System Description: Overview

Overview

The navigation system is a highly-sophisticated, hybrid locating system that uses satellites and a map database to show you where you are and to help guide you to a desired destination.

The navigation system receives signals from the global positioning system (GPS), a network of 24 satellites in orbit around the earth. By receiving signals from several of these satellites, the navigation system can determine the latitude, longitude, and elevation of the vehicle. In addition, signals from the system's yaw rate sensor and the PCM (vehicle speed pulse) enable the system to keep track of the vehicle's direction and speed of travel.

This hybrid system has advantages over a system that is either entirely self-contained or one that relies totally on the GPS. For example, the self-contained portion of the system can keep track of vehicle position even when satellite signals cannot be received. When the navigation system is on, the GPS can keep track of the vehicle position even when the vehicle is transported by ferry.

The navigation system applies all location, direction, and speed information to maps and calculates a route to the destination entered. As you drive to that destination, the system provides both visual and audio guidance.

This navigation system also has voice recognition that allows voice control of most of the navigation functions. The Navigation Talk and BACK buttons on the steering wheel activate the voice control. The voice control also allows control of the audio and climate functions.

The illumination signal (headlights ON) is used by the navigation unit to automatically switch the display between "Night" and "Day" brightness modes when display is set to Auto. When the instrument panel brightness control is set to full brightness (hold both "+" and "-" key at the same time), the navigation system stays in the day mode, even with the headlights on.

The GA-NET II bus passes information back and forth between the display panel control unit, the navigation unit and the audio system. The information passed on this bus are audio and climate control settings directed by the navigation unit.

The "Comm. Bus" connects the HFL, XM (AcuraLink), and navigation units. This bus supports these functions:
- The navigation control unit receives traffic and message information from the AcuraLink Control unit.
- The navigation control unit sends a POI phone number ("Calculate route to" screen) to the HFL for dialing.
- If vehicle problems are detected, and the customer's cellular contract includes data service, then the HFL can send vehicle data to the HFL unit for transmitting back to the AcuraLink servers.
- The AcuraLink server can pass additional problem details back through the HFL, to the AcuraLink Control unit, and finally to the navigation unit for display.