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US006662104B2
(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: us 6,662,104 B2
Ito et al. (45) Date of Patent: Dec. 9,2003
(54) NAVIGATION DEVICE
(75) Inventors: Yasunobu Ito, Anjo (JP); Kunihiro Yamada, Anjo (JP); Daisuke Kato, Anjo (JP)
(73) Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd. (JP)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ol this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 104 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 09/736,185
(22) Filed: Dec. 15, 2000
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2001/0023388 Al Sep. 20, 2001 (30) Foreign Application Priority Data
Feb. 22, 2000 (IP) 2000-044382
(51) Int. CI.7 G01M 17/00; G06F 19/00;
G06F 7/00; B60L 1/00; B60L 3/00
(52) U.S. CI 701/207; 701/33; 701/36;
307/10.1
(58) Field of Search 701/207, 33, 36;
340/825.06; 307/10.1
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,508,689 A * 4/1996 Rado et al 307/10.1
The navigation device ol the invention includes a main processing unit provided with a CPU and storage means; a sub-processing unit connected to the main processing unit; connectors lor connecting the main processing unit and the sub-processing unit; and lunctional components connected to the sub-processing unit. In this case, even when the specifications ol the various lunctional component (s) connected to the sub-processing unit are different, by designing and manulacturing the sub-processing unit in conformance with each component, the main processing unit can be designed and manulactured as a general-purpose (standardized) product. Therefore, not only is the mountability ol the navigation device improved, but also the cost thereol is reduced.
9 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
