NL8007077A - ROUTE INDICATION SYSTEM. - Google Patents

Description

Λ j, JST.O. 29,746 Route indication system.

The invention relates to a route indication system, provided with route indication means.

Such a system is generally known, in which the route indicating means consist of traffic signs fixed at traffic intersections, or signposts in large buildings.

At traffic intersections, usually only a small number of destinations are indicated, because too many a number of destinations would create an unclear situation. Because only a small number of destinations are indicated, it is always necessary to know at a selected destination which destination indicated at the intersection belongs to the selected destination. This often presents very great difficulties, especially in increasingly crowded traffic, where fast action is a requirement. Suddenly stopping to think and / or to ask leads to irrevocably dangerous traffic situations.

15 In large buildings and in large building complexes, a large number of destinations are usually indicated, which entails the above-mentioned disadvantage of the confusion, which means that a lot will be demanded from the personnel in the building. This is particularly troublesome in hospitals.

The object of the invention is to provide a route indication system, wherein the above-mentioned problems are avoided.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the route indicating means are formed by a display device in a movable device which is provided with at least one destination stored in a memory, and that a switching device is present which converts the destination into a destination. route indication signal that controls the display device to display a route indication associated with the destination.

Each user is thus provided with a movable or portable device, on which only 30 directions will appear at each intersection of traffic roads or corridors, so that the user is much less occupied with the search for the route. Furthermore, the system is of great importance for illiterate people in the developing world.

In one embodiment of the invention, the switching device comprises a comparison circuit which successively compares a destination signal corresponding to the destination with further destination signals read from the memory, thereby generating a route indication signal corresponding to the read destination signal which is the desired destination signal matches.

8007077 -2- V ^

In another embodiment of the invention, the switching device consists of a transmitter-receiver in the mobile device and at least one stationary transmitter-receiver is present, the transmitter-receiver in the mobile device being provided with converting means 5 which convert a destination into a destination signal. being transmitted, the stationary transmitter-receiver also comprising converting means which convert the destination destination signal corresponding to the destination into an associated route-indication signal which is transmitted to the transmitter-receiver in the mobile device and all there-display controls.

In yet another embodiment, the switching device consists of a receiving circuit in the mobile device and transmission circuits arranged at each intersection of routes are present, each of which transmits a number of destination signals valid for each intersection with the associated route indication signals in a predetermined relationship wherein the destination stored in the memory designates the corresponding received destination signal and, on the basis of the relationship, the associated route indication signal.

Further elaborations of the latter embodiment 20 are described in the accompanying subclaims.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a receiver according to the invention; FIG. 2 a block diagram of an embodiment of the transmitter according to the invention;

Fig. 3 a route example;

Fig. 4 is a detailed block diagram of an embodiment of a transmitter and receiver according to the invention; and FIG. 5 is a top view of an embodiment of the portable device according to the invention.

In principle, the route indication system consists of a movable device, which is provided with a display device, on which the direction to be taken is made visible by means of, for example, 35 arrows. The mobile device contains a memory in which a destination is stored. This memory stores the corresponding direction, for example left, straight or right, for every intersection between origin and destination. When a user of the device approaches the first intersection, a switching device that identifies the particular intersection concerned activates a switching device, 8007077 * -3-, which reads the route indication of the first intersection, the route generated thereby designation signal is applied to the display device to display a route designation associated with the destination. In one embodiment, the memory may contain all 5 possible destinations which are stored in the memory such that for each intersection destinations and associated routes are stored in assignment to each other. For example, a destination signal corresponding to the desired destination can be read from a readable memory (ROM). Furthermore, the switching device 10 comprises a comparison circuit, which can compare the destination signal corresponding to the desired destination for each intersection with possible destination signals read from the memory. When the user approaches the first intersection, the transmission reference signal is received, whereby the destinations associated with the intersection route-15 designations are designated. The comparison circuit compares the destination signal corresponding to the desired destination with the destination signals applicable to the intersection and, by agreement between them, the route indication signal is generated, which corresponds to the read-out destination signal, which in turn corresponds to the desired destination signal. The same operations are performed for the intersections between origin and destination.

According to another aspect of the invention, the switching device consists of a transmitter-receiver, which is accommodated in the movable device. Furthermore, at least one stationary transmitter-receiver is present. The transceiver in the movable device is provided with converting means, which convert a desired destination into a destination signal which is broadcast. The conversion means may, for example, consist of a read-only memory (ROM) in which the desired destination is stored. By reading out the memory, the destination signal associated with the desired destination is generated, which is applied to the transmitting part of the transmitter-receiver of the movable device. When the user approaches an intersection with his movable or portable device, the receiver of the device receives a transmit reference signal identifying the intersection. In response to this transmit reference signal, the above-mentioned destination signal plus the transmit reference signal are transmitted. The destination signal and reference signal are received in the stationary transceiver, which also includes conversion means. These converting means convert the received destination signal into an associated route indication signal, which 40 is transmitted together with the destination signal to the transmitter-receiver in the mobile device and controls the display there. The destination signal is used to designate the device (s) with the desired destination. The route indication signals are stored in a memory. The converting means can for instance consist of a matrix with several intersections. The code of the received destination signal controls the intersections of the matrix, so that predetermined intersections are connected at a specific destination signal. This determines a route to the memory location in which the associated route indication signal is stored.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be explained.

The movable device is provided with a receiver with a number of pre-programmable binary codes assigned thereto, composed of a destination code and a route indication or instruction code. These instruction codes make symbols, such as direction arrows, floor number, and any associated texts visible by means of a display device.

A transmitter is placed at every intersection. The number of channels therefore depends on the routes and final destinations to be followed. Each transmitter 20 transmits a number of pre-programmed codes consisting of a destination code followed by an instruction code.

The aim of this system is to find a number of pre-programmable final destinations solely by a receiver provided with a display device with direction indicators.

The movable or portable device consists of a receiver 1 which converts the received signal into a binary code consisting of a destination signal followed by an instruction signal. In the comparator 2, the received binary codes are compared with a destination signal stored in the memory 3, which corresponds to the desired destination. When the stored destination signal corresponds to one of the received binary codes, the instruction signal following the respective binary code is applied to the display and visualized thereon. This can for example be an arrow left, an arrow right, an arrow straight ahead, a circle for the destination reached, floor and any texts. An example of the layout of the display device is shown in Fig. 5.

It is clear that the comparison circuit is suitable for comparing a number of different final destinations to be determined.

40 As a safeguard against taking the portable device with them, the 8007077 -5- Φ- »comparison circuit 2 can be designed such that, upon receipt of a predetermined reception signal which is transmitted by, for example, a transmission bus at the output of the building, a transmission code is issued. which is transmitted via the inverter 4, after which an alarm can be triggered.

The transmitter according to Fig. 2 comprises a device 6 which transmits binary codes to the converter 5, which converter then transmits a transmission signal. The device 6 is provided with a memory in which all destination codes and instruction codes which are necessary for the associated destinations are stored.

The transmitting device can transmit a predetermined memory part via several transmitting antennas.

In Fig. 3 an example of a route in a hospital is illustrated. This route goes from the entrance and exit A to the X-ray department B and vice versa from the X-ray department B to the entrance and exit A.

A number of possible destination codes and direction indications are listed in the following table.

a s destination code x-ray department 20 b = destination code exit c = destination code waiting room d = destination code of a doctor's room 1 = left arrow 2 = straight arrow 25 3 = right arrow 4 = straight arrow 5 = on the spot (circle)

A person with a hand-held receiving device, in which the destination code a of the X-ray department A is stored, walks from the entrance and exit to the intersection shown. When it arrives at the transmitter I, the continuously transmitted destination codes with associated instruction codes are received. The destination codes are compared with the destination codes stored in the memory of the receiver, in this case the destination code a of the X-ray department. In this case, the transmitter 1 already transmits the code, which means that first the destination code a is transmitted and then the instruction code 1 for the left arrow. It is clear that in addition to this code and the code b4 for the output, a large number of other destination codes with the associated instruction codes are transmitted. When the received destination 40 code is the code for the X-ray department, only the associated 3007077 -6 instruction 1 is passed. In this case, this is the left arrow. After all, the schedule of broadcast signals has been designed in advance such that the instruction arrow to the left follows the destination code of the X-ray department.

The transmitter I also transmits the destination and instruction code bA.

5 This code is important for reaching the exit. When the destination code b is compared with the code a of the X-ray department stored in the movable device, the instruction A following the destination code b is not carried out, because the relevant destination codes are not the same.

When the person reaches the transmitter IV, the destination and instruction codes transmitted thereby are again received by the movable device. After comparison, this results in the instruction A, which represents the arrow straight ahead.

In the event that the person does not turn left to the transmitter IV, but walks 15 straight or right, he receives the signals from the relevant transmitters II and III and the subsequent instructions 2 and 3 are refused because one of the transmitted destination codes matches - with the destination code of the X-ray department. In this case, an error instruction appears on the display device of the movable device.

20 The correct direction at the final destination is always indicated by an instruction code A.

When the person arrives at the final destination transmitter V, the mobile device receives the code a5 and after comparison the instruction code 5 is executed, which results in for instance a circle 0 plus possibly the text "report here".

When the person walks in the direction of the exit, the transmitter IV receives the destination and instruction code b3, which results in a right arrow on the display. At the transmitter I, the destination instruction codes bA are important, which make an arrow straight on the display device visible.

A postal code application is explained below.

The movable device is assigned a predefined binary code. This binary code is obtained by keying in the post-code of the final destination on a keyboard of the mobile device, after which it is converted into a binary code via a decoder. The code therefore consists of four numbers from 0 to 9 and two letters of the alphabet to identify the subareas, such as ~ region, place and street, of the area to be connected.

A0 8007077 »'Γ"% -7- Ιη the area to be connected is placed at each intersection a transmitter aimed at the approach road. This transmitter transmits the destination codes applicable at the intersection, each with the direction instruction. out of the 5 total code, which therefore consists of a first part for the destination and a second part for the direction. The codes required at the particular location are continuously transmitted in succession. The instructions received can be displayed on a display device, and include: a: left arrow; 10 b: right arrow; c: straight arrow; d: circle for final destination; and e: display section for displaying alphanumeric information and for checking postal code.

The receiver of the movable device will successively compare the first digit of the transmitted codes with that of the previously entered postal code and follow the corresponding instructions up to the first transmitter which after the digit code indicates the on-site instruction code, after which the second digit is switched.

20 If you enter the area identified by the second digit, you switch to the third digit and then to the fourth digit. Finally, the street and block specified by the entered post code are reached.

One is always pointed to the destination by the shortest route, 25 but one can specify a specific route by first entering the postal code of the place (or places) in a memory present in the receiver and only then the final destination. The receiver will always switch automatically to the next destination.

By using transmitters coupled to a central control unit, traffic can be easily diverted or warned by the alphanumeric display for traffic jams, fog, etc. Here the relationships between destination signals and route signs or directions are changed in accordance with the desired detours.

The system can work with different transfer signals.

Infrared signals are preferably used, which is particularly important when the system is used not on traffic roads but in hospitals, where already so many different frequencies are used.

40 8007077 -8-

Figure 4 illustrates a detailed block diagram of a preferred embodiment.

The transmitter code.

The transmission circuit (upper left part of figure 4) 5 transmits in succession all destination signals II and instruction signals III, which belong to the respective destinations. Three types of pulses are emitted.

1st. The starting pulse I, which lasts for three time units (time unit t) 2e. The logic 1, which takes a time unit; and 10 3rd. The logic 0, which takes a fourth unit of time.

An example of a transmitted signal is shown in the bottom left of Figure 4.

Destination code II follows the start pulse I. The destination code consists of 8 pulses with a duration t = 1 or a 1/4 followed by a 15 short pause. After the destination code, the instruction code III which consists of four pulses is transmitted and immediately afterwards four pulses of the inverted instruction code III. Then the next starting pulse I for another destination follows.

The transmitter circuit 20 For each transmitter output, the destination codes are programmed with the instruction codes in a memory 12 (for example RRM, R0M, or PROM).

The destination codes II are at the even addresses and the instruction codes III at the odd addresses of the memory 12. The oscillator 7 supplies pulses of 3 approximately 30 kH with a pulse length of 1/4 t and a pause of 1/4 t.

These pulses reach the transmitter 8 via an OR gate 9 and control the register 10 which in turn controls the shift register 11. The starting pulse I comes from the register 10 and is supplied to the transmitter 8 via the OR gate 9. When a starting pulse I occurs, the start thereof coincides with the 1/4 t oscillatory pulse and also with the following two pulses from the Oscillator 7. In this case, the short pulses are not found again on the transmitter 8, since they coincide completely with the longer starting pulse.

The address counter 13, which is controlled by the register 10 and the oscillator 7, reads out the memory 12 via a read circuit which is not shown and successively applies the destination codes and associated instruction codes to the shift register 11. When a destination code and an associated instruction code has been read into the shift register, the contents of the shift register 11 (which was previously the memory contents) are read in series and supplied to the transmitter 40 via the OR gate 9. If a logic "0" comes out of the shift register 11, 8007077 -9- nothing else happens and only the 1/4 t pulse is transmitted. When a logic "1" comes from shift register 11, the transmitter pulse becomes 1t. The pulse of 1/4 t can no longer be found.

At several transmit outputs, the register 10, the address-5 counter 13 and the oscillator 7 occur only once as a common part. The shift register 11, the memory 12 and the transmitter 8 then occur once per transmit output. The memory 12 can also be included in the common part. The address counter 13, register 10 and oscillator 7 ensure that the signals reach the correct transmitter output. At a final destination, the memory can be replaced by a data selector that can be programmed with switches. With these transmitters, a standby power supply can also be omitted.

The receiver circuit

The receiving circuit (top right of Figure 4) comprises a receiver 14 which receives the pulses from the transmitter 8. First, the three kinds of pulses in the pulse detector 15 must be detected, which pulses are emitted by the transmitter. After receiving a start pulse 3t, a shift register 16 with a serial output and a parallel output is reset, so that all outputs of the shift register 16 have a logic value of "0". The pulses following the start pulse I have a duration of 1 t or 1/4 t depending on the destination. When a pulse of 1t duration is received, the data input of the shift register 16 becomes a logic "1" and a clock pulse follows, so that a logic "1" appears on the first output. At a pulse of 1/4 t only a clock-25 pulse is given, so that a logic "0" is inserted into the shift register 16. After receiving the 8 pulses from the destination code II, the binary values present on the output of the shift register 16 are compared by means of the comparison circuit 17 with the destination code stored in the memory 18 corresponding to the desired destination.

30 If the comparison turns out negative, nothing is done and the next start pulse is awaited. If the comparison is positive, the instruction code following the destination code is shifted into the shift register 16 and is switched through the instruction detector 19 to the display device 20 and the direction arrow corresponding to the instruction code is located there.

In another embodiment, after the comparison has taken place, the instruction code is written into the shift register 16, so that the destination code is overwritten. When the received destination code corresponds to the destination code 40 stored in the memory 18, the instruction detector 19 connected to the output of the shift register 16 is released via the line a, so that the instruction code is further switched to the display device 20 and there the associated directional arrow lights up for the stored control code or the corresponding instruction code. If the received control code 5 does not correspond to the stored destination code, the instruction detector 19 is blocked via the conductor 1.

For transmission protection, the instruction code is transmitted again in inverted form. If the instruction code is correctly received, the first four pulses or bits must be inversely equal to the last four bits. This is monitored by the instruction code comparator 21 When the signal is received correctly, the relevant instruction is displayed on the display device 20, because the instruction detector 19 is released via the conductor b. The instruction detector 19 is only released when a release signal occurs on both conductors a and b.

The memory 18 contains the destination code at the first address and the storey at the second address, etc. The memory content is constantly read by the decoding and multiplex reading circuit 22 and displayed on the seven-segment display device, so that the destination number is always -mer can read the floor on which it is located.

20 By operating push buttons 25 to 28 and / or A to D you can choose between the different destinations. The destinations 25 to 28 are in principle always the same, while A to D depend on the departments to be visited that are programmed at the entrance. The destination 25 keyed in is entered into the memory 18 via the address decoder 24.

Figure 5 shows as an example the control panel 29 of the mobile or portable device, which consists of a number of keys 30-37 and a display panel 38. Depending on the instruction code, an arrow 39, 40 or 41 can be made visible on the display panel. , which arrows indicate the direction the user must take. Furthermore, a circle 42 can be made visible when the instruction code indicates that the destination has been reached. Optionally, a text can be made visible such as "report here". The keyed-in destination is displayed on the part 43 of the display panel 38.

By pressing the key 30, the digits 0 to 9 successively appear in the first position of the part 43 and when the push-button 30 is released the displayed digit remains. With the key 31 a digit can be shown in the second position of the part 43. The same applies to keys 32, 33 and positions 3 and 4, respectively.

40 8007077 -11-

Thus one can key in a destination, which becomes visible on the part 43.

It is also possible to enter the post code in succession with numbers and letters, whereby the letters can be keyed in and made visible with the keys 34 and 35. After pressing the key 36, the destination is stored in the memory 18 and the device starts to operate with the first pressed destination code or post code. With the key 37 the entered information can be deleted again and it is possible to key in again. The entered code then appears on the image.

* -Conclusions- 8007077

Claims (18)

1. Route indication system provided with route indication means, characterized in that the route indication means are constituted by a display device in a movable device which is provided with at least one destination stored in a memory, and that a switching device is present, which converts the destination into a route indication signal that controls the display device to display a route indication associated with the destination. 2. System as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the switching device comprises a comparison circuit, which successively compares a destination signal corresponding to the destination with further destination signals read from the memory, wherein a route indication signal is associated with the read destination signal corresponding to the desired destination signal. 3. System as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the switching device consists of a transmitter-receiver in the movable appliance and that at least one stationary transmitter-receiver is present, that the transmitter-receiver in the movable appliance is provided with conversion means which convert a destination into a destination signal that is broadcast and that the stationary transmitter-receiver is also provided with converting means which convert the received destination signal corresponding to the destination into a corresponding route-indication signal which is broadcast to the transmitter-receiver in the mobile device and controls the display there. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching device consists of a receiving circuit in the movable device and that transmit circuits are provided at each intersection of routes, each of which has a number of destination signals valid for each intersection with the corresponding broadcast route indication signals in a predetermined relationship, wherein the destination stored in the memory designates the corresponding received destination signal and, based on the relationship, the associated route indication signal. System as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that a comparison circuit is provided, one input of which is connected to the memory, while the other input thereof is supplied with the destination signals transmitted by a transmission circuit, in the case of a positive comparison result and based on the relation is only forwarded to the display device for the route indication signal associated with the stored destination. 8007077 -13- System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable device is provided with input means for the destinations. System according to claim 6, characterized in that the input means consist of a keyboard. System according to claim 5, characterized in that a shift register is present. with an input to which the received destination signals are applied, and an output connected to the input of the comparison circuit and to which the display device 10 is connected via a route indication signal detector which, when corresponding between one of the received destination signals and the stored destination, route indication signal associated with the respective received destination signal to the display device. System according to at least one of claims 4-8, characterized in that the route indication signal is transmitted and received after the associated destination signal. 10. A system according to at least one of claims 4-9, characterized in that the route indication signal consists of two successive signal parts which are inverse of each other, and that a control device is present, which compares the signal parts and the route indication signal detector when the signal parts are exactly each other 9 inverse. 11. System according to at least one of claims 5-10, characterized in that the display device has a part for displaying the stored destination, which part is connected to the memory via a decoding and multiplexing circuit which reads out the memory continuously . 12. System according to at least one of claims 5-11, characterized in that a keyboard for entering the destination is present and in that the contacts of the keys of the keyboard are connected to the memory via an encoding circuit. System according to at least one of claims 3 to 12, characterized in that a protection circuit is provided which, upon receipt of a predetermined signal, issues a transmission code, which is transmitted via an inverter and triggers an alarm. System according to at least one of claims 4 to 13, characterized in that the transmission circuit comprises a memory for storing destinations and an address counter controlled by a clock pulse generator, with which the memory locations of the memory are successively 8007077 -14- read out, wherein the associated destination signals are appended to the read out destination signals in a predetermined relationship, and the related signals are applied to the transmitter. System according to claim 14, characterized in that each route indication is stored in a memory location whose address, after scanning, follows the address of the destination containing memory location. 16. System as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that a route-indication register controlled by the clock pulse generator is present, which in turn comprises reading out the memory and a shift register connected to the output of the memory with a parallel input and controls a series output, and that the output of the route designation register on which a start pulse is generated, the series output of the shift register and the output of the clock pulse generator are connected to separate inputs of an OR gate, the output of which the composite signal to be transmitted can be taken. System according to at least one of claims 4 to 14, characterized in that the transmit circuits at the intersections are coupled to a common control device which can change the relations between destination signals and indicia on the basis of temporary situation changes. 18. System according to at least one of claims 4 to 17, characterized in that the transmitting and receiving circuits are arranged for infrared signals. 8007077