Correction method and intelligent vehicle guidance system for a composite-navigation of a motor vehicle

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: receiving a navigation signal from at least one of a vehicle sensor and a navigation device.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of: forming a driving area as a function of the navigation signal.

Claim 5

The method according to claim 1, wherein the first error range and the second error range include at least one of a one-dimensional area and a two-dimensional area for at least one of a linear error range, a transverse error range and a directional error range.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of: correcting the linear error range of the composite navigation arrangement as a function of a difference between the estimated position and the designated position.

Claim 7

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: extracting the map from the map memory.

Claim 8

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: after selecting the designated position, evaluating each possible position, while plausible, as a potential subsequently designated position.

Claim 9

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: after selecting the designated road, evaluating each road, while plausible, of the roads as a potential subsequently designated road.

Claim 10

The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of: determining substantially parallel roads, where present, for each one of tho potential subsequently designated roads.

Claim 11

The method according to claim 1, wherein the designated position is output on a road map display.

Claim 12

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: extending along one of the roads, the extended road maintaining initially information about the roads.

Claim 13

The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the designated road includes the step of comparing a first set of parameters of each of the roads with a second set of parameters including parameters ascertained from a navigational signal from at least one of a vehicle sensor and a navigation device.

Claim 14

The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the designated road includes the step of comparing a first set of parameters of each of the roads with a second set of parameters including at least one of an angle of inclination of the vehicle, actual slope of a road on which the vehicle travels and a length of time interval in which one of the roads has been plausible.

Claim 15

The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the designated road includes the step of using a hysteresis characteristic through which a change in a status of a previous designated road is delayed.

Claim 16

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: calculating a difference between the estimated position and the designated position subsequent to the vehicle rounding a curve of the designated road.

Claim 17

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: repositioning the estimated position of the vehicle using the data from a navigation-satellite receiver.

Claim 18

The method according to claim 16, wherein a particular road of the roads is not plausible if the particular road is entirely outside an error range of the navigation-satellite receiver.

Claim 19

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: using a guidance system, wherein, when an ambiguity occurs in selecting the designated road, conformity with a target route as determined by the guidance system is considered.

Claim 22

The method according to claim 19, wherein the second error range is a same size for all of the roads, the second error range being prescribed by tolerances of the sensor and tolerances of the navigation device.

Claim 23

The method according to claim 19, wherein the second error range is calculated for each of the roads.

Claim 24

The method according to claim 19, wherein each of the roads is associated with a respective error range, a size of the respective error range being determined by respective prescribed tolerances of the sensor.

Claim 25

A map-supported navigation system, comprising: a processing unit including a selector device and at least one computer for calculating parameters for roads that are substantially parallel to a vehicle direction; sensors coupled to the processing unit and providing navigational signals, the sensors ascertaining at least one of a vehicle direction and a distance traveled by the vehicle; a map memory coupled to the processing unit, the map memory providing data with respect to the roads; an input unit coupled to the processing unit; and an output unit coupled between the processing unit and the map memory, the output unit outputting a designated position of the vehicle, wherein the selector device accesses data with respect to the roads including data concerning an error range associated with each possible position on each of the roads, the selector device selecting a designated road by determining a likelihood that the designated road represents a road on which the vehicle is actually traveling, the error range including at least one of a one-dimensional area and a two-dimensional area for at least one of a linear error range, a transverse error range and a directional error range, the error range being determined concurrently for each possible position and being variable, and wherein the processing unit corrects the linear error range of a composite navigation arrangement as a function of a difference between an estimated position and the designated position, the estimated position determined using the composite navigation arrangement.

Claim 26

A map-supported navigation system, comprising: a processing unit including a selector device and at least one computer for calculating parameters for roads that are substantially parallel to a vehicle direction; sensors coupled to the processing unit and providing navigational signals, the sensors ascertaining at least one of a vehicle direction and a distance traveled by the vehicle; a map memory coupled to the processing unit, the map memory providing data with respect to the roads; an input unit coupled to the processing unit; and an output unit coupled between the processing unit and the map memory, the output unit outputting a designated position of the vehicle, wherein the selector device accesses data with respect to the roads including data concerning an error range associated with each possible position on each of the roads, the selector device selecting a designated road by determining a likelihood that the designated road represents a road on which the vehicle is actually traveling, the error range including at least one of a one-dimensional area and a two-dimensional area for at least one of a linear error range, a transverse error range and a directional error range, the error range being determined concurrently for each possible position and being variable, and wherein the processing unit corrects the linear error range of a composite navigation arrangement as a function of a difference between an estimated position and the designated position, the estimated position determined using the composite navigation arrangement.

Claim 27

The map-supported navigation system according to claim 23, further comprising: a guidance unit coupled to the processing unit, to the output unit end to the input unit, the guidance unit assisting in selecting the designated road.

Claim 28

The map-supported navigation system according to claim 23, wherein the designated position is visually displayed on the output unit.

Claim 29

The map-supported navigation system according to claim 23, wherein the output unit displays the designated position on the designated road.

Claim 30

The map-supported navigation system according to claim 23, further comprising: a guidance unit coupled to the processing unit and to the input unit, the guidance unit generating a guidance starting position after entering a target destination via an input unit.

Claim 31

The map-supported navigation system according to claim 23, further comprising: a navigation-satellite receiver coupled to the processing unit, the navigation-satellite receiver using the received data to reposition the estimated position of the vehicle.