DE19609345A1 - Orientation and bearing taking method for bicycle or similar navigation - Google Patents

Abstract

The navigation method involves using a displacement pulse transmitter for the transmitting of displacement pulses logically linked with directional data delivered by a digital compass, stored and which can be indicated as a travel distance. The unit for carrying out the method has a microcontroller for carrying out the logical linkage and is provided with a RAM storage for storing the results, as well as a display.

Description

Automatic orientation device and route recording for two-wheelers. Description of advantageous designs using the example of bicycle computers (FC).

In the expanding off-road biker area, such as mountain bike, but also in the Bicycle tourists or weekend trippers are increasingly popular accessories.

Bicycle computers (FC) have established themselves worldwide. They are now inexpensive, robust and easy to mount on any bike.

On current bike computers, the current driving speed is still displayed can e.g. B. travel distance, max. Speed, travel time, time etc. called up at the push of a button will.

In principle, these bike computers have so far only allowed one speed, distance and Time monitoring.

However, a major advantage for the user would be if he also added his position, i. H. its starting position, its current actual position and the distance traveled Route course as a lane, could read on the existing display of the FC.

As a result, the user can always see his starting point and his current position track and thus find his destination - (starting point or destination) without any additional aids.

The carrying of maps would be superfluous. (What is in the mountain bike area anyway aggravating or restricting the free driving pleasure).

An additional plug-in ROM card read / output unit implemented in the FC automatically the location and road course display enables path deviations via the Lane-road course comparison, immediately visible.

This essential further development of the conventional bicycle computer will follow to be discribed.

The "bicycle navigator" is designed with the aim:

• - start position
• - Actual position (location pos.)
• - covered route as a lane - (optionally with "faded in" Road course or location display)
• - destination location
• - Distance traveled in km

automatically and graphically on the extended or modified display of the bike computer to be displayed or made available at any time at the push of a button.

System description

The system largely uses the existing hardware components of the conventional Bike computer and is only around the additional functional levels with the required Components expanded or modified.

This is intended to achieve a consumer-friendly and cost-effective implementation.

However, a new concept makes sense due to the expansion of functions and the size of the display.  

1. Orientation device

The "Orientation device components" electronic compass ( 1 ) or GPS system ( 2 ) deliver the current position data depending on a defined coordinate system ( 10 ), z. B. in relation to the cardinal points: north, south, east, west.

The position data are preferably generated from a digital (electronic) compass ( 1 ) integrated in the FC. - Little hardware effort.

Alternatively, a modified satellite road navigation system GPS system ( 2 ) (Global Positioning System) would be suitable as a position transmitter.

(GPS systems are already on the market in compact form, e.g. as PCMCIA cards. You are characterized by high positioning accuracy, accurate to 30 m).

The digital position data are linked or calculated (e.g. polygon calculation) using a microcontroller ( 3 ) with the distance impulses from the wheel revolution (distance pulse generator ( 4 )) and stored in a RAM ( 5 ).

Simultaneously, a properly modified LCD matrix display ( 6 ) of the bicycle computer is electronically controlled in such a way that the representation of the route can be displayed as a covered "lane" (polygon).

The size and resolution of the LCD matrix must be designed for this purpose.

The control of the LCD matrix is state of the art.

An integrated ROM card read / output unit also enables the "fading in" of Roads or locations on the FC display.

The presentation of the following user information, such as

• - Output pos. ( 7 )
• - actual position (Location) ( 8 )
• - Actual lane display (distance display ( 9 ))
• - Street or town directory display via Rome Card reading / output unit ( 15 , 16 )
• - target pos. ( 7 a)
• - Home Pos Distance (Km) display.

Etc. are preferably related to the wind direction system: north, south, east, west ( 10 ).

This ensures conformity with the general orientation agreements or with the usual ones Road map references reached.

2. Path impulse evaluation

The current impulses for the conventional speed and distance display (mostly 1 imp. Per revolution) are taken over by the rotating front wheel encoder ( 4 ) as before or can be accessed directly from the bike computer.

The route representation ( 9 ) from the starting position. ( 7 ) to the location of item ( 8 ) takes place simultaneously with the item data transmitted from the compass ( 1 ) and data generated by the pulse generator ( 4 ).

(This "pulse generator ( 4 )" is available in conventional FC to display the functions, mileage, speed display, etc., ie the path impulses can be tapped directly from there).

Alternatively, the route representation ( 9 ) or the starting point and location can be determined from the GPS system ( 2 ).

The impulses from distance and direction are then calculated as described above via the microcontroller ( 3 ) and implemented in a direction and route representation. (Task of the software).

3.Display LCD display ( 1 )

The existing display is expanded to a full-surface LCD matrix display ( 6 ). B. 200 × 200 pixel graphic display (preferably standard graphics with application-specific number of pixels).

The aim is to create a sophisticated representation of the information displayed, such as Route, starting point, location, destination, number of km traveled, etc. The Resolution can be achieved via the adjusted pixel density.

The display can be designed such that in addition, for. B. via using the Rom Card read street or place directories can be displayed.

In addition, the distance from the starting point to the location can be called up in km using the multifunction buttons ( 11 ) or is continuously displayed on the display panel ( 17 )

4th scale

The size of the course of the route on the display is via a in the micro-controller linked scale factor can be optimized.

This is to achieve an optimal size display on the FC's advertising space. The selection can be made using the existing multifunction buttons ( 11 ).

5. Direction pointer

Direction indicators ( 13 , 14 ) are provided for checking the direction of travel at any time.

The direction indicator ( 13 ) points in the direction currently being traveled, the north direction pointer ( 14 ) points in the north direction.

The difference values can also be calculated using the micro controller and the Peripherals are shown and displayed.

The direction pointer hardware ( 13 , 14 ) is preferably incorporated in the display.

With this device, the direction of travel and the direction of destination can be continuously monitored.

The optional, "underlaid", optically displayed street map allows this interaction additionally a safe target actual position. Comparison.

6. Location, destination entry 6.1 Location entry via reset button (set starting point, without destination entry) Simplest execution

A starting point ( 7 ) is created using the multifunction button ( 12 ). This is preferably arranged on the outer display field due to the use of the display and, depending on the direction of travel, can be set to the optimal starting position using the multifunction button.

It is important to set this point so that with optimal use of space, an optimal one Route track size - based on the display size - can be shown.  

After a break for longer than z. B. 15 seconds, a location point ( 8 ) is automatically calculated via the orientation components ( 1 or 2 ) with reference to the orientation directions ( 10 ) and displayed automatically.

These functions can be implemented using software.

6.2 Location-Destination Entry via location coordinate list or map coordinates

A starting point (starting point) ( 7 ) is set in a software-optimized manner on the LCD matrix by pressing the reset button ( 12 ). ("Automatically optimized adaptation").

That is, automatic optimization of the starting position depending on the direction of travel smooth adjustment.

The start ( 7 ) location ( 8 ) points and the intermediate route ( 9 ) as a recorded lane can be continuously calculated using appropriate software and area-optimized and at the same time space-optimized in the display.

Appropriate software solutions are available for this (state of the art).

(This "adjustment" takes place automatically taking into account the orientation coordinates and represents a comfort solution compared to the scale input according to point 4).

The coordinate values of the location and the destination can be programmed using the multifunction button ( 11 ) on the bike computer.

Application example

The value pairs for Erlangen become from the location coordinate list:
29/2 entered, for the destination Nuremberg 35/1.

After this entry, the cycle computer automatically sets the starting pos. ( 7 ) and target pos. ( 7 , 7 a).

A catalog of location-dependent coordinate pairs is provided as the location coordinate list. E.g. on Coordinates List of places or prominent points in a 50 km environment.

The location coordinate list can be implemented as a ROM map and created for the desired locations will. It is simply inserted as a plug-in card in the bike computer.

6.3 Bicycle navigator with plug-in ROM cards

In this variant, the desired data, such as B. road maps, by means of a plug-in ROM card read into the FC and shown on the display.

The ROM card read / output unit is integrated in the FC.

For this application, digital storage media such. B. ROM Card or PCMCIA cards with particularly suitable for all relevant road map data.

Such memory cards can each with the special radius road data, for. B. 50 km Environment from the starting point, as a vectorized graphic with a small space requirement getting produced.

(Such location-based, "digital environment maps" are very easy to use and could e.g. B. at kiosks, paper shops, etc.).

The lane created by the bicycle navigator then runs in line with the specification "overlaid" road map, and allows an optimal path-path deviation comparison.  

6.4 Reading in the locations and destinations via PC or CD ROM

In this solution, for. B. Road maps with location information from CD ROM or Internet adopted and via a data link or via IR data transmission (state of the art in PC technology), can be transferred to the internal RAM of the FC and saved directly via the PC.

The location ( 7 ) and destination ( 8 ) can then be read in on the display of the FC with the name of the place and the course of the street ( 9 ) etc. (Comfort version).

The road maps road course and the continuously updated "actual lane" also allow an optimal orientation.

Claims (2)

1. Orientation procedure for two-wheelers, dg. That of a displacement encoder Path impulses supplied with a digital compass Direction information linked, saved and visualized as a route will. 2. Device for performing the method, characterized by a Microcontroller for linking and a RAM memory for storing the Results; as well as a display.