Abstract: A navigation system with a portable heads up display (HUD). The HUD comprises a housing rotably mounted on a stand. The housing holds a device for generating an image that can be projected onto a vehicle windshield, for example a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) module. Preferably, the navigation system is a NavMate® Navigation System from Visteon Technologies LLC, and the HUD is operatively connected to the navigation system by a high speed serial interface, for example an RS232 interface. An exemplary HUD includes a microcontroller, frame buffer, and a graphic display module. A preferred image generator is a Futaba GP1045A02A graphic display module.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for providing route guidance to a user of a vehicle navigation system. In response to selection of a destination by the user, a route is generated from a first position to the destination. The route includes a plurality of maneuvers. A plurality of maneuver instructions are generated corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers. An audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions is presented prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers. In response to a first signal generated when the vehicle is at a first location on the route, all remaining maneuver instructions corresponding to maneuvers on the route after the first location are sequentially presented. According to another embodiment, a most recently presented maneuver instruction is presented in response to the first signal. According to yet another embodiment, the audio level associated with at least one instruction is adjusted in response to the first signal.

Abstract: A method for selecting a destination in a vehicle navigation system is described. A plurality of options are provided for designating the destination in the system's user interface. A first option employs at least one street name to designate the destination. In response to selection of the first option, a list of cities is provided for display in the user interface. The list of cities includes a first plurality of cities for which no street names are available for display and a second plurality of cities for which only a few street names are available for display. In response to selection of one of the first plurality of cities from the list of cities, a first location associated with the selected city in the map database is selected as the destination.

Abstract: A method for selecting a destination in a vehicle navigation system is described. A plurality of options are provided for designating the destination in the system's user interface. A first option employs at least one street name to designate the destination. In response to selection of the first option, a list of cities is provided for display in the user interface. The list of cities includes a first plurality of cities for which no street names are available for display and a second plurality of cities for which only a few street names are available for display. In response to selection of one of the first plurality of cities from the list of cities, a first location associated with the selected city in the map database is selected as the destination.