| ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120130518 | MUSIC DATA REPRODUCTION APPARATUS - A music data reproduction apparatus can reproduce music data stored in a hierarchical folder with a simpler operation, and the reproduction can be started in a shorter time. An audio system for reproducing music data stored in a hierarchical format in one or more folders recorded on a memory includes a folder specifying unit for specifying one of the folders, a music data extracting unit for extracting music data stored in a lower-level folder under the folder that is specified by the folder specifying unit, and an audio processing unit for reproducing the music data that is extracted by the music data extracting unit. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20110307784 | AV APPARATUS - A scrollable list of AV contents to be displayed in an AV apparatus which outputs AV contents is provided. If the scrolling on an artwork list stops, the album attribute text of albums included in an artwork list is read from a portable music player. After that, the artworks of the albums are read from the portable music player from the album having its artwork at the center of the artwork list in the increasing order of the distances of display positions of the artworks to the artwork at the center. If the scrolling on the artwork list starts, the album attribute text of albums is read from the portable music player from the album having its artwork at the center of the artwork list in ascending order of the album numbers. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110292577 | FRONT PANEL APPARATUS - A front panel apparatus improves aesthetic qualities while avoiding interference between a display panel and a surrounding member. The front panel apparatus includes a display panel capable of pivoting in opening and closing directions, power transmission mechanisms that operate in tandem with the opening and closing operations of the display panel, and a lock mechanism that locks the display panel in a closed state and unlocks the display panel. Each power transmission mechanism includes a biasing lever linked to the rear surface of the display panel and capable of advancing and withdrawing, a driving gear, a pivot lever provided on a driving gear and linked to the biasing lever, an intermediate gear that interlocks with the driving gear, and a rack member that interlocks with the intermediate gear and is capable of ascending and descending. The rack members support corresponding pivot support shafts of the display panel. When the driving gears rotate in tandem with the opening and closing operations of the display panel, the intermediate gears rotate and drive the rack members, and the pivot support shafts ascend and descend as a result. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110288763 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING THREE-DIMENSIONAL ROUTE GUIDANCE - This invention relates to a route displaying method and apparatus in a navigation system. More specifically, this invention relates to a navigation-based apparatus and method to display a complete route presented in three-dimension. The navigation system may include a map adjusting unit to adjust visual ground of the map for the user. In one embodiment, the map adjusting unit can adjust the visual ground area convexly, so that the user can view the full route including the destination. In another embodiment, the map adjusting unit may adjust the visual ground area concavely to present more surrounding details of the vehicle to the user. The navigation system may also include a wireless communication device to retrieve the most current map and traffic information from a remote server, and communicatively couple with the map adjusting unit and a route generating unit to provide the most updated information with full route view to the user. The navigation system may also be integrated into a portable device such as a smartphone. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110251783 | NAVIGATION DEVICE AND GUIDE ROUTE SEARCH METHOD - A navigation device and a guide route search method prevents searching for a detour route, and shortens the time required for setting an eventual guide route. A first partial route is extracted from a first guide route found in accordance with map data divided into three hierarchical levels, based on information about a road network. The first guide route is the route from the current location to a destination. A second partial route is obtained by performing a route search between the nodes at opposite ends of the first partial route, based on the map data containing the lowest level. A second guide route is obtained by replacing the first partial route in the first guide route with the second partial route, and is set as the eventual guide route. Accordingly, a subsequent search operation is performed on a partial detour route in the first guide route, based on the map data containing the lowest level. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110246056 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENTLY USING A BATTERY IN A SMARTPHONE HAVING A NAVIGATION SYSTEM - This invention relates to a method and apparatus to optimize energy consumption in a mobile phone having a navigation system. More specifically, this invention relates to a navigation-based method and apparatus to efficiently use a smartphone battery to deliver the highest possible location accuracy to the driver. In one embodiment, when the driver is travelling from a complex route segment to a less complex route segment, a current location sensor is switched to another location sensor with lower location accuracy which consumes less battery power. In another embodiment, when the driver is travelling from a less complex route segment to a complex route segment, the navigation system continues to use a location sensor with lower accuracy until the navigation system determines that switching to higher accuracy location sensor is necessary to conserve more battery power. The navigation system can determine a best timing to switch according to the driver's familiarity with the route segment or geographical area. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110243527 | VIDEO PLAYBACK APPARATUS AND RESUME PLAYBACK METHOD - In response to a power-off operation occurring during playback of a BD-J Title by a video playback apparatus, data of a resume Movie Object is created and stored for playing an AV data interval between a current playback position of the AV data and a position that is a predetermined time after the current playback position. If the video playback apparatus is turned on again thereafter, the resume Movie Object is played based on the stored data of the resume Movie Object and then playback and output of the BD-J Title having been ready to be played during playback of the resume Movie Object are started from the end position of the AV data interval. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110213548 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING GUIDANCE FOR NAVIGATION SYSTEM - This invention relates to a display method and apparatus in a navigation system. More specifically, this invention relates to a navigation-based method and apparatus to provide guidance information to a driver without repeatedly performing route recalculation when the driver makes slight deviation from the road he or she is travelling on. In one embodiment of the present invention, guidance information is displayed on a user interface without generating a route. For example, when a vehicle is travelling either on a freeway or a surface road, a distance indicator provides distance information to nearby freeway junctions or streets. In another embodiment, when the vehicle is deviated from a calculated route, a route deviation detecting unit may detect whether the vehicle is deviating from the calculated route to a predetermined extent. If not, the original calculated route will not be recalculated. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110163829 | SUBSTRATE ATTENUATOR CIRCUIT - Disclosed is a substrate attenuator circuit having a thin, long conductive pattern with a plurality of bends on a substrate, with heat generation per unit area reduced to a small amount even at a low attenuation level. A linear conductive pattern configured to have a plurality of bends on a substrate is provided with output terminals at n portions thereof. The conductive pattern has a larger line width at a first stage conductive pattern portion defined in a portion from an input terminal to m output terminals (m| 07-07-2011 | |
| 20110143726 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ENHANCE NAVIGATION USER EXPERIENCE FOR A SMART PHONE DEVICE - This invention relates to a smart phone device integrated with a navigation system. More specifically, this invention is related to an apparatus and method to divert navigation guidance provided by the smart phone when an incoming call occurs to provide the user uninterrupted route guidance. In one aspect of the present invention, a communication system is integrated with the smart phone to divert the route guidance to a vehicle audio system or display screen when there is an incoming call. The communication system can also be integrated with a cradle, a haptic commander or a radio head unit, which can be communicatively connected with the smart phone and the vehicle, such that when the incoming call occurs, the route guidance can be transmitted from the smart phone to the vehicle audio system or display screen through the cradle, the haptic commander or the radio head unit. Furthermore, the communication system can continuously track the vehicle location, when the call is ended, a navigation system in the smart phone can be restarted to provide the driver the latest vehicle location and necessary route guidance. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110135141 | SPEAKER DEVICE - A speaker device has a magnet, outer yokes, and inner yokes which are assembled so that a magnetic gap is formed between the outer yoke and inner yokes over which a magnetic flux which is generated from the magnet cuts across. A voice coil unit which is linked to a diaphragm is disposed within the magnetic gap, and positioning members determine the positions of the inner yokes and the outer yokes which attach magnetically to the magnet such that a magnetic gap is formed. The speaker device has a magnetic circuit of which the construction facilitates assembly, and recycling of various individual parts is relatively easy. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110135140 | SPEAKER APPARATUS - A light weight and low profile speaker apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the speaker apparatus includes: a frame member; a magnetic circuit; a supporting member disposed on a bottom portion of the frame member for securing and supporting the magnetic circuit at an opposite circumferential end portion of a circumferential wall portion of a first yoke relative to a plate portion; a voice coil unit disposed inside a magnetic gap in the magnetic circuit; a coupling member disposed outward of the circumferential wall portion of the first yoke; and a diaphragm having an inner circumferential end portion coupled to the coupling member. The voice coil unit and the coupling member are joined by a joint member that extends in a direction transverse to the circumferential wall portion of the first yoke; and a space where the joint member joining the voice coil unit and the coupling member can move is formed in each of the circumferential wall portion of the first yoke and the supporting member. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110135139 | SPEAKER DEVICE - A speaker device includes a voice coil unit and a diaphragm linked to the voice coil unit. A first supporting unit and a second supporting unit elastically support the end portions of the voice coil unit so that the voice coil portion of the voice coil unit can vibrate within the magnetic gap in the direction of the face thereof. Each of the first supporting unit and the second supporting unit has a configuration that is in a shape bent so as to extend up and bend down from an end that is fixed to a fixing position. Thus, a speaker device in which the voice coil unit can vibrate with a greater amplitude is provided. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110107272 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AND DISPLAYING CONTENTS IN A USER INTERFACE - This invention relates to a display method and apparatus, and more particularly, this invention relates to a user interface with multiple applications which can be operated concurrently and/or independently by using simple finger gestures. Furthermore, the user is allowed to intuitively operate and control digital information, functions, applications, etc. to improve operability. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the user is able to use finger gesture to navigate the user interface via a virtual spindle metaphor to select different applications. The user can also split the user interface to at least two display segments which may contain different applications. Moreover, each display segment can be moved to a desirable location on the user interface to provide a seamless operation environment. This invention can also be used in vehicle navigation systems to reduce driver distraction when the display segments can be split and each application can be moved around, so that the passenger can operate the navigation system while the user is driving. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110093195 | MAP DISPLAY DEVICE AND MAP DISPLAY METHOD - A map display device that displays a map image around a vehicle position includes a display unit; a first storage unit storing map data including road data of a road and road-related information related to the road; a second storage unit storing adjustment data based on a relationship between display positions of the road data and the road-related information; and a map display control unit for calculating the display position of the road-related information based on the adjustment data for the individual road, and displaying the road-related information on a screen of the display unit. A road width to be displayed o the screen may be determined in accordance with the number of lanes and a road type. The adjustment data may be a distance between the display positions of the road and the road-related information, and may be determined in accordance with the road type and the road width. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110054778 | Method and Apparatus for Displaying Three-Dimensional Terrain and Route Guidance - According to one aspect of the present invention, an information display device for displaying three-dimensional route and terrain includes a plurality of databases for storing information; a display control unit to dynamically manage said information with different levels-of-detail (LODs); and a user interface communicatively coupled with the control unit to display said managed information with different levels of detail. In one embodiment, the control unit may include a terrain scaling unit which is configured to dynamically increase or decrease the height or “3D-ness” of the terrain based on the angle and height of the viewing. The control unit may also include an LOD control unit and a scene stitching unit. In addition, the information display device provides a three-dimensional real-time rendering environment including three-dimensional guidance information which allows the user to understand complex maneuvers without using two-dimensional overlays. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110022299 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO SEARCH AND PROCESS POI INFORMATION - This invention relates to an information delivery system and method. More specifically, this invention relates to an apparatus and method to search and retrieve additional Points-of-interest (POI) information to a user when basic POI information such as POI name, address, phone number, etc. is provided. In one aspect, the system includes an information managing unit to search, display and transmit POI information, a communication interface and a plurality of information providers adapted to stream information to the communication interface, and a communication network adapted to connect the information managing unit and the communication interface. In one embodiment, the basic information and an additional POI information search request can be transmitted from the information managing unit to the communication interface, and the communication interface is programmed to search for the additional POI information in the information providers and transmit the additional POI information back to the information managing unit. In another embodiment, the additional POI information may be filtered and organized before presenting to the user. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20100317370 | CONTENT DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD - This invention relates to an apparatus and method to provide event notifications to a user. More specifically, this invention is related to a content delivery system which provides event notifications to the user according to the user's current location and the content in the user's electronic device. Since the content, such as play count, number of songs, etc., may indicate the user's preference about some specific artists, this invention is particularly related to an intelligent content delivery system adapted to provide event notification to the user according to the user's preference. The content delivery system includes an event searching unit, a playback information retrieving unit and an information processing unit which is configured to determine whether to provide and display at least a portion of said first content information by analyzing a plurality of factors and managing said first content and second content information. The factors include but not limited to, whether the event location is within a predetermined distance from the current location, future event occurrence, and event ticket availability. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100305842 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FILTER AND DISPLAY ONLY POIs CLOSEST TO A ROUTE - This invention relates to an apparatus and a method to display Points-of-Interest (POIs) in a navigation system. More specifically, this invention relates to a navigation-based apparatus and method adapted to filter redundant POIs and display only the POIs closest to the route. In one aspect, the POI display apparatus in the navigation system includes a user interface to display maps and POI information, an information receiver adapted to receive a current location of a user, at least one database to store maps, road networks and POI information, a route generating unit to retrieve the map and road network data from the database and generate a calculated route, a POI searching unit to search POIs in a predetermined searching range and searching distance and a POI filtering unit to divide the POIs discovered by the searching unit into different categories, group the POIs with the same names in each category and sort the POIs in each group according to the distance from the calculated route. In one embodiment, the POI information can be transmitted to the navigation from a remote server or communication networks. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100299143 | Voice Recognition Dictionary Generation Apparatus and Voice Recognition Dictionary Generation Method - A voice recognition dictionary generation apparatus and method for suppressing reduction of processing speed at the time of updating. The apparatus includes an input unit configured to receive a text subjected to voice recognition, a storage unit configured to store the text with respect to each file of a predetermined item, a reading data generation unit configured to analyze the text and generate a reading data, and a voice recognition dictionary configured to include content dictionaries that store therein the reading data of the text with respect to each file of the predetermined item. When the file of the predetermined item including the text stored in the storage unit is updated, a control unit detects a total number of the content dictionaries, and when the total number is smaller than a predetermined limit, the control unit generates the content dictionaries with respect to each updated predetermined item. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100280819 | Dialog Design Apparatus and Method - This invention relates to a dialog design apparatus and method. More specifically, this invention relates to a state oriented dialog design apparatus and method to facilitate the creation of natural language dialogs and creating data structures for voice user interfaces. The dialog design apparatus may include inputting means for receiving a user's prompt; response generating means for the user to generating at least one response; dialog structure generating means for structurally managing the user's input and response; and output means for outputting and displaying at least one dialog structure. A state in the present invention may include at least one system prompt and at least one response, and a linking unit may link a first state to a second state related to the first state, link the second state to a third state, and so on until certain system actions are achieved. A loop detecting unit in the present invention detects and identifies loops in the dialog structure. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100217513 | Navigation Apparatus and Route Search Method - A navigation apparatus and route search method by which a roundabout route is avoided even if there is a segment with a regulation such as “no left turn” or “no entrance” are disclosed. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100142747 | Thermal management system for speaker system having vented frame for establishing air passages - A thermal management system improves thermal property of the speaker system by promoting air circulation to cool the speaker system. The thermal management system includes a speaker frame, an air guide formed on the speaker frame for guiding the air, a ventilation slit formed on the air guide which penetrates through the speaker frame for air communication, and a spider mounting ring for mounting a spider of the speaker system on the speaker frame. The spider mounting ring has a cut-out at its upper edge which positionally match the air guide. The cut-out is curved sharply at its upper surface while a lower edge of the spider mounting ring is gently curved, thereby creating an air passage of directional property. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100100647 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND INFORMATION SELECTING METHOD - An information processing apparatus and an information selecting method are disclosed which can easily restore an original state after checking the result of executing predetermined processing based on different information. If an operator of an operation unit is pressed in an already processed state where a processing execution unit is executing predetermined processing using already selected information set in a selected information memory, information assigned to the operator is newly set in the selected information memory to execute the predetermined processing with the processing execution unit. After that, if the pressed operator is released, the processing execution unit is restored to the already processed state. With this operation, after checking a new processing state using different information from already selected information by pressing an operator, the already processed state can be restored simply by releasing the pressed operator. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100057781 | MEDIA IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention relates to a media identification system and method. The system and method includes a media source, a signal controlling device, a communication device, a server and a user interface. The media source can be in various formats, such as audio, video and still frame. A medium signal is converted and processed in the signal controlling device to generate a server-recognizable code, which can be transmitted to the server through the communication device. The communication device can be a mobile phone, or other communication devices adapted to relay signals. A “short-long” range signal transmission is also disclosed in the present invention, wherein the “short range” signal transmission between the signal controlling device and the communication device may be achieved by a wireless radio or optical transmission-reception technology such as Bluetooth, while the “long range” signal transmission between the communication device and the server may be achieved by WiFi or regular mobile phone transmission. Upon receiving the server-recognizable code, the server can analyze and search for candidate matches in the database. Once the server identifies the media, the media identification information can be transmitted back to from the server and displayed on the user interface. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100030471 | POSITION DETECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD USED IN NAVIGATION SYSTEM - A position detecting apparatus and method used in a navigation system, which can improve positional accuracy and bearing accuracy even in a system equipped with few sensors, are provided. A position detecting apparatus used in a navigation system for detecting a vehicle position includes: a sensor unit including a vehicle speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, and an angular velocity sensor; and a dead reckoning calculating unit for calculating state quantity inclusive of a current vehicle position, a vehicle speed, and a vehicle attitude angle based on a signal output from each of the sensors at a predetermined periodic interval. The dead reckoning calculating unit includes: a movement calculating unit for calculating a movement during a period from a previous state quantity calculation time up to a current state quantity calculation time; a change amount detecting unit for calculating an amount of change in vehicle attitude; a movement resolving unit for resolving the movement into a vehicle longitudinal component, a vehicle lateral component, and a vehicle vertical component based on the amount of change in vehicle attitude; and a state quantity calculating unit for determining, by calculation, a vehicle position at the current state quantity calculation time using each of the components. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100002078 | PERIPHERY MONITORING APPARATUS - A vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus detects a three-dimensional object or obstacle even through a vehicle is stopped. When is stopping or parking, a processor controls operation to store a bird's-eye image obtained by viewpoint conversion unit of a captured image, which is captured by a rear camera immediately before the vehicle parks or stops. Thereafter, the obstacle is detected based on a difference between image portions corresponding to a same captured region in a bird's-eye image of a captured image obtained for each time period, and in the stored bird's-eye image. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20090295922 | IN-VEHICLE DEVICE - A process is repeated in which N state vectors each including, as elements, the position of a camera with respect to a vehicle, the posture of the camera, the width of a lane where the vehicle is driving, and the orientation of the vehicle with respect to the lane are changed according to a predetermined dynamics model, a reference state vector representing the positions of edges of lane marks included in an image captured by the camera is generated when each of the changed state vectors is true, considering the positions of edges of lane marks in the image as an observation vector, the degree of match between the reference state vector and the observation vector is calculated as the weight of the state vector, a weighted average vector of the state vectors is calculated, and N state vectors are resampled on the basis of the calculated weights. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090265727 | DISC DEVICE - When a normal disk having the diameter of 12 cm is inserted into the disk device, first and second optical detecting elements detect the insertion, and transitions to a first detection state, which initiates transfer operation of first and second transfer rollers. If the disk is further moved to an inner portion of the device, thus pressing first and second detecting pins, first and second detecting switches are turned OFF, and the detecting elements enter a second detection state. Before the transition from the first detection state to the second detection state occurs, a rotating speed of the first and second transfer rollers is set low. After transition to the second detection state, the rotating speed is increased. As a result, a card or other such foreign objects can be removed and a monitoring period can be increased until detection of a normal disk is detected. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090257734 | ON-VEHICLE VIDEO PLAYBACK APPARATUS - Provided is an on-vehicle video playback apparatus, which facilitates appropriate playback of contents on a WAN which have to be played back synchronously with contents recorded on a video disc. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090249209 | CONTENT REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND CONTENT REPRODUCING METHOD - A content reproducing apparatus and a content reproducing method reproduce sound from image data or music data from the beginning, in a case where music data and image data is obtained from a content storage device and reproduced in succession. An input receiving unit receives a user's input, an external-output requesting unit requests a content storage device to externally output contents, and a reproducing unit reproduces the contents. The external-output requesting unit requests the content storage device to externally output the corresponding music data and the corresponding image data in analog format based on the input received by the input receiving unit, in order to cause the reproduction unit to reproduce music data and image data in succession. As a result, the content reproducing apparatus and method eliminate the necessity of switching reproduction of digital (or analog) information to the reproduction of analog (or digital) information, for reproducing the image (or music) data immediately after the music (or image) data. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090231293 | TOUCH PANEL INPUT DEVICE AND PROCESSING EXECUTION METHOD - A touch panel input device and a processing execution method eliminates wasteful operations of a user and increases user convenience. If a state determination unit (multiple key press detection unit) detects that multiple operation keys displayed on a touch panel screen were multiply pressed, an operation control unit (first processing execution control unit) controls execution of processing corresponding to any one of the plural operation keys. A waiting unit sets a state, which causes processing to wait for a user to make a selection instruction to select and execute processing corresponding to the other operation key. If the selection instruction is accepted, the operation control unit (second processing execution control unit) controls execution of processing corresponding to the selection instruction so as to select and execute the processing corresponding to the other operation key, following the multiple key press. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090216440 | NAVIGATION APPARATUS - A navigation apparatus includes a satellite positioning section for calculating a present position, and a route setting section for searching for a route to a destination based on map data, and sets a detected route as a recommended route. A satellite positioning disable time guiding section sets as a focus point, a candidate point through which a vehicle first passes when traveling along the recommended route, and displays point guide information for guiding the focus point among candidate points as a route change point, when the satellite positioning section is incapable of calculating the present position. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090198443 | IN-VEHICLE NAVIGATION DEVICE AND PARKING SPACE GUIDING METHOD - An in-vehicle navigation device includes a display unit, a storage unit which stores detailed map data of a shopping mall, a position detection unit which detects the current position of a vehicle, and a control unit which, when the destination is set to a facility in the shopping mall, detects a parking section close to the facility as a recommended parking section, and which, when the vehicle is determined to have entered and left the recommended parking section, provides, via the display unit, guidance advising the return of the vehicle to the recommended parking section. When the vehicle is determined to have entered the shopping mall, the control unit may display a detailed map of the shopping mall on a display screen of the display unit, and may display the recommended parking section in a different manner from the manner in which the other parking sections are displayed. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090182557 | SOUND/VOICE PROCESSING APPARATUS, SOUND/VOICE PROCESSING METHOD, AND SOUND/VOICE PROCESSING PROGRAM - If a delay occurs in execution of sound/voice processing application software, and, as a result, MIC data is stored in a plurality of buffers, then a CPU identifies, based on a buffer list, a buffer in which newest MIC data is stored. The CPU reads the newest MIC data from the identified buffer and adjusts an output sound/voice level depending on an external sound/voice level, using the newest MIC data. | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090160940 | IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD AND IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS - An image display method for displaying a combined image by capturing images at areas surrounding a vehicle includes a) calculating a plurality of displacement vectors for a plurality of points taken on images captured by a plurality of cameras upon the application of a load that changes the attitude of a camera on the vehicle, and b) determining each image borderline between two adjacent images such that a difference in the directions of displacement vectors in the neighborhood of each image borderline between two adjacent images does not exceed a predetermined angle. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090121851 | Vehicle-Periphery Image Generating Apparatus and Method of Correcting Distortion of a Vehicle-Periphery Image - A vehicle-periphery image generating apparatus and a method of correcting distortion of vehicle-periphery image corrects distortion of the obstacle image appearing in the vehicle-periphery image after viewpoint conversion, so that visual discomfort experienced by the driver is reduced. Images around the vehicle are captured by a plurality of cameras, and an obstacle around the vehicle is detected by an ultrasonic sensor. When the obstacle is detected, a width of an image in the region positioned on the far side of the obstacle is compressed in the center direction of the images to generate the vehicle-periphery image. As a result, when a three-dimensional obstacle around the vehicle appears in an camera image, the camera image is viewpoint-converted so that enlargement or stretching of the obstacle image can be prevented. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090119003 | NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND ROUTE GUIDANCE METHOD - A navigation system provides guidance for performing a U-turn. The navigation system includes a processing unit, which acquires guidance route information and road information to determine whether the guidance route requires a turning around in a divided two-lane road. If a turning around is required, the processing unit specifies an extension distance of a connection road of the divided two-lane road. U-turn guidance is provided if the extension distance is at or below a predetermined length, or otherwise, to guidance is provided to prompt a double turn. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090037490 | MAP-UPDATING-DATA CREATING METHOD, AND MAP UPDATING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A map-updating-data creating apparatus performs, for each old map file, creating a map-updating file for rewriting the map file to a new map file, determining the serial number of each of the updated map files, creating a serial number management file in which marks are respectively written at positions corresponding to the serial numbers, and generating, as map-updating data, the map-updating file and the serial number management file. A navigation apparatus performs map-updating processing and determines, by referring to the serial number management file, whether a map file has already been updated. The navigation apparatus uses the map-updating file to execute navigation control if the map file has already been updated, and updates the map file and subsequently executes the navigation control if the map file has not been updated. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090005971 | DELIVERY MAP CREATION METHOD AND DEVICE AND DIFFERENTIAL DATA CREATION METHOD AND DEVICE - In a new map, links not constituting a new road and connected to links constituting the new road, are set as boundary links. Further, in an old map, the same links as the boundary links of the new map are set as boundary links of the old map. Then, in the new map, links connecting between the boundary links are searched for as new road constituent links. Further, in the old map, links connecting between the boundary links are searched for as deletion links. Then, link information of the respective boundary links of the old map data is replaced with link information of the respective boundary links of the corresponding new map data. The link information of the deletion links is then deleted from the old map data, and link information of the new road constituent links is added to the old map data, to thereby create delivery map data. | 01-01-2009 |
