 '274, 560 entitled "vehicle navigation system without detector that uses a voice input / output interface to route a driver from its initial point to its destination point".

Therefore, a road navigation system 11 for expandable smart vehicle that is capable of being modified and improved to provide the degree of navigation required by the vehicle operator has been shown and illustrated. In its simplest form, the operator loads into the memory 32 of the display control unit 10, the segments 21 of various known routes that typically take and provide means for selecting a desired route. This system is good for rental cars and is used by travelers to go from the airport or similar place to several hotels, restaurants, main brands, etc. The larger and more complex system, which can be that illustrated in Figure 8, requires more vehicle infrastructure and complexity to allow the vehicle operator to go almost anywhere he wants due to the interface with equipment that are connected by means of a IR and / or RF wave transmission, to the basic system 11. In all systems both visual media such as screens 13 as audio means such as voice, command the emanations of the display control unit 10 which assures the operator that he is "en route".

In summary, from a very simple basic system, the vehicle operator through a variety of "building blocks" can create the system to reflect their needs. In addition, the system can be enlarged at a later time by the addition of other building blocks "to create the" ultimate "system in the mind of the operator of the vehicle.

By using the central processor 46, cups can be collected and paid to a central box by transmitting a vehicle identification, messages can be stored in the central processor 46 and when a vehicle directs the central processor 46, those messages can be transmitted. to the operator of the vehicle. In this way you can see how from a single and independent system, the expandable intelligent vehicle navigation system 11 can be increased to any degree of desirable sophistication.

Claims (4)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. - A road navigation system of a smart vehicle for a vehicle having a unit integrated in the vehicle that includes a wheel input signal generator, a power source, positioning means to determine the initial and present position of the vehicle in latitude and longitude coordinates, a memory unit adapted to contain a plurality of addresses and points of interest representing identification of designated places and identified by latitude and longitude coordinates, an input device for supplying the identification unit with the identification Desired designation for selecting a route and its segments for initial location directions to the place of designation, a display means for displaying graphic symbols indicating the vehicle's travel direction for each segment of route and having a display unit of data to present numerical symbols that describe several seg of the route, and a controller adapted to receive the signals generated by the positioning means of the wheel pulse and power source input signal generator, and arranged to operate the screen means to present successive segments of the route in response to the traveled distance measured by the impulses of the wheel pulse input signal generator; characterized by a radio frequency means for communication between the memory unit and a central processing means for directing the central processing means for generating and transmitting the route segments and trip information to the vehicle memory unit.

2. - Road navigation system for an intelligent vehicle according to clause 1, wherein the means of positioning is a means of global positioning.

3. - Road navigation system for an intelligent vehicle according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the infrared transceiver means integrated in the vehicle are provided for communication between the vehicle and infrared headlights on the side of the road to receive the traffic route information and when that information is received, a route computer is inhibited while receiving information from a lighthouse on the side of the road.

4. - Road navigation system for an intelligent vehicle according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the memory unit includes street addresses, street names, names of cities and points of interest adapted to be combined and formed segments for directions from the place initial to the place of destination. SUMMARY A multiple-level intelligent vehicle highway navigation system 11 expandable to a motor vehicle having an input device 34 that is adapted to load the segments 21 of a route into memory means 32. A controller 30 receives a wheel pulse input 28 for distance and electrical power 36 of the vehicle and controls the memory 32 and a plurality of displays 13 to observe the segments 21 of the route, graphic symbols for the vehicle's direction and distance of segments . The controller 30 may be adapted to control additional units such as infrared transceivers 58, radio frequency transceivers 44, GPS device 52, route computers 48, map data base 50, compass 56, etc. and several entries 54 for various things to build the basic unit into a more complex route system.