United States Patent m
Sawada
US005754430A [11] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:
[54] CAR NAVIGATION SYSTEM
[75] Inventor: Yasuhiro Sawada. Wako, Japan
[73] Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha. Tokyo, Japan
[21] Appl. No.: 407,418
[22] Filed: Mar. 17,1995
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data
Mar. 29, 1994 [JP] Japan 6-059250
[51] Int. CI.6 G06F 165/00
[52] U.S. CI 364/4493; 364/449.5;
340/990; 340/995
[58] Field of Search 364/443.444.2,
364/449.2, 449.5. 449.1. 449.3; 73/178 R;
340/988. 990. 995
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,827,420 5/1989 Musa 364/449
4,992,947 2/1991 Nimura et al 364/444
5,107,433 4/1992 Helldorfer et al 364/444
5,115,399 5/1992 Nimura et al 364/444
5,191,532 3/1993 Morotoetal 364/444
5,353,034 10/1994 Sato et al 364/449
5,359,527 10/1994 Takanabe et al 364/444
5,422,815 6/1995 Hijikata 364/443
5,452.212 9/1995 Yokoyama et al 364/444
5,486,822 1/1996 Tenmoku et al 364/444
5,508,931 4/1996 Snider 364/444
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
60-202307 10/1985 Japan.
3257485 11/1991 Japan.
4219872 8/1992 Japan.
599678 4/1993 Japan.
Primary Examiner—Gary Chin
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Lyon & Lyon LLP
[57] ABSTRACT
A car navigation system including route judgment means for judging whether an input place name is suitable for a route extending to a destination, and judgment result output means for outputting a judgment result, so that a car can be guided and navigated along a suitable route extending to the destination by inputting a place name written on a road sign or the like. The judgment result is output with a voice message or image display. When plural place names are input, the judgment is made on each of the place names, and the most suitable place name is selected and output.
14 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
