Vehicle navigation system with improved turn notification capabilities

Abstract

A navigation system for a vehicle for providing improved notification of upcoming turns along a given route is disclosed. Such turn notifications preferably involve activating turn signal indicators within or external to the vehicle in response to turn notification signals supplied by the navigation system. Such preexisting turn signal indicators include the dedicated turn signal indicators normally present within or on the vehicle, such as the turn signal indicators on the instrument cluster on the vehicle's dashboard; the external turn signal lights typically proximate the front and rear bumpers of the vehicle; the turn signal indicators integrated with the side mirror, or similar indicators. Because preexisting turn signal indicators are used, turn notification is made simpler and more economical as additional indicators or indicator systems are not necessary. Moreover, using indictors interior and exterior to the vehicle benefits both the vehicle occupant and well as other vehicles in the vicinity of the occupant's vehicle to inform of the occupant's intended route. In addition to using preexisting dedicated turn signal indicators, a heads up display can be used to display the turn notification, which is beneficial because it is substantially within the occupant's line of sight.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for indicating turns in a vehicle capable of using a navigation system. Background technique [0002] Communication and information systems in vehicles continue to become more powerful, thereby providing greater convenience to vehicle occupants. For example, some vehicles are now equipped with more sophisticated computer systems to enhance driving operations and provide occupants with useful information. This vehicle-based system can also communicate wirelessly with more powerful computing systems outside the vehicle. [0003] An increasingly popular computerized device found in some vehicles is the navigation system. Such systems take many forms. In one form, the vehicle occupant uses a user interface in their vehicle to designate a desired destination or driving route, sometimes in conjunction with a computerized map displayed on the user interface display. If only a destination is specified, t...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0005] However, current navigation systems are suboptimal and have shortcomings that prevent them from being useful

Announcements of impending turns, whether audible or visual, may be fleeting and, therefore, likely to be ignored by busy or unattended occupants

Also, turn-by-turn announcements may not be heeded at all: audible announcements are not easily heard at certain vehicle noise levels, and visual announcements may go unnoticed because they are not within the line of sight of the occupants driving the vehicle

In this regard, it should be noted that the user interface display is generally placed in the center of the vehicle dashboard, requiring the user to look away from the front, potentially creating a safety hazard

Also, while current navigation systems can be used to notify vehicle occupants of upcoming turns on their intended route, such systems cannot alert other drivers of such imminent turns (such as those in front of or behind them)

It can also create a safety hazard, especially if the occupant realizes too late that he has been warned to make a turn, and tries at the last moment to make a turn when it might not be safe

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