JP2001275176A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote controller that can remotely control an object device in voice by an operator without the need for decreasing the sound volume of the control object device even under an environment with a surrounding noise. SOLUTION: A sound output section 8 reproduces a device sound wirelessly sent from a sound transmission section 200, a sound processing section 2 extracts only the voice of an operator from the sound consisting of a device sound, the voice of the operator and a surrounding noise received via a voice input section 1, a voice recognition section 3 recognizes the voice of the operator, a recognition result processing section 4 reads a device control code in cross- reference with the recognized voice from a word-to-unit control code cross- reference table storage section 5, and a remote control signal transmission section 6 wirelessly transmits a remote control signal to an object unit 300 in response to the read device control code.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice recognition remote control device having a built-in speaker. More particularly, the present invention relates to a voice recognition remote control device with a built-in speaker for operating an audiovisual device such as a television receiver or a video tape recorder by voice recognition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional voice recognition remote control device, for example, there is a remote control device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 4-7998. When the voice recognition process execution switch is pressed, the control device reduces or silences the reproduction sound volume of the controlled device, executes the voice recognition process for the input voice, and after the voice recognition process ends, executes the reproduction sound of the controlled device. The volume is increased or the mute is released, a remote control signal indicating the recognition result is transmitted, and the controlled device is remotely controlled by voice.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, when the operator wants to operate by voice, the volume of the controlled device is reduced or muted, so that the reproduced sound of the controlled device is not reduced. There was a problem that operation was not possible.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a voice recognition remote control device that allows an operator to operate a controlled device by voice without lowering the voice of the controlled device.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems (1) First Invention A remote control device according to a first invention wirelessly transmits a device audio output from a device to be controlled, and a wireless transmission by the audio transmitting device. Voice receiving means for receiving the reproduced device voice, voice output means for reproducing the device voice received by the voice receiving device, and input including the device voice reproduced by the voice output device, the operator voice, and the ambient noise. Voice input means for converting the converted voice into a voice signal, and acoustic processing for removing only the operator voice by removing ambient noise from the voice signal converted by the voice input means by noise cancellation and removing the equipment voice by echo cancellation. Means, a voice recognition means for recognizing a voice corresponding to the operator voice extracted by the sound processing means, and a single voice Storage means for storing the attached device control code, recognition result processing means for reading the device control code corresponding to the operator's voice recognized by the voice recognition means from the storage means, and reading by the recognition result processing means. Remote control signal transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting a remote control signal corresponding to the device control code.

[0006] In the remote control device according to the present invention, the voice including the operator voice, the device voice and the ambient noise is converted into a voice signal, and only the voice of the operator is extracted from the voice signal to correspond to the voice of the operator. The voice is recognized, a device control code corresponding to the recognized voice is read from the storage unit, and device control is performed according to the read device control code. Therefore, the operator can operate the controlled device by voice without lowering the voice of the controlled device.

(2) Second invention A remote control device according to a second invention is the remote control device according to the first invention, wherein
The sound processing means includes an LED display means for displaying whether or not the amplitude level of the extracted operator voice is appropriate by color, lighting interval, lighting frequency, or a combination thereof.

In this case, it is possible to visually confirm whether or not the voice of the operator is at an appropriate amplitude level, thereby improving the operability of the remote control device.

(3) Third invention In a remote control device according to a third invention, in the configuration of the remote control device according to the first or second invention, the sound processing means includes an amplitude level of the extracted operator voice. Includes a voice synthesizing means for notifying whether or not is appropriate by voice or an alarm sound or a combination thereof.

[0010] In this case, whether the voice of the operator is at an appropriate amplitude level can be checked audibly, and the operability of the remote control device can be improved.

(4) Fourth invention A remote control device according to a fourth invention comprises
In the configuration of the remote control device according to the third aspect of the invention, the recognition result processing means includes an LED display means for displaying whether or not the recognition result of the voice recognition unit is appropriate based on color, lighting interval, lighting frequency, or a combination thereof. .

In this case, it can be visually confirmed whether or not the voice of the operator has been recognized, and the operability of the remote control device can be improved.

(5) Fifth invention The remote control device according to the fifth invention comprises
In the configuration of the remote control device according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the recognition result processing means includes a voice synthesizing means for notifying the recognition result of the voice recognition unit by voice or notification sound or a combination thereof.

In this case, whether or not the operator's voice has been recognized can be checked aurally, and the operability of the remote control device can be improved.

(6) Sixth invention The remote control device according to the sixth invention comprises
In the configuration of the remote control device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the voice recognition means includes an LED display means for displaying whether or not the operator is allowed to utter a voice by a color, a lighting interval, a lighting frequency, or a combination thereof. Including.

In this case, the timing at which the operator speaks can be visually judged, and the operability of the remote control device can be improved.

(7) Seventh invention The remote control device according to the seventh invention comprises
In the configuration of the remote control device according to the sixth aspect of the invention, the voice recognition means includes a voice synthesis means for notifying whether or not the operator is in a state in which a voice can be uttered by voice, an alarm sound, or a combination thereof.

In this case, the timing at which the operator speaks can be judged audibly, and the operability of the remote control device can be improved.

(8) Eighth Invention The remote control device according to the eighth invention comprises
In the configuration of the remote control device according to the seventh invention, the voice recognition means includes voice recognition switch means for designating start and end of the voice recognition operation.

In this case, it is possible to reduce the possibility of erroneous operation of the control target device due to the surrounding sound that is not intended by the operator, and it is possible to improve the operability of the remote control device.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The remote control device shown in FIG.
It includes a remote control main body 100, an audio transmission unit 200, and a control target device 300. The remote control main unit 100 includes a voice input unit 1, a sound processing unit 2, a voice recognition unit 3, a recognition result processing unit 4, a word-to-device control code correspondence table storage unit 5, a remote control signal transmission unit 6, a voice reception unit 7, A voice output unit 8, an LED display unit 9, a voice synthesis unit 10, and a voice recognition switch unit 11 are provided.

The remote control main unit 100 transmits the remote control signal to the control target device 300 by, for example, infrared communication to thereby control the control target device 30.
Operate 0 remotely.

The audio transmission unit 200 is, for example, an infrared transmitter, and is controlled by an audio cable.
0, which is connected to the audio output terminal of the remote control main body 100 by infrared rays.
Send to

The control target device 300 is, for example, a television receiver, a video tape recorder, or the like, and is remotely operated according to a remote control signal output from the remote control main body 100.

The method of communication between the remote control main unit 100, the audio transmission unit 200, and the control target device 300 is not particularly limited as long as communication is possible.
It may be transmitted by wire.

The audio output unit 8 is composed of, for example, a speaker, and reproduces the audio received by the audio receiving unit 7 and the audio output by the audio synthesizing unit 10.

The voice input unit 1 is composed of, for example, a microphone or the like. The voice input unit 1 converts a reproduced device voice, a voice uttered by an operator, and a voice including ambient noise into a voice signal and outputs the voice signal to the sound processing unit 2. The sound processing unit 2 removes ambient noise generated by an air conditioner, a refrigerator, or the like due to noise cancellation from a sound signal output from the sound input unit 1, and further outputs a sound reproduced from the sound output unit 8 and the sound input to the sound input unit 1. By removing the device voice by echo cancellation using the generated voice, only the voice uttered by the operator is extracted and output to the voice recognition unit 3. Voice recognition unit 3
Operates only when the voice recognition switch unit 11 is in the ON state, performs recognition of the voice uttered by the operator using the voice signal output from the sound processing unit 2, and recognizes word data corresponding to the recognized voice. Output to the result processing unit 4. The recognition result processing unit 4 outputs the word data output from the speech recognition unit 3 to the word-to-device control code correspondence table storage unit 5. The word-to-device control code correspondence table storage unit 5 stores the recognition result processing unit 4
The corresponding device control code is output to the recognition result processing unit 4 using the word data output from. Recognition result processing unit 4
Transmits the device control code output from the word-to-device control code correspondence table storage unit 5 to the remote control signal transmission unit 6
Output to The remote control signal transmitting unit 6 transmits a remote control signal to the control target device 300 using the device control code output from the recognition result processing unit 4. The main body of the remote control comprises only a voice input unit 1, a voice reception unit 7, a voice output unit 8, and a newly added voice transmission unit. A sound processing unit 2, a voice recognition unit 3, a recognition result processing unit 4, a word The control data storage unit 5, the remote control signal transmitting unit 6, the LED display unit 9, the voice synthesizing unit 10, and the voice receiving unit to be newly added include the voice transmitting unit 200.
Side, the voice input from the voice input unit 1 of the remote control main body 100 is transmitted to the voice reception unit of the voice transmission unit 200, and the voice recognition unit 3 recognizes the voice and transmits the voice.
Alternatively, a remote control signal may be transmitted from the remote control transmitting unit 6 of 00. in this case,
The size and weight of the remote control main body 100 and the power saving can be realized.

The LED display unit 9 performs the setting of the LED lighting color, the setting of the ON / OFF time, the setting of the number of times of lighting, and the ON / OFF operation according to the control command output from the acoustic processing unit 2.
Further, the LED display unit 9 performs the setting of the LED lighting color, the setting of the ON / OFF time, the setting of the number of times of lighting, and the ON / OFF operation according to the control command output from the voice recognition unit 3. Further, the LED display unit 9 performs the setting of the LED lighting color, the setting of the ON / OFF time, the setting of the number of times of lighting, and the ON / OFF operation according to the control command output from the recognition result processing unit 4. Note that L
The ED display unit may use a plurality of LEDs for each role. In this case, the display rule is simplified, and operability and visibility can be improved.

The voice synthesizing unit 10 outputs a voice and / or a notification sound to the voice output unit 8 according to a control command output from the sound processing unit 2. Further, the voice synthesizer 10
Outputs a voice and / or a notification sound to the voice output unit 8 in response to a control command output from the voice recognition unit 3. Further, the voice synthesizer 10 outputs a voice and / or a notification sound to the voice output unit 8 according to a control command output from the recognition result processing unit 4.

In the present embodiment, the control target device 30
0 corresponds to a device to be controlled, and the audio transmission unit 200 corresponds to an audio transmission unit. Further, the audio receiving section 7 corresponds to an audio receiving section, and the audio output section 8 corresponds to an audio outputting section. Further, the voice input unit 1 corresponds to a voice input unit, the sound processing unit 2 corresponds to a sound processing unit, the voice recognition unit 3 corresponds to a voice recognition unit, and the recognition result processing unit 5 corresponds to a recognition result processing unit. The word-to-device control code correspondence table storage unit 5 corresponds to a storage unit, the remote control signal transmission unit 6 corresponds to a remote control signal transmission unit, and the voice recognition switch unit 11 corresponds to a voice recognition switch unit.

Next, the operation of the remote control device configured as described above will be described. FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the remote control device shown in FIG.

First, the LED display unit 9 informs the operator that the operator may speak by using an LED display (step S1). To inform the operator (step S2).

When one voice is input to the voice input unit 1 by the operator once in a state where the voice can be generated, the input voice is converted into a voice signal and output to the sound processing unit 2. The acoustic processing unit 2 removes the ambient noise from the input voice signal by noise cancellation (step S3), and further removes the device voice by echo cancellation (step S4), thereby taking out the voice of the operator. It is determined whether or not the amplitude level of the operator voice is appropriate (step S5).
4 and if determined to be appropriate, step S
Move to 8.

If the LED display unit 9 determines that the amplitude level of the operator's voice is not appropriate, the LED display unit 9 determines that the level is not appropriate.
The operator is notified by ED display (step S6), and the voice synthesizing unit 10 further notifies the operator by voice synthesis that the amplitude level of the operator voice is not appropriate (step S7).

If the LED display section 9 determines that the amplitude level of the operator's voice is appropriate, the LED display section 9 determines that the amplitude level of the operator's voice is appropriate.
The operator is notified by the ED display (step S8), and the voice of the extracted operator is output to the voice recognition unit 3. Judge whether the voice recognition switch unit 11 is on or off,
If it is determined that it is in the ON state, the process proceeds to step S10; otherwise, the process returns to step 1. The voice recognition unit 3 recognizes a voice uttered by the operator using the input voice signal, and outputs word data corresponding to the recognized voice to the recognition result processing unit 4 (Step S10).

The recognition result processing unit 4 outputs the input word data to the word-to-device control code correspondence table storage unit 5.
The word-to-device control code correspondence table storage unit 5 stores the device control code corresponding to the input word data in the recognition result processing unit 4.
Output to The recognition result processing unit 4 determines whether there is a device control code corresponding to the word data. In this manner, in step S11, the presence or absence of the device control code is determined.
Step S1
Move to 4.

If it is determined that there is no device control code,
The ED display unit 9 informs the operator of the absence of the device control code corresponding to the word by LED display (step S).
12) Then, the voice synthesizing unit 10 notifies the operator that there is no device control code corresponding to the word by voice synthesis (step S13).

If it is determined that there is a device control code, the recognition result processing unit 4 outputs the device control code to the remote control signal transmitting unit 6 (Step S14). The remote control signal transmission unit 6 transmits a remote control signal corresponding to the input device control code to the control target device 300 to perform a remote operation (step S1).
5). Further, the LED display unit 9 informs the operator of the presence of the device control code corresponding to the word, the word name or the remote control signal name, etc. by LED display to the operator (step S16), and the voice synthesis unit 10 sets the device The operator is informed of the presence of the control code or the word name or remote control signal name by voice synthesis (step S17), and the process returns to step 1.

According to the above-described processing, in the present embodiment, when the operator utters one voice in an environment where the device voice is reproduced and there is noise in the surroundings, only the voice of the operator is extracted by the sound processing unit 2. The voice is recognized by the voice recognition unit 3, and is controlled by the recognition result processing unit 4 and the remote control signal transmission unit 6 using the corresponding device control code read from the word-to-device control code correspondence table storage unit 5. The target device 300 can be remotely controlled. As a result, even in an environment where the sound of the device is reproduced and the surroundings are noisy, the device can be remotely controlled by the operator's voice without lowering the volume of the device. Performance can be improved.

Next, the operation of the remote control device shown in FIG. 1 will be described in further detail with a specific example. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a specific configuration example of the remote control device of FIG.

The remote control device shown in FIG.
A television receiver 300a as a device to be controlled and a voice recognition remote controller 1 with a built-in speaker as a remote control body
00a, an infrared transmitter 200a which is an audio transmitting unit connected to a terminal for outputting audio of the television receiver 300a.

For example, when the operator presses the voice recognition switch 4a to turn it on, the utterance OK display LED 3c
Is turned on in green when the speech recognition unit 3 is in a processable state, and is turned off when it is in a state in which the speech recognition unit 3 cannot be processed (step S1). Also, for example, the LED is
When 3c lights up green, a notification sound "Pee" is reproduced from the speaker 1a (step 2).

In an environment where the sound of the television receiver 300a is being reproduced from the speaker 1a, an utterance OK display LED
When the operator uses the microphone 2a to utter "Icchan" while the 3c is lit in green, the microphone 2a reproduces the operator's voice "Icchan", ambient noise such as air conditioner sound, and the speaker 1a. The sound of the television receiver is input. The acoustic processing unit 2 first removes ambient noise by noise cancellation (step S3), and further removes the sound of the television receiver by echo cancellation (step S4). As a result, the voice of the operator "Ichinchan" is extracted. Then, it is determined whether or not the audio amplitude level of the extracted “Ichinchan” is appropriate (step S5).

If it is determined that the sound level is not appropriate, the sound amplitude level display LED 3a is lit once for one second in red when the amplitude level is larger than the appropriate range, and is lit when it is smaller than the appropriate range ( Step S6). Further, when the amplitude level is larger than the appropriate range, the voice synthesizer 10 reproduces a synthesized voice "Please speak with a slightly smaller voice" from the speaker 1a (step S7).

If it is determined that the sound level is appropriate, the sound amplitude level display LED 3a is lit once, for example, in green for one second (step S8). Next, the voice recognition switch 4a
Is determined to be in the ON state (step S9).
H) "is recognized (step S10).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of words stored in the word-to-device control code correspondence table storage unit 5 and device control codes corresponding to the words. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the device control code “1” for “Dengen”
Device control code “40” for “Ichinchan”
, And thereafter, similarly, "Niichanru",
For "sanchan" and "yonchan", etc.
The device control codes are associated with each other and stored in the word-to-device control code correspondence table storage unit 5.

Here, when the device control code corresponding to each word stored in the word-to-device control code correspondence table storage unit 5 is as shown in FIG. 4, the word "Ichichan" is stored. Therefore (step S11), the device control code “40” stored for this word is output to the recognition result processing unit 4, and then the recognition result processing unit 4
Outputs the device control code "40" to the remote control signal transmission unit 6 (step S14). The remote control signal transmitting unit 6 transmits a remote control signal for setting the controlled device 300 corresponding to the device control code “40” to “1CH” (step S1).
5), the channel of the television receiver 200a is 1CH.

At this time, the recognition result display LED 3b is
For example, it is lit once for one second in green (step S16),
The speech synthesis unit 10 reproduces, for example, a synthesized sound with the word name “Ichichan” by voice synthesis from the speaker 1a (step S17).

Here, when the operator utters a word other than, for example, "Hyaku-chan", the recognition result display LED 3b is lit twice, for example, in red (step S12). For example, a notification sound "boo" is reproduced from the speaker 1a for one second (step S13).

As described above, even in an environment where the sound of the television receiver 300a is reproduced from the speaker 1a and there is ambient noise such as an air conditioner sound, the operator can store the stored word without lowering the volume of the television receiver 300a. Can remotely control the television receiver 300a.

In this embodiment, the word data corresponding to the voice is stored and the voice recognition is performed. However, the voice of the operator is registered as a voice signal, and the voice uttered by the operator is the voice pattern. Speech recognition may be performed by determining whether or not they match. In this case, since only the operator, that is, the registrant cannot operate by voice, it is effective when it is desired to limit the operators.

Further, the remote control device may be built in the device to be controlled. In this case, the status of the device to be controlled can be grasped on the remote control device side, and direct control linked to the status of the device is possible.
For example, when the device to be controlled is a television receiver, the operator wants to set the external input of the television receiver to “video input 3”. It is necessary to continuously call "return (input switching)" a plurality of times. However, when it is built-in, it is possible to switch over with "single input (video input 3)" by one utterance.

Further, means for arranging a remote control button or the like on the remote control body and enabling remote control by means other than voice may be provided. In this case, it is effective as an auxiliary means for remote operation when the operation cannot be performed by voice or when the surroundings are quiet and cannot make a voice.

[0055]

According to the present invention, even in an environment where the sound of the control target device is reproduced and there is ambient noise such as an air conditioner sound, the control of the control target device can be performed by the voice generated by the operator without lowering the volume of the control target device. The target device can be remotely controlled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a specific configuration example of the remote control device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the remote control device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a word stored in a word-to-device control code correspondence table storage unit 5 and a device control code corresponding to the word;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 voice input unit 2 sound processing unit 3 voice recognition unit 4 recognition result processing unit 5 word-to-device control code correspondence table storage unit 6 remote control signal transmission unit 7 voice reception unit 8 voice output unit 9 LED display unit 10 voice synthesis unit 11 Voice recognition switch unit 100 Remote control body 200 Voice transmission unit 300 Control target device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (reference) G10L 21/02 G10L 3/02 301C 19/00 301D H04N 5/00 9/00 NF term (reference) 5C056 AA05 BA01 BA08 CA08 CA11 CA13 CA19 DA01 DA13 EA01 EA05 EA09 5D015 CC17 EE05 5K048 AA04 BA03 DB01 DB05 DC01 EB02 FB12 FB16 HA04 HA06 HA24 9A001 CZ05 HH17 KK32

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An audio transmitting unit for wirelessly transmitting a device audio output from a device to be controlled, an audio receiving unit for receiving the device audio wirelessly transmitted by the audio transmitting unit, and a device receiving by the audio receiving unit Voice output means for reproducing voice, voice input means for converting input voice including device voice, operator voice and ambient noise reproduced by the voice output means into voice signals, and conversion by the voice input means Acoustic processing means for removing ambient noise by noise cancellation from the obtained audio signal and further removing device audio by echo cancellation to extract only operator voice, and voice corresponding to the operator voice extracted by the audio processing means Voice recognition means for recognizing a voice, storage means for storing a device control code associated with one voice, A recognition result processing unit that reads out, from the storage unit, a device control code corresponding to the operator voice recognized by the recognition unit, and wirelessly transmits a remote control signal that corresponds to the device control code read out by the recognition result processing unit. A remote control device comprising: a remote control signal transmitting unit. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sound processing means includes an LED display means for displaying whether or not the amplitude level of the extracted operator voice is appropriate by color, lighting interval, lighting frequency, or a combination thereof. 2. The remote control device according to 1. 3. The sound processing means according to claim 1, wherein said sound processing means includes a voice synthesizing means for informing whether or not the amplitude level of the extracted operator voice is appropriate by a voice, a notification sound, or a combination thereof. The remote control device according to any one of the above. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recognition result processing means includes an LED display means for displaying whether or not the recognition result of said voice recognition unit is appropriate, by color, lighting interval, lighting count, or a combination thereof. The remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recognition result processing unit includes a voice synthesizing unit that notifies a recognition result of the voice recognition unit by voice, an alarm sound, or a combination thereof. Remote control device. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said voice recognition means includes an LED display means for displaying whether or not the operator can utter a voice by color, lighting interval, lighting frequency, or a combination thereof. Item 6. The remote control device according to any one of Items 1 to 5. 7. The voice recognition means according to claim 1, wherein said voice recognition means includes voice synthesis means for notifying whether or not the operator is in a state in which a voice can be uttered, by voice, notification sound, or a combination thereof. The remote control device according to any one of the above. 8. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said voice recognition means includes voice recognition switch means for designating start and end of a voice recognition operation.