Abstract: In a navigation apparatus for a vehicle, an entire route from a start point to a destination is determined and the vehicle is guided to the destination in accordance with the determined route. In the navigation apparatus, an entire route from a start point to a destination is first determined. Route determination is performed for a part of the entire route in accordance with a request of a user, and the entire route to the destination is determined again based on the result of the determination performed for the part of the entire route. The navigation apparatus has a first remaining-distance displaying unit and a second remaining-distance displaying unit. The first remaining distance display unit displays an arrow indicating the route and the remaining distance to an intersection. The second remaining-distance display unit deletes the display of the distance provided by the first remaining-distance display unit and changes the length of the arrow, which indicates the route, as the vehicle advances.

Abstract: A map display device for a vehicle navigation system providing route guidance including an information memory device for storing map data relating to route search and route guidance, as well as other guidance data, an input device for inputting instructions and information for route search and route guidances, a display device for displaying a map and other guidance data by switching between a single screen display mode and a two-part split screen display modes, and a display control device for reading guidance data from the information memory device in response to the instructions input to the input device and a control guidance screen displayed on the display device. The map display device displays a frame, to the position corresponding to the detailed map, on the wide area map, regarding the wide area map and its detailed map in the two-part split screen display mode.

Abstract: A navigation system provides road guidance by displaying information relating to roads on a structure shape map, together with landmark information, in such a manner that only information around the present position is highlighted. The system retrieves road information in the direction of travel from the present position according to the vehicle speed, or road information within a predetermined angular or distance range in the direction of travel. Information relating to roads includes information indicating a one-way road, information indicating a road into which entry is prohibited, and information indicating a pedestrian crossing and a railroad crossing. These items of information are displayed by using marks, and the landmark information is displayed by using landmarks, thereby displaying information necessary for travel in a readily perceivable manner according to the travel conditions.

Abstract: A navigator apparatus includes a map memory for storage of road map information, and a target data memory storing therein guidance information as to a destination or target object under search. A present position detector is provided for detecting a present position of a mobile vehicle. A route finder responsive to receipt of part of the map information for attempting to find out a route leading to a nearby position of the target from one of a start point of the vehicle and the present position thereof. A target searcher functions to search for a position of the target being presently stored in the target data memory in correspondence with the map information as stored in the map memory. The map information and resultant information as to the target found are both visually indicated on the screen of an associated display device while permitting voice guidance.

Abstract: In traveling toward a destination, locus data for routes traveled by a vehicle is repeatedly learned and stored, and a route is identified in route searching using the stored locus data. The stored locus data may be rearranged or deleted, and undesired locus data is not used in route searching. Storage of locus data may be limited to certain areas so as not to store undesired locus data. The geographical coordinates of the stored locus data are corrected, as required, and locus data such as links are correctly shown on a map.

Abstract: In a navigation system, user preferred road data is determined and stored during travel to supplement fixed road data such as map data, intersection data, node data, and destination data stored in CD-ROM for subsequent use in providing route guidance in accordance with user road preferences. The user preferred road data is the data of actual trips, and the preference of the user is reflected in the user preferred road data. To determine user preferences, either the user preferred road data is compared to the fixed road data or a searched route calculated from the user preferred road data and CD-ROM data is compared with the searched route calculated from CD-ROM data. By using the determined user preferences in route searching, it is possible to provide more elaborate route searching and route guidance in accordance with the preference of the user.

Abstract: A goal direction mark and a distance to a goal are indicated when the car has approached the end point of route. When the car has deviated from the guide route to the goal or is running backwards on the guide route, there is indicated a mark to inform the direction of progress to the goal on the guide route. When the car has deviated from the guide route and the guide route is not indicated on the map picture, there is indicated the direction to the goal or the direction to the guide route itself. When the start point of route is remote from the present position at the start of the guidance, a mark is indicated to inform the direction to the start point of route. The driver is enabled to easily determine relying upon the indicated mark in which direction he should proceed. When the map picture is scrolled, there is informed the goal direction, route direction or the direction of progress to the goal on the route. The user therefore is enabled to easily know the direction to the goal.

Abstract: An external storage device having navigation data and programs stored therein to perform a route search and provide route guidance, and a central processing unit which includes a program storage flash memory and program loading means for loading programs from the external storage device into the flash memory. The programs stored in the flash memory are run to perform a route search and provide route guidance. The central processing unit compares a version of each program stored in flash memory with a version of the program stored in external storage device, so that when the version of the program stored in the external storage device is more current than that stored in the flash memory, the program is loaded from the external storage device into the flash memory.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus reduces route search time while providing guidance in conformity with drivers' preferences, by selectively conducting either a full-range route search or a more limited, local area search, in accordance with detected conditions and responsive to occurrence of an off-route event. For example, the full-range route search is conducted pursuant to a determination that the vehicle has gone straight at a predetermined number of certain intersections where current guidance has directed a turn.

Abstract: Lane change guidance information is output based on data for the next guide intersection on a route calculated in advance and on detection of the driving lane in which the vehicle is currently driven. The system includes present position detection, direction of advance determination for guide intersections along the preset route, driving lane determination, and guidance information output for instructing the driver when direction to be taken at a guide intersection does not match the current driving lane, whereby adequate guidance information is provided the driver regarding lane changes when the vehicle is driven on a road having two or more lanes.

Abstract: Plural guide routes to a destination are found based upon different bodies of road (intersection) information, one of these plural guide routes is selected, and guidance to the destination via the selected route is output. One of the bodies of road (intersection) information is memorized map information and another body of road (intersection) information is related to roads or intersections which have been passed through before.

Abstract: A structure configuration map display system includes a controller for depicting and displaying a structure configuration map based on structure configuration map information. The system provides for searching and guidance relative to a structure designated as a target point. A display form corresponding to the structure information for the target point is determined and the display form of the target point is changed based on the results of that determination and is displayed so that a user can easily recognize the desired facility by its display form which corresponds to stored structure information. Also, the user can easily identify a facility as the desired facility and can obtain reliable guidance to that target point by the display form which indicates the type of the structure.

Abstract: In a navigation apparatus for a vehicle, after the present position of a vehicle is obtained, a position on a map which corresponds to the present position of the vehicle is obtained. Subsequently, the heading direction of the vehicle is detected. When the vehicle is traveling on the left-hand lane, coordinate conversion is performed such that a present position mark is shifted leftward from the center of the road by 1/4 of the road width. This makes it possible to display a route while preventing the route from overlapping with the centerline of the road. In another navigation apparatus for a vehicle, a structure-profiled map on which a structure-representing shape and a road are drawn is displayed so as to provide road guidance, wherein a route is displayed on the structure-profiled map along a road which is displayed for guidance. The display of the route is performed such that the route is shifted from the center line of a road toward a lane on which the vehicle is traveling.

Abstract: A navigation system including a present-position sensing system for sensing a present position; information storage medium for storing map information; an input device for entering into the system the destination, a roundabout point, a bypass, and the location desired to be traversed for entry of input indicating the execution of a route search from the present position sensed by the present-position sensing system to the destination; an output device for outputting information route guidance; and a central processing unit including a route searching capability for searching for a route to the destination; a route storage capability for provisionally storing the identified route; and route guidance control for sending a signal for performing route guidance to the output device. When the roundabout point or bypass is entered in the system, a search cost for roads and intersections near to the roundabout point or bypass is raised so that route search processing can be performed.

Abstract: A vehicular navigation system includes: a current position detection unit for detecting the current position of the vehicle; an information storage unit for storing map information for conducting route searching and for providing route guidance; an input unit for inputting a destination and inputting instructions for executing a search of the map information for a route from the current position detected by the current position detection unit to the destination; an output unit for outputting information for route guidance; and a central processing unit for temporarily memorizing a route detected by the route search and for outputting a signal to the output unit to provide route guidance according to the memorized route. The central processing unit judges whether or not one information storage unit has been replaced by another and, when replaced, if the destination has not been reached, conducts another route search from the current position to the destination.

Abstract: A navigation system calculates a route from a present position of a vehicle to a destination and provides guidance based on the calculated route. When the vehicle is within a given distance from a next approaching branch point requiring guidance, branch points existing within a given distance from next approaching branch point are determined and direction information for the branch points is acquired. The acquired direction information is compared with direction information at the next approaching branch point, and a common direction information is displayed based on the result of the comparison. Also, the navigation system according to the present invention detects a name of an interchange where the vehicle is to exit from the course and a distance to said interchange based on the present position of the vehicle in case the road where the vehicle is currently driven along is an expressway or a toll road.

Abstract: Road or other guidance is provided by displaying a structure-shape map showing building shapes and roads. Drawing of building shapes on the map is restricted according to a specific condition, e.g. the travel condition of the vehicle, or the screen scroll mode, by setting the display color for building shapes to the same color as that for a background, or by not drawing any of them, thereby preventing the screen from becoming difficult to see even during scrolling. For the structure-shape map, a storage device (3) stores map data having a name and a coordinate string for each shape of various structures and information belonging to each structure. A guidance controller (4) decides colors, color densities, patterns thereof, etc. for shapes as display modes on the basis of information belonging to the structures, e.g. the classification and height of each structure, and other detailed information (e.g.

Abstract: In order to calculate the traveling distance and heading of a vehicle in highly accurate fashion, a navigation system is provided with a distance sensor for outputting pulses in proportion to rotation of a wheel, a GPS receiving unit for calculating vehicle speed by GPS reception, acquisition unit for acquiring the number of pulses at the same time as GPS reception, distance correction coefficient calculating unit for calculating GPS traveling distance from the GPS-reception vehicle speed and a time difference between any two points, and calculating a distance correction coefficient from the GPS traveling distance and a pulse difference between two points, and present position calculating unit for calculating present position based upon a corrected distance correction coefficient.

Abstract: A structure configuration map display system includes a controller for depicting and displaying a structure configuration map based on structure configuration map information. The system provides for searching and guidance relative to a structure designated as a target point. A display form corresponding to the structure information for the target point is determined and the display form of the target point is changed based on the results of that determination and is displayed so that a user can easily recognize the desired facility by its display form which corresponds to stored structure information. Also, the user can easily identify a facility as the desired facility and can obtain reliable guidance to that target point by the display form which indicates the type of the structure.

Abstract: Upon recognizing the shapes of buildings or facilities, the buildings or facilities can be identified and destinations can be designated simply and easily. The display of a house map and a road map is changed over depending upon predetermined conditions. This makes it easy to navigate to the destination. When the destination is shown on the house map, a guide route is identified on a road adjacent to the building at the destination. This makes it easy to see where in the vicinity of the destination the car arrives.