JP2006103509A - Operating device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operating device for a vehicle, capable of operating on-vehicle equipment without watching a screen. <P>SOLUTION: A control circuit 8 obtains a voice command generated by an user, carries out voice recognition processing to the voice command by a voice recognition controlling portion 12, and determines whether a corresponding operation signal (a selection signal) is outputted from the voice recognition controlling portion 12 or not (S1 to S3). After that, the control circuit 8 starts a timer in order to measure a lapse of time since the corresponding operation signal (the selection signal) is outputted, changes only touch panel function, and inform the changed touch panel function by voice (S4 to S6). Then, the control circuit 8 confirms input of the touch panel by a positional signal from the touch panel, and outputs an operation controlling signal related by the corresponding operation signal (the election signal) outputted from the voice recognition controlling portion 12 and the positional signal outputted from the touch panel (S7 to S9). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle operating device. In particular, the present invention relates to a touch panel device provided in an in-vehicle display device.

Conventionally, there exists a thing shown in patent documents 1 as an operation device for vehicles. The vehicle operation device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an operation device including a four-way switch and a touch panel, a display device such as a TFT liquid crystal display panel that displays an operation screen and the state of the device, a navigation device, an air conditioner, and an audio device. And a control unit that transmits and receives signals through a communication line. The control unit communicates with each in-vehicle device bidirectionally, receives input from the operation device, and displays a menu screen corresponding to the state on the display device. Further, when each item displayed on the display device is instructed by the operation device, the control unit outputs an operation control signal indicating that the function associated with the instructed item is executed to the in-vehicle device.
JP 2004-114801 A

  However, the vehicle operating device has a problem that it is necessary to watch the screen in order to instruct items displayed on the display device by the operating device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle operation device that can operate an in-vehicle device without paying attention to a screen.

  In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle operation device according to claim 1 is a vehicle operation device that outputs an operation control signal based on a user operation to an in-vehicle device, and displays an image on a display screen. A display means, a touch panel means provided on the display screen of the display means and outputting a position signal indicating the touch position by a touch operation, and a selection indicating selection of an in-vehicle device associated with the position signal and a specific function of the in-vehicle device. When the selection signal is output, the selection means for outputting the signal, the image signal is output to the display means, and the operation control signal associated with the position signal from the touch panel is output. And a control means for outputting an operation control signal associated with the selection signal and the position signal while maintaining the output of the image signal.

  In this way, when the selection unit selects the in-vehicle device and the specific function of the in-vehicle device, the operation control signal associated with the selection signal and the position signal is output in the state where the output of the image signal is maintained. By simply touching the approximate position of the display screen, the vehicle-mounted device can be operated without gazing at the display screen.

  In the vehicle operation device according to claim 2, the selection means includes a voice recognition device. As described above, since the selection unit includes the voice recognition device, the in-vehicle device and the specific function of the in-vehicle device can be selected by voice, so that the in-vehicle device can be operated without further watching the screen. it can.

  Further, the vehicle operating device according to claim 3 is provided with notifying means for notifying the selected in-vehicle device and a specific function of the in-vehicle device when a selection signal is output.

  As described above, when the selection signal is output, the current touch panel function can be notified by notifying the selected in-vehicle device and the specific function of the in-vehicle device. In addition, as shown in claim 4, the notifying means can use a sound output means for outputting sound.

  In addition, if a touch operation is not performed within a predetermined time after the in-vehicle device and the specific function of the in-vehicle device are selected, it is assumed that there is no intention to perform the touch operation corresponding to the specific function of the in-vehicle device and the in-vehicle device. Can do. Therefore, as shown in claim 5, when the elapsed time from the selection of the in-vehicle device and the specific function of the in-vehicle device is within a predetermined time, the operation control signal associated with the selection signal and the position signal is output. Thus, the output of the operation control signal can be appropriately switched.

  In the vehicle operation device according to claim 6, when the control means outputs the operation control signal when the selection signal is output, the control means determines the operation locus of the touch panel means based on the output order of the position signals, An operation control signal associated with a selection signal and an operation locus as a position signal is output.

  As described above, the operation locus of the touch panel means is determined based on the output order of the position signals, and the operation control signal associated with the operation locus and the selection signal is output, so that the in-vehicle device can be used without paying attention to the display screen. Can be operated. The operation locus may be a character or a symbol as shown in claim 7.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the vehicle operating device will be described using an example suitable for a navigation device. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration in which a vehicle operating device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a navigation device.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus 100 in this embodiment includes a position detector 1, a geomagnetic sensor 2, a gyroscope 3, a distance sensor 4, a GPS receiver 5, a map data input device 6, an operation device 7, and a control circuit. 8, an external memory 9, a display device 10, a voice input unit 11, a voice recognition control unit 12, a voice output unit 13, and the like, and are connected to an in-vehicle device 15 such as an audio device or an air conditioner.

  The control circuit 8 that controls the navigation device 100 as a whole is composed mainly of a microcomputer, and includes a memory such as a ROM and a RAM, an interface circuit, a bus line, a timer, and the like. In addition, when an operation signal is output from the operation device 7, the touch panel, the voice recognition control unit 12, or the like, the control circuit 8 performs arithmetic processing according to a program stored in the memory, thereby causing a path setting unit (in the control circuit 8 ( Operation control signals indicating the route setting to the destination, the air conditioning temperature setting, and the like are output to the vehicle equipment 14 and the like. Further, the control circuit 8 outputs a video signal indicating a road map, a setting image of the air conditioner, a switch image for a touch switch, and a voice signal indicating voice guidance by performing arithmetic processing.

  The position detector 1 includes various sensors such as a geomagnetic sensor 2, a gyroscope 3, a distance sensor 4, and a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 5 as devices for detecting the current position of the host vehicle. A detection signal (hereinafter also referred to as a current position signal) detected by the position detector 1 is input to the control circuit 8. Since these sensors 2 to 5 have detection errors of different properties, they perform position detection with high accuracy while complementing the detection errors. Further, depending on the level of detection accuracy required, it is not necessary to provide all the sensors 2 to 5, and a configuration can be adopted in which necessary ones are selected and provided as appropriate.

  The map data input device 6 is for inputting road data, landmark data, or map data (image signal) such as various search information for setting a destination to the control circuit 8. As a storage medium of the map data input device 6, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM or the like is generally used from the viewpoint of data capacity or handling, but a memory card or a hard disk may be used.

  The operation device 7 is for inputting an operation signal associated with a function such as setting a guide route from the current position to the destination executed by the navigation apparatus 100 to the control circuit 8. The operation device 4 includes a mechanical key switch provided around the display device 10 and a joystick provided on a center console.

  The external memory 9 stores data handled in the control circuit 8 as necessary. For example, a non-volatile memory unit such as an EEPROM or a storable memory such as an IC card is used.

  The display device 10 includes a display screen composed of a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight, and a transmissive touch panel on the display surface side of the display screen. The display device 10 displays a road map around the vehicle, a setting image of an air conditioner that is the in-vehicle device 14, a switch image, and the like based on an image signal output from the control circuit 8. The touch panel detects a position signal indicating the touch position based on a touch operation performed on the touch panel, and outputs the position signal to the control circuit 8.

  When a position signal is output from the touch panel, the control circuit 8 outputs an operation control signal associated with the position signal and the image signal output to the display device 10. In addition, when an operation signal (selection signal) indicating selection of the in-vehicle device and the specific function of the in-vehicle device is output from the voice recognition control unit 12 described later, the control circuit 8 is associated with the position signal and the image signal. The operation control signal associated with the operation signal (selection signal) output from the voice recognition control unit 12 and the position signal output from the touch panel is output instead of the operation control signal. That is, when the in-vehicle device and the specific function of the in-vehicle device are selected, the control circuit 8 divides the touch panel into two upper and lower parts and operates as if there are only two touch switches. In addition, the method of dividing the touch panel is not limited to this, and can be appropriately set in accordance with the in-vehicle device and the specific function of the in-vehicle device, such as dividing into left and right two parts, or equally dividing into four parts.

  The voice input unit 11 acquires a voice command uttered by the user used for voice recognition, acquires the voice command uttered by the user with a microphone or the like, and outputs the voice command to the control circuit 8.

  The voice recognition control unit 12 is for outputting an operation signal to the control circuit 8 by a user's voice command instead of the operation device 7 or the touch panel. The voice recognition dictionary, the voice recognition unit, the recognition result determination unit, the operation A signal generator is provided. The voice recognition dictionary stores voice command data for recognizing voice commands spoken by the user. The voice recognition unit calculates the degree of coincidence between the voice command uttered by the user input by the voice input unit 11 and the voice command included in the voice recognition dictionary. The recognition result determination unit acquires the degree of match between the voice command uttered by the user from the voice recognition unit and each voice command included in the voice recognition dictionary, and the voice command having the highest degree of match is used as the voice command uttered by the user. decide. The operation signal generation unit acquires the voice command determined by the recognition result determination unit and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the voice command to the control circuit 8.

  The audio output unit 13 includes an amplifier circuit and a speaker, and outputs an audio signal from the control circuit 8. The in-vehicle device 14 is an electronic device mounted on a vehicle such as an audio device or an air conditioner.

  Here, the operation of the vehicle operating device according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle operating device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The flow shown in FIG. 2 starts when the voice recognition processing by the voice recognition control unit 12 is started.

  In step S <b> 1, the control circuit 8 acquires a voice command uttered by the user at the voice input unit 11. In step S2, the control circuit 8 outputs a voice command to the voice recognition control unit 12, and the voice recognition control unit 12 performs voice recognition processing.

  In step S3, the control circuit 8 determines whether or not the operation signal output from the speech recognition control unit 12 as a result of the speech recognition process performed in step S2 is a corresponding operation signal (selection signal), that is, the touch panel. It is determined whether or not the function is to be changed. If it is determined that the corresponding operation signal (selection signal) is determined, the process proceeds to step S4. . The corresponding operation signal (selection signal) is an operation signal (selection signal) indicating that the volume adjustment of the audio device of the in-vehicle device 14 or the temperature adjustment of the air conditioner is selected.

  In step S10, the control circuit 8 performs normal processing. This normal process is a process normally performed when a touch operation is performed on the touch panel. When the position signal is output from the touch panel, the control circuit 8 outputs an operation control signal associated with the position signal and the image signal output to the display device 10.

  In step S4, the control circuit 8 starts a timer in order to measure the elapsed time since the corresponding operation signal (selection signal) is output.

  In step S5, the control circuit 8 changes only the touch panel function. That is, the control circuit 8 does not change the image signal output to the display device 10 and based on the corresponding operation signal (selection signal) output from the voice recognition control unit 12 and the position signal output from the touch panel. Output an operation control signal.

  As an example, a case where an operation signal (selection signal) indicating temperature adjustment of the air conditioner is output from the voice recognition control unit 12 in a state where a road map around the vehicle is displayed on the display screen of the display device 10 is taken as an example. explain. When the operation signal (selection signal) indicating the temperature adjustment of the air conditioner is output from the voice recognition control unit 12, the control circuit 8 maintains the output of the image signal indicating the road map to the display device 10. The control circuit 8 outputs an operation control signal indicating that the air conditioning temperature is raised to the air conditioner when the position signal of the upper half of the touch panel is output regardless of the switch image displayed on the display screen. When the position signal of the lower half of the touch panel is output, an operation control signal indicating that the air conditioning temperature is lowered is output to the air conditioner.

  In step S6, the control circuit 8 outputs a voice signal indicating the touch panel function to the voice output unit 13 to output the touch panel function as a voice. That is, the control circuit 8 does not output the operation signal associated with the position signal and the image signal output to the display device 10, but the operation signal (selection signal) output from the voice recognition control unit 12. Based on the position signal, the output of the operation control signal is output as a voice to notify the user.

  In step S7, the control circuit 8 confirms the input of the touch panel based on the position signal from the touch panel. In step S8, the control circuit 8 determines whether or not there is an input from the touch panel within a predetermined time. If the control circuit 8 determines that there is an input from the touch panel within a predetermined time, the control circuit 8 considers that the corresponding operation signal (selection signal), that is, the touch operation corresponding to the selected in-vehicle device and the specific function of the in-vehicle device is performed. Proceeding to S9, if it is determined that there is no touch panel input within a predetermined time, the corresponding operation signal (selection signal), that is, the touch operation corresponding to the selected in-vehicle device and the specific function of the in-vehicle device is not performed. Proceed to S10. This means that the volume adjustment of the audio device and the temperature adjustment of the air conditioner indicated by the corresponding operation signal (selection signal) can be operated in a few seconds. Therefore, if there is no operation of the touch panel within a predetermined time after the corresponding operation signal (selection signal) is output, it can be considered that there is no intention to perform a touch operation corresponding to the operation signal (selection signal). is there.

  In step S9, the control circuit 8 outputs an operation control signal associated with the corresponding operation signal (selection signal) output from the speech recognition control unit 12 and the position signal output from the touch panel.

  In step S10, the control circuit 8 assumes that there is no intention to perform a touch operation corresponding to the corresponding operation signal (selection signal), and returns the touch panel function. That is, when a position signal is output from the touch panel, the control circuit 8 performs normal processing for outputting an operation control signal associated with the position signal and the image signal output to the display device 10.

  In the present embodiment, the operation control signal output by the touch operation has been described using an example in which the image signal is associated with the position signal or the operation signal (selection signal) and the position signal. It is not limited to this. The image signal and touch panel operation locus (characters, symbols, etc.) or operation signal (selection signal) may be associated with the touch panel operation locus (characters, symbols, etc.). The control circuit 8 determines the operation locus of the touch panel based on the output order of the position signal within a predetermined time, and outputs an operation control signal associated with the operation locus and the image signal or the operation locus and the operation signal (selection signal). To do.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the example in which the voice input unit 7 or the like is used as means for inputting the corresponding operation signal (selection signal) has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the driver However, if operation is possible without gazing at the display screen, the operation device 7 may be used.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been made using the example in which the function of the touch panel is notified by outputting sound, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the driver's driving view is not hindered. If it is a means, an indicator etc. may be provided and it may be made to report using the indicator etc.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the vehicle operating device has been described using an example suitable for a navigation device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an on-vehicle device such as an audio device, an air conditioner, and a television device is used. Any device can be used.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the operating device for vehicles in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the operating device for vehicles in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Position detector, 2 Geomagnetic sensor, 3 Gyroscope, 4 Distance sensor, 5 GPS receiver, 6 Map data input device, 7 Operation device, 8 Control circuit, 9 External memory, 10 Display apparatus, 11 Voice input part, 12 Voice recognition control unit, 13 voice output unit, 14 in-vehicle device, 100 navigation device

Claims (7)

A vehicle operation device that outputs an operation control signal based on a user operation to an in-vehicle device,
Display means for displaying an image on a display screen;
Touch panel means provided on the display screen of the display means, and outputs a position signal indicating the touch position by a touch operation;
A selection means for outputting a selection signal indicating selection of a specific function of the in-vehicle device and the in-vehicle device associated with the position signal;
An image signal is output to the display means, and an operation control signal associated with the image signal and a position signal from the touch panel is output. When the selection signal is output, the image signal Control means for outputting an operation control signal associated with the selection signal and the position signal while maintaining the output of
A vehicle operating device comprising:   The vehicle operation device according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit includes a voice recognition device.   The vehicle operating device according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit configured to notify the selected in-vehicle device and a specific function of the in-vehicle device when the selection signal is output.   The vehicle operating device according to claim 3, wherein the notification unit includes a sound output unit that outputs a sound.   A timing unit that counts time, and the control unit associates the position signal with the in-vehicle device and a specific function of the in-vehicle device when an elapsed time from the output of the selection signal is within a predetermined time. The vehicle operation device according to claim 1, wherein the operation control signal is output.   When the control means outputs an operation control signal when the selection signal is output, the control means determines an operation locus of the touch panel means based on an output order of the position signal, and the selection signal and the position signal 6. The vehicle operating device according to claim 1, wherein an operation control signal associated with the operation locus is output.   The vehicle operation device according to claim 6, wherein the operation locus is a character or a symbol.

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