Acura RL. Manual - part 640

of the piezoelectric parts and "Coriolis force. "(Coriolis force deflects moving objects as a result of the
earth's rotation.) In the oscillation gyro, this force moves the sensor element when angular velocity is
applied.

Operation

1. The driving piezoelectric part oscillates the oscillator by repeatedly bending and returning when an

AC voltage of 6 kHz is applied to the part. The monitoring-side oscillator resonates because it is
connected to the driving-side oscillator by the metal block.

2. The monitoring piezoelectric part bends in proportion to the oscillation and outputs voltage (the

monitor signal). The navigation unit control circuit controls the drive signal to stabilize the monitor
signal.

3. When the vehicle is stopped, the detecting piezoelectric parts oscillate right and left with the

oscillators, but no signal is output because the parts are not bent (no angular force).

4. When the vehicle turns to the right, the sensor element moves in a circular motion with the right

oscillator bending forward and the left oscillator bending rearward. The amount of forward/rearward
bend varies according to the angular velocity of the vehicle.

5. The detecting piezoelectric parts output voltage (the yaw rate signal) according to the amount of bend.

The amount of vehicle direction change is determined by measuring this voltage.

Fig. 9: Enlarged View Of Sensor Element
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

The global positioning system (GPS) enables the navigation system to determine the current position of the
vehicle by using the signals transmitted from the satellites in orbit around the earth. The satellites transmit
the satellite identification signal, orbit information, transmission time signal, and other information. When
the GPS receiver receives a signal from four or more satellites simultaneously, it calculates the current
position of the vehicle based on the distance to each satellite and the satellite's position in its respective
orbit.

Position detection Image with GPS satellite

2007 Acura RL

2005-08 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Navigation System - RL

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Fig. 10: Identifying Global Positioning System (GPS)
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

Precision of GPS

The precision of the GPS varies according to the number of satellites from which signals are received and
the view of the sky. The precision is indicated by the color and shape of the GPS icon shown on the display.

GPS ICON COLOR CHART

GPS Antenna

The GPS antenna amplifies and transmits the signals received from the satellites to the GPS receiver.

GPS Receiver and Clock

The GPS receiver is built into the navigation unit. It calculates the vehicle position by receiving the signal
from the GPS antenna. The current time, vehicle position, and signal reception condition is transmitted from
the GPS receiver to the navigation control unit to adjust vehicle position.

Navigation Unit

The navigation unit calculates the vehicle position and guides you to the destination. The unit performs map
matching correction, GPS correction, and distance tuning. It also controls the menu functions and the DVD-

GPS ICON

COLOR

NUMBER OF

SATELLITES

CONDITION

DESCRIPTION

White GPS
icon

None

Faulty

The GPS can't be utilized due to a faulty
GPS receiver, open in the wire, or other
fault or interference.

2 or less

Impossible to detect
vehicle position

GPS function is normal. The satellite
signals received by the GPS are too few to
detect the vehicle position.

Green GPS
icon

Vehicle position
detectable in 2
dimensions

The longitude and latitude of the vehicle
position can be detected. (Less precise
than detection in three dimensions)

4 or more

Vehicle position
detectable in 3
dimensions (elevation
displayed)

The longitude, latitude and the altitude of
the vehicle position can be detected. (More
precise than detection in two dimensions)

2007 Acura RL

2005-08 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Navigation System - RL

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ROM drive, and interprets voice commands. With control of all these items, the navigation unit makes the
navigation picture signal, then it transmits the signal to the display panel control unit and audio driving
instructions to the audio unit.

Calculation of Vehicle Position

The navigation unit calculates the vehicle position (the driving direction and the current position) by
receiving the directional change signals from the yaw rate sensor and the travel distance signals from vehicle
speed pulse (VSP) signal of the PCM.

Map Matching Tuning

The map matching occurs when you drive the vehicle along a mapped road until the road name appears of
the bottom of the screen. The map data transmitted from the DVD-ROM is checked against the vehicle
position data, and the vehicle position is indicated on the nearest road. Map matching tuning does not occur
when the vehicle travels on a road not shown on the map, or when the vehicle position is far away from a
road on the map.

GPS Tuning

The GPS tuning is accomplished by indicating the vehicle position as the GPS's vehicle position. The
navigation unit compares its calculated vehicle position data with the GPS vehicle position data. If there is
large difference between the two, the indicated vehicle position is adjusted to the GPS vehicle position.

Distance Tuning

The distance tuning reduces the difference between the travel distance signal from the VSP and the distance
data on the map. The navigation unit compares its calculated vehicle position data with the GPS vehicle
position data. The navigation unit then decreases the tuning value when the vehicle position is always ahead
of the GPS vehicle position, and it increases the tuning value when the vehicle position is always behind the
GPS vehicle position.

Route Guidance

The navigation unit can calculate different routes to a selected destination. You have five options:



Direct Route-Calculate a route that is the most direct.



Easy Route calculate a route that minimizes the number of turns needed.



Minimize Freeways-Calculate a route that avoids freeway travel. If that is not possible, keep the
amount of freeway travel to a minimum.



Minimize Toll Roads-Calculate a route that avoids, or minimizes travel on toll roads.



Maximize Freeways-Calculate a route that uses freeways as much as possible.

Audio Guidance

The navigation unit transmits audio driving instructions before entering an intersection or passing a junction.
The audio instructions come through the audio unit to the front speakers.

NOTE:

The front speakers are muted whenever the navigation system is giving
guidance commands, and all of the speakers are muted when the voice

2007 Acura RL

2005-08 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Navigation System - RL

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Solar Angle

The navigation system uses the sun's angle, along with the sunlight sensor to control the driver/passenger
A/C airflow.

Off Road Tracking (breadcrumbs)

Off road tracking dots that can be followed on the map to retrace your route back to a mapped (digitized)
road.

Clock and Time Zone

The clock set up allows you to set daylight setting time, auto time zone and time adjustment.

Muting Signal Logic

The audio muting logic is controlled by the audio unit. The audio unit determines what audio source has
priority to use the speakers.

The priority of the audio sources is as follows:

On-Star ('05-06 models) has the highest priority, followed by HFL, AcuraLink, navigation, and finally the
radio/CD-DVD player. The priority is passed by On-Star ('05-06 models), HFL, and AcuraLink to the audio
unit by dedicated mute wires. The navigation mute signal is passed to the audio unit on the GA-Net bus.

The navigation unit temporarily disables the voice control buttons, but allows guidance to be heard. In
addition, the audio unit suppresses the output from the radio, XM unit, disc player, or other audio
accessories.

When the navigation system sends out a voice route guidance command, the audio front center speaker is
muted, and the navigation voice is heard in the front speakers.

When the navigation voice control system is in use, all of the speakers are muted, and the navigation voice
prompts are heard from the front speakers.

DVD-ROM

The DVD includes:



Map Database



Point of interest (POI) Database



Navigation software

Audio Unit

The audio unit receives the voice guidance instructions from the navigation unit, and transmits the
instructions through the front speakers even when the audio system is in use.

control system is being used.

2007 Acura RL

2005-08 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Navigation System - RL

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