Abstract: A navigation system includes current position calculating sections 10, 13, 14, and 15 calculating the current position; an input section 3 inputting the destination and transit points; a route searching section 130 searching a route from the current position calculated by the current position calculating section to the destination or the transit points inputted by the input section; and a guiding section 140 guiding a user along the route searched by the route searching section. The navigation system further includes a control section 10, which, when the route searched by the route searching section contains special roads, causes the propriety of use of the special roads contained the searched route to be individually selected, and makes a re-search for a route containing the special roads the use of which is selected by control of the control section.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes a map data acquiring means 11a, 11, 12, and 5 for acquiring map data including data about roads for which whether or not a car pool lane is also provided is specified; a current position determining means 13, 14, 15, and 10 for determining a current position; and a route searching unit 130 for searching for a route from the current position determined by the current position determining means to a destination inputted by an input unit on the basis of the map data acquired by the map data acquiring means, and for, when a road where a car pool lane is also provided is included in a route acquired through the route search, presenting, as a recommended route, the route using the car pool lane if the distance over which the road will be traveled is equal to or longer than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes a map data acquiring means 11a, 11, 12, and 5 for acquiring map data including data about roads for which whether or not a car pool lane is also provided is specified; a current position determining means 13, 14, 15, and 10 for determining a current position; and a route searching unit 130 for searching for a route from the current position determined by the current position determining means to a destination inputted by an input unit on the basis of the map data acquired by the map data acquiring means, and for, when a road where a car pool lane is also provided is included in a route acquired through the route search, presenting, as a recommended route, the route using the car pool lane if the distance over which the road will be traveled is equal to or longer than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A navigation device includes a route searching unit for searching for a whole route leading to a destination via waypoints set by a setting unit, a route guidance unit for carrying out route guidance according to the whole route, an output unit for outputting a message showing that a vehicle has deviated from a route leading to a first next waypoint toward which the vehicle has been heading when the route guidance unit determines that the vehicle has deviated from the route to a predetermined distance or more and is traveling along a route after the first next waypoint, and an input unit for inputting a command indicating whether or not to travel via the first next waypoint in response to the message outputted by the output unit.

Abstract: A navigation device includes a map data storage unit 12 for storing a flag created on the basis of map data and including only information required to perform a navigation function, and a control unit 10 for reading the flag from the map data storage unit to perform the navigation function by using the flag read thereby.

Abstract: A car navigation apparatus includes an intersection searching means 14 for searching for intersections in a vicinity of the current position of a vehicle from intersections which exist on a searched route and which exist between the current position and a destination, an intersection name outputting means 15 for outputting the names of the searched intersections, an intersection selecting means 17 for selecting an intersection from the intersection names outputted, an facility searching means 18 for searching for facilities which exist in a vicinity of the intersection selected through the map data, a facility name outputting means 19 for outputting the names of the searched facilities, a facility selecting means 20 for selecting a facility from the facility names outputted, and a facility information outputting means 21 for extracting facility information about the selected facility from the map data, and for outputting the facility information.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes a display means 2 for displaying either a route using a car pool lane or a route not using the car pool lane, an input means 3 and 210 for inputting a command, and a control unit 10 for switching from the route using the car pool lane, which is displayed by the display means, to the route not using the car pool lane or vice versa according to a command inputted from the input means.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes a route searching unit 130 for performing both a route search with car pool lanes being made usable between a current position detected by a current position detecting unit and a destination inputted by an input means, and a route search with car pool lanes being made unusable, a display means 2 for displaying either a route which uses a car pool lane or a route which does not use any car pool lane on the basis of route data showing the routes acquired through the route searches by the route searching unit, and a control unit 10 for switching between the route which uses a car pool lane and the route which does not use any car pool lane to display either of them on the display means according to an instruction inputted by the input means.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes a map data acquiring means 11a, 11, 12, and 5 for acquiring map data including data about roads for which whether or not a car pool lane is also provided is specified; a current position determining means 13, 14, 15, and 10 for determining a current position; and a route searching unit 130 for searching for a route from the current position determined by the current position determining means to a destination inputted by an input unit on the basis of the map data acquired by the map data acquiring means, and for, when a road where a car pool lane is also provided is included in a route acquired through the route search, presenting, as a recommended route, the route using the car pool lane if the distance over which the road will be traveled is equal to or longer than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes a map data acquiring means 11a, 11, 12, and 5 for acquiring map data including car pool lane data, a current position determining means 13, 14, 15, and 10 for determining a current position, and a display unit 2 for generating and displaying a map of an area surrounding the current position determined by the current position determining means on the basis of the map data acquired by the map data acquiring means. The navigation apparatus further includes a control unit 10 for, when moving close to a predetermined location during travel along a road, on a basis of the car pool lane data included in the map data acquired by the map data acquiring means, automatically causing the display unit to display a detailed drawing showing lane information and a car pool lane in distinction from other lanes while enlarging the lane information and the car pool lane.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes a route searching unit 130 for, when including a road where a car pool lane is also provided in a recommended route at a time of searching for a route from a current position determined by a current position determining means to a destination inputted by an input unit on the basis of map data acquired by a map data acquiring means, calculating a distance to be traveled according to the number of lanes which are crossed at the time of an entry to the car pool lane and at the time of an exit from the car pool lane, and then determining the recommended route in such a way that the recommended route uses an entrance and an exit of the car pool lane each of which is located at a location dependent upon the calculated distance.

Abstract: A navigation system includes map data storing means storing map data; current position calculating means calculating a current position of a vehicle; and a guiding section detecting a moving direction of the vehicle based on the map data acquired from the map data storing means and the current position of the vehicle calculated by the current position calculating means, and guiding the vehicle by outputting guidance information including road information, destination directional information, and famous facility or scenic spot directional information about an intersection when the vehicle approaches a fore intersection in the detected moving direction.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes: a map data storage means 11, 12, and 5 for storing map data; a display means 2 for displaying intersection information including information about a plurality of destination areas at an intersection located forwardly in a traveling direction on the basis of map data read from the map data storage means; an instructing means 3 for instructing the traveling direction by selecting one destination area from the information about the plurality of destination areas included in the intersection information displayed on the display means; a route generating unit 150 for generating a route on the basis of destination areas which are selected sequentially under instructions provided by the instructing means; a route storage unit 17 for storing the route generated by the route generating unit; and a route guidance unit 140 for guiding along the route stored in the route storage unit, and for providing a guidance.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus, including a map data acquiring means 11a, 11, 12, and 5 for acquiring map data including car pool lane data, a current position determining means 13, 14, 15, and 10 for determining a current position, and a display unit 2 for generating and displaying a map of an area in a neighborhood of the determined current position on the basis of the acquired map data, is provided with a road information receiving means 16 for receiving road information in real time from outside the apparatus, a control unit 10 for, when the road information received by the road information receiving means shows that a traffic congestion has occurred in a highway in a traveling direction, judging whether a car pool lane is also provided in the highway on the basis of the map data acquired by the map data acquiring means, and an output means 2 and 4 for outputting a message showing whether or not there exists a car pool lane according to the result of the judgment by the control unit.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes a route searching unit 130 for searching for a route from a current position determined by a current position determining means to a destination inputted by an input unit on the basis of map data acquired by a map data acquiring means, and for, when a road where a car pool lane is also provided is included in a route acquired through the route search, presenting, as a recommended route, the route using the car pool lane if the distance from an entrance of the road to an entrance of the car pool lane is equal to or longer than a predetermined value, or if the distance from an exit of the car pool lane to an exit of the road is equal to or longer than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A car navigation apparatus includes an intersection searching means 14 for searching for intersections in a vicinity of the current position of a vehicle from intersections which exist on a searched route and which exist between the current position and a destination, an intersection name outputting means 15 for outputting the names of the searched intersections, an intersection selecting means 17 for selecting an intersection from the intersection names outputted, an facility searching means 18 for searching for facilities which exist in a vicinity of the intersection selected through the map data, a facility name outputting means 19 for outputting the names of the searched facilities, a facility selecting means 20 for selecting a facility from the facility names outputted, and a facility information outputting means 21 for extracting facility information about the selected facility from the map data, and for outputting the facility information.

Abstract: A route searching apparatus includes a map data acquiring unit for acquiring map data defined by nodes and road links, a route searching unit for searching for a route to a destination in consideration of road links corresponding to specific roads, on which determination of whether or not a vehicle is allowed to travel can be performed according to a condition of the vehicle before the condition of the vehicle is set, the road links being included in the map data acquired by the map data acquiring unit, and an output unit for outputting the route searched for by the route searching unit.

Abstract: A navigation system includes current position calculating sections 10, 13, 14, and 15 calculating the current position; an input section 3 inputting the destination and transit points; a route searching section 130 searching a route from the current position calculated by the current position calculating section to the destination or the transit points inputted by the input section; and a guiding section 140 guiding a user along the route searched by the route searching section. The navigation system further includes a control section 10, which, when the route searched by the route searching section contains special roads, causes the propriety of use of the special roads contained the searched route to be individually selected, and makes a re-search for a route containing the special roads the use of which is selected by control of the control section.

Abstract: A route searching apparatus includes a map data acquiring unit for acquiring map data defined by nodes and road links, a route searching unit for searching for a route to a destination in consideration of road links corresponding to specific roads, on which determination of whether or not a vehicle is allowed to travel can be performed according to a condition of the vehicle before the condition of the vehicle is set, the road links being included in the map data acquired by the map data acquiring unit, and an output unit for outputting the route searched for by the route searching unit.

Abstract: A supporting mechanism of the invention is for supporting a pinch roller for use in a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus. A pinch roller is rotatably mounted on a fixing shaft that includes two separate parts, a supporting shaft and a hollow shaft. The fine adjustment of the marginal movement height of the pinch roller can be simplified in the thrust direction of the shafts. The shapes of the supporting shaft and the hollow shaft are simple to machine, and the smoothness of cylindrical surface can easily be achieved. The pinch roller is held at a predetermined height with respect to a recording tape. The supporting shaft press-fittingly extends through the hollow shaft. The hollow shaft is adjustably secured to the supporting shaft and is positioned in an axial direction of the supporting shaft so that the height of the pinch roller is adjusted with respect to the recording tape.