JP2008120262A - On-vehicle calling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-vehicle calling device implementing smooth telephone call in a vehicle even if a seating state of an occupant is not known in advance. <P>SOLUTION: The on-vehicle calling device comprises: voice input means (microphones 3) arranged to each seat in the vehicle; at least one voice output means (speaker 3) arranged in the vehicle to output the voice input from the voice input means; control means (vacant seat determination device part 1, a device part 4 for selecting the speaker's seat, and a control device part 5), determining a vacant seat state for each seat in the vehicle, and connecting the target voice input means with the voice output means to perform a control establishing a call path between the seats, based on a call requirement from the outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle communication device that can smoothly talk in a vehicle, and is particularly suitable for use in vehicles on which a large number of people ride such as minivans and RV (Recreational Vehicle) vehicles.

  For the purpose of appropriately carrying out in-car conversations, voice output means, voice input means, seat specifying means, and control means prepared for each seat are provided, and the control means is specified by the seat specifying means. There is known a vehicle interior sound field control system for making a vehicle interior call by outputting the voice input to the voice input means of one seat from the voice output means of the other seat which is also specified by the seat specifying means. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-161873 A

  According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, for example, when sound is input to the rear seat microphone, the input sound is output from the speaker of the driver seat, and the sound is output to the driver seat microphone. When input, the input sound is output from the speaker in the left rear seat. Therefore, the user seated in the left rear seat can make the driver properly hear the voice he / she has heard without being affected by the audio sound and road noise flowing in the car. Since it is possible for the user to properly listen to the voice uttered by the hand, it is possible to appropriately perform the conversation in the passenger compartment.

  However, even if the occupant specifies the seat of the call destination that he / she wishes to talk to via the seat specifying means in the above-mentioned in-vehicle environment, the occupant is not necessarily seated in the seat, and therefore the implicit It was assumed that he knew who was seated in which seat.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle communication device that can smoothly carry out a conversation in a vehicle without knowing in advance the seating state of an occupant.

  The in-vehicle communication device according to the present invention includes a voice input unit installed in each seat in the vehicle, and at least one voice output unit installed in the vehicle that outputs the voice input by the voice input unit; Control means for determining a vacant seat state in each seat in the vehicle and executing control for establishing a call path between the seats by connecting the target voice input means and voice output means based on a call request coming from outside And.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the vehicle-mounted call apparatus which can perform conversation in a vehicle smoothly, without knowing a passenger | crew's seating state in advance can be provided.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an in-vehicle communication device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. According to the first embodiment, the in-vehicle communication device includes the vacant seat determination device unit 1, the plurality of speakers 2, the plurality of microphones 3, the communication seat selection device unit 4, and the control device unit 5. .

As shown in FIG. 1, a speaker 2 serving as a voice output unit and a microphone 3 serving as a voice input unit are respectively installed in a seat on which a passenger including a driver sits. The input audio signal is output through at least one speaker 2 arranged in the vehicle.
For example, the vacant seat determination device unit 1 performs a seat vacancy determination based on an image of the vehicle interior that is captured and acquired by a camera 70 installed at a position where the seats in the front center of the vehicle interior can be overlooked. Generate and output information. The vacant seat information generated by the vacant seat determination device unit 1 is output to the control device unit 5. The control device unit 5 outputs the seating information to the call seat selection device unit 4 arranged in each seat, whereby the call seat selection device unit 4 provides the vacant seat information to the occupant sitting in the seat. Can be displayed.

The telephone seat selection device 4 is installed in each seat, and the use is permitted to the passengers seated in each seat. When a passenger sitting in a seat wants to make a call with a passenger sitting in another seat, he / she can make a call by operating the call seat selection unit 4 and selecting a passenger (seat) to call.
That is, the call seat selection device unit 4 is a display operation unit configured to include a display device such as an LED (Light Emitted Device) and a switch provided corresponding to each of the LEDs, for displaying the seating state of the occupant. Composed. You may substitute with a touch panel so that it may mention later.

  As described above, the call seat selection unit 4 that generates a call request sends the call destination seat information to the control unit 5, and the control unit 5 is installed in both the call source seat and the call destination seat. An audio device (microphone 3 and speaker 2) is connected. As a result, a call path between the two is established and a call can be made.

For this reason, the above-described vacant seat determination device unit 1, the call seat selection device unit 4, and the control device unit 5 determine the vacant seat state in each seat in the vehicle and arrive from the outside (call seat selection device unit 4). Based on the call request, it functions as a control means for executing control for establishing a call path between seats by connecting the target voice input means and voice output means.
Hereinafter, the internal configurations of the above-described vacant seat determination device unit 1, the calling seat selection device unit 4, and the control device unit 5 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the vacant seat determination device unit 1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the vacant seat determination device unit 1 includes a camera drive unit 11, a captured image acquisition unit 12, an initial seat image storage unit 13, a comparison unit 14, a vacant seat state determination output unit 15, and a control. Part 16.
The camera driving unit 11 is activated, for example, at the timing when the door is fully closed by a door sensor or the like, and drives the camera 60 installed in the front of the vehicle interior. The captured image acquisition unit 12 acquires a captured image in synchronization with the drive timing and outputs the acquired captured image to the comparison unit 14. In addition, the comparison unit 14 is supplied with the vehicle interior image at the time of vacant seat stored in the initial seat image storage unit 13 as an input for each seat. The vacant seat state determination output unit 15 is activated. The vacant seat state determination output unit 15 generates vacant seat information (ON: seated, OFF: vacant seat) for each seat.

  The control unit 16 receives a sensor output signal from a door sensor (not shown) to control the camera driving unit 11 and performs sequence control of the above-described captured image acquisition unit 12, comparison unit 14, and vacant seat state determination output unit 15. Execute.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the call seat selection device unit 4 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the call seat selection device unit 4 includes a vacant seat information acquisition unit 41, a seating position determination / display signal generation unit 42, a display operation unit 43, and a call request generation output unit 44. The
The vacant seat information acquisition unit 41 acquires vacant seat information from the vacant seat determination device unit 1 and outputs it to the seating position determination / display signal generation unit 42. The seating position determination / display signal generation unit 42 generates a signal for driving the LED arranged in the display operation unit 43 based on the vacant seat information, and drives the LED of the display operation unit 43 (lit: seated, unlit: vacant seat) ). The occupant can confirm the lighting state of the LEDs arranged in the display operation unit 43, and can designate a telephone seat by turning on / off a switch provided corresponding to each LED. The call request generation / output unit 44 generates a call request based on the seat information of the call destination and outputs it to the control unit 5 by the switch operation of the passenger.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the control unit 5 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the control device unit 5 includes a vacant seat information acquisition unit 51, a call request acquisition unit 52, a comparison unit 53, a call path connection switching unit 54, and a call path connection switching unit 55. Is done.

The vacant seat information acquisition unit 51 acquires a vacant seat signal from the vacant seat determination device unit 1 and outputs it to the comparison unit 53. The comparison unit 53 is also supplied with a call request based on the call destination seat information output by the call seat selection device unit 4 from the call request acquisition unit 52, where a comparison check was taken. For the seat, in order to establish the call path, the connection switching operation of the audio equipment including the microphone 3 and the speaker 2 by the call path connection switching unit 54 is activated.
The call path connection switching unit 54 connects, for example, a voice system between the driver's seat and the rear seat occupant based on the above call request. Thus, for example, when voice is input to the microphone 3 installed in the left rear seat, the input voice is output from the speaker 2 of the driver's seat and the voice is input to the microphone 3 of the driver's seat. Then, the input sound is output from the speaker of the left rear seat. Therefore, the occupant seated in the left rear seat is not affected by the audio sound or road noise flowing in the vehicle. It is possible to make the driver properly hear the voice emitted by the driver, and to properly hear the voice emitted by the driver.

  The call path connection switching unit 55 is a block for switching connection of video equipment such as the display 6 and the camera 7 described later, and details will be described in a third embodiment described later.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the in-vehicle communication device according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 shows a one-to-one (two-person call), and the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 shows a one-to-n (multi-person call) call operation.
In the flowchart of FIG. 5, the caller's occupant can select and specify the callee's seat by operating the call seat selection device unit 4 assigned to him / her (step ST501). That is, the vacant seat status output from the vacant seat determination device unit 1 is displayed on the display operation unit 43 of the call seat selection device unit 4, and the seat occupant state is displayed. By operating, it is possible to designate the seat of the call destination. The seat information designated here is generated and output to the control unit 5 by the call request generation / output unit 44 as a call request.

The control device 5 receives a call request including the seat information of the callee from the caller seat selection device 4 of the caller via the call request acquisition unit 52. On the other hand, in the vacant seat information acquisition unit 51, the vacant seat determination Vacant seat information indicating a vacant seat state is received from device unit 1 (step ST502).
For this reason, the comparison unit 53 compares the vacant seat information with the call destination seat information included in the call request, and activates the call path connection switching unit 54 only when a match is found. Then, the call path connection switching unit 54 enables a call by connecting an audio device including the speaker 2 and the microphone 3 installed in the caller and callee seats (step ST503).

On the other hand, when the user wants to end the call, either the caller or the callee operates the call seat selection device unit 4 assigned to him or her to make a call end request (step ST504).
That is, when the call seat selection device unit 4 transmits a call end request to the control device unit 5 (step ST505), the control device unit 5 connects the speaker 2 and the microphone 3 of the call source and call destination seats. Is cut (step ST506).

Next, a one-to-n call operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the caller occupant operates the call seat selection unit 4 to select and specify two or more callee seats (step ST601).
As a result, the control unit 5 receives the call request including the information about the destination seat from the call seat selection unit 4 operated by the call source occupant in the call request acquisition unit 52. Vacant seat information is received from section 1 (step ST602). For this reason, the comparison unit 53 compares the vacant seat information with the seat information of the call destination included in the call request, and activates the call path connection switching unit 54 when a match is found. Then, the call path connection switching unit 54 enables a call by connecting an audio device including the speaker 2 and the microphone 3 installed in the caller and callee seats (step ST603).

Next, when it is desired to end the call, either the caller or the callee operates the call seat selection device unit 4 to make a call end request (step ST604). At this time, the call seat selection device unit 4 transmits a call termination request to the control device unit 5 (step ST605), and the control device unit 5 determines that the number of calls is 3 or more (step ST606 “No”). "), The speaker 2 and the microphone 3 that are the call termination request source are disconnected (step ST607). If the number of calls is 2 (step ST606" Yes "), both the speaker 2 and the microphone 3 are disconnected (step ST606). Step ST610).
When the number of calls is 3 or more, after disconnecting the speaker 2 and the microphone 3 that are the call termination request source (step ST607), the caller or callee occupant further calls the call seat selection unit 4 To terminate the call (step ST608). As a result, the call seat selection device unit 4 transmits a call termination request to the control device unit 5 (step ST609), and repeats the processing after step ST606.

As described above, not only a call between two people but also a call by three or more speakers is possible, and in this case, all the parties who want to communicate can communicate simultaneously.
According to the on-vehicle communication device according to the first embodiment described above, the vacant seat determination device unit 1 determines the vacant seat state (whether or not an occupant is seated in each seat), and the conversation seat selection device installed in each seat. Since it is configured to prompt the occupant to select a party (seat) that he / she wishes to talk to, displayed on the unit 4, there is no situation where a vacant seat is designated. In addition, according to Embodiment 1 described above, a photographed image by the camera 70 connected to the vacant seat determination device unit 1 is used for occupant seating determination. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a weight sensor is provided for each seat. It may be installed and the vacant seat determination may be performed by ON / OFF of the sensor signal.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle communication device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that, according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the microphone 3, speakers 2 are prepared for the number of seats. The difference is that only a smaller number of speakers 2 than the number of seats are prepared.
Here, as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the vacant seat determination device unit 1 shown in FIG. 2, the call seat selection device unit 4 shown in FIG. 3, and the control device unit 5 shown in FIG. Only the configuration and operation of the call path connection switching unit 54 constituting the control device unit 5 are slightly different.

  That is, in the second embodiment, when the occupant sitting on the seat makes a call with the occupant sitting on another seat, the occupant sitting on the seat calls the call seat selection device unit 4 assigned to himself / herself. , And the information on the calling seat is output to the control device unit 5. In this case, the control device unit 5 uses the call path connection switching unit 54 to connect the speaker closest to each of the call source seat and the call destination seat. 2 is enabled, and the microphones 3 of the caller's seat and the callee's seat are enabled, so that both calls can be made. For this reason, the call path connection switching unit 54 needs to hold a layout diagram of the speakers 2 in the passenger compartment in advance in a built-in memory (not shown).

According to Embodiment 2 described above, the number of speakers 2 does not necessarily have to be the same as the number of seats, so the degree of freedom of the system configuration increases.
In the second embodiment described above, the number of speakers 2 <the number of seats is used, but conversely, the configuration of the number of speakers 2> the number of seats is also conceivable. Also in this case, the call path connection switching unit (voice system) 54 of the control device unit 5 can select an appropriate speaker 2 during a call.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle communication device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is that a display 6 and a video system device using a camera 7 are added to each seat.
For this reason, the configurations of the vacant seat determination device unit 1 and the call seat selection device unit 4 are the same as those of the first embodiment (second embodiment), but the control device unit 5 includes a call path connection switching unit (video system). 55 is added. The call path connection switching unit (video system) 55 connects the display 6 disposed in the target seat and the camera 7 based on the call request output from the call seat selection device unit 4, and calls between the seats. Executes control to establish a route. That is, the control unit 5 enables the display 6 and the camera 7 at the same time in addition to the microphone 3 and the speaker 2 installed in the caller seat and the callee seat. This makes it possible to display each other's video in addition to the voice call.

According to the third embodiment described above, in addition to the voice call function realized by the in-vehicle call devices of the first embodiment and the second embodiment shown in FIGS. Therefore, smoother communication can be achieved.
According to the third embodiment described above, the camera 70 connected to the vacant seat determination unit 1 and the camera 7 provided in each seat are independent of each other. By including the video capturing function, the camera 70 connected to the vacant seat determination device unit 1 may be omitted. Further, although the call seat selection device unit 4 is independent from the display 6, a touch panel display in which the call seat selection device unit 4 and the display 6 are integrated can also be used.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle communication device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment described above is that a power system controller 8 for controlling the power of the speaker 2 and the microphone 3 installed in each seat is added to the configuration of the first embodiment.
The internal configuration of the power system controller 8 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the power system control unit 8 includes a vacant seat information acquisition unit 81, a power source 82, and a power supply control unit 83.

  The vacant seat information acquisition unit 81 acquires vacant seat information from the vacant seat determination device unit 1 and outputs it to the power supply control unit 83. The power supply control unit 83 receives the power supply 82 from the power supply source, and based on the vacant seat information output from the vacant seat determination device unit 1, the audio device or display of the speaker 2 and the microphone 3 arranged in the corresponding seat 6 and the function of stopping the power supply to the video equipment of the camera 7.

The control device unit 5 holds the vacant seat information of the seat by the vacant seat information generated by the vacant seat determination device unit 1. Here, however, the control device unit 5 sets the vacant seat to the added power system control unit 8. A request to stop power supply is output to the installed speaker 2 and microphone 3, or display 6 and camera 7, or both. On the other hand, when an occupant is seated on the seat, a request to continue power supply is output.
That is, the power system control unit 8 receives the vacant seat information output from the vacant seat determination device unit 1 by the vacant seat information acquisition unit 81 and is installed for each seat via the power supply control unit 83 based on the vacant seat information. ON / OFF control of power supply to audio equipment or video equipment is performed.

  According to the fourth embodiment described above, a power saving effect can be expected by stopping the power supply to the audio equipment or the video equipment installed in the seat determined to be empty. This is particularly effective in a battery-powered environment such as a vehicle.

  According to the first to fourth embodiments described above, the vacant seat determination device unit 1, the call seat selection device unit 4, and the control device unit 5 have been described as independent devices. The apparatus unit 4 may be included in one apparatus except for the apparatus unit 4. Here, for example, a navigation system installed in a driver's seat can be considered as one device. Further, when the navigation system is allowed to share the functions of the vacant seat determination unit device unit 1 and the control device unit 5, the call seat selection device unit 4 installed in the driver's seat is replaced with a touch panel included in the navigation system.

Further, each of the camera drive unit 11, the captured image acquisition unit 12, the comparison unit 14, the vacant seat state determination output unit 15, and the control unit 16 included in the vacant seat determination device unit 1 illustrated in FIG. It is assumed that the functions of each block are realized by sequentially reading and executing a program built in a microcomputer (not shown). At this time, the initial coordinate image storage unit 13 is allocated and stored in the memory.
Further, each of the vacant seat information acquisition unit 51, the call request acquisition unit 52, the comparison unit 53, the call route connection selection unit 54, and the call route connection selection unit 55, which constitutes the control device unit 5 shown in FIG. It is assumed that the functions of each block are realized by sequentially reading and executing the built-in program by the microcomputer.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the vehicle-mounted communication apparatus concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the vacant seat determination apparatus part shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the call seat selection apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the control apparatus part shown in FIG. It is the flowchart quoted in order to demonstrate operation | movement of the vehicle-mounted call apparatus concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the flowchart quoted in order to demonstrate operation | movement of the vehicle-mounted call apparatus concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the vehicle-mounted communication apparatus concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the vehicle-mounted communication apparatus concerning Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the vehicle-mounted communication apparatus concerning Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the power supply system control part shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Empty seat determination apparatus part, 2 Speaker (audio | voice output means), 3 Microphone (audio | voice output means), 4 Telephone seat selection apparatus part, 5 Control apparatus part, 6 Display, 7, 70 Cameras, 8 Power supply system control part, 11 Cameras Drive unit, 12 Captured image acquisition unit, 13 Initial seat image storage unit, 14 Comparison unit, 15 Unoccupied seat state determination output unit, 16 Control unit, 41 Unoccupied seat information acquisition unit, 42 Sitting position determination / display signal generation unit, 43 Display operation 44, call request generation output unit, 51 vacant seat information acquisition unit, 52 call request acquisition unit, 53 comparison unit, 54, 55 call path connection switching unit, 81 vacant seat information acquisition unit, 82 power supply, 83 power supply control unit.

Claims (8)

Voice input means installed in each seat in the car,
At least one voice output means installed in the vehicle for outputting the voice input by the voice input means;
Control means for determining a vacant seat state in each seat in the vehicle and executing control for establishing a call path between the seats by connecting the target voice input means and voice output means based on a call request coming from outside When,
An in-vehicle communication device characterized by comprising: The control means includes
2. The in-vehicle call device according to claim 1, wherein control is performed for establishing a call video path between the seats by connecting a video input means and a video output means that are further arranged to each seat in the vehicle. The control means includes
A vacant seat determination device section for determining a vacant seat state of each seat in the vehicle;
A call seat selection unit that displays vacancy information output by the vacant seat state determination unit, acquires an operation by an occupant, and generates a 1 to n call request (where n is 1 or more);
Based on the call request output from the call seat selection unit, the voice input means and the voice output means arranged in the target seat, or the video input means and the video output means, or both are connected, and between the seats A control unit that executes control for establishing a call path of
The in-vehicle communication device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising: The control means includes
Further, based on the vacant seat information output from the vacant seat determination unit, a power supply system for stopping power supply to the voice input means and the voice output means, the video input means and the video output means, or both arranged in the corresponding seat The in-vehicle communication device according to claim 3, further comprising a control unit. The vacant seat determination unit is
4. A comparison between a captured image captured and acquired by an imaging means and an initial captured image in a vehicle when a seat is vacant, and a vacancy state of each seat in the vehicle is determined based on the result. The in-vehicle communication device described. The vacant seat determination unit is
The in-vehicle communication device according to claim 3, wherein the seating state of each seat in the vehicle is determined based on a signal measured through a weight sensor disposed under each seat in the vehicle. The control unit is
The voice input means arranged in the seat to be called when the vacant seat information output from the vacant seat determination device unit and the selected input information output from the call seat selection device unit are collated. 4. The on-vehicle call device according to claim 3, wherein control is performed for establishing a call path between seats by connecting audio output means or the video input means and video output means or both. The control unit is
When the number of installed voice input means and voice output means is different, the voice output means installed closest to each of the caller's seat and the callee's seat is selected, and the caller's voice input means and the call are called. 4. The in-vehicle call device according to claim 3, wherein the call path is established by selecting with the voice input means.

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