US 6,417,786 B2 · Vehicle navigation system with removable positioning receiver

Abstract

A navigation system includes a portable receiver unit that can be carried about by hand and used by an individual to determine position information through a global positioning system. The portable receiver is supported within a housing that is selectively received by and removable from a docking station that is permanently mounted within a vehicle. The housing supports a first display that provides an indication of position information to an individual utilizing the portable receiver unit. A second display is provided within the vehicle to provide an indication of vehicle position information whenever the housing is received within the docking station in the vehicle. An electronic controller associated with the vehicle preferably controls the activation states of the first and second displays when the receiver housing is received within the docking station.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A navigation system for use with a vehicle, comprising:

a housing;
a receiver supported within the housing that receives signals that are indicative of a position of the receiver;
a display supported by the housing for displaying information regarding the position of the receiver relative to previously determined reference points;
a docking station supported within the vehicle that selectively receives the housing so that the receiver is usable within the vehicle and is selectively removable from the vehicle to be used remote from the vehicle;
a second display supported in the vehicle and an electronic controller associated with the vehicle wherein the electronic controller activates the second display to display information regarding location of the vehicle when the housing is received in the docking station;
and
at least one switch remotely located from the housing, wherein the switch is manipulatable to select which displays will display the information regarding location of the vehicle.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vehicle navigation system with removable positioning receiver

Life of this patent

Vehicle navigation system with removable positioning receiver

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15