Abstract: A route guidance system includes a current position detection section, a route search section, and a guidance section. The guidance section includes a branch computation section computes the number of branches between a host vehicle location and a guidance location along a specified route. A point guidance section executes route guidance based on the computed number of the branches. The number of branches between the host vehicle location and the guidance location is computed, and the route guidance is executed based on the computed number of the branches, so it is possible to recognize the guidance location simply by counting the number of the branches, regardless of the number of traffic signals that exist between the host vehicle location and the guidance location.

Abstract: Navigation systems, methods and programs detect the current location of a vehicle and search a route to a destination based on the current location. The systems, methods, and programs set a guidance intersection based on the searched route, set a route guidance point at a predetermined point before the guidance intersection, and provide route guidance through the guidance intersection when the vehicle reaches the route guidance point. The systems, methods, and programs determine whether the guidance intersection is a guidance intersection where lane planning can be readily performed by a user, even if lane guidance is not performed by the controller. The systems, methods, and programs prevent lane guidance at the predetermined route guidance point from being performed if it is determined that lane planning can be readily performed by the user at the guidance intersection.

Abstract: Route guidance systems, methods, and programs detect a current position of a vehicle and search for a route to a destination on the basis of the vehicle position. The systems, methods, and programs set a guidance point at a predetermined distance before a target point on the searched route. If a guidance condition is met, the systems, methods, and programs provide route guidance about the target point when the vehicle reaches the guidance point, the guidance condition being met on the basis of the presence or absence of traffic lights at each of at least one intersection between the guidance point and the target point. If the guidance condition is met, the systems, methods, and programs output route guidance, the content of the route guidance being preset based on the guidance condition.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus and method increase the upper limit for the number of times map data may be written into a portable storage medium. A CPU reads an initial radius and an additional radius increment from a ROM and repeatedly adds the additional radius increment to the initial radius to obtain, with each addition, a new calculated radius centered on coordinates of a central geographic point of a map data extracting-region. The map data for each secondary grid unit within the map data extracting-region is sequentially read out from a CD-ROM. Then, when the map data within the incrementally enlarged map data extracting-region exceeds the maximum storage capacity of the SD memory card, the CPU deducts the last added increment of radius from the calculated radius to obtain a map region to be stored. The CPU sequentially reads out from the CD-ROM the map data for each grid unit within the map region to be stored and sequentially writes the grid units of map data into the SD memory card.

Abstract: Provided is a profiling float that can minutely and surely control effective buoyancy acting on the float in itself, and usage of the profiling float. The profiling float according to the present invention is equipped with a float chamber forming an airtight internal space, a fluid storage part provided in the float chamber and storing a fluid for control of buoyancy, a bladder provided at the exterior of the float chamber, in the interior of which the fluid for control of buoyancy is filled to change a volume thereof, thereby controlling buoyancy acting on the profiling float, a pump mechanism for transferring the fluid for control of buoyancy between the bladder and the fluid storage part, and a driving source for driving the pump mechanism, wherein the pump mechanism is composed of a gear pump.

Abstract: A route guidance system includes a current position detection section, a route search section, and a guidance section. The guidance section includes a branch computation section computes the number of branches between a host vehicle location and a guidance location along a specified route. A point guidance section executes route guidance based on the computed number of the branches. The number of branches between the host vehicle location and the guidance location is computed, and the route guidance is executed based on the computed number of the branches, so it is possible to recognize the guidance location simply by counting the number of the branches, regardless of the number of traffic signals that exist between the host vehicle location and the guidance location.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation apparatus displays an expressway guide diagram indicating the names of plural exits at which a travelling vehicle can exit an expressway and the distance and estimated arrival time to each of the exits. The expressway guide diagram includes a map display for indicating a display of a surrounding-area map of an exit. When the map display is operated, the display scale of the surrounding-area map is determined so as to contain a predetermined number of representative facilities, and the surrounding-area map is displayed on a display device according to the display scale. Therefore, with respect to each exit at which the vehicle can get off the expressway, a map based on the proper display scale corresponding to the positional relationship between each exit and facilities can be displayed.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus and method increase the upper limit for the number of times map data may be written into a portable storage medium. A CPU reads an initial radius and an additional radius increment from a ROM and repeatedly adds the additional radius increment to the initial radius to obtain, with each addition, a new calculated radius centered on coordinates of a central geographic point of a map data extracting-region. The map data for each secondary grid unit within the map data extracting-region is sequentially read out from a CD-ROM. Then, when the map data within the incrementally enlarged map data extracting-region exceeds the maximum storage capacity of the SD memory card, the CPU deducts the last added increment of radius from the calculated radius to obtain a map region to be stored. The CPU sequentially reads out from the CD-ROM the map data for each grid unit within the map region to be stored and sequentially writes the grid units of map data into the SD memory card.

Abstract: Provided is a profiling float that can minutely and surely control effective buoyancy acting on the float in itself, and usage of the profiling float. The profiling float according to the present invention is equipped with a float chamber forming an airtight internal space, a fluid storage part provided in the float chamber and storing a fluid for control of buoyancy, a bladder provided at the exterior of the float chamber, in the interior of which the fluid for control of buoyancy is filled to change a volume thereof, thereby controlling buoyancy acting on the profiling float, a pump mechanism for transferring the fluid for control of buoyancy between the bladder and the fluid storage part, and a driving source for driving the pump mechanism, wherein the pump mechanism is composed of a gear pump.

Abstract: A route guidance system includes a current-location detecting unit for detecting the current location of the vehicle; a route-searching unit for searching to determine a route to a destination from the detected vehicle current location; a guidance-intersection setting processing unit for setting a guidance intersection based on the determined route; a route guidance point setting processing unit for setting a route guidance point on the near side of a guidance intersection; a change condition determination processing unit for calculating a route guidance region from the start to the end of route guidance based on the route guidance point and the contents of route guidance, and determining whether or not the route guidance region overlaps a predetermined intersection between the vehicle current location and the guidance intersection; and a route guidance region changing unit for changing the route guidance region when the route guidance region is determined to overlap the predetermined intersection.

Abstract: Route guidance systems, methods, and programs detect a current position of a vehicle and search for a route to a destination on the basis of the vehicle position. The systems, methods, and programs set a guidance point at a predetermined distance before a target point on the searched route. If a guidance condition is met, the systems, methods, and programs provide route guidance about the target point when the vehicle reaches the guidance point, the guidance condition being met on the basis of the presence or absence of traffic lights at each of at least one intersection between the guidance point and the target point. If the guidance condition is met, the systems, methods, and programs output route guidance, the content of the route guidance being preset based on the guidance condition.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and programs search for a route to a destination and set a recommended travel lane, based on the searched for route. The systems, methods, and programs provide lane guidance to lead the vehicle into the recommended lane. The systems, methods, and programs receive a current position of the vehicle and determine a movement direction of the vehicle, based on the received current position and the recommended lane. The systems, methods, and programs determine whether to provide lane guidance based on the movement direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: Route guidance systems, methods, and programs detect the current location of a vehicle and search for a route to a destination. The systems, methods, and programs set a guidance intersection based on the searched route and determine whether an assistant guidance intersection exists on the searched route, the assistant guidance intersection having a parallel road which extends in the same direction as a departing road from the guidance intersection. The systems, methods, and programs perform guidance for leading the vehicle to the departing road when the vehicle approaches the guidance intersection after having passed the assistant guidance intersection.

Abstract: Route guidance systems, methods and programs detect a current position of a host vehicle and search for a specified route to a destination based on the current position of the vehicle. The systems, methods and programs set a guidance intersection based on a specified route, and compute a recommended lane on each road along the specified route. The systems, methods and programs detect a recommended lane change point where a recommended lane changes between the current position of the vehicle and the guidance intersection. The systems, methods and programs notify the driver that the recommended lane will change before the host vehicle arrives at the recommended lane change point.

Abstract: Navigation systems, methods and programs detect the current location of a vehicle and search a route to a destination based on the current location. The systems, methods, and programs set a guidance intersection based on the searched route, set a route guidance point at a predetermined point before the guidance intersection, and provide route guidance through the guidance intersection when the vehicle reaches the route guidance point. The systems, methods, and programs determine whether the guidance intersection is a guidance intersection where lane planning can be readily performed by a user, even if lane guidance is not performed by the controller. The systems, methods, and programs prevent lane guidance at the predetermined route guidance point from being performed if it is determined that lane planning can be readily performed by the user at the guidance intersection.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation apparatus displays an expressway guide diagram indicating the names of plural exits at which a travelling vehicle can exit an expressway and the distance and estimated arrival time to each of the exits. The expressway guide diagram includes a map display for indicating a display of a surrounding-area map of an exit. When the map display is operated, the display scale of the surrounding-area map is determined so as to contain a predetermined number of representative facilities, and the surrounding-area map is displayed on a display device according to the display scale. Therefore, with respect to each exit at which the vehicle can get off the expressway, a map based on the proper display scale corresponding to the positional relationship between each exit and facilities can be displayed.