Abstract: A position input system for a vehicular navigation apparatus includes an input unit for inputting a desired destination and a present position, a memory unit for storing desired destination information and map information, and a display unit for outputting the desired destination information and map information in response to input information from the input unit. The map information is indicative of intersections and a geographical point located between intersections and possessing useful guidance information. A desired destination and present position are capable of being inputted by setting the useful guidance information between a road leading to and a road leading from the geographical point. This makes it possible to enter position simply and accurately. Positions are precise since they are selected from pre-stored information relating to geographical locations. Vehicle direction can also be inputted in accurate fashion where parking lot exits and intersections are concerned.

Abstract: Navigation data (26) are generated by performing course exploration up to a destination using path data (26), which include information relating to intersections and road information, in response to input of the destination. Course guidance to the destination is provided while present-position pursuit (37) is performed. Course guidance at an end-point of a present-position road is outputted using guidance information for travel to a destination at every intersection obtained from the road network data (26) by course exploration. At an intersection, a road in a direction of travel is recognized by the present-position pursuit means (37), present position on this road is kept track of and the end-point intersection of the road is recognized.

Abstract: A vehicular navigation apparatus, which is equipped with a help function, for outputting guidance information for travel to a desired destination includes an input unit having desired destination input means, present position input means and help function input means, a memory unit for storing desired destination information, and a display unit for outputting the guidance information in response to input information from the input unit, wherein the memory unit is provided with a non-volatile RAM, with necessary information being saved in an area of the non-volatile RAM when a help function is called by the help function input means.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus having road system data 6 which represents information of connections and coordinates of intersections and roads between intersections, a travel distance sensor 2, steering angle sensor 3, a present position calculating module 4 for calculating the present position with a unit distance between an intersection and the terminal intersection of a going-out road selected at the former intersection. The apparatus is further provided with a module 15 for generating data on the direction of traveling to a destination point at respective intersections, and a guidance outputting module 5. Traveling direction data is made in response to inputting of the destination point, the present position is determined by selecting a going-out road with the present position calculating module with respect to each intersection, and guidance data on the traveling direction at the terminal intersection of the present road is thereafter output.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus for navigating a vehicle in accordance with a preset course while measuring distance travelled and steering angle is characterized by presetting distance information for guidance along the course, and outputting guidance relating to the pertinent distance information in the form of travelling conditions corresponding to the preset distance information. Distance information for guiding a driver along the course is preset. Therefore, even if it is a long distance to an intersection at which the next turn is to be made, whenever the vehicle has traveled a fixed distance the driver is unfailingly supplied with distance information relating to the intersection at which the next turn is to be made and with distance information relating to distinguishing features seen along the course, such as facilities and scenery, during the time the vehicle is travelling between the intersections.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus for navigating an automotive vehicle in accordance with a preset course while measuring distance travelled and steering angle is characterized by previously storing positions of charactering features along the course and guidance information relating to said characterizing features, correlating travelling distance and the positions of the characterizing features, and outputting guidance information relating to a particular characterizing feature on the condition that said characterizing feature has been approached. Guidance information relating to a particular characterizing feature is outputted when the vehicle has approached this characterizing feature. Thereof, by matching this guidance information with the circumstances along the course, the driver can verify during travel whether the course is correct or not.

Abstract: In a navigation system, during navigation between guidance intersections A and B, a next named intersection C is displayed along with the distance remaining until the named intersection B is reached. After the vehicle has entered the distance error correction range, illumination color of the display of the next named intersection C is changed into, for example, red. If a corresponding portion of the display screen is touched at the time of passage though the intersection, a distance error is corrected. The invention thus makes it possible to readily correct distance errors with accuracy. Even during navigation along a straight road, distance correction can be performed at specific intersections. The invention also makes it possible to track the present position with accuracy by increasing the frequency of distance error correction.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus for navigating a vehicle in accordance with a preset course while measuring distance travelled and steering angle has voice track indication means in which voice track indications corresponding to the distance remaining to an intersection at which the next turn is to be made are outputted as the intersection is approached. When the distance from this intersection to the next intersection requiring a turn is less than a predetermined value, a voice track indication pointing out a lane into which the vehicle should be steered following the turn at the former intersection is outputted after the final voice track indication given just before the vehicle reaches this intersection. When it is required that a turn be made at the latter intersection immediately after the turn at the former intersection, the lane information for the turn at the latter intersection is outputted before the vehicle is turned at the former intersection.